Wednesday Morning Read: Cedar Rapids considers regional transit authority; group forms to fight closure of Cedar Rapids schools; Cedar Rapids eyes fireworks ban

TODAY'S WEATHER — Partly sunny. High 47, low 36.

CEDAR RAPIDS CONSIDERS REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY — Would the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area, namely those who operate and ride public buses, benefit from a regional transit authority? That's a question local transit officials seek to answer as they explore the feasibility of handing over the management and governance of Cedar Rapids Transit's fixed-route bus services from the city to a taxing authority made up of local representatives. Read more: http://bit.ly/2icWPIm

GROUP FORMS TO FIGHT CLOSURE OF CEDAR RAPIDS SCHOOLS — With fewer than two weeks until the Cedar Rapids school board hears a facilities proposal that would close eight elementary schools, a campaign against the proposal is taking shape. Read more: http://bit.ly/2igZlxq

CEDAR RAPIDS EYEING FIREWORKS BAN — Iowa's next legal fireworks period centered on New Year's Eve begins on Dec. 10, but after a noisy summer trial, Cedar Rapids is doing all it can to skip the festivities. Read more: http://bit.ly/2idbbZn

SECOND-HALF WOES SINK IOWA AT VIRGINIA TECH — It would be hard not to let what happened Tuesday night at Virginia Tech get into the minds of the Iowa men's basketball team. Read more: http://bit.ly/2zPWJOo

QUOTABLE — 'I'm willing to put the time and the effort into making sure that Iowans get the care that they deserve in a managed and coordinated and more modern delivery system. I'm not going back.' Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, saying she's committed to a privately managed Medicaid system. Read more: http://bit.ly/Fev4aq