Homers & Gomers

HOMERS

HOTEL FORT DES MOINES: A $40 million renovation of Hotel Fort Des Moines is scheduled to begin this year under new ownership. The historic hotel opened in 1919 and has hosted many dignitaries, including presidents and musicians, but the hotel has experienced a decline in guests in recent years.

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GALLON DONOR: Ty Appleget, a 17-year-old senior at Solon High School, has received the Gallon Grad Award from the University of Iowa's DeGowin Blood Center.

Ty, who has been donating blood since October 2013, said he feels 'really good” knowing his donation has potentially saved the lives of 24 people.

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IMPROVING LITERACY: In an effort to improve literacy, the Young Parents Network kicked off its Ready to Read program last week.

The program provides books and other interactive activities to families involved with the YPN program in an effort to improve reading and comprehension skills.

GOMERS

TRAIN DERAILED: Fish and other wildlife may be in danger after Canadian Pacific railway cars derailed near Dubuque on Wednesday, spilling ethanol into the Mississippi River. As part of the extensive cleanup, officials are monitoring ethanol levels in the river, which can deplete oxygen for fish and wildlife.

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MOVE ALONG: Gomer to drivers who loiter in the passing lane on Iowa's four-lane roads and gomer to House Transportation Committee Chairman Josh Byrnes, R-Osage, for introducing a bill that would make it illegal to do so. We agree it's irritating when drivers poke along in the hammer lane, but if we outlawed everything that bothers us, Iowa Code would be long, indeed.

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NAME THAT SENATOR: Only 23 percent of millennials between the ages of 18 and 34 can tell you the names of their state's senators, according to a national poll by cable network Fusion. The poll, which asked 1,000 millennials about cultural and political issues, also concluded that millennials avoid identifying with either major party.

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