Gazette Daily News Podcast: Friday, January 26, 2024

– Cedar Rapids must pay $22k for fish kill caused by main break

– North Linn fined $6k for asbestos violations in school renovation

– Marengo winemaker earns Iowa award

Episode Transcript

You are listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast on Friday, January 26. This podcast gives quick bites from the latest headlines coming out of The Gazette newsroom. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Up first, Cedar Rapids must pay restitution for killing fish. And later, a Marengo winemaker earns an Iowa award

The Iowa DNR announced Thursday that another leak of chlorinated water into McLoud Run has killed hundreds of fish. The news comes the same day an order was released saying the city of Cedar Rapids will pay for a fish kill last year that was also caused by chlorinated water. The city will pay $22,000 for killing nearly 1,700 fish in March. The fish were killed when a water main broke and leaked chlorinated water into the stream. This incident killed an estimated 1,359 rainbow and brown trout and 311 white suckers.

In the latest case, the DNR said Cedar Rapids reported Tuesday that about 450,000 gallons of chlorinated drinking water was released from an unoccupied commercial building at 4425 Center Point Road NE. City officials believe this was caused by a burst pipe. The Iowa DNR said its staff had seen between 200 and 300 dead fish, including trout and white suckers. An updated count is expected later this week. McLoud stream is Iowa’s only urban trout stream. It runs parallel to Interstate 380 and empties into the Cedar River.

Next, the North Linn Community School District has agreed to pay a $6,000 fine for asbestos violations. While renovating the middle and high school building in Coggon in August 2022, contractors found asbestos in the flooring materials of the school. The school was built in 1967. Asbestos was used in building materials because of its heat resistant properties. But the fibers break down over time and when breathed in, can cause lung damage. On August 25, 2022, Iowa DNR officials spoke with school officials, saying the school should be closed until a certified asbestos abatement decontaminated the area. But the building was not closed and workers were asked to sign a waiver of liability to be in the building. The decontamination of the area was completed Aug. 28, 2022. North Linn neither admitted nor denied the allegations, according to an enforcement order released Thursday by the Iowa DNR. Although, the district quote “specifically denies” end quote responsibility for the renovation project as it relates to these violations.

In food related news, a winemaker in Marengo and Amana has been named Iowa Winemaker of the Year. Zach Bott received the honor from the Iowa Wine Growers Association earlier this month, along with four other recipients. Bott is a winemaker at Fireside Winery in Marengo and Ackerman Winery in Amana. In a news release the Iowa Wine Growers Association said quote, “Year after year, he is able to strive and grow the name of Iowa wine. His wines have garnered numerous awards, but more significantly, they have immense popularity with wine lovers, propelling Fireside to become one of the most popular wineries in the state.” end quote. Most of the association’s awards are nominated and voted on by peers.

You can find a link to each of the stories featured in today’s episode in this episode’s description or at the gazette dot com.

Now let’s take a look at today’s weather in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Today will be cloudy with a high of 34 degrees. It won’t get much colder than that. Today’s low is expected to reach 33 degrees. Looking ahead to tomorrow, Saturday will be cloudy as well. Expect a high of 35 and a low of 30.

Thank you for listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast. Stay up to date with the latest news from Eastern Iowa at the gazette dot com. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Comments: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com