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What should move faster over the Internet — an ambulance emergency call or someone’s personal music download? A transfer of banking funds or a routine e-mail?Such obvious priorities are determined by Internet provider companies who manage networks. Through tiered levels of service, traffic and applications on the information highway are directed.Now the Federal Communications Commission is proposing two new rules that supporters say is needed to protect access to the Internet — ensuring what’s called “net neutrality.” We’re skeptical that ... continue reading

Home schooling is gaining popularity throughout the country, and Iowa is no exception. One of every 17 Iowa students is home schooled. This education alternative is something we support, so long as students demonstrate they’re learning at high level and the state’s funding to local school districts represents a fair share of the costs incurred.We think Iowa’s home schooling program strikes a good balance and is a largely successful alternative form of education that should be protected to help serve ... continue reading

A reasonable compromise has been struck in the “Ed Thomas bill,” and we urge the Iowa Legislature to move it quickly to Gov. Chet Culver’s desk.With Jan Thomas, widow of the beloved Aplington-Parkersburg football coach and community leader, in attendance, the House Judiciary Committee last Thursday unanimously approved sending the bill to the full House for debate. The governor already has indicated he supports the legislation.The bill attempts to close what many see as a flaw in state law. It ... continue reading

It’s time for Iowa City councilors to tighten regulation of a burgeoning taxicab industry.Cabs are frequently used in this college town, and some operations have been playing fast and loose with their customers, charging fares that vary greatly from those they’ve filed with the city.Complaints of gouging are commonplace — and recently were verified by a Gazette reporter.We have no problem with Iowa City cab companies setting their own rates. As a business, they should have that right, and there ... continue reading

WORKING IT OUT: The University of Iowa is requiring all 13 of its student fraternities to have house directors on site next fall. These older, more mature students must be in graduate school or young professionals serving in the community. Their job is to be a mentor to younger students and keep the house in good running order. All 13 UI sororities already have seen the light and have such directors.l l lLONGTIME HELPER: Haiti’s recent massive earthquake inspired many ... continue reading

REBATE ANGST: Iowa’s Office of Energy Independence administered the federal stimulus appliance rebate program for the state’s $2.87 million share toward rebates for those purchasing very energy-efficient appliances. Officials planned for a two-week application period. Within six hours, the money was gone. About 9,000 people secured rebates but many thousands more spent many frustrating hours trying to access the Web site or phone center. More than 1.1 million hits on the Web site in a state with 1.2 million households. ... continue reading

Hopes that Congress will forge major reforms to curb soaring health care costs and improve access to care have faded. Billionaire Warren Buffett, a strong supporter of President Barack Obama, last week said the bills on the table won’t slow the “economic tape worm” that puts U.S. business at a competitive disadvantage and sucks the life out of personal finances.Back in Eastern Iowa, it seems best we keep trying to take care of our own.“There are no solutions coming out ... continue reading

There are still details to work out, but it looks like the Freedom Festival’s Fourth of July festivities, including fireworks, are returning to downtown Cedar Rapids this year.That’s great news for a portion of the city that could use a boost. It will be the first time since the flood of 2008 inundated the community’s core that fireworks will arc into the night sky downtown. Gazette Communications is presenting sponsor of the festival, in large part because our company wanted ... continue reading

We don’t need the U.S. Postal Service as much anymore. And the last thing we need Congress to do is to bail out USPS’s losses. Lawmakers already have piled up more debt than we can see our way out of anytime soon.Postmaster General John Potter argued Tuesday that Congress must give him more flexibility if this “quasi-independent” corporation of the federal government is to survive. His said the USPS will lose $238 billion in the next 10 years if changes ... continue reading

Once again, the question of who should be allowed inside Iowa City’s drinking establishments is before Iowa City councilors. And this time, it finally appears the City Council has enough votes to raise the bar-entry age to 21.It’s past time to directly confront the perennial problem. Like it or not, the legal drinking age is 21. Allowing 19- and 20-year-olds to frequent bars and surrounded by alcohol, muddies the waters, at best.Councilors expect to receive a draft 21-only ordinance at ... continue reading

Dan Baldwin is a tough act to follow. Thankfully, his successor has qualifications that fit the challenge.Baldwin leaves an impressive record as he winds up his seven-plus years as president and CEO of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. The non-profit public foundation’s assets grew from $23 million to $95 million during that span. In 2009 alone, 40 endowed funds were added, bringing the total to 539.That growth is significant for our area. The tax-exempt foundation’s mission is to use ... continue reading

Seventeen years ago, then-President Bill Clinton commanded military leaders to adopt a controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gay and lesbian servicemen and women.If it ever was appropriate to bar openly gay troops in our country’s armed forces, that time certainly has passed.It’s time now to do away with that odd policy that encourages a culture of duplicity, that undermines the bonds of trust among service members that make military units strong.“No matter how I look at the issue, ... continue reading

BREAK FOR SOLDIERS: Many eye surgeons in Iowa are offering members of the military reduced prices on vision correction surgery. That means soldiers heading for duty overseas, including Iraq and Afghanistan, won’t have to rely on contacts or glasses that can lead to problems while serving in dusty, sandy conditions.l l lLISTEN TO THE KIDS: 100 Iowa high school students including several from Eastern Iowa, urged state legislators to do more about the alcohol abuse that involves so many of ... continue reading

