Wednesday Morning Read: Newer but fewer schools?, denied developments, election winners not most popular

NEWER BUT FEWER SCHOOLS? — At least eight of the Cedar Rapids Community School District's 21 elementary schools could be scrapped in favor of newer, bigger schools, members of the district's facilities planning committee said at a public meeting Tuesday. While plans still are tentative, the group laid out a vision that would have only 13 elementary schools, which would support populations of up to 600 students. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/k/bigger-newer-but-fewer-elementaries-pitched-for-cedar-rapids/

DENIED DEVELOPMENTS — A wave of recent housing development projects worth a combined $26.9 million have run into road blocks in Cedar Rapids, even though they had the blessing of the city's professional staff. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/are-denied-developments-in-cedar-rapids-a-concerning-trend-or-an-aberration/

ELECTION WINNERS NOT MOST POPULAR — Iowa's senators may not be the most popular members of the chamber, but they win elections. Morning Consult, a media and survey research company in Washington, D.C., found that GOP Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are far less popular than Vermont's duo of Sens. Bernie Sanders, an independent, and Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, who scored 75 and 70 percent, respectively. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/grassley-ernst-branstad-win-elections-but-arent-the-most-popular/

WICHITA STATE BIG LOSS FOR MISSOURI VALLEY — Name the five original members of the Missouri Valley Conference. There has been a ton of change over the years, including more last week when Wichita State, a member since 1945, was unanimously voted as the 12th school in the American Athletic Conference. It's a step up for the Shockers, but it's also another significant blow for the MVC. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/basketball/losing-wichita-state-a-real-problem-for-missouri-valley-conference/

QUOTABLE — 'I believe that a person has an expectation of a bit of privacy when they're in a public restroom or a facility. I believe this bill will actually ensure that individuals' expectation of privacy is maintained in public facilities.' Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, on egislation that would immediately ban governments in Iowa from installing video or audio monitoring devices in public bathrooms, locker rooms or showers