Daily News Podcast: Wednesday, January 31, 2024

– Trump stays on Illinois' ballot as election board declines to ban him over insurrection amendment

– Cedar Rapids orders two more Westhill Village Apartments buildings to vacate

– Millions of cicadas will flood Eastern Iowa this spring

Episode Transcript

You are listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast on Wednesday, January 31. This podcast gives quick bites from the latest headlines coming out of The Gazette newsroom. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Up first, Donald Trump stays on the ballot in Illinois

And later, more tenants must vacate Westhill Village Apartments

Plus, an abundance of cicadas is in the forecast this summer

Former President Donald Trump will stay on the Illinois primary ballot. The Illinois election board made the unanimous ruling Tuesday. The issue was raised after the board’s hearing officer, a retired judge and Republican, found that Trump is ineligible to run for president because he violated a constitutional ban on those who engaged in insurrection from holding office. The board agreed with a recommendation from its lawyer to keep Trump on the ballot by determining the board didn’t have the authority to determine whether Trump violated the Constitution. The eight-member board is evenly split with four Democrats and four Republicans.

Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in Trump’s appeal of a ruling that declared him ineligible for presidency in Colorado. The question is whether Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol disqualifies him from the presidency. The case involves Section 3 of the 14th amendment. This bans anyone from office who took an oath to uphold the Constitution but then engaged in insurrection against it. Some legal scholars say the clause applies to Trump’s role in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and encouraging supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol. Trump’s attorneys have argued that the provision is vague, that Jan. 6 doesn’t meet the legal definition of an insurrection and that Trump was exercising his First Amendment rights and isn’t liable for what occurred.

Section 3 was adopted in 1868 to prevent former confederates from returning to office after the Civil War. It has been rarely used since then.

All residents of Westhill Village Apartments in northwest Cedar Rapids have been ordered to leave their homes so that structural issues may be addressed. Tenants have until February 29 to leave the final two buildings,1615 and 1625 Seminole Avenue NW.

The Gazette previously reported that three of the five buildings in the complex must vacate after a structural engineer found issues including cracks in the drywall that are most likely related to damage from the 2020 derecho. The engineer also found stress cracks on the drywall above doors and floor joists, a sagging ceiling in one apartment, a termite issue in another, and floor unevenness. Floor unevenness is a quote “serious issue that can lead to a potential structural failure” end quote as the interior wall is placed directly onto floor decking without structural support below.

A Jan. 12 report from Apex Structural structural engineer Natalya V. Hunt said that the conditions of the 1615 and 1625 buildings are like the other buildings. Although the 1625 property did not have uneven floors, quote “there are other issues present throughout the building that jeopardize its structural integrity” end quote.

Waterloo-based private property management company EPM Iowa did not respond to a request for comment.

Next, You could see a rare phenomenon this summer. For the first time in over 200 years, two broods of periodical cicadas will emerge at the same time. Cicadas are the raucous insects whose mating calls can be heard throughout Iowa summers. What’s so special about these cicadas? Periodical cicadas come in waves, unlike their annual cicada counterparts.

Young cicadas or nymphs eat roots and organic material underground for 13 or 17 years depending on the species and their life cycle. Environmental cues tell the insects when to head above ground to reproduce. And they do so in impressive swarms.

Iowa State University insect diagnostician Zach Schumm said quote, “The eastern part of the United States is the only region of the entire world that has these periodical cicadas. We’re quite lucky to experience it.” end quote.

Eastern Iowa, especially Southeast Iowa, will experience both Brood 13, a 17-year brood, and Brood 19, a 13-year brood in addition to annual cicadas.

Schumm said quote, “If you’re in the right area, you can see and experience millions upon millions of cicadas.” end quote. This is expected to peak in Iowa around May. Adult cicadas only live four to six weeks.

Although the volume of cicadas may be overwhelming, these insects are nothing to fear. They don’t harm humans or agricultural crops.

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 sunny with a high of 44 degrees. Temperatures will drop to 29 degrees tonight. Looking ahead to tomorrow, Thursday will be partly cloudy and temperatures will mirror today. Expect a high of 45 degrees and a low of 35 degrees.

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