Community Corner

When Grinning Isn't a Good Thing: Iowa City Daily Links, March 26

A quick rundown of local news.

Whoa, when did it become early Spring again? At least the chillier weather is appropriate for the million hoodie march today.

On to the Links!

From this Site

Speaking of the million hoodie march, we have from one of the scheduled participants.

Find out what's happening in Iowa Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hockey Players Against Grandpa, UFOs Near Hy-Vee and a Flashing Illegal Flasher: we have Iowa Patch sites up for your perusal.

An Iowa City man was arrested after he allegedly grinned and than some women wanted to see Friday.

Find out what's happening in Iowa Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

How the death of a pet to your children? That's what we're asking on this week's Parent Talk.

Meet Swisher the , our Iowa City Adopt this Pet of the Week.

From Other Sites

Rod Boshart of the Gazette writes that compromise still is eluding the Democrats and the Republicans in the statehouse as the legislative session is nearing a close.

Boshart also writes that ethics watchdogs are worried that a campaign finance disclosure loophole could lead to scads of secret donors this election cycle.

Kristen East of the Daily Iowan writes that state and local officials aren't all convinced about the new open records board that will be up for debate this week in the Iowa House of Representatives.

Emily Schettler of the Iowa City Press-Citizen writes that a new approach where students can work toward a bachelors and graduate degree at the same time is gaining popularity.

Mitch Schmidt of the PC writes that early feedback on passenger rail through Iowa from Chicago to Omaha has been very positive.

A KGAN story on the desire for a new East side elementary school.

Here's a Press-Citizen gallery from the annual Nearly Naked Mile. Go ahead and click, I won't judge you.

Congrats to both City and West High Schools for both schools papers advancing as finalists in the National Scholastic Press Association Online Pacemaker contest.

Good luck to this Horn Elementary student in the Iowa Geography Bee!

Daily Links Excerpt of the Day

An ongoing bill — Senate File 430 — calls for the creation of a seven-member Iowa Public Information Board to centralize people's concerns and complaints about accessing government records and meetings. Though the Iowa Senate passed the bill last year, it only moved into several House subcommittees last week. Similar bills have been proposed over the past six years without much progress.

Rep. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville, said the board is a good idea as long as it does not exempt anyone from complaints and record requests. Currently, the bill would exempt Gov. Terry Branstad and legislators from Public Information Board complaints.

"I think it's baloney," he said. "The governor and Legislature need to follow the same rules. I don't think there ever should be closed meetings. I think everything should be out in the open."


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