Politics & Government

Top 9 of Iowa: Gabby Douglas to Rio in 2016? Vote on Linn County Casino, Teen Faces Vehicular Homicide, Ankeny Football Legend's Future

Also, an editorial page regular passed away in Cedar Falls.

Why nine? Because the Patch community includes nine sites in Iowa: AmesAnkenyCedar FallsIowa CityJohnston, Marion, Urbandale, Waukee and West Des Moines.

9. Nearly two months after a fatal crash left a young Marion woman dead, authorities have filed two vehicular homicide charges against a Cedar Rapids teen. They say he was drunk and driving the wrong way on Interstate 380, leading to the head on crash the weekend before Thanksgiving.

8. Iowa City officials weighing projects for a key plot downtown, support a 20-story skyrise with a movie theater and bowling alley. It would be the tallest building in town. 

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7. Urbandale Middle School teacher Jon Parrott, who's supposedly been at the school since the Earth started to cool, was honored as the Urbandale Chamber 2012 Educator of the Year.

6. The Johnston school district's 1:1 iPad initiative officially kicked off last week, as seniors and parents attended a launch event to discuss set up and device care, vision, goals, structure of event, and digital citizenship and safety.

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5. by U.S. national team coordinator Martha Karolyi as a nod to her gravity-defying releases off the uneven bars, has said repeatedly that her “retirement” isn’t official and that she plans to compete in 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

4. Celebrating the transformed into a melting pot when over 100 people, from about 15 different backgrounds, some in outfits from their native country, gathered with a dish from their country to mingle and exchange stories.

3. After 43 years coaching the Ankeny Hawks, culminating in a state title last year, Ankeny football coach Jerry Pezzetti will hang up the maroon and gold for black and silver next year. Ankeny athletics director Kevin Biggs told the Des Moines Register that Pezzetti was given his preference to continue coaching next year at Ankeny Centennial High School, which opens in August 2013.

2. A Cedar Falls man, who seemed to have his hand in everything from teaching math to politics to even running for president, passed away at 80. Newspaper junkies might remember from the editorial pages. He was a frequent "letter to the editor" writer and contributor to a grammar column The Gazette.

1. A new casino in Linn County is one step closer to reality. Many in the business community and elected officials are backing the project, which some feel can help the community continue its rebound from the devastating 2008 flood. Last week, a petition drive was completed successfully with enough signatures to put the casino on the ballot, possibly as soon as March.

Past Tops:




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