On May 8, the Iowa Department of Education's Administrative Law Judge, Susan Anderson, presided over an appeal filed by Davenport parents to reverse the Davenport School Board's (DSB) decision to close Grant and Johnson elementary schools.

Davenport Aldermen Barnhill and Moritz reluctantly voted against a proposed mixed housing development along North Pine Street, between Valley and 58th streets, during last Wednesday's regular council meeting. The vote appeared inevitable, especially after Mayor Brooke expressed his assurance that the development would fail with such a high protest rate (never mind the inappropriateness of the development for the neighborhood, or the water retention problem that duplex construction could potentially create).

I am appalled at the editorial staff of the River Cities' Reader. Kathleen McCarthy has written an unresearched and unsubstantiated editorial ("Much More to the Story," Issue 369, April 10-16, 2002), apparently in an attempt to bring mob mentality to the City of Davenport.

So, here's the deal: If you're being investigated, questioned, subpoenaed, etc. by the U.S. Attorney's office in connection with the Illinois secretary of state scandals, the governor's campaign fund will pay your legal bills, unless you were one of those low-level mopes actually selling commercial drivers licenses.