Tuesday morning read: Road project spending surges, data release risk minimized, tuition changes for Iowa's biggest universities

Road project spending doubles in Linn County - Linn County road projects this summer, at $19.1 million, will total more than twice what the county usually spends in a year and nearly triple last year's road funding. Brad Ketels, Linn County assistant engineer, said an increase in available funds and scheduled projects this year has created a 'perfect storm' of sorts. Read more here...

Local K-9 officer to receive protective vest - According to the Linn County Sheriff's Office, K-9 officer Bingo was given a bullet and stab protective vest by Vested Interest in K9s Inc., a nonprofit organization. Read more here...

City plans to award nearly $4 million to private organizations and city run enterprises - Tourism, entertainment, culture, economic development, and subsidizing city owned facilities, including debt at the DoubleTree Hotel, are top priorities in plans to award $3.7 million to private organizations and city run enterprises.

The City Council is being asked to approve distribution of the funds generated through hotel motel tax collections to more than two dozen organizations. Also, in separate decisions, the city would renew four commitments worth $260,000 to economic development and business-minded organizations. Read more here...

Risk from data release 'minimized' - The last four digits of about 216,000 Linn County voters' Social Security numbers accidentally were released late last week by staff in the Auditor's Office. They were filling a standing request for weekly updates of voter registration information, which is public information.

The Linn County Auditor's Office is 'working as fast as we can' to reduce the risk from an accidental release of voter data last week, according to Auditor Joel Miller. Read more here...

Quotable - 'If we follow suit and keep our price point the same, we will price ourselves out of the market and we will cripple our enrollment," said University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook regarding UNI's plans to ratchet down tuition increases through 2022. Read more here...