Air Pollution Mars Richest City

ELDORADO HILLS--The Midlandia city that boasts the richest and some of the most powerful Sims in the region is a sight to behold...on the days you can see it, that is. Eldorado Hills has been rated in the latest air and water quality polls for Midlandia as the second worst polluted city, next only to the infamous Seniom Sed.

Both cities, of course, built their tremendous industrial presence off of the explosive early growth in the region's capital, Industry Haven. But though Industry Haven is named so, the bulk of the industrial engines of Midlandia are these days centered in her two neighbors. Unlike Seniom Sed, however, which is not an economic powerhouse, Eldorado Hills quickly gained a reputation as the place for the movers and shakers to live in unabashed luxury. Boasting a luxury cruise line, a Major League Baseball stadium, numerous expensive condominiums, and amenities aplenty, EH is clearly near the top of the food chain. Topping that cake is Swankville, the recently developed ultrasuburb, home to the castle Sim Ben.

For most of this year, Mayor Casey J. Sprinkledonut has kicked back and enjoyed the fruits of his great success, untouchable due to his Best in the Region Mayor Rating Polls, receiving a 100% score. But when you scratch the surface, EH has warning signs on the horizon that may put that rating in jeopardy.

Eldorado Hills Air Quality Report, Dec. 2016

The Midlandia Gazette received a copy of the latest air quality report for Eldorado Hills, and the results were not good. Despite a carefully maintained Tree Buffer Zone in the north of the city along the Industrial District, air quality ratings were among the poorest in the region. And the water quality ratings were on the same par, a troubling development, especially showing that the pollution was starting to reach the water pump houses near the Des Moines Basin.

When asked about these latest surveys, Sprinkledonut was defensive, but acknowledged that the city does have an issue that needs addressing.

"Eldorado Hills is a city that owes its success to its industrial might. Unlike our neighbor to the east [Industry Haven], we have not shirked our relationship with industry, and we are regularly rewarded for it. Growth and industry go hand in hand, and nobody appreciates that more than our citizens," Sprinkledonut said.

"Having said that, we do take the wellbeing of our citizens very seriously, as anyone can see from our commitment to quality health and education. Balance is one of our key words, and our industrial partners do understand that they live in tandem with Sims who appreciate quality of life," Sprinkledonut said.

EH's North Industrial District

But despite the mayor's verbal expression of confidence in the city's industry, steps the city government have recently taken indicate that the days of industry's free ride in EH may be about to turn. This month, the city council agreed to raise taxes in a handful of categories to address the budget shortfall created when the city developed Swankville in November. The biggest tax increase was right in line with one that mayors have been taking across the region, taking Dirty Industry tax levels to the wall--20%, the highest tax rate possible.

And while city leaders insist this was a temporary measure to address the shortfall, indications are that, at least for Dirty Industry, the days of carefree development may be behind them.

Development of Swankville caused EH a budget shortfall

"Nobody, especially nobody with Simoleons, wants to share the stage with air polluters," said an EH business owner who didn't want to share her name. "My friends benefit from the revenue generated by industry, that's a fact. But they don't want to breathe that air. Just like what happened in Industry Haven, they're going to push industry out. But the question is, where will they go?"

Eldorado Hills

Brewing Culture Race in Midlandia

FANNY KEMBLE--Regional art and culture admirers are pleased to report the stirrings of a cultural race to the top in several cities in Midlandia.

"Remember the Space Race? It's like that, but for ever increasing cultural success. Seems like city leaders have been playing a lot of 'Civilization VI'," Fanny Kemble culture adviser Arisa Meripal said.

Fanny Kemble, a city of 30,000 in the south, hopes to become the spearhead of culture for the region. Mayor Upton Bougainville is one of several Midlandia mayors to double down on culture this month.

"Eyes of Gohma thinks it is going to be the cultural capital of Midlandia? It is to laugh," Bougainville said. "There is not a single city in the region that spends more per capita on art and culture than our city."

