Gomers: What's going wrong

LOTTERY DRAMA: The saga of the $14 million Iowa Lottery winner gets messier, and smellier, every passing week. A New York attorney, Crawford Shaw, representing a trust, turned in the winning ticket Dec. 29, about 2 hours before the deadline for claiming the jackpot. But Lottery officials' efforts to determine who actually bought the ticket have been unsuccessful so far, as Shaw has been less than forthcoming. And last week, The Gazette reported that Shaw is linked to a Delaware fraud case, which Lottery officials said they'll investigate. Better hang on to the money.

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LESS HELP FOR VETERANS: A $5 million legislative appropriation to create the Iowa Veteran Trust Fund has grown to about $14 million through proceeds from Iowa Lottery games. The Legislature intended the interests earned on the fund to be used for helping veterans in need with job hunting, dental care and emergencies. However, low interest rates in recent years have not generated enough earnings to help all veterans. The interest has been as much as $173,000 but fell to just $41,000 last year. Legislators are looking at loosening some of the fund's rules.

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