Iowa City News Links: Iowa River Landing Gets Some Coralville Criticism, Jail Proponents Gear up for 2012, Occupy Iowa City Pushes for Student Walkout

As always, I'll start with links to stories on this site, but then I'll venture out into the world of other publications. Feel free to suggest links to stories that I might have missed and I can add them during the day.

From Iowa City Patch

We have a post up over the last week. We will have a new blog up this morning by Paul Deaton.

An Iowa City man allegedly at concealing marijuana, this time vomitting it up after swallowing a bag.

, a cuddly one-year-old cat who is our Iowa City Patch Adopt this Pet of the Week.  

Our Parent Talk this week is focused on whether or not parents feel they should give their children the .

With no clear Republican frontrunner emerging, Iowans are .

From Other Sites

The Iowa River Landing continues to be a source of controversy in Coralville as the Gazette's Gregg Hennigan reports that even a group of Coralville developers has sent a letter of complaints about it to the Coralville city government.

Diane Heldt of the Gazette writes that while the 21-only ordinance may not have stopped underage students from drinking, it has lowered the amount of hospital visits due to dangerous levels of drinking.

Members of the Occupy Iowa City movement are encouraging UI students to cut class Thursday to attend their event on the Pentacrest, writes Melissa Dawkins of the Daily Iowan.

Asmaa Elkeurti of the Daily Iowan writes that the Iowa City City Council wants the state to supply more funding for road projects.

An Iowa City Women's Shelter receives some nice renovations by volunteers.

Josh O'Leary of the Iowa City Press-Citizen writes that the University of Iowa is planning to demolish an historic building in order to make space for the new art building.

Lee Hermiston of the Press-Citizen writes that the Johnson County Sheriff and Board of Supervisors are already gearing up for the 2012 election, where a bond vote to fund a new jail will likely be on the ballot.

Jason Clayworth of the Des Moines Register writes that Newt Gingrich is looking to open an Iowa City campaign office this month.

Jennifer Jacobs of the Register has the deets on the important Family Leader Presidential Forum this week.

Gazette reporter James Q. Lynch writes a follow up with Liz Mathis following her victory last week.

Congrats to the Iowa City West High Lady Trojans for securing another state volleyball title, winning over Iowa City City High.

Daily Links Excerpt (of the Day)

Next year won’t be the first time the county has asked voters to sign off on a bond referendum to build a new jail. In 2000, voters defeated a $21 million referendum for a 250 bed jail that was proposed to be built on Melrose Avenue where the new Armory is now located. That structure would not have included courtrooms or any other court-related space. Pulkrabek said he thinks voters had more reasons 11 years ago — such as fewer jail alternatives — to vote “no.” He said many of those reasons have now been addressed.

“People wanted alternatives to jailing,” Pulkrabek said. “I think we’ve done that. Ourselves, the county attorney’s office, have done the things we can as far as jail alternatives. We’ve said all along it won’t solve, it just will slow the growth of the jail population.”

Excerpt Two

For the year prior to the ordinance, 453 alcohol-related visits out of 2,954 total visits is a rate of 15.3 per 100 visits, he said. In the year after the ordinance, 359 alcohol-related visits out of 2,989 total visits is a rate of 12.0 per 100. The 19- and 20-year-old age groups saw the biggest decrease, Takacs said.

“It made a difference,” he said. “I believe the 21-ordinance had a positive and measureable effect.”