Homers -- What's going right

A STEP CLOSER: The pending proposal for Cedar Rapids' east side of the river is included in a bill authorizing national flood protection projects submitted in the U.S. House last week. It's one of five flood-risk management projects listed in a bill that got bipartisan support in the Senate in May but didn't specifically name projects. Cedar Rapids' project is estimated at $103.4 million. If approved, the federal government would pay 65 percent, leaving the remainder for the state and/or city to fund.

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DISTINCTIVE: Cedar Rapids' new $20 million central fire station - which replaces its flood-damaged predecessor - opened Wednesday to raves from firefighters and others. Fast-opening doors, energy-saving features and other efficiencies, plus its striking design with a brick exterior and high arches above the garage doors, make it distinctive. Its location is expected to enable faster response.

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UI IN SPACE: An instrument developed by a University of Iowa team was key in recently verifying that Voyager I, a spacecraft launched in 1977, is the first-ever man-made object to reach interstellar space, a milestone reached last October or November.

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