Civilized House of Culture and Art

The latest salvo in this burgeoning culture war is FK's Civilized House of Culture and Art museum which opened recently in the city's Esterhaus neighborhood. The impressive Euro-styled building is easily the largest art gallery in the region, putting even the Midlandia History Museum in Industry Haven to shame.

"A city with a smaller border area than most, Fanny Kemble is seeking a way to distinguish itself from an increasingly competitive group of southland cities," Meripal said. "Part of the reason we're seeing this sudden increase in attention to cultural matters is this drive to attract the best and brightest Midlandia Sims. There's universities going up everywhere, private academies, all sorts of new and creative parks and facilities. Right now, Midlandia also has a lot of money flowing through it, especially in the Triforce Area and the south, too. That's pushing city leaders to spend more and more of that money on things like theater and culture," she said.

Sometimes, however, not all boats are raising to the top, said Paul Donatu, head of the Midlandia League of Community Fairness.

"You have to understand that most mayors in Midlandia do not have all their citizens' wellbeing in their hearts, but only the ones with Simoleons aplenty," Donatu said. "It falls to watchdog agencies like ours to do what we can to keep mayors honest and on track."

Rich and Poor Neighbors in Fanny Kemble

Even in Fanny Kemble, a nicely balanced city in terms of wealth distribution, there are pockets of disparity. Some residents of Allen Street have found it difficult to keep up with the city's increasing wealth.

"Yeah, it's great and all that they built that whole new rich area over by Esterhaus," Allen Street resident Russell Stover said. "But I gotta drive further and further to work, and now compete with all these new people for jobs. Meanwhile, my house is in disrepair and needs a new roof. No culture museum's gonna fix that for me."

Culture Adviser Meripal disagrees with Donatu and Stover, as she takes the view that cultural growth will in time enrich every Sim's wellbeing. "Jobs follow education and culture, and it's the best companies that want to locate near the best art and culture facilities. But change doesn't happen overnight, as they say. Some people are just going to have to wait for the changes to take root."

Fanny Kemble

All Developed And Nowhere to Go

EYES OF GOHMA--Stagnation is the word most often used to describe the furthest north city in Midlandia. The mysteriously named Eyes of Gohma is anything but mysterious. In fact, it's downright...boring.

"Well, I wouldn't call it boring, exactly," local restauranteur Polly Charms said at the recent "Art of Gohma" exhibit event. "I would call it a place that hasn't found it's niche yet."

But the very reason EoG city leaders were holding this pioneering event was specifically to help break the stereotype of their city, one that has been reinforced in TV shows and amongst Midlandia comics for some time now. Despite some considerable investment in local art, including the giant arch known as The Portal, Sims aren't giving this small northern city much of a chance.

The Portal, Eyes of Gohma, one of Midlandia's most expensive art installations

Several reasons have been proffered by city residents for the lack of interest in the city including air pollution, the far north location of the city, and the generally uninspired architecture of the place, according to a Sim On The Street informal poll conducted this evening.

"There's just nothing to do here, except for that arch," 17-year-old Pauly Noyes said. "And once you've done that, you've really done it."

Local meteorologist Gordon Fortress confirmed that opinion, noting that the tight grid of the city inspired an almost prison-like feel to getting around.

"It's very efficient, that's a solid fact. And you can get around from place to place in almost no time at all," Fortress said. "But when you get there, you're just there. Do you get what I'm saying? There's nothing unique to see, just a bunch of bland buildings and generic office complexes."

"And no water!" Fortress's morning TV co-host Jenny Weems added. "It's nothing but flat land all over, with nowhere to go!"

The city's mayor, Link McLinkerson, has tried hard both to stay out of the debates on the cause of Eyes of Gohma's ennui, while at the same time doing everything he can to drum up interest."

"I don't get why people are complaining, really. We're an oasis in an untamed wilderness," McLinkerson said. "To the north of us is the great frontier, the undiscovered mass of Midlandia's future. Were Lewis & Clark bored? Was Captain Kirk bored? We've got a tremendously bright future ahead, and all people can do is complain."

