Gazette Daily News Podcast, Nov. 22

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This is John McGlothlen with The Gazette digital news desk and I'm here with your update for Monday, Nov. 22nd.

According to the National Weather Service, in the Cedar Rapids area today, it will be mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 35. Winds from the northwest, 5 to 10 mph. Then tonight, mostly clear, with a low around 22.

Republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate said Friday they will pay up to $270,000 over the next six months to have an Iowa consulting firm examine the 2020 election with an eye toward developing changes to their state’s election law. The “forensic investigation" is being launched in response to pressure from Republican supporters of former President Donald Trump upset over his 80,000-vote loss in the state, but is well short of the Arizona-style “audit” that many of them have clamored for. The contract was signed by Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward and Envoy Sage, a Dubuque-based company. Committee spokesperson Jason Thompson said it will be made public in redacted form in the coming days. The company will be paid out of a taxpayer-funded leadership account that Ward controls and the agreement can be extended, he said. Envoy Sage president Steve Lahr issued a statement saying company officials have no “pre-conceived notions for what we will or will not find” and that he considers objectivity to be critical. Thompson initially said Lahr recalled making only a single political donation, several years ago, to a friend from his time in the military. Later Friday, Thompson said Lahr acknowledged also making donations to the National Republican Congressional Committee and to U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham, a South Carolina Republican.

It was senior day at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City Saturday, and the Hawkeyes are now 9-2 after a 33-23 win over Illinois. One of the highlights was a 100-yard kickoff return by Charlie Jones for a first-quarter touchdown. Iowa is 6-2 in the Big Ten and still in play for the West title, though it needs to beat Nebraska Friday and have Minnesota take down Wisconsin the following day in Minneapolis.

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🎹 Podcast music: “Generation Z” by Emily McGlothlen