Wednesday Morning Read: Hart wins mayor’s race, Vanorny claims District 5 seat; sports gambling advocates in Iowa see opening; Cedar Rapids finalizes fireworks ban

TODAY'S WEATHER — Partly cloudy, windy. High 32, low 14.

HART WINS MAYOR'S RACE, VANORHY CLAIMS DISTRICT 5 SEAT — Business lawyer Brad Hart will be Cedar Rapids' next mayor after beating former City Council member Monica Vernon in a runoff Tuesday. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/brad-hart-wins-race-for-cedar-rapids-mayor/ And newcomer Ashley Vanorny ousted three-term incumbent Justin Shields in Tuesday's runoff election for the Cedar Rapids City Council District 5 seat. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/ashley-vanorny-unseats-incumbent-justin-shields-in-runoff-cedar-rapids-city-council-race/

SPORTS GAMBLING ADVOCATES IN IOWA SEE OPENING — A case argued this week before the U.S. Supreme Court could — depending on how justices rule — open the door to legalized sports gambling in any state that approves it. A nonprofit trade organization that supports Iowa's casinos plans to draft legislation legalizing sports gambling in the state should the court rule in its favor. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/sports-gambling-advocates-see-opening-in-court-case/

CEDAR RAPIDS FINALIZES FIREWORKS BAN — The Cedar Rapids City Council finalized a ban Tuesday on setting off fireworks in the city. The measure imposes stricter local limits that were allowed under a state law adopted earlier this year to legalize the use and sale of fireworks in Iowa around the Fourth of July and New Year's holidays. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/sports-gambling-advocates-see-opening-in-court-case/

IOWA'S OFFENSE ON NOTICE — Finals week is fast approaching, and if the Iowa men's basketball team took home the grades it's about to get in this week's entry, academic probation might be on the table. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/sports/iowa-basketball-making-the-grade-big-ten-week-1/

QUOTABLE — 'Call if you can, text if you can't.' Charlie McClintock, Cedar Rapids's 911 director, on a new service that allows Linn and Johnson county residents to notify emergency responders via text message rather than only by phone. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/text-to-911-now-ready-in-linn-and-johnson-counties/