Wednesday Morning Read: Vernon, Hart heading to runoff in Cedar Rapids; newcomer Salih wins Iowa City Council seat; Iowa City schools to discontinue use of ‘seclusion rooms’

TODAY'S WEATHER — Sunny. High 45, low 28.

VERNON, HART HEADING TO RUNOFF — Former City Council Mayor Pro Tem Monica Vernon, who left municipal politics in 2015 to run what became an unsuccessful run for Congress, will face lawyer Brad Hart in a runoff next month to pick the next mayor. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/hart-and-vernon-to-face-off-for-cedar-rapids-mayor-in-runoff/

NEWCOMER SALIH WINS IOWA CITY COUNCIL SEAT — Two familiar faces were re-elected to the Iowa City Council Tuesday night, while newcomer Mazahir Salih won the third open seat. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/newcomer-mazahir-salih-wins-iowa-city-council-seat/

IOWA CITY SCHOOLS TO DISCONTINUE USE OF 'SECLUSION ROOMS' — The contentious use of student 'seclusion rooms' in the Iowa City school district seems to be coming to an end. In an email sent Tuesday night to parents, Superintendent Stephen Murley said the district has taken down seven seclusion rooms so far and would remove them all by the start of the next school year. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/k/iowa-city-schools-to-discontinue-seclusion-rooms/

HAWKEYES READY FOR ANNUAL TUSSLE WITH BADGERS — The Hawkeyes and the Badgers engage in their annual bloody knuckles-o-rama this weekend. It's a game where yards are precious and your weightroom warriors come to the fore. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/sports/iowa-wisconsin-is-bloody-knuckles-and-fullbacks/

QUOTABLE — 'A lot of the repeal of taxes or the minimizing of taxes to businesses is going to end up coming on the backs of students who would have been claiming these benefits and now are no longer able to do so.' Robert Johnson, director of the ISU Office of Student Financial Aid, regarding a new report on student debt in Iowa. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/higher-education/iowa-student-loan-debt-13-08-billion-states-public-universities-report-some-progress/