University of Iowa Reports 14 Infractions to the NCAA: Iowa City Daily Links, June 18

Guys, don't throw anything at me, but I'm sort of starting to miss all the rain we were getting a few weeks ago.

On to the Links!

Erin Jordan of the Gazette writes that Iowa City's United Action for Youth has hired an anti-gang advocate from Omaha.

Gov. Branstad says that legalizing marijuana won't help Iowa with its racial disparity when it comes to arrests.

Tara Bannow of the Iowa City Press-Citizen writes that the University of Iowa sports program has reported 14 minor violations to the NCAA.

Wake Up Iowa City is going to be vacating its current location in White Rabbit to focus on different opportunities including coffee roasting for sale. (The Daily Iowan)

Iowa City Regina baseball claims a big win.

Once suspended Trojan Dondre Alexander has switched his post graduate plans. (KCRG)

Gov. Branstad says that the state is considering a change to its school start date. (Press-Citizen)

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is promising more moderate price hikes in the future. (Press-Citizen)

Daily Links Excerpt of the Day

The documents outline so-called secondary infractions that coaches made while attempting to recruit potential student-athletes to the university, things such as making too many phone calls to high school students, calling students in the wrong grade or treating the wrong people to complimentary meals on the university’s dime. Eight of the cases are still awaiting a response from the NCAA, which is undergoing a major overhaul of its secondary infraction reporting protocols.

The NCAA defines secondary infractions as isolated or accidental incidents that provided only a minimal competitive advantage in recruiting a potential student-athlete. Major violations, by contrast, provided extensive recruiting advantages and can lead to significant penalties against the school.

UI’s violations come two months after it was reported that Iowa State University committed “major” recruiting violations and was facing NCAA penalties. Iowa State’s violations totaled 1,484 impermissible phone calls over a three-year period across all sports — most of which were deemed secondary in nature, but 79 of which the NCAA is evaluating for punishment.