Gazette Daily News Podcast, August 25

Rain may have swept through your area early on Thursday, but by the time you wake up it will be another sunny day. According to the National Weather Service it will be partly sunny in the Cedar Rapids area with a high near 83 degrees on Thursday. On Thursday night it will be partly cloudy, with a low of around 63 degrees.

More than 40 million Americans could see their student loan debt reduced or eliminated under the long-awaited forgiveness plan President Joe Biden announced Wednesday.

According to the Associated Press, Biden’s policy fulfills a campaign promise by erasing $10,000 in federal student loan debt for those with incomes below $125,000 a year, or households that earn less than $250,000 a year. He’s canceling an additional $10,000 for those who received federal Pell Grants to attend college.

Biden also extended a pause on federal student loan payments for what he called the “final time.” The pause is now set to run through the end of the year, with repayments to restart in January.

Most people will need to apply for the relief. The Education Department has income data for a small share of borrowers, but the vast majority will need to prove their incomes through an application process. Officials said applications will be available before the end of the year.

A judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case of a man charged with possessing a gun as a felon after police officers recognized a juror as being an associate of people connected to the man on trial.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Kevin McKeever declared a mistrial on the second day of the trial after police officers and Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks made him aware of the juror’s associations with defendant Royal R. Jones, 19.

The juror isn’t being named at this time in accordance with The Gazette’s policy of not identifying jurors unless they agree to talk to a reporter.

Maybanks said police officers who were testifying in the case recognized the juror. After doing some background investigation, they determined she was a known associate of individuals that Jones knows and who were “involved in shots fired and firearm incidents.” The officers also believe she likely knows Jones.

Officers also told the judge about a social media post the juror had made, saying she had jury duty and that the person on trial would be freed and found not guilty.

The Iowa City school board is looking to fill a vacancy after former board president Shawn Eyestone resigned Tuesday.

The board is taking applications, due Sept. 6, to fill the position by appointment.

Applicants will be given time to address the school board before it makes a decision Sept. 13. Iowa Code allows the school board to fill vacancies by appointment. A replacement must be appointed within 30 days of the vacancy.

The school board is choosing to appoint a school board member instead of holding a special election, which is costly to the district.

Eyestone said he is “putting my money where my mouth is” by going back to school to pursue a career as an educator, he said. His classes conflict with Tuesday school board meetings.