From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Cedar Rapids police are expected to announce new downtown late night enforcement policies. It comes as the owners of Pub 217 say it will start closing its doors at 11 o’clock on Saturday night because of increased late night troubles it sees in the neighborhood. Owners say the tipping point came after a fight broke out outside the business last Saturday night. Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell says it’s unacceptable to have an area in the city where people do not feel safe. She says police will announce a plan later today.
Crews from the National Weather Service now say the tornado that hit Greenfield Tuesday afternoon was an EF-4, packing winds of at least 175 miles per hour. The Weather Service says that tornado was on the ground for more than 40-miles, killing four people in Greenfield and one in nearby Adams County. Another 35 people were hurt. The greatest damage was in Greenfield, where the head of FEMA toured yesterday to pledge federal relief.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for parts of Iowa, including the Cedar River through Cedar Rapids. That’s why the city is activating parts of its flood protection system. Public works employees are moving to 24-hour coverage to start operating pumps when it starts raining this morning. The river is forecast to reach minor flood stage with a crest of 13.3 feet Saturday night, and the city is preparing for a potential crest at 14 feet. The City says parts of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, Prairie Park Fishery Trail, and Sac and Fox Trail will be closed. Cheyenne Dog Park and portions of Seminole Valley Park will also close.
An evaluator has found Tyler Dazey, the man accused of killing his mother in Dubuque earlier this year, is competent to stand trial. Dazey agreed with the evaluator’s findings, but asked to represent himself moving forward. The judge says he plans to make a decision on whether or not Dazey is competent to stand trial by the beginning of next week at the latest. The judge also says trial is expected to begin around July 9, as Dazey wants a speedy trial.
