Gazette Daily News Podcast, Nov. 15

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This is John McGlothlen with The Gazette digital news desk and I'm here with your update for Monday, Nov. 15th.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a slight chance of snow between 8 and 9 a.m. It will be cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Winds from the southeast, 5 to 10 mph. Our chance of precipitation in the Cedar Rapids area is 20%. Then tonight, it should be partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

A Cedar Rapids man faces charges of first-degree burglary and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon based on allegations he assaulted a woman Thursday at her apartment in Cedar Rapids. Clarence Oliver, age 53, is accused of forcing open the door of the woman’s apartment and threatening her and another occupant with a handgun. Security video in the building corroborated her report, according to the criminal complaint. Investigators contacted and questioned Oliver, who admitted entering the woman’s apartment with a gun, but claimed he did not point it at the occupants. Police said they arrested Oliver and recovered two firearms.

Authorities said a collision Saturday night between a freight train and a barge sticking out onto the railroad tracks sent coal cars and diesel fuel into the Mississippi River along Southeast Iowa’s Lee County. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the barge was parked along the shore of the Mississippi River near Montrose. The Burlington Hawk Eye reported it was pulled up to the shore in a way that the nose of the barge was left extending over the tracks. When a southbound train operated by BNSF came down the tracks about 11:50 p.m., it hit the barge — derailing two locomotives and overturning several coal cars. No injuries were reported.

For the seventh straight season, Iowa brought home the bacon in its annual battle for a bronze pig. The Hawkeyes pulled off a nail-biting 27-22 win over unranked Minnesota to keep their Big Ten West hopes alive and ensure the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy spends another year in Iowa City. The game included six ties or lead changes.

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