"McLinkerson can talk for sure, but, really the fact is, everyone's oppressed by the smog," local resident Julian Frankly said, referring to the heavy concentration of air pollution in the city caused by the heavy industrial sector of Eyes of Gohma. "They keep saying they're going to solve that problem, but I sure can't see it."

Regardless of the nature of the issues, though, Eyes of Gohma appears pretty well locked into its place, with every square meter of real estate filled, save for two reserved park areas in the south central portion of the city. McLinkerson called that development 'balance' in a conversation with Gazette editors, but one has to wonder just what this city is supposed to grow up to become. Maybe the city will become a center for art and culture, as city boosters would like.

"But for now, this place is as bland as my Aunt Helen," Noyes said. "As soon as I can, I'm moving to Eldorado Hills."

Eyes of Gohma

Sunday Photo Tour: Constance Hill

By Delfino Brass, Travel Editor

Constance Hill doesn't want to be called a suburb, says city travel coordinator Flossie Turbo.

"We want to make our own name and be our own special metro area," Turbo tells the Gazette. "Those other towns can be suburbs! We're growing into an independent powerhouse."

It's hard to argue that, considering Constance Hill's unique charms and room for growth. A city of 70,000 bordering three larger locales, Constance Hill has often been lost in the mix for many Midlandians. But, when you scratch the surface and really look at Constance Hill, you find a city with a lot of character. Take a tour with me through the sights of Constance Hill.

We start with an overview of the dense urban core of Constance Hill, looking south towards Fina Bay. Though Flossie Turbo may not want to call Constance Hill a suburb, evidence might indicate otherwise, considering the bustle of activity along the north border with Industry Haven. Also, tourists should note that Industry Haven's subway system extends south into Constance Hill, with over six stations in the city core.

Airport Hill is Constance Hill's newest area, and has swanky shopping options that compete directly with the hoitiest of boutiques in Midlandia. Business travelers to the city's airport will find that there is no shortage of shops, restaurants, and bars that cater to the jet setting businesswoman or man visiting the city. Especially worth noting is the unique Business Train that follows the city's actual rail line at the north end of Airport Hill.

Constance Hill's 'Business Train'

Sports is at a high-water mark in Constance Hill, too, with the construction of the new stadium for the Constance Hill Triremes minor league soccer team. Take in an afternoon game and then walk along the beach just north of the stadium.

Constance Hill Triremes play against Eldorado Hills for the Midlandia Cup finals

Constance Hill is home to several unique businesses as well. Amelia's Cat Cafe, a concept new to Midlandia, is a restaurant/coffee bar where patrons can enjoy lattes and upscale dishes while cuddling a number of the cafe's cats. Flossie Turbo says that the city's stress levels instantly went down 10% following the addition of the Cat Cafe.

Amelia's Cat Cafe

Business is booming in Constance Hill thanks to a very tax friendly government boasting some of the lowest business taxes in the region. Though Constance Hill did struggle with balancing its income with its outflow until recently, the government made corrections that have kept business alive while still preserving city services. Here's a view of the business district:

Downtown Business

There is no shortage of unique architecture to be found in Constance Hill as well. The hills of the city are no euphemism, either, large rolling hills that climb into the southern skies. Several travel blogs and features have commented on the beautiful skyline view from the top of many of Constance Hill's taller buildings.

Curvilinear Estates and Graham Condos

Yes, you can find everything you're looking for in Constance Hill, including a healthy base of luxury living. Curvilinear Estates and Constance Hill Estates are expensive, but well worth your Simoleons.

Constance Hill Estates

As you make your New Year's travel plans, be sure to put Constance Hill high on your list. You won't regret it. From Marina Sirtis Marina to Tori Amos Park, you'll find enjoyment all holiday long.

Industry Haven Expands Subway to Alleviate Traffic Congestion

INDUSTRY HAVEN--In response to an ongoing traffic congestion problem in southwest Industry Haven, city traffic engineers have been hard at work expanding the city's subway system this week. The IH City Transit Authority cut the ribbon on four new subway entry stops, creating two new lines, a north-south line along Paramus Street to the Coarser Mesh Neighborhood, and an east-west line along Areel Shaw Lane to Midtown.

