Featured Stories
– Republican states file lawsuits challenging Biden's student loan repayment plan
– Manchester weighs options after $4.25 million judgment
– Adults can enjoy Easter in eastern Iowa, too.
Episode transcription
Iowa and 10 other states will soon sue the Biden administration to block new student loan forgiveness plans.
And since then, the city of Manchester is weighing its options following a $4.25 million judgment.
Plus things to do in eastern Iowa this weekend
Welcome to the weekend edition of the Gazette Daily News podcast. This podcast provides a quick look at the latest headlines from The Gazette newsroom. I'm Bailey Cichon.
First, Iowa is part of a group of 11 states suing over the Biden administration's new student loan repayment plan. The federal lawsuit was filed Thursday and is led by the state of Kansas. The group alleges that Biden overstepped his authority when creating the SAVE plan, which provides faster cancellation and lower monthly payments for millions of student loan borrowers. SAVE plans became available to borrowers last year. As a result, more than 150,000 people's loans were cancelled.
The lawsuit asks a judge to immediately halt the SAVE plan. The group argued in its lawsuit: “The last time the defendants heard this, the Supreme Court said this practice was illegal. Nothing has changed since then.”
The Department of Education said Congress in 1993 gave the department authority to define the terms of income-based repayment plans. The Department of Education declined to comment on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed the same week the White House hosted a “Day of Action” closing quote to promote the SAVE plan. The Biden administration announced that more than 7.7 million borrowers are enrolled in the plan. That includes more than 5 million borrowers whose monthly payments have been reduced to $100 or less because of their annual incomes. The plan is a modification of the income-based repayment plan that the Ministry of Education has offered since the 1990s. Biden's plan offers generous terms for more borrowers, including lower monthly payments and the ability to cancel loans in as little as 10 years. Unlike other plans, it prevents interest from snowballing as long as the borrower makes monthly payments.
Biden said the plan aims to “give more borrowers breathing space and lift them out of the burden of student loan debt.”
Kansas and Iowa are also joined in the lawsuit by Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.
Next, the city of Manchester is considering its legal options after a jury ordered the city to pay $4.25 million to the family of a man killed in a 2020 collision with a police officer. Inspector James Wessels, now retired from Manchester Police, was involved. On December 10, 2020, in a high-speed collision with Augustine “Gus” Morman. Moman was riding a motorcycle. Other officers called off the pursuit for safety reasons, but Wessels continued the pursuit, according to the complaint and police report. He then collided with Moman's motorcycle. The lawsuit claimed Wessels caused the crash and was cited at the end as “intentionally killing Moman.”
A Delaware County jury found Wessels guilty of assault and battery. The jury found that the actions of the officers who chose to pursue Morman's motorcycle were not justified. The jury also ordered Wessels to pay $10,000 in punitive damages to Morman's parents, Dan and Sandy Morman, of Colesburg. On Friday, Manchester Mayor Connie Behnken said: “We respect the jury's verdict. However, we are considering our options and further litigation may be pending.” End quote.
So, are you looking for some Easter fun this weekend? Here are some things to do in eastern Iowa.
Noel Ridge Greenhouse is hosting its annual Easter Showcase on Saturday and Sunday. See fairy gardens by the Friends of Noel Ridge, exhibits by master gardeners, orchids by the Eastern Iowa Orchid Society, and more. Admission is free and the first 500 people 12 and under will receive a free plant.
Bloomsbury Farm is hosting a Bunny Bash this weekend and on April 6th. Visitors can cuddle baby bunnies and chicks, meet Bloomsbury's bunnies, and explore the farm's attractions. Admission is $15.95 in advance for ages 3 and up or $19.95 at the door. Children ages 2 and under are admitted free. To participate in the Easter egg hunt, he adds $3 to the admission fee.
Additionally, Big Grove Brewery locations in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids will host a free Easter egg hunt for children and adults on Sunday morning. Adults who participate will earn free beer tokens. A brunch menu is also available. Find a list of hunt start times in the link in this episode's description.
So let's take a look at the weather in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Saturday will be cloudy. The expected high temperature is 56 degrees and the low temperature is 41 degrees. Sunday will be cloudy with a high of 51 degrees. Temperatures drop to 39 degrees. It will finally rain on Monday. The expected high temperature is 50 degrees and the low temperature is 36 degrees.
Thank you for listening to the Gazette Daily News Podcast. Get the latest news from Eastern Iowa at Gazette.com. I'm Bailey Cichon.
Comment: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com
