New Iowa City Historic District Up for Council Vote, But Not Without Some Protest: Iowa City Daily News Links, Dec. 13

Never fear, the weekend is almost here!

On to the Links!

Cindy Hadish of the Gazette writes about a new potential historical district on Jefferson Street that is up for debate before the Iowa City City Council and is not without controversy.

A Chicago-Omaha train line that would potentially travel through Iowa City got some positive snaps during a public hearing in Des Moines Wednesday.

A nice video story by David Scrivner of the Iowa City Press-Citizen on therapy dogs being present for some finals week stress relief.

Dave DeWitte of the Gazette reports that Rockwell Collins picked up a rather lucrative contract to update a Navy airplane's communication system.

Adam Sullivan of the Iowa City Press-Citizen writes that local business leaders criticized Coralville for its use of TIF funding.

Jason Noble writes about a public hearing on the state budget, made slightly more interesting than usual by Iowa CCI's usual antics. (Des Moines Register)

Here's a writeup of a memorial service for the Evansdale cousins. (Des Moines Register)

Events to catch this weekend by Jim Musser of the Press-Citizen. From the Press-Citizen in general. And Little Village.

Local chocolatier Bochner's has been acquired by a larger chocolate maker. (Press-Citizen)

Daily Links Excerpt of the Day

About 60 people attended Wednesday’s night’s meeting, and many appeared to be passenger train supporters.

Jim Windsor III of Des Moines recalled in an interview how he rode trains from Iowa to his prep school in Connecticut in the early 1950s when he was a teenager. He had meals in a dining car and spent his nights in sleeper cars.

“It’s a wonderful way to travel,” Windsor said. Passenger trains are fuel efficient, environmentally realistic and are safer than battling traffic on congested highways, he added.

Ted Stirling of Mason City, a union official for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, said he doesn’t understand why the United States doesn’t have a better passenger railroad system.

“It’s a shame,” Stirling said. “We are spending billions and billions on highways.”

Daily Links Featured Directory Listing of the Day: Sweets and Treats