Coarser Mesh Library and Subway Stop

IHCTA spokesman Sirna Kolrami noted that the new lines are right along the most densely congested roadways in Industry Haven, and said that he hopes that IH Sims will take advantage of the expanded subway.

"Industry Haven is the only city in the region to have a subway system of its own," Kolrami noted. "We've been seeing streets in the south to Constance Hill that have over 10,000 cars drive on them in a given day. Sims are getting backed up, and they're getting frustrated. The subway is the best way to alleviate that problem."

Kolrami also advocated for the subway system, noting that it is clean, safe, and cheap to use. "I know some cynical people out there would say that subways are always grimy, dingy places. On the contrary, I say. I ride the subway myself every day to the IHCTA Offices in Stratton. It keeps my stress level down, and allows me plenty of reading time every morning and afternoon."

A full list of Industry Haven subway stops follows:

• Coarser Mesh Stop (new stop near Coarser Mesh Library)
• North Forty Stop (new stop near North Forty Elementary School)
• Edge Clinic Stop
• Fort Des Moines Stop (new stop near Terrible's Casino and Ft. Des Moines)
• Dogville Stop
• Wilsonoff Tennis Stop
• Stratton Stop (new stop by Stratton Medical Clinic)
• Cat Eye Stop
• Midtown Stop (new stop)

A Mayor Q&A: Two Small Cities Face Similar Issues

Orange Blossom and Rising Sun, two very prosperous suburbs in Midlandia, are thriving, healthy places to live, say many of their residents. Yet, despite their success, they face similar challenges and difficulties. Midlandia Gazette reporter Jan Thomas sat down to discuss these issues with their mayors this afternoon.

"If there's nowhere outward to grow, the only direction left is up," Orange Blossom Mayor Cyclotron Taft said in an interview at the offices of the Midlandia Gazette.

Taft, one of the younger mayors in Midlandia, is in charge of the small suburb bordering Cheater's Haven in the south. His nearest counterpart, Angela Jay Michaels of Rising Sun, an Industry Haven suburb, has a bit more wisdom and weariness.

"Cities can get out of control very quickly if you don't carefully manage who you let into town in the first place," Michaels said, noting that Rising Sun's early quests for growth cost the suburb more than they expected.

Rising Sun learned that lesson early on when Michaels agreed to let in a SimNation Air Force Missile Silo in order to solve a budget crisis not long after the founding of that town. Like its neighbor, Industry Haven, known in those days for being a terribly polluted and troubled city, Michaels had to make compromises in order to keep things operating.

The aptly named "Precarious Gazebo" in Rising Sun's Rising Village

"We were one of the earliest Midlandia cities," Michaels said. "And so, unlike the mayors of more recent cities, we had to learn things the hard way. We overspent, we sprawled, we didn't know the right strategic placement of education and health care. In Rising Sun especially, we reacted hard to what we saw as craziness in IH. [IH Mayor Vladimir] Putin in those days was, forgive my saying so, a total wackjob. He's moderated a lot since then, so I think a lot of people forget that city's struggles. So we in Rising Sun spent a ton on education, parks, healthcare, and services. Too much."

Fortunately for Michaels, both Rising Sun and Industry Haven recovered from their early troubles despite their compromises. Nowadays many in the region see Rising Sun especially as a model for what can go right in a city.

Taft, of Orange Blossom, says he especially looked to Michael's management model, not only because of Rising Sun's success, but also because of the similar geographies and circumstances of the two cities: both are small, hilly islands neighboring much larger cities, both benefit from their neighbors' good fortune, and both have extra tiny islands to consider for growth possibilities.

"We're certainly running into the same problem as Rising Sun--we've flat out run out of useable real estate," Taft admitted. "I tried to take a very careful approach to what is now called Mistake Village, for example, but I will admit that once it was there, we were happy to have the extra residential zoning."

