Homers: What's going right

CHAMPIONS GALORE: Eight team champions are crowned every year at the state high school track and field meet. Remarkably, schools from Linn and Johnson counties captured five of the titles in this year's meet: Iowa City West girls (Class 4A), Mount Vernon/Lisbon girls (3A), Solon girls (2A), Cedar Rapids Washington boys (4A) and Solon boys (2A).

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BETTER MAPS: Engineers at the state's new Iowa Flood Center, located at the University of Iowa, have produced flood inundation maps that predict which properties will get wet - and how deep it will get - as floodwaters approach. That can help property owners better plan for sandbagging or other flood-prevention efforts. The maps are available at the center's website: www.iowafloodcenter.org

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PALO CLUCKING: Palo took the lead in the Corridor home-chicken movement last week. The Palo City Council decided to allow residents to keep as many as four chickens in their yards as long as they're in a coop or fenced area at least 25 feet from property lines. Oh, and no roosters. Cedar Rapids and Iowa City have also discussed, but not approved, similar ordinances.