Tuesday Morning Read: Cedar Rapids school board gets formal look at facilities plan; more state budget cuts likely; regents weigh sabbaticals for Iowa university faculty

TODAY'S WEATHER — Partly cloudy, cooler. High 28, low 19.

CEDAR RAPIDS SCHOOL BOARD GETS FORMAL LOOK AT FACILITIES PLAN — With the Cedar Rapids school board poised to decide perhaps next month on the fate of elementary schools, more than a dozen people sought to sway votes Monday evening as the members were formally presented the plan for the first time. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/health-care-medicine/many-iowans-select-no-cost-coverage/

MORE STATE BUDGET CUTS LIKELY — Gov. Kim Reynolds and legislators likely are going to have to consider midyear budget cuts ranging from $50 to $90 million after a state panel Monday left its current budget growth projections unchanged and slightly lowered the expectations for fiscal 2019. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/more-cuts-to-iowa-state-budget-likely/

REGENTS WEIGH SABBATICALS FOR IOWA UNIVERSITY FACULTY — Many faculty across Iowa's public universities view the opportunity to take a break from teaching to focus on research, writing or creating as a prime perk of — if not paramount to — their job. In the 2019 budget year, 111 faculty members have been recommended for a sabbatical. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/higher-education/regents-weighing-111-sabbaticals-for-iowa-university-faculty-costing-582000/

IOWA STATE QUARTERBACK PARK ASKS FOR RELEASE — Iowa State quarterback Jacob Park asked coach Matt Campbell for a release from his scholarship so he would be free to transfer to another school. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/sports/iowa-state-quarterback-jacob-park-asks-for-release/

QUOTABLE — 'We recognize that 2018 is a very challenging year for people who purchase health insurance on their own and that premiums are high.' Geoff Bartsh, vice president and general manager for individual and family business at Medica, on thousands of Iowans choosing health care plans with zero premiums. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/health-care-medicine/many-iowans-select-no-cost-coverage/