Taft is referring, of course, to the nickname for Hilltop Village, a small neighborhood in the east of the city, the hilliest portion of the town. The city planners had designed a small residential-commercial sector, but an error in the zoning office led to a much bigger, sprawling area on top of Tunnel Hill. That oops quickly caught on, though, and was filled in no time by eager commercial and residential developers.

Hilltop Village in Orange Blossom, known among its residents as 'Mistake Village'

At this point, both mayors are looking for ways to grow their populations without damaging their suburban charms.

"Rising Sun residents are very active when it comes to political involvement," Michaels said. "I encourage it, and I think it makes for a better city over time."

"We honestly don't know yet where we'll end up growing to," Taft said. "But I know I can speak for my council when I say we're not going to be content with a mere 20,000 population."

Orange Blossom

BREAKING NEWS: Million Midlandia Milestone Reached

RED DAWN--Celebrations and fireworks spontaneously filled the air around the region as the latest population numbers were released today in Midlandia. According to the Midlandia Regional Government Census Bureau, Midlandia tallied a population number of 1,000,812, reaching the government's goal of 1 million Sims by January 1, 2017 three weeks early. Midlandia Regional Governor J.F. Boyd led festivities in the Triforce Area city of Red Dawn, which coincidentally also broke a population goal of 50,000 this evening.

"We're all smiles out here," Boyd said, celebrating on the grounds of Red Dawn's mysterious Weather Control Pyramid, with dignitaries and representatives from around the region.

Red Dawn's Weather Control Pyramid

Red Dawn Mayor Monterey McPhillips was also in attendance at the evening's events, and promised his citizens a parade will commence on Fleetwood Avenue this coming weekend.

"I can't tell you what a pleasure it is that we here in Red Dawn get to be the center of the new era for this expanding region," McPhillips said. "Red Dawn has been growing by leaps and bounds along with her neighbors, and I have a feeling we're just at the beginning of a very exciting time for Midlandia."

Many regional celebrities in black tie were also seen at the gala event for the announcement, flying into Red Dawn International Airport, the largest airport in the region, including jazz legend Belinda Tito King and baseball home run champion "Beardy" Buffins, recently named Midlandia Gazette's "IT" Couple of 2016.

"Beardy and I are honored to be heralded by the nice, nice folks of Midlandia, all one million of you!" King said before launching into a rendition of her hit song, "Ain't No Cumulo in Your Nimbus", live before an audience of 483 invited guests. The event was also televised around the region in an unusual network TV event. Cheers and whistles filled the air as celebrants toasted the occasion.

When asked what the next goal for Midlandia would be, Boyd said, "Now we're going for TEN million!"

Commemorative copies of the special "Midlandia at a Million" issue of the Midlandia Gazette will be on sale this Friday at reputable newsmongers throughout the region for the low, low price of $1.00.

Midlandia at 1,000,812

Midlandia's Third Largest City Faces Deficit Crisis

CHEATER'S HAVEN--Kate Swan Noble remembers the days when she had to drive over an hour-and-a-half to get to the nearest medical facility, located well out of her city. Noble recalls feeling astounded that her home city, the third largest in Midlandia, had absolutely no clinics, let alone hospitals.

"We were really lucky not to have any major emergencies," she said, referring to her family of three boys, and her husband Lipka. "If we had, I wouldn't have known what to do, there weren't any public ambulance services in town. It was the definition of insane!"

Those days are, fortunately, no longer for the residents of Cheater's Haven, a southside city on the verge of breaking 100,000 in population. Recently, the government of Cheater's Haven, formerly ruled by what could almost be called the law of the jungle, has seen the errors of its ways and is investing heavily in both education and health care.

Blandina Booth Hospital, one of three new large medical centers in CH, instantly was overwhelmed with patients

Mayor Alphonse Capone, who was re-elected mayor despite serving a 10-year sentence in an Industry Haven correctional facility following conviction on charges of starting Cheater's Haven to personally profit off citizens' tax revenue, has decided that he wants to eventually best the Triforce Area cities with the highest and best educated population in the region.

