With New Plans Presented, City Council Closer to Making a Flood Mitigation Decision: Iowa City Daily News Links, Oct. 4

So ready for election to be over. 

On to the Links!

Gregg Hennigan of the Gazette writes that two options have emerged from a firm hired to give the city flood mitigation options, and flood mitigation opponents likely won't be happy with either of them.

On this note, Lee Hermiston of the Iowa City Press-Citizen writes that city council member Susan Mims said that whatever flood mitigation decision the city council makes, they're bound to upset somebody.

The first presidential debate was last night, and most pundits gave the win to Mr. Romney. Here's how Iowa reacted on social media. Here is some fact checking of the debate claims.

UI President Sally Mason's trip to China and Taiwan this summer cost $128,000. (Press-Citizen)

For the Iowa Hawkeye defense, new defensive line plus new coordinator equals the same old highly ranked defense, so far. (Sioux City Journal)

Nate Otjen of the Daily Iowan writes that the city council gave their final approval for the new street cafe ordinance.

A judge ruled that the University of Iowa had the right to fire an attorney who was involved in the handling of a sexual abuse incident by Iowa football players in 2007. (Des Moines Register)

The annual zombie march is happening again this Saturday. (Press-Citizen)

Here are some weekend events not to miss, from the Press-Citizen. And here's a schedule of weekend events from Little Village.

Daily Links Excerpt of the Day

The levee became a priority for city officials soon after the 2008 flood swamped the neighborhoods in the area. The city even received an $8 million grant from the federal government for a project initially estimated to cost $10 million.

The intent was to protect the area to the north of Taft Speedway, including a 92-unit condominium complex. The condos were not eligible for buyouts following the flood, while the 13 properties on Taft Speedway were.

Only four Taft Speedway owners took buyouts, though, and if the levee is built, the nine remaining homes would be left between the levee and the river. Those residents have disputed that they had all the information needed to make a timely decision on whether to rebuild or take a buyout, although some wanted to keep their riverfront homes no matter what.

Featured Directory Listing of the Day: Thornberry Off Leash Dog Park