Gomers: What's going wrong

CRIME UP: Iowa City has long been one of the safest cities in the Midwest, and it still is. But the 2008 FBI crime report wasn't good news. Violent crime jumped 24 percent and property crime 27 percent over 2007, adding weight to the perception that there's a growing crime problem in the city. Police say it's a sign that their plea for more officers is justified. The city is looking for money.

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SHORTAGE: Iowa has a shortage of teachers in a dozen areas, including science, math, special education and what used to be called home ec. This extends a national trend that likely will get worse before it gets better. At least one-third of the nation's teachers are likely to retire within four years and the turnover rate among new teachers is 20 percent within three years. Fewer people want to teach because of the stress and pay levels that often don't compete well with the private sector.

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CHICKEN FEED: Is deciding whether to allow a few properly confined chickens (hens) in residential backyards so difficult? Apparently. The Iowa City Council put it off until next year, saying it's too preoccupied with flood-recovery issues.