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Gas prices expected to continue to rise

October 26, 2009 By

Gasoline prices jumped in Iowa in the past week and fuels analysts say those pump prices will likely continue to rise for the next week or more. Self-service regular unleaded gas is averaging $2.64 a gallon statewide. That’s up 12-cents in a week and 23-cents in a month. Rose White, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says the increase can be blamed on the strengthening U.S. economy.

“Inventories right now look very good,” White says. “They’re up about ten-percent for both gasoline and crude oil. There haven’t been any issues with hurricanes this season and all major U.S. refineries are operating as normal and demand is relatively flat.” White says the value of the American dollar continues to tumble on world markets and that’s one reason why oil prices are edging back up.

“Positive economic news and investment optimism,” White says. “The weakness of the U.S. dollar, which is down about 11-percent over the past six months, it makes oil cheaper for foreign investors to buy and that is helping to drive up the market price.” White says the price climb isn’t done as all of the price hikes haven’t yet funnelled down to the retail level. While the statewide average for gas is now $2.64 a gallon, that’s three-cents below the national average.

The all-time high average price for a gallon of gas in Iowa was just over $4, set in July of 2008.

Filed Under: Business

Tourism office will keep advertising in the midwest

October 26, 2009 By

The Iowa Department of Economic Development, in spite of budget cuts, will continue to run a television advertising campaign in major Midwest markets. Nancy Landess, manager of the D.E.D’s Iowa Tourism office, says they’ve spent close to a million dollars on ads encouraging tourists from neighboring states to visit the Hawkeye state.

“Chicago and Minneapolis are markets that we have targeted, and we have had television ads in those markets the last two years,” Landess said. ” We plan to have television again in those two markets again next spring.” But, she says they will cut the program by $100,000 as a result of the governor’s 10% across the board cut.

Landess says the ads feature Iowa communities. “Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Dubuque…they are all investing some of their own advertising budget…we do some filming in their communities and then they are the featured attractions in our ads that are placed in these out of state markets,” Landess said. The tourism division will also save money by printing fewer copies of the Iowa Travel Guide. Budget planners warn that the reductions will result in fewer tourists spending money in Iowa.

Filed Under: Politics & Government, Recreation & Entertainment

Arnaud and Robinson could play for ISU this week

October 26, 2009 By

Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads says it is time for the Cyclones to look ahead. I.S.U. is coming off its first victory at Nebraska since 1977 and now prepares for a visit to Texas A@M. Rhoads says the great thing about sports, win or lose, you have to get back up and go back to work the next morning.

Rhoads says the Nebraska victory was a big one for the program, as he says to beat a program as rich in tradition as Nebraksa in their stadium is history. “And it’s great history and we’re proud of that, but that will do nothing for us as we go into the week against Texas A&M,” Rhoads says.

Texas A@M is 4-3 and followed up a 62-14 loss to Kansas State with a 52-30 win over Texas Tech. Rhoads says trying to compare college scores is a complete waste of time that you’ll get nothing out of, and he says they reminded the team of that. At 5-3, the Cyclones are a victory away from being eligible for a bowl game.

Rhoads says the bowl is what you start the season to play for, as he says you don’t start wanting to get three wins. He says getting to a bowl should be the goal every season and right now they are not talking about it. Rhoads says the Cyclones are a confident team that feels good about themselves. He says they should feel good about themselves, and they have a reason to feel good because they work hard every day and prepare for the games.

Rhoads says this team prepares as well as any team he’s been around in 21 years of coaching, and they will have to continue to do that as they head into the 9th game of the season. The Cyclones played without quarterback Austen Arnaud and running back Alexander Robinson due to injury.

