Gazette Daily News Podcast: Monday, Apr. 8, 2024

-Despite Hawkeye championship loss, there’s no denying a new era for women’s basketball

-Cedar Rapids receives $56 million federal grant to fund Eighth Avenue Bridge replacement

-What Iowans can expect from today’s solar eclipse

Episode Transcript

Welcome to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast for Monday, April 1, 2024. This podcast provides the latest headlines from the Gazette newsroom. I’m Becky Lutgen Gardner.

First, win or lose, it was a foregone conclusion before the game National Championship even began yesterday between Iowa and South Carolina women that magic was happening this year.

That’s in part thanks to Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes who have launched women’s basketball into a new stratosphere.

With a new legacy solidified after a second eye-catching season, the star point guard didn’t just shatter a new ceiling for women — she incited a new generation of fans to demand a larger building.

As Clark shot her last shots on the court before going pro, the Hawkeyes weren’t just aiming for a historic win — they were setting the stage for fans who said they’ll stick around to support women’s basketball thanks to what they’ve seen this year.

Kim Nelson has been a fan for the last four years, but more seriously in the last two. She says the team represented everyone in Iowa.

She says, “It’s about lifting people up. It doesn’t matter what gender, color, race, any of that.”

Emily Berkhoudt agrees saying, “It’s wonderful to give them the opportunity to see where they can go, and there’s no limit to the opportunities they have ahead of them. Seeing the community embrace that and really stand strong behind women is awesome.

Next, Cedar Rapids has secured a monumental $56 million federal grant to replace the Eighth Avenue Bridge. It’s a crucial component of its permanent flood control system. After years of lobbying, this funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s PROTECT grant program, will support the estimated $76.1 million project to replace the "Arc of Justice" Bridge.

City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said, "This federal funding award is an acknowledgment of the importance of the Flood Control System in Cedar Rapids and the effectiveness of the City’s approach." The project is already about 30% designed. But the timeline is set to accelerate with the new infusion of funds. Construction is slated to begin in 2027.

The new bridge, designed for a 100-year lifespan, will feature a single-pier cable-stayed structure to enhance river flow and reduce upstream water levels. Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell emphasized the collaborative effort, stating, "This award is a testament to the power of nonpartisan collaboration."

Senator Chuck Grassley's support was instrumental, having voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that facilitated the funding. Despite political differences, Senator Joni Ernst, Representative Ashley Hinson, and various businesses and community groups have rallied behind the project, recognizing its importance in ensuring the city's resilience and connectivity.

Finally, a total solar eclipse will occur across parts of the United States today. Iowans won’t see the totality of the eclipse without traveling, but a significant chunk of the sun will be blocked by the moon at midday.

Thomas Hockey is a professor of astronomy at the University of Northern Iowa. He says, “With its path going just diagonally across the United States, everybody in the U.S., save Alaska, will see at least a partial eclipse.”

The partial eclipse will begin to be visible in Eastern Iowa at 12:46 p.m. It will reach maximum coverage at 2:01 p.m. and ends at 3:16 p.m.

At its height, 83 percent of the sun will be covered.

Hockey says even 27 percent of the sun is still enough for it to look like daytime outside, so the effect won’t be too noticeable without observing the sun directly.

Hockey says anyone planning to watch the eclipse should use proper glasses or solar viewers.

Any partial eclipse — even a pretty deep one, like we’ll be experiencing here where most of the sun will be blacked out needs protective glasses to view according to Hockey.

You can also watch the eclipse live by heading to thegazette.com where a live stream of the event will be available.

Monday’s weather will be mostly sunny with a high near 67. Monday night will be mostly clear with a low around 40. Tuesday will be sunny with a high near 64.

You can find a link to each of the stories featured in today’s episode in the episode’s description or at thegazette dot com.