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.
As Davenport awakes from its winter's sleep, we see spring blossoming all around us. We look out at our greening lawns and wonder when it will be safe to plant our garden. All of us who enjoy our gardens look forward to planning and cultivating one that will produce a bountiful harvest all summer long.
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).
MidAmerican Energy Company (MEC) sent notices to its customers on March 14, 2002, advising them of its intention to increase natural gas rates by an average of 4.3 percent, generating an additional $26.6 million for the company.
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.
On Tuesday, June 4, the Iowa primaries will bAe held across the state. Important elections are at stake, yet only registered voters are eligible to vote in a primary, and they must declare either Republican or Democrat before they can participate because Iowa has a "closed primary" system.
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.
Alderman Howard is too inexperienced for the position of mayor pro tem. During April 17's regular council meeting, Alderman Howard confirmed the public's worst fears about Mayor Brooke's inappropriateness in appointing someone so green.
People who were hoping the Davenport Community School District board would have a revelation akin to Saul on the road to Damascus were sorely disappointed after the board's April 22 meeting. Instead of being blinded by the brilliance of sensible alternatives, the board replicated its 6-1 January vote to close Grant and Johnson elementary schools.
The State of Illinois is in the middle of its typical election-year budget stalemate, but the matter is made worse this year by a financial situation that begs for major budget cuts or a tax increase but will probably get neither.

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