Gazette Daily News Podcast, March 22

It looks like it is going to rain for much of Tuesday, with a chance for some thunderstorms early and late. According to a forecast from the National Weather Service, there will be a 90 percent chance of rain in the Cedar Rapids area Tuesday with the possibility of a thunderstorm. The high should be around 57 degrees, with a wind of 10 to 15 mph gusting as high as 30 mph. On Tuesday night there will again be a 90 percent chance of rain with a chance of a thunderstorm, with a low around 44 degrees. It will be a little less windy Tuesday night, with the wind dropping to 5 to 10 mph.

Lawyers for two Fairfield teens charged with killing a high school Spanish teacher argued Monday that a hearing Thursday regarding whether their cases should be moved to juvenile court could include confidential materials — medical or other reports – that could prejudice jurors against the teens.

Lawyers for Jeremy Everett Goodale and Willard Noble Chaiden Miller, both 16, argued during an in-person hearing that also was by video, that Thursday’s reverse waiver hearing could include information from a juvenile court officer, law enforcement investigation, psychological evaluations and search warrant applications, which each have portions that otherwise would be confidential.

Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding argued both teens are accused as adults and the murder charges filed against them are in district — adult — court and should remain open. If the court grants transferring the cases to juvenile court, further proceedings would be closed.

A motive for the killing has not been released. But according to court documents, the teens schemed over social media to kill Nohema Graber, who had taught at Fairfield High since 2012. They monitored her routine before ambushing her on her daily walk in the park, killing her and later hiding her body, according to court documents.

The Iowa Utilities Board has accepted the filings of applications for the two Duane Arnold solar projects near Palo and has set a partial procedural schedule moving forward.

The IUB announced Friday that it issued an order and accepted the applications for certificates of public convenience, use and necessity for the two projects, Duane Arnold Solar I and II, and has docketed the applications for further investigation.

Duane Arnold I is a proposed 50 MW solar facility on 316 acres of agricultural land within an 857-acre project site in Linn County. Duane Arnold II, the larger of the projects, is a proposed 150 MW solar facility and 75 MW battery storage system on 815 acres within a 1,780-acre project site.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, continues to call for the U.S. to step up the delivery of lethal aid to support Ukraine’s battle against a Russian military invasion, including facilitation of the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland.

Ernst returned Sunday night from leading a bipartisan delegation of nine colleagues on a weekend visit to Poland and Germany.

In eastern Poland, Ernst said, the delegation heard from Ukrainian leaders in exile, who “delivered a clear message to the United States: We need more lethal aid weapons, including air defense system, and we need it ASAP.”

She’s concerned the U.S. aid is not flowing fast enough, blaming “Washington bureaucracy.”

Support for this news update was provided by New Pioneer Food Co-op. Celebrating 50 years as Eastern Iowa’s destination for locally and responsibly sourced groceries with stores in Iowa City, Coralville and Cedar Rapids; and online through Co-op Cart at newpi.coop.