Gomers -- What's going wrong

PARTING SHOT? Johnson County supervisor Rod Sullivan called it “downright deceitful.” He referred to outgoing county auditor Tom Slockett's recent action to spend $58,000 more than budgeted for voting-related equipment after supervisors had approved about $4,300 for such purchases. Hard to blame Sullivan and his board colleagues, and taxpayers, for feeling burned. Yet supervisors signed off on the purchase claim a few weeks ago, Slockett told The Gazette. Stay tuned.

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ANOTHER INVADER: Several new invasive species have threatened Iowa in recent years. Now another one is on the horizon. State experts have verified established populations of the brown marmorated stink bug in Scott County. It feeds on grain, fruit and vegetable crops, and can cause huge losses. No immediate threat, but there's worry five to 10 years out.

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VETERANS HOME FINED AGAIN: The state-run Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, under a moratorium on new admissions for Medicare or Medicaid-supported residents since Sept. 22, has been fined by federal officials a third time in four months for not meeting care standards.

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