Gomers: What's going wrong

VOLUNTEER HURT: Victor Prinze, 60-year-old from Modesto, Calif., has been a frequent volunteer in Cedar Rapids since the flood of 2008. His efforts came to a sudden stop Nov. 14. A garage he was helping to demolish collapsed on him. Prinze initially was hospitalized in intensive care.

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PREMATURE PROBLEMS: Iowa got a “D” on the March of Dimes premature birth report. One factor in the low grades is the growing number of elective Caesarean sections and induced births done before 39 weeks gestation. Some are scheduled to accommodate a doctor's schedule or because the mother is uncomfortable, says Stephen Hunter of the state's prenatal program. Such early procedures unnecessarily raise the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other problems in preterm babies.

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IDEA DEMOLISHED: Businessman Michael Richards recently proposed Linn County pay him what it would cost to demolish the flood-damaged Freeway Lounge so he could move and repurpose the building. Supervisors liked the idea but nixed it after discovering the Federal Emergency Management Agency would not reimburse if the structure was moved instead of demolished. Too bad FEMA doesn't have more flexibility.