Atlantic Street Department Superintendent Kirk Knudsen said this (Friday) afternoon, South Olive Street, which was closed overnight through part of Friday, is now open from 22nd Street to Jasper Road.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of people crowded the streets of downtown Iowa City on Friday to demand action on climate change and welcome 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Thunberg told the crowds she was stunned by the number of people who had turned out, telling them, “This is the real hope — so many people gathering here on a weekday with such short notice.”

The teen reiterated the message she has spread around the world to act on science in addressing climate change. Thunberg spoke to world leaders last month at a United Nations summit in New York and has led students in global protests demanding action on climate change.

In Iowa City on Friday, she drew cheers when she said teens and children should have to take on such responsibility, “but right now, the world leaders keep acting like children, and somebody needs to be the adult in the room.”

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa high school science teacher has been placed on administrative leave after he made what appeared to be a threatening social media comment about 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg.

The Waterloo Community School District said Friday in an emailed statement that the teacher, Matt Baish, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Baish’s removal followed a Facebook comment he purportedly posted about Thunberg’s planned appearance Friday in Iowa City for a student-led climate strike demonstration, asking “Who’s all going?” In response, a user named Matt Baish wrote,

“Dont have my sniper rifle.” West High School’s website lists Baish as a science teacher at the school.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court has apologized to a legislative committee investigating the break-ins at courthouses and the court system’s own state-owned building as part of a cybersecurity vulnerability test.

Speaking Friday to the Senate Government Oversight Committee, Mark Cady acknowledged mistakes as the judicial branch worked to protect confidential information and promised they wouldn’t happen again.
Senators criticized several judicial branch administrators for signing contracts with a cybersecurity company without properly vetting them for inconsistencies or errors.

Information technology employees say they believe the men who burglarized the court buildings acted outside the scope of the contract. Two employees of the company Coalfire broke into the Dallas County Courthouse overnight Sept. 11 and were arrested. Both face criminal charges. Officials later found they also had entered undetected into the Polk County Courthouse and the state judicial branch building housing the Iowa Supreme Court.

Sen. Tony Bisignano called it a “covert stupid operation” that put law enforcement officers and the men involved in the break-ins at risk.

AMES, Iowa – Oct. 4, 2019 – Iowa Department of Transportation officials have reopened Interstate 29 between exit 61 (near Crescent) and exit 71 (near Loveland). At this time, I-29 is open in both directions throughout Iowa, however motorists may encounter occasional lane closures. Exit 66 at Honey Creek will remain closed due to flooding. The DOT says they will continue to monitor the situation closely, but roadways may close quickly in this area due to high waters. Travelers are urged to check www.511ia.org for the most recent closure information.

Flood-related closures remain on Iowa 275 and Iowa 333 near Hamburg.