Homers

CHECKOFF FOR THE HUNGRY

: The Legislature last week sent a bill to the governor that would replace a $1 checkoff on Iowa income taxes to support political parties with a checkoff for contributions that the state Department on Aging could spend on providing food to needy Iowans. It offers another way Iowans can provide immediate assistance to fellow residents struggling to make ends meet and feed their families.

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STEM LEADER: Iowa's three-year-old STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) initiative, launched by the Branstad administration, is reaching 100,000 Iowa students with the program's nine state-sanctioned curricula that often use non-traditional methods in the classroom. It's aimed at answering the state's need for more workers who are STEM savvy and spur students' interest in related academic fields. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds boasted of the success to date during a trip to Washington, D.C.

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DREAMING BIGGER: We're glad to see that the upgrading plans for a focal point of downtown Cedar Rapids, Greene Square Park, will represent a 'bigger dream” (and better one) than first envisioned. The challenge is to raise a total of $1.95 million to do it. The city has pledged $650,000 and several non-profits and private groups are working to come up with the rest.

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