Gazette Daily News Podcast, August 25

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This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette digital news desk and I’m here with your update for Wednesday, August 25.

Tuesday’s humid weather turned into heavy rain and sometimes dangerous conditions. Wednesday could provide a repeat of this pattern.

According to the National Weather Service it will be partly sunny with a high near 90 degrees in the Cedar Rapids area on Wednesday. There will be a 30 percent chance of rain, primarily after 4 p.m., with some storms having the potential for heavy rain. Then Wednesday night the chance for rain will continue at roughly the same probability, although more likely it will be rain again.

Severe thunderstorms swept across Central and Eastern Iowa on Tuesday, bringing hail and high winds that damaged buildings and snapped trees.

According to National Weather Service storm reports, the bad weather in the state spanned from as far west as Story City north of Des Moines to as far east as Bellevue on the Iowa-Illinois border.

Early storm reports showed widespread winds, ranging from 40 to 70 mph, as well as hail raging in size from a quarter inch to 1 inch in diameter. The most damaging storms appear to have hit northeastern Iowa, at, and to the north of, Manchester.

Parents expressed worries for the safety of their children and others Tuesday as students in Iowa City schools finished their second day of classes without a face mask requirement.

During a school board meeting, the board was presented with a petition signed by over 1,000 community members, medical providers and parents asking the Iowa City Community School District to require masks in schools to help protect against the spread of COVID-19. The petitioners did so while conceding that the board’s hands are likely tied by a state law passed in May prohibiting masking mandates.

Iowa City School Superintendent Matt Degner said the district is aware of the concerns and is working on solutions to keep students safe.

Leadership is changing at the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City.

Andre Perry, executive director for 11 years, has resigned to pursue new projects. His final day is Sept. 13, but he will help finalize fall and spring programming already underway, and will continue as executive director for the upcoming Witching Hour festival and Mission Creek festival in 2022.

Perry has led the nonprofit arts presenter through growing from an $800,000 budget in 2010 to a $1.9 million budget in 2019. He also founded Mission Creek and Witching Hour festivals, showcasing high-profile and emerging artists, as well as local musicians, authors, poets and creators.

Beer afficionados, your choices at Kinnick Stadium this football season won’t be limited to mass-produced corporate brew.

The University of Iowa announced in June that it would become the eighth Big Ten Conference school to sell beer and wine at its sporting events. Iowa senior associate athletics director Matt Henderson spoke Tuesday about what fans can expect, alcohol-wise, at Kinnick.

Eastern Iowa beermakers Backpocket, Big Grove and SingleSpeed will be sold at Iowa Hawkeyes football games, starting with the Sept. 4 season-opener.

For those with more mainstream tastes. Bud Light, Busch Light, Coors Light, Michelob Ultra and Bud Light Seltzer also will be available. Wine will also be available.

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