Iowa lawmakers debate massive school aid amid fire code concerns
The Iowa Legislature opens Jan. 12 as House Leader Brent Siegrist proposes 60 million over three years and Senate Dem Michael Gronstal calls for 100 million to address aging school buildings. The editorial argues nonuniform district upkeep warrants state aid with performance strings and shared costs across districts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
House
Brent Siegrist
Council Bluffs
Michael Gronstal
Senate
Iowa
Baseball salaries rise while attendance and support wane
Major league baseball players earned an average of 1.3 million dollars last year, a 19.3 percent rise. Yet fan enthusiasm dropped after the 1994 strike, ticket prices climbed, and owners face shrinking taxpayer help as franchise values shift, with the Florida Marlins exemplifying a fragile foundation for big pay.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peevers
Associated Press
Ball Park
Florida Marlins
Wayne Huizenga
Marlins
Letters to the Gazette Make tracks for Amtrak
A reader urges choosing rail travel after years of travel delays and flying woes. The note praises Amtrak staff, notes free depot parking at Mount Pleasant, and cites trains running smoothly even in poor weather with full coaches.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
1-800-Usa-Rail
Louisiana
Mount Pleasant
Usa-Rail
Amtrak
Cedar Rapids backs heritage plan amid property fears
Cedar Rapids City Council asks President Clinton to designate eight miles of the Cedar River as an American Heritage River Site seeking prestige funds and oversight. Critics cite land takings and forced sales in other corridors, urging residents to contact officials to oppose or demand safeguards.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Clinton
Cedar River
Hudson Valley
New York State
Blackstone River
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Columbia River Gorge
U.S. Forest Service
Ohio
Cuyahoga River Valley
Indiana Sand Dunes
Buffalo National River
Arkansas
Mississippi
Missouri
Unesco
U.S
U.N
Congress
Phone
Gazette
Sandra Wolcott
Gasoline price adjusting puzzling Cedar Rapids area
In Cedar Rapids and Marion prices for regular gas hover around 1.179 per gallon with nearby Manchester at 1.139 and Ryan at 1.149. A reader questions why pricing is so uniform and asks for an explanation of the Iowa Attorney General’s “price adjusting” reply to a prior complaint.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Marion
Manchester
Coggan
Ryan
Iowa
Des Moines
Road menace crackdown urged by Iowa reader
Harold R. McCormick of Cedar Rapids argues for stronger laws to curb habitual offenders on the roads. He questions rights for repeat violators, urges public input to lawmakers, and warns that deaths from such incidents demand action. He emphasizes accountability and legislative change.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Questioning ethanol and global warming at a environmental conference
A reader challenges the motives behind limited discussion of ethanol at a climate conference. He cites emissions claims, questions the science on human driven global warming, and urges scrutiny of environmental groups and EPA tax incentives.
Dispatcher praised for aiding Texas fugitive search
In a Nov 29 story about identifying fugitive James Nix, praise is given for the Linn County Sheriff’s Department role though the dispatcher’s name was omitted. Sharene Ottaway thanks Set and M L Pazour for well done.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Texas
James Nix
Sharene Ottaway
Gazette letter policy invites 300 word submissions
The Gazette outlines submission rules for letters to the editor requiring name, street address and daytime phone number. Only the writer’s name and hometown will be published, with Cedar Rapids as the contact city and box 511 in Cedar Rapids Iowa 52406 as the mailing address. Fax and email options are provided for submissions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
The Senior Zone and the autumn of childhood
Melinda Swezey Tomsic recalls entering The Senior Zone as a child moves through high school. The piece chronicles dinner chaos, endless activities, shifting priorities, and parental concerns about college while noting the emotional and financial toll on families.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Carl Sandburg
Missouri
Truman State
Also Mentioned on This Page
Joe Hladley
Ken Slaughter
Dale Larson
Jerry Elsen
Mark Bowden
Edito
Irs
Gos
Pyle Madi
Dervica
the Gazette
Iowa City
Joe Vranich
St. Martin’s Press
Beware Heritage Site Program
Marvon Smith
Harold R. McCormick
Dave Gosch
Paul Harvey
Greens
EPA
John R. Stiegelmeyer, Vinton
Melinda Swezey Tomsic
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