Tax protest group loses multimillion dollar case in Iowa
In Cedar Rapids, 32 Iowans who sought $672 million claiming involuntary taxation lost their suit. Senior Judge Harold Vietor labeled the petition frivolous and groundless and may impose $10,000 fines per person with a hearing set for August 13. The ruling reinforces that federal income taxes are legal though debate remains on fairness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S. District Court
Cedar Rapids
Harold Vietor
Vietor
U.S. Supreme Court
Congress
Good Words Lose Luster to Shifting Connotations
The piece notes how terms once considered neutral or descriptive have gained negative or coded meanings. It cites words like boy gay queer and recreational as examples of how language evolves and can reveal user intent or social bias.
Washington’s media age fades as a celebrity culture grows
Virginia Postrel argues Washington loses its edge as an era of relentless political spin and media spectacle erodes public interest. She points to declining turnout, detachment from national issues, and a culture of celebrity over policy shaping the capital’s influence.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Virginia
Postrel
Los Angeles
Republican Congress
Washington
George
New York Times
R.W. Apple
Tiger Woods
Microsoft
Bill Gates
Colorado
JonBenet Ramsey
Wall Street Journal
Gerald Leib
Senate
Trent Loft
Politicos
Susan Molinari
Staten Island
CBS
GOP
Apple
Washington Post
Howard Kurtz
Bill Clinton
Beltway
Newt Gingrich
Clinton
Letters to the Gazette sparks demands for 24 hour fire staffing
A reader criticizes Cedar Rapids Fire Department policy of leaving stations empty for training. The letter argues for crews on duty 24 hours daily to improve emergency response and ensure backup is available during concurrent incidents. It cites funding priorities and questions bond approvals for new stations while existing ones sit unmanned.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Natalie Kleis
Gazette Letters Policy and Submission Guidelines
The Gazette accepts letters and guest columns but not all can be printed. Submissions must include the writer’s full name signature full street address and daytime phone number and may be edited. No anonymous letters. 300 word limit. one letter per writer every 30 days. column length about 700 words. mail to Cedar Rapids Gazette Box 511 Cedar Rapids Iowa 52406. fax and email options provided with full identification required.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
the Gazette
Feve
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
Real talk on deer and Iowa nature shifts
Reader Arne Oja of Cedar Rapids critiques deer overabundance and habitat loss debates in Iowa. He muses on potential strict measures and jokes about lifestyle changes while noting deer damage to gardens. He favors humane balance and prefers deer to buffalo as a lighter ecological risk.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Cedar
Iowa
Backbone State Park lake drains for dam repairs
Cedar Rapids editor notes Backbone State Park lake is drained for aging dam repairs. Other facilities also under major work. Readers urged to wait for reissue when water returns, as letters from Janet R. Holden and Jo Pearson accompany the critique.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Backbone
Delaware County
Janet R. Holden
Manchester
Jo Pearson
Cedar Rapids
Illogical Colloquialisms Jumping Through Language
The piece cites the Utah Jazz win over the Chicago Bulls with Stockton's loud celebration and a columnist’s musings on common misusages. It examines phrases like jump up and down and jump into the air, noting language stubbornness and logical quirks.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Joe Hladky
Ken Slaughter
Dale Larson
Jerry Elsen
Mark Bowden
Internal Revenue Service
IRS
Hollywood
Virginia I. Postrel
Reason
Bridge News
Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services
Ithout T.V
Huh
Lyers
AOL
Arne Oja
Backbone State Park
Max Hlas
Henee
Utah
Jazz
Chicago Bulls
Associated Press
Stockton
Gus Schrader
Carl Kane
Gus
Free Lance
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