WATER WOES: With only one significant snowfall event so far this year in Eastern Iowa, our severe drought continues and looms more ominously this year. State and local officials are reviewing water conservation plans and policies.Without substantial rain this spring, the drought could force restrictions on irrigation of crops and industrial use of water and other key uses by summer.

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SETTLED BUT COSTLY: The 4-year-old lawsuit is settled but the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency will pay more than $3 million to Envirogas LP of Chicago over a dispute about the system of collecting methane produced by the Mount Trashmore landfill. The money will come from the agency’s capital reserve fund.

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MORE SHOOTING:The number of confirmed reports of gunshots in Cedar Rapids during 2012 jumped 43 percent from 2011. Two of 22 people who were shot died and others, such as 22-year-old Shannon Gaskins, were left with life-changing injuries. Violent crime overall was down 4.31 percent, but the spike in gunfire is troubling.

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