Homers -- What's going right

STILL A HUB: The Cedar Rapids school board's decision in March to close Polk Elementary was controversial, and we were among those questioning the move. Now we're glad to see that the re-purposed building will serve not only as an alternative education center for students with mental health conditions, behavioral problems or discipline issues, it will continue to be a neighborhood hub offering social services, some expanded, to former Polk students who will attend other schools this fall. The Boys & Girls Club, Young Parents Network and Tanager Place will share space via an agreement the school board OK'd.

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FORECLOSURE TREND: While the number of homeowners facing foreclosure is on the rise again nationwide, the trend in Iowa is just the opposite. Foreclosures in the second quarter were down 16.7 percent from a year ago and down 18.6 percent from the first quarter of this year.

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SO FAR, SO GOOD: Cedar Rapids' water department is having no problems meeting increased demand for water during the drought, thanks to several system improvements made over the last 17 years.