Gomers: What's going wrong

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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HOPES ON HOLD: Cedar Rapids leaders' hopes and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's actions on funding a long list of flood-related projects are still about $160 million apart. Ongoing disputes between the city and FEMA are yet to be resolved. At stake is exactly how much the city's share will be, as well as some expected delays in construction of some projects, including the new Central Fire Station and animal control facility, if the decisions aren't made soon.

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ALCOHOL PROBLEMS: The Cedar Rapids Police Department's crime report for 2010 probably didn't do much to diminish our community's ranking as the 38th “drunkest city” in the nation, as recently compiled by the Daily Beast website, based on government statistics for consumption rates and related health problems. Alcohol-related crimes in Cedar Rapids increased 6.74 percent to 2,120 cases last year. Some local counselors put partial blame on post-flood financial and emotional problems.

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UP AND UP: Prices of all fuels for vehicles and heating homes, except natural gas, are rising and expected to continue increasing in the months ahead.