Homers: What's going right

By The Gazette Editorial Board

---

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK: Cedar Rapids mail carrier Angie Martin put her previous experience as a trained volunteer firefighter to good use on Nov. 10. While completing her route, Martin noticed people standing outside of an apartment building at 127 20th Ave. SW. Even though flames were shooting up inside one of the apartments, she went inside, grabbed a fire extinguisher and got the blaze under control by the time firefighters got there. Then, true to her other duties, she finished delivering the mail.

lll

GOOD RESULTS: Of the 327 Cedar Rapids businesses that received free rent in 2009 as incentive to move back to flooded buildings, 87.5 percent are still operating in those buildings or, after the sixth-month qualification period, moved to new locations and are operating. $5 million in rent from federal disaster assistance was provided. Let's hope the improving economy and momentum from the city's other flood-recovery projects helps these businesses thrive on their own.

lll

UPDATE SIGN: November's 5.7 percent increase in state tax collections is the latest evidence that Iowa is recovering from a national recession. For the fiscal year that began in July, tax revenue is up 2.9 percent over the previous year.