Gomers: What's going wrong

NO CHEAP SOLUTION: The former Viola Elementary School building is in such bad shape that Linn County Public Health officials says it's dangerous. Vandals have accelerated the structure's deterioration. The owner says he's trying to sell it to a non-profit group that could use it for an art institute. If it isn't repaired soon, the county may demolish it, which could cost taxpayers $200,000 because of expense for asbestos removal.

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TUITION CRUNCH: Students at Iowa's three public universities were part of a, uh, milestone this year: Their tuition payments covered more than half the cost of the academic bill - the first time ever. State aid's portion of the cost formula has been dropping, especially in the last couple of years of belt-tightening because of the recession. In 1981, the state covered 77 percent; tuition was 21 percent.

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BAT BUMMER: Caves at popular Maquoketa Caves State Park were closed Monday for an indefinite period. Officials are trying to stop the spread of whitenose syndrome disease, which has killed huge numbers of bats in northeastern United States and is moving into the Midwest. Human traffic can worsen the spread.