Gomers -- What’s going wrong

TOO SLOW TO KNOW: As last week's blizzard approached Eastern Iowa, many schools released students early. Unfortunately, Iowa City's automatic phone notification process took more than two hours to connect with all the students' parents or other family contacts. A switch to a lower-cost system may not have been a good buy. Officials are looking at changes.

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STORM TRACK VEERS: And about that blizzard: Before it struck, folks in Cedar Rapids, Marion, Linn-Marr and Iowa City school districts were feeling pretty good about not having to call any snow days this year - especially after last year's severe winter forced several cancellations. Until Tuesday, most of the snowfalls this year had come on weekends, holidays or other off days.

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BUTT OUT: A dozen Iowa Senate Republicans want to ban traffic cameras, such as those in Cedar Rapids, everywhere in the state, saying it smacks of Big Brother government. But this is a local control issue - not the state's business unless it involves state highways. Local residents can holler at their city council and vote them out if they don't want the cameras, which, by the way, are improving safety here.