Weekend review: Former Iowa Governor Ray's funeral, University of Iowa pairs with Pearson, Woman shot in northeast Cedar Rapids

The weekend has come and gone. Here are five local stories your should know about from this weekend.

Former Iowa Governor Ray's life, legacy draw accolades at funeral ceremony- Former Gov. Robert D. Ray was laid to rest Friday by Iowans who hailed him as one of the state's most-beloved, highly regarded and influential statesmen through his compassionate, consensus-building leadership amid turbulent events.

'He changed the world for the better' during his productive, 89 years of life, said the Rev. Bill Spangler-Dunning, regional minister and president of the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest, who officiated at the funeral attended by Ray's family, many dignitaries, friends and acquaintances.

Ray, Iowa's 38th governor from 1969 to 1983, died Sunday. Read more...

University of Iowa pairs with Pearson on new standardized tests- The University of Iowa has awarded a $19.6 million contract to NCS Pearson to deliver new statewide assessments it has developed to replace the Iowa Assessments in spring 2019.

Pearson — which maintains long-standing offices in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City — was the only company to submit a bid for the contract, UI Director of Purchasing and Business Services Deborah Zumbach said in a statement. The request for proposals was open from April 26 to May 31, university records show. Read more...

Woman shot in northeast Cedar Rapids- The Cedar Rapids Police Department is investigating a shooting incident that happened around 7 p.m. Sunday.

Officers responded to a report of a woman who had been shot in the leg, according to the release. When officers arrived at the scene the woman appeared to be suffering from a non-life threatening wound to the leg. Read more...

Iowa small business owners praise federal tax cuts- A half-dozen Iowa small business owners told a top U.S. official in Iowa on Friday that federal tax cuts are boosting workers' wages and businesses' investment and confidence.

The anecdotal evidence presented to U.S. Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon does not match federal data in at least one instance — average hourly wages in the United States have not changed in the past year. Read more...

France beats Croatia, fans watch World Cup Finals at NewBo- Soccer fans gathered at NewBo City Market on Sunday to watch the World Cup final between Croatia and France. France came out on top, beating Croatia 4-2. See the photo gallery...