Gomers -- What's going wrong

HAY CRISIS: As the drought mercilessly wears on, Eastern Iowa cattle producers are dealing with not only record-high prices for grain fed to livestock, but also a critical shortage of hay for their livestock. What hay is available costs more than triple what it did in April. Adding to the stress is a state Department of Transportation rule requiring truckers hauling in hay from other areas to have a state oversize load permit and also a permit for each county where the trucks use county roads for delivery. Truckers are balking. Hay deliveries are dropping. Are these rules really necessary during a crisis situation?

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UI BEER DEAL: The University of Iowa for years has tried to address severe student drinking problems. The UI recently cracked down on alcohol-related problems at football games and developed an extensive program to educate students about the hazards of alcohol abuse. Yet the UI now will allow its football program's Tiger Hawk logo to appear on Anheuser-Busch promotional materials in bars, restaurants and grocery stores in return for about $45,000 a year from the beer company. Promotions must be accompanied by the words “Responsibility Matters.” Really?

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