Rhoads expects both to play this week, as he says Robinson ran Sunday, which he hasn’t done since before the Army game. He says Arnaud practiced, but did not throw as their choice to give him more time to recover.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,

Radio Iowa Football Poll 10/26/09

October 26, 2009 By
Class 4A
1. Iowa City High (9-0), LW #1 vs Iowa City West
2. Dowling Catholic (9-0), LW #2 vs Ames
3. Marshalltown (9-0), LW #3 vs Indianola
4. Clinton (9-0), LW #4 vs Cedar Rapids Prairie
5. Bettendorf (8-1), LW #5 vs CR Kennedy
6. Ankeny (8-1), LW #6 vs Mason City
7. Linn-Mar (8-1), LW #7 vs Burlington
8. Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-2), LW #9 vs Pleasant Valley
9. Cedar Rapids Washington (7-2), LW #10 vs North Scott
10.Urbandale (7-2), LW (X) vs Sioux City East

 

Class 3A
1. Harlan (9-0), LW #1 vs MOC/Floyd Valley
2. Clear Lake (9-0), LW #2 vs Dallas Center-Grimes
3. Carroll (9-0), LW #3 vs Hampton-Dumont
4. Centerville (9-0), LW #4 vs Washington
5. Sioux City Heelan (8-1), LW #5 vs Creston/OM
6. Marion (9-0), LW #6 vs West Delaware
7. Williamsburg (8-1), LW #7 vs Pella
8. Ballard (Huxley) (8-1), LW #9 vs Webster City
9. Grinnell (8-1), LW #10 vs Fairfield
10.New Hampton (7-2), LW (X) vs Vinton-Shellsburg

 

Class 2A
1. Solon (9-0), LW #1 vs Mediapolis
2. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (9-0), LW #2 vs East Sac County
3. North Fayette (9-0), LW #3 vs Roland-Story
4. Osage (9-0), LW #4 vs Dyersville Beckman
5. Eagle Grove (8-1), LW #6 vs Sioux Center
6. Iowa City Regina (8-1), LW #7 vs West Burlington/Notre Dame
7. Mid-Prairie (Wellman) (8-1), LW #9 vs Center Point-Urbana
8. Carroll Kuemper (7-2), LW #8 vs PCM @ Jefferson
9. Western Christian (Hull) (8-1), LW #10 vs Cherokee
10.CMB (Baxter) (8-1), LW (X) vs Missouri Valley

 

Class 1A
1. Council Bluffs St. Albert (9-0), LW #1 vs West Sioux
2. West Branch (9-0), LW #2 vs Bellevue
3. Emmetsburg (9-0), LW #3 vs Aplington-Parkersburg
4. Prairie Valley (Gowrie) (9-0), LW #4 vs Nodaway Valley
5. West Lyon (8-1), LW #6 vs Underwood
6. Turkey Valley (8-1), LW (X) vs Fort Dodge St. Edmond
7. HMS (Hartley) (8-1), LW #7 vs Logan-Magnolia
8. Clayton Ridge (8-1), LW #8 vs Wapello
9. Griswold (8-1), LW #10 vs Hinton
10.South Winneshiek (8-1), LW #5 vs Lake Mills

 

Class A
1. North Tama (9-0), LW #1 vs Highland Riverside
2. AHST (Avoca) (9-0), LW #2 vs S.E. Warren
3. Southern Cal (8-1), LW #3 vs Alta
4. Madrid (8-1), LW #4 vs Corning
5. Cedar Falls NU High (9-0), LW #5 vs Lisbon @ the UNI-Dome
6. Mason City Newman (8-1), LW #6 vs East Buchanan
7. Wapsie Valley (Fairbank) (8-1) LW #7 vs Tripoli
8. LeMars Gehlen (8-1), LW #8 vs Rockwell City-Lytton
9. Central Elkader (8-1), LW #9 vs Northwood-Kensett
10.B-G-M (Brooklyn) (8-1), LW #10 vs Cardinal

 

