Gazette Daily News Briefing, December 2 and 3

The Gazette Daily News Podcast

Welcome to the weekend!

This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I’m here with your update for Saturday, December 2nd, and Sunday, December 3rd, 2023.

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday will be Cloudy, with a high near 38 with a slight chance of rain and snow after 5pm. Snow is likely Saturday night, possibly mixed with rain, particularly after 1am. Otherwise it’ll be cloudy, with a low around 33

Sunday morning snow and rain are likely, otherwise it’ll be mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Sunday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Vivek Ramaswamy condemns eminent domain, carbon capture pipelines

The Ohio biotech entrepreneur and Republican presidential candidate was joined at the Des Moines rally by state lawmakers who have led efforts to restrict eminent domain authority for the pipelines, as well as activists who have opposed their construction on their land.

Ramaswamy said Iowa’s Republican leaders have supported the pipelines’ construction despite the opposition of voters.

“Why are the Republican puppets that claim to represent you, why are they supporting this issue, or even worse, ignoring it?” he said.

Ramaswamy said the driving force behind his attention to the issue was the possibility of using eminent domain to involuntarily take land — through easements — to build pipelines.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo v. New London, which broadened the federal standard for eminent domain, was wrongly decided, he said, adding eminent domain should not be used for private companies.

Linn County Mental Health Access Center now open 24/7

the Linn County Mental Health Access Center is now available around the clock — 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year — taking walk-ins for adults ages 18 and over who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.

Patients can receive services without an appointment and do not have to be residents of Linn County to receive services at the center. People can come to the center on their own or be brought to the center by loved ones, law enforcement or mobile crisis teams. The facility is located at 501 13th St. NW, Cedar Rapids.

Iowa's GOP representatives join bipartisan vote to expel Santos

All four of Iowa’s Republican U.S. representatives voted Friday to expel New York Republican George Santos from Congress, joining the bipartisan vote to oust the representative who has faced a string of scandals and criminal allegations.

The extraordinary move makes Santos just the sixth member of the U.S. House — and first Republican — to be voted out by his peers. He is also the first since the Civil War to be expelled without first being convicted of a crime.

The vote, which required a two-thirds majority, passed 311-114. The “yes” votes included 105 Republicans and 206 Democrats, while the “no” votes included 112 Republicans and two Democrats.

Have a good weekend, everyone.