Homers: What's going wrong

ENERGY COLLABORATION: McKinley Middle School, Kirkwood Community College's Students in Free Enterprise chapter, Alliant Energy and Sam's Club partnered to reduce energy use at McKinley. Grants, audits and advice led to more efficient practices and installation of energy-efficient lighting and motion-sensing switches. It's a collaboration that other schools can learn from.

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COMMUNITY BENEFACTOR: The Hall-Perrine Foundation put hefty support toward post-flood rebuilding projects in Cedar Rapids during December. The latest is $3 million toward the new public library. That followed other major grants earlier last month for the Convention Complex and riverfront amphitheater projects - $2.5 million and $ 1 million, respectively. The foundation's reasoning: These projects fit its mission of improving the quality of life for local residents.

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INSIGHT: The Hawkeyes' dramatic Insight Bowl football victory over a talented and favored Missouri team lifted some of the gloom off a disappointing, controversial season and also proved again that good programs overcome the absence of stars lost to injury or bad behavior.