Homers -- What's going right

MAKING IT SAFER: After a new pavement treatment was applied on the S curve of Interstate 380 through downtown Cedar Rapids, crashes dropped by more than half and injuries by more than 80 percent during its first year of use, compared to averages from the previous five years, says the Iowa Department of Transportation. The treatment is a layer of polymer concrete topped with sharp aggregate to increase a vehicle's grip on the road. It cost $494,000 for 1.8 miles of I-380, and is expected to last for about eight years. This apparently adds another level of safety after traffic cameras installed near the S curve nearly four years ago also led to fewer accidents, police reported.

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CARRIERS DELIVER: The Gazette Company again is thankful this holiday season for carriers who deliver our newspaper in the wee hours of the morning, often in challenging weather conditions.

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LEARNING ENGLISH: Kudos to the Catherine McAuley Center in Cedar Rapids and its distinctive program that helps immigrants and refugees learn English as a second language. The center offers free, individual tutoring by trained volunteers, and is averaging 150 students a week, with a waiting list.