Thursday morning read: Iowa Senate passes gun rights constitutional amendment, MedPharm bets big on medical marijuana, Ron Corbett's gubernatorial bid challenged

Iowa Senate passes gun rights constitutional amendment: State lawmakers want Iowa voters to decide whether they want to strengthen their gun rights. Following the House's lead earlier this week, the Iowa Senate voted Wednesday evening to take the first step toward giving Iowans an opportunity in the 2020 general election to amend the state Constitution to add protections for gun ownership. If approved, the earliest that Iowa voters would likely vote on the language would be in November 2020. Read more >

Striving to heal one meal at a time: Founder of Feed Iowa First dies at age 40: Finding a way to make the world better was the driving force behind Sonia Kendrick Stover's life, a life cut short this week when the founder of Linn County nonprofit Feed Iowa First died unexpectedly Tuesday. 'Her experience as a veteran showed her that hunger contributed to lack of peace around the world,' one friend said. 'She believed that if people were well fed, that would contribute to bringing about peace.' Read more >

MedPharm bets big on Iowa medical marijuana: Our reporters and photographers got a behind-the-scenes tour of Iowa's first licensed medical marijuana manufacturing facility. MedPharm Iowa has spent more than $10 million rehabbing 15,000 square feet in an old warehouse east of the Capitol into a state-of-the-art facility to cultivate, grow and dry medical marijuana and manufacture products that go on sale Dec. 1. Read more >

Ron Corbett calls challenge to spot on ballot 'baseless': Could 111 signatures derail former Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett's gubernatorial bid? A conservative blogger -- who is also known to be a supporter of Gov. Kim Reynolds -- has filed a claim against Corbett with the Secretary of State. Corbett said he's not worried and the challenge is indicative of the hostile environment his campaign has encountered. Read more >

Iowa high school football schedules released for 2018, 2019: Iowa City Liberty's varsity football existence will begin with a road contest against an intracity foe. The Iowa High School Athletic Association released 2018 and 2019 football schedules Wednesday morning. Liberty's first game is Aug. 24, at Iowa City High. Read more >