Iowa must spend billions upgrading public buildings
An Iowa State University study for lawmakers finds maintenance delays have pushed up repair costs, estimating more than 8 billion dollars are needed over the next decade for public buildings including schools and hospitals. The report highlights roofs, fire safety gaps, and the Schoolhouse Fund as a key funding mechanism, while noting salaries dominate district budgets and urging prioritized investment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
OWA
Iowa State University
Iowa
Terry Branstad
Larry Murphy
D-Oelwein
Senate Appropriations Committee
Debate over banning Huckleberry Finn in schools
The piece argues against removing Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from curricula, noting censoring for 111 years and citing controversy over racial language and historical context. It criticizes 10th grade bans at National Cathedral School and calls for preserving the raft journey as a metaphor of freedom.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jim
Huck Finn
National Cathedral School
Washington
D.C
Washington Post
George Bernard Shaw
Mark Twain
Irresistibles shape news feed and eating habits
A columnist criticizes so called irresistibles in journalism, arguing public relations tactics and simple lists drive coverage. They describe quick, low effort stories like nutrition notes and toll hikes as ritual comforts, not real journalism, urging deeper analysis.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pavlov
Wall Street Journal
New England Journal of Medicine
Letters to the Gazette on wasteful school lunch spending
Rosanne Freeburg from Cedar Rapids argues the free lunch program wastes billions of tax dollars. She cites Cedar Rapids K-8 salaries totaling $1.525 million for food staff and a separate $21,000 in 93 94 for two execs. She urges using school kitchens only for excess food and requiring families to provide lunches.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
USDA
Cedar Rapids
ESC
Gazette letters welcome submissions with contact details
The Cedar Rapids Gazette invites readers to submit letters up to 300 words. Include name street address and daytime phone. only name and hometown will be published. Address Cedar Rapids Gazette Box 511 Cedar Rapids IA 52406 FAX 319 398 5846 email Gazette Net on Flowa 368 8800 CompuServe 75144 1041 internet 75144.1041 comnserve.com
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Support for Cedar Rapids school fine arts urged by parent
A Cedar Rapids parent urges greater community support for school fine arts citing three sons active in music dance drama and choir. The letter calls for more newspaper coverage and attendance at band jazz concerts shows and productions to recognize student effort beyond athletics.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Adoption for special needs children offers hope and aid
Social workers describe how special needs adoptions differ from healthy newborn adoptions. Many children require permanent, loving homes despite past abuse, addiction, or disability, and programs like Hillcrest Family Services recruit within 70 miles of Cedar Rapids with subsidies and photo listings to aid hopeful families.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
Hillcrest Family Services
Iowa
Department of Human Services
Cedar Rapids
Coalition of Families and Children
Also Mentioned on This Page
JF. Hladky Jr
Board of
Joe Hiadky III
Ken Slaughter
Dale Larson
Jerry Elsen
Mark Bowden
van Wyck Brooks
Jeff Greenfield
Universal Press Syndicate
the Gazette
Rosanne Freeburg
Citizens For Responsible School
Love
Fine
Nancylee Ziese
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