Things aren’t as cheery at Iowa gas pumps as the experts predicted. Conventional wisdom says gas prices drop in the fall after the busy summerdriving season is over and gas supplies increase. But the August survey bythe Iowa Department of Natural Resources shows prices increased three centson average for a gallon of unleaded gas to one-dollar-and-21-cents. D-N-Rspokesman Ward Lenz says the oil producing countries have been 90-percenteffective in keeping a tight hold on the supply of oil.Lenz says oil producing countries are meeting again today and that couldlead to continued high gas prices.Lenz says Hurricane Floyd could also have an impact later this month on theprice of gas as ports on the east coast were unable to take delivery of fuelduring the storm.The average gas price in August was 23-cents more than in August 1998.Across the state unleaded gas prices ranged from one-dollar-and-fifteencents to one-dollar-and-28-cents.
Osceola riverboat to seek relief in court
The owner of the casino riverboat under construction in Osceola haswithdrawn a request that the State Racing and Gaming Commission block theexpansion of Prairie Meadows casino in Altoona. Larry Seckington is thelawyer for the Southern Iowa Gaming Association that owns the Osceola boat.Seckington says attorneys on both sides have reached an agreement bypassingcommission action.The commission was to take up the issue in its meeting Thursday. Seckingtonsays the issue could have taken several more months to solve if it wentbefore the commission and then to an appeal. He says Southern Iowa Gaming islooking to stop the expansion to protect itself.The Racing and Gaming Commission voted in July to let Prairie Meadows add 100 new slot machines immediately and another 236 in October of 2000. TheGeneral Manager of Prairie Meadows says they aren’t waiting to see how thecourt proceedings turn out and are moving ahead with the expansion.
Republicans back donation to WW II veterans memorial
Republicans in the Iowa legislature will push to honor the state’s livingWorld War II veterans by contributing to a national memorial in Washington,D.C. State Representative David Johnson of Ocheyedan says legislators wantto kick in 150-thousand dollars.Johnson says 21 states have already pledged support to the 100-milliondollar project. Johnson says the contribution will honor the approximately75-thousand veterans living in Iowa.House Speaker Brent Siegrist of Council Bluffs says the money will come fromthe state’s infrastructure fund.The memorial will be constructed at the Rainbow Pool site between theLincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. Constructionis expected to begin on Veteran’s Day next year.
Earthquake shifts focus of Iowa trade trip
Governor Vilsack and a trade delegation from Iowa had to cut short theirvisit to Taiwan after the deadly earthquake hit that country. Vilsack saysit’s disappointing not to be able to carry through with their meetings.He says the delegation has been able to shift the focus of the tour afterleaving Taiwan and will spend two unscheduled days in Hong Kong.Vilsack says Hong Kong may open markets for portions of Iowa hogs that othercountries don’t use.The group of Iowans also plans stops in China and Japan.
Veterinarian wins World Food Prize
A British veterinarian/researcher has won the 1999 World Food Prize. Dr.Walter Plowright helped develop a vaccine to combat a plague which struckcattle herds. Before the vaccine, rinderpest was one of the deadliestanimal diseases in history.Plowright was surprised even to be nominated for the World Food Prize.World Food Prize Executive Director Herman Kilpper says while most of theWorld Food Prizes awarded have recognized grain-related research, Plowrightwas recognized because cattle play an important role in providing nutritionto small farm families in developing countries.The annual World Food Prize is sometimes called the “Nobel Prize” forag-related fields. It was established in 1987 by Iowa businessman John Ruanand carries a quarter-of-a-million dollar cash award.
Two-time state champ finds new coach
Iowa Falls has found a replacement for Dave Collison as boys basketballcoach. Assistant coach Darren Redmond will take Collison’s place as Iowa Falls boysbasketball coach.Redmond admits there’s pressure in taking over the program, which has won 52straight games and two state titles.
Quayle not giving up on presidential race
Former Vice President Dan Quayle says he’s staying in the race for the nextG.O.P. presidential nomination to give social conservatives a reason to stayin the party. Pat Buchanan is apparently ready to leave the G.O.P. and runfor the Reform Party’s presidential nomination. Quayle says Reform Partymembers should be invited into the G.O.P. fold.Quayle says he hopes Buchanan fails in his effort to lead socialconservatives to the Reform Party.Quayle has been spending most of his time campaigning in New Hampshire, buthe is meeting privately with Iowa supporters today.Quayle spoke to students at a West Des Moines high school over thenoon-hour.
