Gomers: What's going wrong

H1N1 SPREADS: A fourth Iowan died last week from H1N1 influenza-related complications. Meanwhile, at least hundreds of students across Eastern Iowa, including 400 in one Iowa City high school alone, missed classes because of illness, many if not most of them apparently hit with H1N1. Vaccine is beginning to arrive in Iowa but the amount is behind the demand curve. Everyone should at least practice good hygiene to help prevent the spread. Call the flu hot line 1-(800) 447-1985 or visit www.idph.state.ia.us/h1n1 for more information.

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COST SOARS: In 2007, an Amtrak feasibility study estimated it would cost $54.9 million to bring passenger trains from Chicago to Iowa City. But Illinois and Iowa transportation officials have applied for $233 million in federal stimulus funds for the project. Why such a huge difference? State officials say Amtrak omitted such costs as improved gate crossing signals and flashers, renovating three train stations, some new track construction and an upgraded train-control system (costing $20 million) mandated after the 2007 study. The estimated cost of cars and locomotives jumped from $4.2 million to $59 million. At four times the original estimate, does this project make economic sense?