GAS PRICES IN IOWA ARE HIGHER THAN USUAL
Iowans who are filling up the gas tanks of their cars — and their snowblowers — are paying more lately.
Gail Weinholzer, at Triple-A-Iowa, says gasoline prices are higher than usual.
The average price for gas in Iowa is $2.58 a gallon. That’s up 20-cents from a year ago. Last weekend’s U-S-led strike on Syria likely isn’t to blame, at least not much.
While the weather is still wintry, we’re almost a month into spring, which usually means an upturn in gas prices.
The daily Triple-A survey shows Iowa’s most expensive gas is in Dubuque, averaging $2.65 a gallon, while the cheapest gas is in Council Bluffs at $2.49.
—
TEENS ARE URGED TO MAKE ‘NO DRINKING OR DRUGS’ PROMISE DURING PROM SEASON
Many thousands of Iowa teens are getting ready to celebrate two of the biggest events of high school — prom and graduation — but the occasions can have deadly consequences. Gail Weinholzer, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says the motor club is sponsoring the “PROMise” program that runs from now until school lets out for the summer.
A Triple-A survey conducted in January showed 39-percent of teens between 16 and 19 admit they or their friends would likely be under the influence of drugs or alcohol sometime during the prom or graduation season. While one teen may be staying away from temptation, perhaps the friend who’s behind the wheel didn’t, which puts both lives — and others — at risk unless the sober one speaks up.
As part of PROMise, should the teen be in danger of driving impaired or riding with someone who may be impaired, parents can pick their teen up and Triple-A will tow the family car home for free, member or not. Free PROMise toolkits are available to high schools interested in helping protect their students from the dangerous consequences of impaired driving.
—
DAYCARE PROVIDER CHARGED IN OCTOBER DEATH OF BABY
An Iowa City woman was arrested this morning (Thursday) in connection with the death of a baby last year. Radio Iowa’s Pat Curtis reports.
–
Iowa City Police say 49-year-old Wendy Young, who ran a home daycare service, drank up to 12 cans of beer before watching a 7-month-old infant on October 18. Police were called to her home that morning and found the child unresponsive. The infant was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Young is charged with neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
—
IOWA STUDENTS PLAN TO JOIN US GUN VIOLENCE WALKOUT
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Students at several high schools across Iowa plan to join Friday’s national walkout to protest gun violence and seek safer schools.
The event marks the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High shooting in Colorado. Many of the Iowa teens were on break last month and couldn’t join national walkouts.
In Des Moines, East High School students plan to start their demonstration with speeches outside school around 10:30 a.m. and then walk over to the Capitol to talk to lawmakers about their stances on guns.
Students in Johnston, Pella, Urbandale, Waukee and West Des Moines have said they’ll be leaving their classrooms Friday, too.
—
TRANSITIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS TO REMAIN FOR 2019
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa insurance officials say 38,000 Iowans who bought health insurance policies after the Affordable Care Act was passed into law but before the state insurance exchanges were set up in 2014 will get to keep those polices for another year.
These so-called transitional plans have been allowed to continue each year since the ACA, known as Obamacare, was implemented. The policies do not have to comply with all ACA regulations.
Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen says the federal government recently announced the plans could continue for 2019.
Ommen says if these 37,000 consumers had to join the ACA, they would see rate increases between 100 percent and 400 percent and many would probably drop insurance.
The transitional plans are in addition to another 37,000 Iowans who have grandfathered plans – policies purchased before Obamacare was passed and allowed by the federal law to continue.
—
MINOR IOWA FLOODING EXPECTED FOLLOWING SPRING SNOWFALL
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Forecasters say minor flooding is expected following the spring storm that dumped several inches of snow on most of northern Iowa.
Up to a foot (30 centimeters) of snow was reported Thursday in Winnebago County after Wednesday’s storm moved through the state. Other spots reported less.
The National Weather Service issued a warning early Thursday morning for the Cedar River at Cedar Falls. The water was nearing flood stage of 88 feet (27 meters) and is forecast to crest 18 inches (46 centimeters) above flood stage Tuesday evening. Flooding in a corner of Tourist Park is likely.
Minor flooding also is expected along the Winnebago River in Mason City, the Rock River at Rock Rapids, the Ocheyedan River near Spencer and the Little Sioux River at Cherokee.
