Gomers: What's going wrong

NO COURAGE?: Since 1996, non-partisan Project Vote Smart has annually surveyed state and national political candidates for their stands on issues. This year in Iowa, only 4 percent of state legislative candidates took the Political Courage Test - the lowest participation rate ever in any state. And neither of Iowa's major-party gubernatorial candidates took the test.

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METH MESS: The number of meth labs reported in 2009 in Iowa was down 82 percent from the peak of about 1,500 in 2004, thanks largely to 2005 legislation to regulate and track pharmacies' sales of a key meth ingredient, pseudoephredrine. But the availability of meth hasn't dropped because more is coming from sources outside the state. And now in-state meth-makers have taken to using smaller, one-pot methods of making the drug, making it easier to hide.

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SCAMMED: At least 13 businesses, most in Johnson County, have fallen prey to a scam man offering advertising to sponsor high school football teams in Iowa City. This scammer apparently was well prepared and convincing. And, sadly, his ruse may leave residents wary about supporting future high school fundraisers.