Gomers

MIDTERM TURNOUT:

Roughly 53 percent of Iowa voters cast ballots in this year's midterm elections. Turnout fell just short of a record set in 2010. That's good news, unless you find it troubling that nearly half of the state's voters didn't bother casting ballots in a critical U.S. Senate race and other important local, state and federal contests. We do find it troubling, and think Iowa can do better.

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BALD EAGLE KILLING:

We can't imagine what compelled a What Cheer man to pursue, capture and kill a bald eagle in Mahaska County back in 2011. But we think it's appropriate that he's received a 60-day jail sentence, a $2,000 fine, a period of supervised release, a ban on hunting and community service hours. We hope the punishment serves as a deterrent to others.

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HEALTH CHALLENGES:

A new survey on health risks released by the Iowa Department of Public Health shows a rising number of respondents who are overweight, fewer who are exercising and an increase in the number of smokers. Also, only four states have a higher prevalence of binge drinking. That's bad news for Iowa's ongoing efforts to become the nation's healthiest state.

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