Gomers

TRAGIC LOSSES

: Barely five months into the job, the city of Cedar Rapids' new community development director died suddenly of a stroke last week. Highly sought from his previous position in Wyoming, Gary Krause, 53, had already drawn much praise from both city officials and neighborhood residents for his engaged, sincere and eager-to-learn outreach to the community. Our brief experience with Gary was similar. ... Days earlier, the community lost Doug Jackson, 60, a dynamic and beloved performer on many local stages, and someone known for spreading joy to many others throughout his life.

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MORE SHOOTING:

Cedar Rapids police called attention to a recent uptick in incidents involving gun shots: 28 through the first four months of the year, compared to 11 last year. With the warm-weather months ahead, there's also worry that this trend could escalate. Police are modifying their tactics but encountering more reluctance from witnesses and victims to provide useful information that could help apprehend the offenders. That's troubling and raises questions. Are the police not seen by some residents as trusted partners in keeping their neighborhoods safe? If so, why? What more can police do? Why aren't residents stepping up?

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NO HELP FOR ROADS

: One of the biggest disappointments of the just-concluded legislative session: yet another pass on deciding how to pay for sorely needed road repairs.

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