Monday Reads

Tess Dorman turns 7 today. Hard to believe it's been that long.

To the news.

Former state Sen. Mary Lundby died Saturday after a three-year struggle with cancer. The Gazette, The Register and Iowa Independent all have coverage from over the weekend. And Radio Iowa's Kay Henderson remembers Sen. Lundby at her blog.

Lundby's funeral is set for 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. Her obit in today's Gazette says her ashes "will be spread over her beloved land in Belle Plaine." Fitting for someone who fought so hard for environmental conservation.

Most Iowa papers and blogs are turning their attention to Barack Obama's inauguration Tuesday. The Register's David Yepsen writes of the massive challenges facing the new president. On the goodbye side of the power transition, The Gazette fronts the story of Bush aides Jim Nussle and Scott Stanzel, Iowans who will be moving on. Quad-Cityans are making their way to the big party, writes Ed Tibbetts in the QC Times.

Blog for Iowa has a handly list of local inaugural activities.

Gauges? We don't need no stinkin' gauges. Actually we do, new flood gauges, very soon. Last year, during the height of the flood, a key Cedar River gauge malfunctioned. The feds are preparing to install new ones as soon as local governments decide who will pay, The Gazette's Adam Belz reports.

The Legislature

will start working on flood recovery this week. But with the MLK holiday today, the inauguration Tuesday and Sen. Lundby's funeral Wednesday, legislative work will be on the back burner.