Eight-man
1. Lenox (9-0), LW #1 vs Moravia
2. North Sentral Kossuth (9-0), LW #2 vs Remsen-Union
3. Tri-County (Thornburgh) (9-0), LW #3 vs East Union
4. Stanton (9-0), LW #4 vs Glidden-Ralston
5. Preston (9-0), LW #5 vs Clarksville
6. Armstrong-Ringsted (8-1), LW #6 vs AR-WE-VA
7. Ankeny Christian (8-1), LW #7 vs Melcher-Dallas @ Johnston
8. Remsen St. Mary’s (9-0), LW #8 vs West Bend-Mallard
9. West Central (Maynard) (8-1), LW #9 vs Janesville
10.CWL (Corwith) (7-1), LW (X) vs Dunkerton

 

 

 

Filed Under: Radio Iowa Poll, Sports, Uncategorized

Culver says no slight intended toward Iowa State football

October 26, 2009 By

Governor Chet Culver today tried to get himself out of the middle of the Cyclone-Hawkeye rivalry. Culver said he did not intend to slight Cyclone fans after releasing a statement congratulating the Iowa Hawkeyes on their win over Michigan State, while not issuing a statement on the Cyclones big win at Nebraska.

“Well you know, I’m a huge Clone fan, I’ve put out a lot of statements when they won earlier in the year and no one picked those up,” Culver says. Culver says it was a “huge win for Iowa State’ and he complimented coach Paul Rhoads and the staff. Culver says what Iowa did was “historic” as for the first in 120 years of football they have started 8-0 and that “is truly history in the making.” Culver also included U.N.I. in the discussion to cover all bases.

“I’ll go to both bowl games, when the ‘Clones go to a bowl and Iowa goes, maybe the national championship game, I will be there for both of them, rooting them on — and the same for U.N.I. who I expect will also be in the mix coming down the stretch,” Culver said. Culver says the state is lucky to have three outstanding coaches at the state schools. The governor says the football teams have given Iowans something to cheer about.

Culver says: “It’s really been a positive thing for our state, we’re going through some tough times, but it was great that Cyclone fans and Hawkeye fans could celebrate together on Saturday night, as they both did make history. Unfortunately U.N.I. lost a tough game to South Dakota State, but I know they’ll bounce back.”

Culver has talked in the past about how he was looked at by the University of Iowa to play football, but did not get an offer. Culver went on to play college football at Virginia Tech.

Here is the release from the Governor’s office on the Hawkeyes:

GOVERNOR CULVER CONGRATULATES #6 HAWKEYES ON HISTORIC 8-0 START TO SEASON
DES MOINES –Governor Chet Culver issued the following statement of congratulations to the University of Iowa football team on their best start to a season in 120 years, after defeating the Michigan State University Spartans 15-13 tonight in East Lansing, MI:
“I want to congratulate the Hawkeyes on not only a great win tonight, but by making history with their 8-0 record, the best start in 120 years of football at the University of Iowa. Tonight’s game was an exciting way to continue Iowa’s undefeated start. Coach Ferentz and his staff, Ricky Stanzi, Marvin McNutt and the entire team showed great leadership, and that success comes from never giving up. I wish the team the best of luck for the remainder of this exciting season.”

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Governor says more budget details coming Wednesday

October 26, 2009 By
Governor Culver presents an award to Rhonda Phillipps of Mt. Pleasant.

Governor Culver presents an award to Rhonda Phillipps of Mt. Pleasant.

Governor Chet Culver says meetings continue on the details of 10% budget cut and will likely release more details later this week on its impact on the state workforce.

The governor was asked about the issue today at an awards ceremony for state employees. The governor says they are working through the process and will likely hold a news conference Wednesday.

Culver says he has “important meetings’ today with department directors and will meet tomorrow with labor union officials.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Iowa Guard soldiers set to return from Iraq

October 26, 2009 By

About 300 Iowa National Guard soldiers will be returning from an overseas mission this week. The two units have spent a year on duty as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, primarily trucking supplies and equipment.

Homecoming celebrations are planned for Wednesday for the 1133rd and the 1168th Transportation Companies. The two companies are comprised of five National Guard units, based in Audubon, Iowa City, Mason City, Perry and Marshalltown. Both units have been deployed to Iraq before during 2003 and ’04.

Filed Under: Military Tagged With:
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