"We're gonna be the biggest and the best, and none of those [expletives] in IH and EH will be able to touch us again," Capone said, referring to capital Industry Haven and neighboring Eldorado Hills, the largest and wealthiest cities in the region.

Though Cheater's Haven is the most influential city in the South Cities area, the city has a number of hurdles to overcome before it can achieve Capone's new goals. First and most critical is the city's tax revenue deficit, the worst in the region, and a direct result of Capone's sudden change of heart. Prior to Capone's incarceration, Cheater's Haven had a tax surplus of $1,500 a month leading to a healthy $1 million in the city's fund. But following the founding of three new elementary schools, three hospitals, creation of a modest bus transportation system, and zoning changes in the city, Cheater's Haven has an outflow of $17.5K in expenses per month, but only takes in $13.6K in that same timeframe.

And Capone has no immediate answers to solve that shortfall.

"What we need now is more population, and more commercial investment in the city to turn this thing around," Capone said.

He is getting an answer to the first issue, slowly but certainly, as CHaven's population has grown to just over 92,000 this week. But the new residents are not nearly enough to resolve the upset tax revenue applecart, leaving city leaders scratching their heads on how to get things back in order.

Cheater's Haven's Downtown Residential District, source of most of the city's tax revenue

"The most obvious first step to correcting this problem seems to be moving to a higher density of zoning, something the city leaders have been doing, if somewhat timidly," Midlandia Regional Growth Coordinator Chevrolet Drojinsky said in a recent interview from his Eldorado Hills office. "But what Capone is really going to need to do to succeed is work hard to catch up with the Triforce in terms of commercial jobs, and fast."

Cheater's Haven has grown considerably in population despite having almost no high-density residential zones until recently. The effects are already making themselves apparent following the changes. Still, the ratio of residential zones to commercial zones appears to be slightly imbalanced toward residential, which costs the city the chance to compete directly with their peers on jobs.

"Right now, CH has less than half of the number of office and retail jobs than Industry Haven, at 23,000 to IH's 87,000," Drojinsky said. "Though IH is about more than twice the size of CH, that still tells the story that what CH needs is jobs, jobs, jobs."

Despite the problems, Capone said he's optimistic about making up that difference, despite having no plans on how to approach the issue directly.

"We're gonna bring jobs to CH, you can bet your casino dollars on it," Capone said. "We're gonna bring big, beautiful jobs to this very city."

Less enthusiastic are some longtime CH residents who were turned off by Capone's recent incarceration, and who do not trust that Capone's change of heart is permanent.

"I sense smelly things underneath the ground at the mayor's house," a resident who wished to remain unidentified told the Midlandia Gazette recently. "Ten years locked up in Industry Haven, and you're telling me he didn't once have a strategic conversation with [IH Mayor] Vlad the Putin to get him back to [Capone's] prime position? There's no way he won that re-election fair and square. Capone should have been ridden out of Midlandia on a rail."

IH Mayor Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin refused to comment for this article, but has been on record repeatedly denying any involvement in Cheater's Haven's politics.

"I've got a city of my own to run, the largest in the region, I might remind you," he said in a sit-down interview on "The Leaders Speak", CHUM-TV's weekly television newsmagazine a month ago. "I don't have time or interest to get my beak dirty poking around in Cheater's Haven's problems."

The Montfolis Neighborhood, a recently renovated district in CH

Still, charges of corrupt regional politics aside, many residents are noting the positive changes in Cheater's Haven of late, including local mother Noble.

"Finally, there's room for my three sons to go to school! That by itself is worthy of celebration!" Noble said as she sipped coffee in a little shop in the trendy Montfolis neighborhood Sunday. "Before the recent improvements, I was having to drive them downtown to the overcrowded elementary schools many kilometers away. And my oldest now gets his pick between two new private academies! Things are looking up finally."

