Gomers -- What's going wrong

OH, NO, NOT AGAIN: With considerable evidence so far that Iowa City's 21-only ordinance is working to reduce problem drinking and related crime, it's disappointing to see that a bar owner and manager are trying to again resurrect this issue with a petition drive calling for a repeal of the law or a public revote. In 2010, after previous attempts at regulation had failed, the City Council approved an ordinance that bans after 10 p.m. underage people in establishments with liquor licenses. Then, after a petition drive to put the measure on the ballot, voters upheld it. Let's hope it fails and the community can put this debate to rest.

lll

READING STAGNATION: A recent study by Harvard University ranked Iowa last among 41 states that participated in a national test measuring improvement in reading scores over the past 19 years. Other data shows that in 2012, one-fourth of Iowa fourth-graders scored below proficient on the state reading test, which uses a lower proficiency standard than the nation's most consistent measure, the National Assessment of Educational Progress. All this is more confirmation that Iowa students are being passed up by their peers in more states.

Comments: editorial@thegazette.com or (319) 398-8262