Homers -- What's going right

FEWER TRAFFIC FATALITIES: Heading into the Fourth of July weekend, 139 people died on Iowa roads in the first six months of the year, the Department of Transportation reported. That's 139 too many but, significantly, it's 33 fewer than the midyear average of 172 for 2007-12. DOT officials credit safer cars and fewer miles driven by Iowans during the recession for most of the drop.

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SPONSOR LANDED: Cedar Rapids' new riverside amphitheater has a naming-rights sponsor. The McGrath auto business family is on board for at least five years at $75,000 per year, which city officials say will offset much or all of the operating costs for the park and concert venue. It is scheduled for a “soft” opening on Aug. 30.

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THE RIGHT NAME: We were glad to see the Cedar Rapids City Council officially name the area across the Cedar River from downtown as Kingston Village. It recognizes the history of that area, which once was a town named Kingston before its annexation. It's also a prime redevelopment site linked to hopes of seeing success similar to New Bohemia. Councilman Don Karr led the name campaign.