Gomers

VEISHEA RUINED YET AGAIN: It's tough to describe the disappointment and frustration spawned by yet another ugly riot in the midst of Iowa State University's VEISHEA festival. A springtime point of pride and rallying point for students and alumni has once again been transformed into an embarassment by alcohol-fueled violence, this time on Tuesday night. ISU President Steven Leath made the correct and necessary call when he cancelled events for the remainder of the week.

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THE UNION LOSES ITS EXEMPTION: In March, the Iowa City City Council designated The Union Bar as an entertainment venue, giving it pass on the 21-only ordinance on show nights. Now, a month later, the bar is losing that exemption because too many underage patrons have been cited for alcohol possession. Given the long debate and multiple public votes that created and sustained the 21-only ordinance, the expemtion seemed like an bad idea from the beginning.

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MISSING SENATOR: We're glad to hear state Sen. Hubert Houser, R-Carson, has returned to the Statehouse after being away since March 4. We understand that Houser, who is retiring, felt more needed at his family's expadnng chicken farm. But he was elected by his constitutents to do a job, and that job isn't finished until the 2014 session ends.

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