IC School Board Promises to be More Transparent, Eulogizing the Red Avocado, and UI's Updated Flood Plans: Iowa City Daily Links, Feb. 8

I'm guessing nobody was expecting to utter the phrase "A Santorum Sweep" this election cycle.

On to the Links!

From this Site

Police are looking for info on a burglary at Bella Jolli .

We have a Valentine's Day contest up that is pitting three restaurants against each other for the best Valentine's Day location. You will !

I caught up with the owner of Defunct Books, in the Sycamore Mall.

I updated our in Iowa City to take your better half for Valentine's Day dinner. If you haven't made reservations, you should probably get on that today.

In our Parent Talk this week, we're asking for some of the your kids out there say.

We have a new pet in need of a good home featured this week-- the bouncy terrier mix.

From Other Sites

Stephanie Catlett of Little Village has a nice memorial piece on the Red Avocado, featuring some great photos as well.

Jordyn Reiland of the Daily Iowan writes that that the Iowa City school board discussed improving transparency at last night's meeting, which included responding to open records requests.

Speaking of transparency, Iowa City School Superintendent Steve Murley has promised to present the board with report cards of his progress implementing reforms suggested by a series of audits of the school district.

Chastity Dillard of the Daily Iowan writes that the University of Iowa has announced an updated plan for flood rebuilding on campus. The Press-Citizen has some pictures up of some of the proposed plans, which locals say they are optimistic about.

Josh O'Leary of the Press-Citizen reports that more land in Iowa is being preserved by trusts.

The Iowa DNR is racing against time to fight against invasive species, writes James Q. Lynch of the Gazette.

University of Iowa defensive backs coach Phil Parker was hired as the team's new defensive coordinator.

Until this day, I had never heard of a MORP.

William Petroski of the Des Moines Register writes that state funding of universities continues to decline.

It'd be nice for the Iowa City School District if the Iowa State Senate's four-percent allowable growth bill passed. But in a divided congress and Republican Governor that wants to do away with allowable growth altogether, that seems unlikely.

Iowa City Daily Links Excerpt of the Day

Murley said that this monthly report will give the board an idea of the progress the administration has made and plan to make month-to-month.

Murley added that some of the solutions will take more than one month to completely solve, but that the progress made will still be included in the report card.

“I am extremely heartened in the fact that the issues I brought out are being recognized and addressed,” said Phil Hemingway, a resident who ran unsuccessfully for School Board last year. “I recognized that (Murley) is addressing (concerns) in a way that will have the greatest effect on the teaching in the classroom.”