MORE POVERTY: More Iowa children are living in poverty, according to the latest figures from Iowa Kids Count. In 2000, 10.8 percent of the state’s children lived in homes with income below the government’s poverty level.As of 2007, the most recent data, the number grew to 13.7 percent. Given the economic recession of the past two years, the percentage may be even higher now. Another indication: In 2008, one-third of Iowa students were eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches.l ... continue reading

Fourth of July fireworks shooting into the summer evening above May’s Island traditionally have capped the Freedom Festival, Cedar Rapids’ biggest annual celebration. For the last two years, the show has been launched at Kirkwood Community College because of post-2008 flood problems in the downtown area.Thanks to Kirkwood, but it’s time to bring the fireworks back to downtown and the river. Two major obstacles remain.The first is the cost the city says it would charge for providing police and fire ... continue reading

Cedar Rapids took another important step toward flood recovery this week.The City Council voted 7-2 to build a new central public library at the TrueNorth site on the southern edge of Greene Square Park downtown. The vote came at the end of a fascinating, open council debate with a few moments of drama.The Gazette’s news staff has covered the library saga from start to finish, but in recent weeks, we’ve resisted taking an editorial stand for obvious reasons. Gazette Communications’ ... continue reading

Tonight, one of the Corridor’s performing-arts crown jewels returns, shinier than ever.Welcome back, Iowa Theatre. You were missed. And your return has been much anticipated for many reasons.The downtown home of Theatre Cedar Rapids has been restored and extensively renovated 20 months after floodwaters filled its basement and covered the stage and several rows of seats. The venue gets its first public review at tonight’s sold-out gala opening of “The Producers,” which runs through March 14.The impressive $7.8 million face-lift ... continue reading

Legislation to ban texting while driving is moving forward, and it seems some form of statewide limit on the irresponsible practice is imminent.That’s understandable. Drivers should refrain from sending text messages while operating a vehicle — it’s a dangerous practice that puts their lives, and the lives of others, at risk. We do support enhanced penalties for drivers whose cell phone use of any kind leads to accidents. But we are skeptical that the ban as proposed would be effective ... continue reading

If there’s a marching band in heaven in need of a director, it’s a good bet Frank Piersol already has auditioned and won the job.This Iowa Band Man, who died Friday at age 98, left a legacy of teaching and making music that reached around the world. Unlike the con man Harold Hill in Iowa native Meredith Willson’s famed “Music Man” production, Piersol was the real deal.The Minnesota native and Rockwell High School (Iowa) graduate took the long and winding ... continue reading

It might not be a movie we’d jump at the chance to see, but that’s beside the point.University of Iowa students should have the right to choose the films they’ll screen at a theater they’re supposed to run. It’s fair application of free speech rights.That’s just as true for films the student organizers choose because they think they’re ridiculous and fun as it is for films chosen because they’re groundbreaking and thought-provoking.If a particular film has the potential to offend ... continue reading

STAYING HERE: Thousands of American jobs have been lost to other countries in the past decade. But Michigan-based Whirlpool says it’s committed to keeping jobs within U.S. borders, including Iowa. The company backed it up by announcing a $20 million investment to improve its Amana plant. Coupled with some local and state government loan and tax assistance, it means 1,600 employees keep their jobs. Another 60 laid-off workers will be rehired for a new product line.l l lIN SYNC: FEMA ... continue reading

NO BALANCE: A study of Cedar Rapids school building use, delayed by the flood and budget problems, is scheduled for next school year. Action is needed. District enrollment dropped more than 1,200 in the past decade. And there are stark differences in use of building capacity: Enrollment ranges from 151 to 562 at the 24 elementary schools and from 252 to 835 at the middle schools. Kennedy, smallest 10 years ago, now has the most students among the four public ... continue reading

Last week marked the anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, that controversial spending package intended to buoy the nation’s economy.Iowa projects have been awarded more than $2 billion in stimulus-funded contracts, grants and loans. Stimulus spending has so far reportedly funded more than 9,000 jobs in this state.But opponents still question the impact of the massive $787 billion package. Iowa’s December unemployment rate was 6.6 percent, up two percentage points from the year before. Reporting errors and inconsistencies ... continue reading

We’re troubled by the implications of last month’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision expanding the ability of corporations to pump money into American politics. The narrow decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) will allow corporations to contribute dollars for direct political advocacy for the first time.And we’re not alone. A Washington Post-ABC News poll this week showed vast majorities of Democrats, Republicans and Independents in opposition to the court’s ruling.The question now is what to do about ... continue reading

Volunteers, expertise and commitment combined to clear up Clear Creek. The 12-year-old Clear Creek Watershed Enhancement Project is a testament to persistence and what citizens can do to help restore more of Iowa’s 500-plus impaired waterways and better manage the watersheds that feed them.The Clear Creek Watershed Enhancement Project’s mission is not complete. But pollution levels are down substantially, The Gazette reported this week. And the creek, which empties into the Iowa River at Coralville, could within a year or ... continue reading