Homers

SAFER RIDES: Iowa City Council members could decide to tighten regulations on the city's taxi operators in order to make it easier for police to investigate crimes involving taxi cabs.

Police Chief Sam Hargadine recommended the changes after a recent sexual assault investigation was significantly slowed while officers searched for basic information about cabdrivers and vehicles in operation at the time of the incident.

KEEPING TIME: The Benton County Courthouse clock is being restored after it sat, stopped, for decades. Citizens raised the funds to pay for cleaning and restoration of the clock, which was installed in the courthouse tower in the early 1900s. They hope to have it back in place and keeping time by Thanksgiving.

WELCOME BACK: Campuses were bustling as thousands of University of Iowa, Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa students and their families unpacked cars and crowded stores for last-minute provisions during move-in days last week. The annual prelude to the start of the school year is the surest sign for college town residents that autumn is just around the corner.

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