Homers

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Books set in Iowa by authors Marilynne Robinson and Jane Smiley are among 10 nominees announced for the fiction longlist of the National Book Awards. Robinson was nominated for 'Lila,” which returns to the Iowa setting of her Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Gilead.” Smiley was nominated for 'Some Luck,” which is the first a farm family trilogy.

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COMMUNITY LIVING:

Officials in Iowa City are considering a cohousing development of 13 privately owned, duplex-style homes are constructed around shared facilities for cooking, child care, laundry, exercise and gardening. It's an idea that has worked well in some cities along the nation's west coast.

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REUSABLE MILESTONE:

Waste Management recycled nearly 54 tons of waste during the 11-day Iowa State Fair this year. That's almost 20 tons more diverted from landfills than last year. The company partnered with Keep Iowa Beautiful to maintain 300 recycling containers on the fairgrounds, and promoted recycling on social media.

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