Homers: What's going right

BRING 'EM IN: On Sept. 1, the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency began free recycling of electronics instead of charging fees for televisions, computers and other items. As of Sept. 20, the results have been dramatic compared to the same period a year ago: Computer monitors recycled, 227 this year and 35 a year ago; televisions, 578, up from 172.

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HISTORIC SEWERS: OK, committing public money to a museum exhibit, photographic documentation and historical markers does seem like a stretch to get federal disaster aid for flood-damaged sewers. Nonetheless, we're still glad Cedar Rapids will get $27.6 million to replace five flood-damaged sanitary sewers, two of which were built of brick in the late 1800s. FEMA, as part of its mandated process, must take into account the “historical significance” of damaged public infrastructure. Sewers, too.

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PLAIN PASSES: A bill requiring federal agencies to write some documents more plainly passed House muster and is on the president's desk. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, worked for years for this legislation, which applies to documents likely used by the public, such as college aid and IRS forms.