Thursday Morning Read: Girls learn ropes at fire academy, local couple’s band to Hall of Fame, ‘zero tolerance’ for harassment

TODAY'S WEATHER — Cooler, scattered rain and storms. High 76, low 54.

GIRLS LEARN ROPES AT FIRE ACADEMY — 'The future is female,' says Lucy Blair, 19, of Iowa City, one of the participants in this week's 'Fully Involved: Young Women's Fire Academy' offered by the Cedar Rapids Fire Department. The four-day camp — for those ages 15 to 19 — kicked off Monday and continues through Thursday. It aims to make young women aware that a career as a firefighter is an option and, ultimately, increase the number of female firefighters. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/young-women-learning-the-ropes-of-firefighting-at-cedar-rapids-academy/

LOCAL COUPLE'S BAND TO HALL OF FAME — Perry and Kathy Keating of Alburnett have been singing since they were young. Little did they know, they'd one day be singing their way into the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/linn-county-couple-earns-induction-to-iowa-rock-n-roll-hall-of-fame/

'ZERO TOLERANCE' FOR HARASSMENT — GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds backed Republican Senate leaders Wednesday in the wake of a $2.2 million sexual harassment verdict against the state, but suggested it would be 'healthy' to have an independent investigation to ensure state employees are adopting a 'zero tolerance' policy for inappropriate behavior. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/reynolds-backs-zero-tolerance-for-harassment/

UNI SEEKS TO MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARD — With seven new coaches on staff, a new quarterback under center, and four Missouri Valley Football Conference teams besides UNI in the preseason top 25, one might think expectations in Cedar Falls could be tempered. Not the case. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/football/expectations-for-uni-football-not-changing-with-host-of-new-coaches/

QUOTABLE — 'Any time we're below 10 percent turnout in any election, that's pretty pathetic no matter what the issue is. I'm disappointed there wasn't a turnout, but I'm disappointed in any election when there's not a good turnout — when you have a small sliver of people making a decision for the majority.' Linn County Auditor Joel Miller, on Tuesday's election to determine the representation plan for the Board of Supervisors