Gomers

CAN'T HELP HERSELF? The Jennifer Wood story finally needs to take a different turn. Since 1997, a total of nearly 300 animals the Cedar Rapids woman tried to care for have been taken from her or she's voluntarily surrendered them. Within the last two weeks alone, she's lost at least 140 animals, closed her business and resigned from an animal rescue operation. Authorities say unsanitary conditions have been the big concern. They say she means well but gets in over her head and can't handle all of them. That also puts sudden big burdens on animal shelter resources.

lll

COUNTY SEAT COUNT: Further evidence that Iowa's modestly growing state population continues to concentrate in the relatively few metro areas: 60 county seat towns lost population in the last decade, according to the 2010 census. Elkader saw the biggest percentage drop: 13 percent. It's more troubling news for rural Iowa, where most school districts' student numbers continue to fall.

lll

STUCK: Proposals to legalize regulated medical marijuana for limited use in treating patients with severe, chronic pain are going nowhere in the Legislature. This should be doable.

n Comments: thegazette.com/ category/opinion/editorial or editorial@

sourcemedia.net