Is the Chauncey Building Iowa City Class Warfare?: Iowa City Daily News Links, March 22

You know, Iowa weather, all this Iowa snow would be more endearing as gentle Iowa thunderstorms. Just saying.

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On to the Links!

Of all the critiques of the Chauncey project, I'd say this one may be the harshest I've seen. What do you think of it? (Letter to the Gazette)

Mitchell Schmidt writes that despite many protestations, the Newport Road rezoning received its second of three required approval votes for passage.

Three chefs and Iowa City natives are coming home for a one-of-a-kind meal. (Press-Citizen)

Iowa fans are just about ready for Iowa basketball to be "Back" reports Mark Carlson of KCRG.

County and city officials will meet next week to try to broker a deal on the controversial SEATS paratransit program. (Press-Citizen)

Iowa lawmakers are coming together to oppose the Olympics decision to remove wrestling as an Olympic sport. (Press-Citizen)

University of Iowa mock trial team is going to compete for a National Championship. (Press-Citizen)

A kitchen fire temporarily closed an Iowa City McDonald's (on Mormon Trek) but no serious damage or injuries were caused. (Press-Citizen)

The Iowa Senate will debate Governor Branstad's education reform package next week. (Des Moines Register)

The Iowa Senate is going to give their OK to Medicaid expansion, which likely won't go far beyond that. (Des Moines Register)

Democrats might give Gov. Branstad a mulligan on his board of regents picks. (Des Moines Register)

Featured Excerpt of the Day:

The board approved the second reading to rezone 91 acres of property at 2915 Newport Road from agricultural to Rural Cluster during Thursday’s meeting with a 4-1 vote. Supervisor John Etheredge again was the lone vote of dissent.

Supervisor Terrence Neuzil said the proposed development adheres to all the standards set by the board over more than a decade of planning and shaping the county’s Land Use Plan.

“The applicant has done all of the things we have asked,” he said.

Despite receiving a purchase offer earlier this week by local residents Jim Glasgow and Laurie Tulchin to buy the farm land for $10,000 an acre, property owner Sharon Dooley said she was steadfast in her plans to seek rezoning.

“The property is not for sale. It was for sale for three years. They had ample time if they wanted to buy the property to do so; they did not,” Dooley said.

Featured Directory Link of the Day: The In-Zone