Cheater's Haven looking south onto the sea

Growing Pains in Enlarging Community

TYCHO--Explosive growth has led to difficult questions and some dissension in this Northlands city known for its anti-development original residents. Tycho's city leaders faced off with a somewhat hostile crowd at their latest City Council meeting this Tuesday evening as they attempted to justify the sudden development outside the city's original borders, nibbling away at the Tycho Regional Nature Preserve.

"That preserve is a sacred cow, and I hate sacred cows!" said pro-development Councilwoman Cecilia Langhorne Cleavant in a moment of exasperation.

Despite the extremes on display at Tuesday's meeting, most residents in the middle had to admit to a conflict of feelings regarding the recent dramatic growth in this formerly quiet city. Just recently, the city added not only its first radio station (Tycho Talk Radio) and the Pac Bends Minor League Soccer stadium, but Jupiter University to the north, and a golf course to the south.

Tycho with Nature Preserve

But the real sources of contention that led to hot tempers and shouting at the city council meeting was the Council's vote to allow development of Northlands Municipal Airport, as well as the Character Destiny Tower, to date the tallest commercial development in the Northlands area.

"This was not the quiet city I chose to move to years ago," Tycho resident Charles Trollope said during the meeting. "We came to this city with the understanding that the city's leaders were going to take a cautious approach to development. These days, the mayor seems to be throwing all caution to the wind, and we can't abide that!"

The founding of Tycho, regardless of its good intentions, seems bound by design to lead to conflict, given its prime location in a plains area in the center of the region. The district's boundaries are especially large, making the whole idea of the placement of the nature preserve a controversial choice to many.

Construction of Northlands Municipal Airport

Mayor Blisters Johnson, generally a proponent of the cautious growth that has now made Tycho so desirable to Midlandia Sims, has found himself in the awkward position of advocating for the development, while trying to maintain that caution.

"Although I still believe in the principles that Tycho was founded upon, 'Sustainable Living with Nature', we must acknowledge that in order for Tycho to avoid stagnation, it must provide the modern amenities that educated Sims demand," Johnson said after the meeting.

Johnson, a soft-spoken leader, found himself trying to hold court against a new guard pro-development forces in his own council, who seem determined to anger the original remaining council members.

"We aren't going to be bullied by these deceptive elements, we know where they're getting their lobbying checks from--Industry Haven, that's where!" Councilman Palisades Hudson claimed at the meeting. "But it doesn't matter, we're going to do everything we can to keep the original spirit of Tycho alive."

Character Destiny Tower

The battle for the recent development in Tycho seems, though, to have gone to the pro-development forces all the same. As a result of the recent surprise growth, the population is also increasing at a strong clip. But the war is still ahead, as developers look toward the nature preserve.

Councilwoman Cleavant all but declared the beginning of that fight at last night's meeting, setting the stage for future conflict.

"Just look at all that forest out there! What good is a bunch of empty ground if no one can enjoy it, I ask?" Cleavant said.

"You'll take my camping options from my cold, dead hands," countered an unidentified voice from the crowd.

Though the meeting seemed on the verge of bringing city business to a halt, somehow order was restored as Mayor Johnson wrenched the topic away to more prosaic matters, including the creation of Education Row to the south, and the new medical facility in the north.

It would seem, if there's one thing everyone in Tycho can get behind, it's more education.

Tycho Fire Contained Quickly

TYCHO--An afternoon fire at a local Family Inn hotel was quickly contained by the Tycho Fire Department today. Fire officials determined the cause of the fire was a runaway flan explosion in the kitchen.

"I was trying to flambe the flan, you see," Family Inn chef's assistant Jerome Van Artemus explained. "The flan, she would not flambe! I had to take extreme measures to deal vit it!"

A Wren Insurance claims agent estimated about $22,000 in damages to the hotel.

Flames erupt from Family Inn, Tycho

Thank You For Your Cooperation, Citizen

Letter to the Editor by Col. Benjamin S. Grange, commanding officer Fort Des Moines

To the citizens of the city of Industry Haven,

Your military thanks you for the cooperation shown every day to the hard working men and women who make up the armed forces of SimNation. It is with your support and understanding that we are able to conduct our daily drills of jumping jacks up and down the barracks of Fort Des Moines, train hard to blow up imaginary objects in enemy SimNations, make up ridiculous songs that have slightly offensive lyrics which cannot be printed here, and drive camouflaged military assault vehicles up and down the streets of Industry Haven.

