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Show Saturday. April 10. 2004, AS EDIIOIMS EDfTOKALIOAJtD . i Albert X Manzi, President Publisher Randy Wright, Executive Editor Donald W. Meyers, Editorial page editor Janette Beckham, Public adviser Richard Davis, Public adviser IN OUR VIEW Tei CHurrux Bcimci Movrrca Utah needs to finish State Street project f you've driven on State Street through Orem from Provo you've noticed this: After a couple miles of good concrete roadway, you hit asphalt pavement and a rougher ride. That transition marks an unkept promise from the state of Utah to the city of Orem. Ten years ago, the state embarked on an ambitious plan to reconstruct State Street, replacing the old "Velvet Ribbon" with more durable concrete. The plan was to smooth the way for drivers, as well as iron out some of the problems that had plagued residents for years, such as the nasty dip at University Mall's entrance at 1200 South. Anyone who had a car bottom out There truly appreciates the improvement. Along with reconstructing the road, the city embarkedon a project. The goal was to make author Norman Mailer eat his words about State Street being the ugliest thoroughfare in the nation. Businesses were encouraged to put in landscaping along the reconstructed roadway. The plan got as far as 100 North in Orem when the state pulled fund r ing, putting it instead toward Provo Canyon. And it has sat this way for more than five years. It's time for the state to finish the job. Doing so will help reduce maintenance costs by putting a more durable road surface in place, as well as create a cleaner look to Orem's main drag. But there is a more pressing reason. State Street is going to see a lot more traffic as things get worse on Interstate 15. Transportation will descend planners predict into gridlock in less than five years. If becomes choked with traffic, State Street and Geneva Road are going to be used ever more heavily. needs to be fixed, but we must not ignore State Street, which is a major artery in our transporta- - t J " ' ' By the way, Norman Mailer wasn't wrong: State Street is ugly, though it could be one of America's most beautiful thoroughfares. Unfortunately, it comes down to money and priorities. For a century or so, trees and shrubs have been at the bottom of the list for the city and for the businesses that line Utah's bleakest of boulevards. It's high time that changed. & Buffalo Chips Buffalo chip to Sen. Orrin , for press-in- g Hatch, forward with his misguided attempt to outlaw flag desecration. Hatch's proposed constitutional amendment is riddled with problems undermining free speech, abrogating judicial review, redefining private property, muddling the definition of a flag and shutting down minority dissent. If ratified, the amendment would represent the first-eve- r abridgement of a basic freedom enumerated in the Bill of Rights. It will do more damage to the republic than a flag burner ever could. Better to burn this G. proposal ministers who staged a t at LDS General Conference last weekend. The group, Standing Together Ministries, turned out to show that street preachers who mock sacred LDS symbols are not representative of mainstream evangelical Christians. It was a sweet demonstration that people can disagree while respecting each others' rights though that lesson was surely wasted on the garment-wavin- g cranks standing nearby. counter-protes- j! Buffalo chip to Grand ' v t t''i - . ,. 'ft ment that reflected badly on the County Council Of course, government's ultimate boss is the public, which has a right to know when all is not well. Grand County employees have a right to speak and should not put up with this silliness. They should spurn the muzzle and bark back at the Great Bane. Beehive to Utah Depart-- "Where are the people with the flowers, throwing them in the streets, welcoming the American liberators the way Dick Cheney said they would be? This is one of the greatest failures of diplomacy and failures of judgment that I have seen in all the time that I've been in public life." Sen. John Kerry, 5 ment of Transportation for agreeing to put back the old connection between Utah Valley State College and the Interstate 15 p northbound at University Parkway. The state had previously d removed the ramp that allowed drivers to get on the freeway directly from Campus Drive. Restoring the connection will mean less traffic congestion at the Sandhill Parkway intersection, and less stress for those of us who have to drive ; through there at rush hour. jind Democratic presidential hook-shape- Beehive to the evangelical A. . mm Beehives .! - c tloirsystemr beau-tificati- f5 I J Coun-1- 5 ty Administrator Judy Bane, who imperiously overstepped her authority and ordered department heads to "keep it positive'' when speaking to the media. Bane issued her royal edict af- ter department heads made remarks about economic develop- - candidate, on the fighting in Iraq. of "Our will is being tested in Iraq, as we have seen in the heavy fighting this week. Yet as Americans, we understand what is at stake. Our own security and that of our friends in the region is directly dependent on our success." Vice President Dick Cheney, on the United States' determination to finish its mission in Iraq, despite renewed fighting. Road-Universi- ty M Buffalo chip to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office for attempting to save face by reducing the charges against Melissa Rowland and mak- ing her controversial case go away. Rowland was initially charged with murder for refusing a Caesarean section; one of her twin babies died. She was allowed to plead guilty to lesser charges and go free. Prosecutors say they reduced the charge because of Rowland's mental state. In truth, they probably realized the murder charge wasn't going to stick. This ugly case should not have been filed in the first place. flare-u- p . MEDIA VOICES Time to re-exam- efforts in Iraq ine Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, " April 6, 2004 shocking events in Iraq last the real worry The civil warraise in doubt and put two critical aspects of the U.S. occupation: whether the number of American troops is adequate, and the wisdom of turning power over to an official Iraqi government on June 30. of U.S. efA major forts is overdue. Over the weekend, Sen. Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it might be time to send more U.S. troops to Iraq. No doubt the adminfor both istration opposes that but political and other reasons the question is whether the United States is on the verge of losing control. There has been an attempt by the U.S. command to disengage troops from direct action in Iraq and to let Iraqi forces play a more prominent role. But the Iraqis are barely trained and poorly equipped another failure of the occupation authority. And the massive rotation of American troops in and out of Iraq recently also means the new troops are not yet familiar with the terrain or the nature and tactics of opposition forces. ... If urban warfare breaks out now, it could be a grim and ugly summer. No one should make the, mistake of thinking that following the wrong policies does not put the United States at risk of losing control in Iraq. SPRINGTIME! 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