Please note that we will take this support under advisement when we consider the next location for our Very Serious Missile Parade on April 30th. Also, we ask that citizens please stop blowing raspberries at our personnel when they encounter them on city streets.

Sincerely, etc. Col. Benjamin S. "Stuffy" Grange

Military drills being practiced in Ft. Des Moines, Industry Haven

Virgin Territory Begins First Development

APIA-- Midlandia Sims have been flocking to the unspoiled territory of Apia this week as development was officially opened for the first southwest industrial park bordering the city of Tycho, as well as the new Apia Town to the east, bordering Mayor Tutorial. Until this month, Apia consisted of empty forest with only a handful of roads and rail lines connecting the north lands to the industrial area of Seniom Sed and the Tycho regional forest preserve.

Apia Before Development

Mayor Mulholland Whistler, who until this week had only been managing an empty region of trees and hills, said he's pleased to be in charge of an area that is the most carefully planned development in Midlandia to date. "From Midlandia's early past even up to the last few months, nearly all of our cities grew haphazardly as their own units, never considering the effects they had on the region. That's caused major headaches for residents and mayors for a long time now. But Apia will grow naturally from the roots that were placed by her neighbors, like Mayor Tutorial, Tycho, and even tiny Naturesque to the north," Whistler said.

"Not only that, but Apia will benefit from the region's first planned regional transportation system, which will grow tremendous population and commercial districts in the coming years," he said. "Apia Town will grow into a very big city in time from the settlement we placed here this month."

Apia Town

Asked if he was worried that the controversial La Salle Luxury Suites resort hotel would unbalance that careful development, Whistler did not seem concerned.

"Although I know some were thinking that it would destroy the peace of this quiet little community, I would remind those folks that Midlandia Regional Government has invested at least $100,000 in the region's first interarea highway. The tax revenue generated from tourism alone will more than make up for any disruption caused by the hotel."

That highway, built with funding provided by a large regional "Moolah" pool, is the area's first multi-lane north-south road system in the region. Although small compared with the giant networks of other regions, this will enable leaps forward in transportation access between the north and south areas of Midlandia.

LaSalle Luxury Suites (top right) & regional highway (left)

In another unique innovation for the area, Apia is one of the first districts to rely on wind power alone for its electricity requirements. Midlandia Power engineer M.G. Morphey explains:

"In most Midlandia cities, power is generated by dirty coal plants that, while cost effective, generate tons of air pollution in the area. Apia benefits somewhat from that already-built infrastructure, importing a portion of their power from neighboring cities. But to supplement those power needs, Mayor Whistler has invested in small networks of wind power plants for the 'little districts' of the larger Apia land mass."

"That wouldn't be cost effective in most cities, as their collective needs are larger than wind plants can keep up with. But in Apia, the developments are far removed from one another, and connected to neighboring cities, meaning that each area only needs a small amount of their own power sources. This has the distinct advantage of keeping the air clean in Apia."

Clean air is an important political issue to Midlandia residents to the north, including Tycho (which has the region's only nature preserve), and Naturesque, a tiny community north of Apia which has focused on keeping development to a minimum.

"We saw the devastating effects of water and air pollution in the Triforce Area of cities like Industry Haven, and especially Seniom Sed to the south," Naturesque mayor Mohandra Sweetin said. "Quality of life in those areas can be brutal for many, and we wanted to make sure our residents didn't have to suffer to succeed up here."

Apia's mayor Whistler, however, does not share the same intensity of ecological activism that his neighbors have instilled, which he claims holds back growth.

"I think Apia, being a collaborative melange of various cities, will become one of the most balanced areas in Midlandia. But with our large land area, I have no doubt we'll become a powerhouse of growth for the northland area over time," Whistler said.

Apia's wind farms

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