KWIT: Regional News for 5/20 (2008-05-20)

In Iowa...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa Democratic Chairman Scott Brennan
will announce his endorsement of Barack Obama for the Democratic
presidential nomination.
The Associated Press has learned the announcement will come
today in Des Moines.
The decision adds more momentum for Obama in an important swing
state likely to be hard fought in November. Obama leads Hillary
Rodham Clinton nationally in the tally of superdelegates. That
includes endorsements from seven of Iowa's 11 superdelegates,
compared to Clinton's three. Senator Tom Harkin is Iowa's only
uncommitted superdelegate.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is defending its
decision to push food-based biofuels as food costs rise at home and
abroad, saying the renewable fuels are only a small part of the
problem.
Some have blamed the food crisis in part on policies backed by
the White House and Congress that divert corn, soybeans and other
crops to fuel.
The GOP's presumptive presidential nominee John McCain is among
leaders asking the Environmental Protection Agency to cut this
year's requirement for 9 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol in
half to ease food costs.
Nebraska is the nation's No. 3 producer of ethanol.

SALIX CITY, Iowa (AP) - A small airplane has made an emergency
landing in a cornfield in western Iowa. No one was injured.
Woodbury County authorities say the airplane's engine
malfunctioned Monday afternoon, forcing it to land near Port Neal
south of Sioux City. The aircraft was intact as authorities taxied
it out of the field about 30 minutes later.
Firefighters were also called to the scene to extinguish a fire
in the field. It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze.

In Nebraska...

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The boys of Boys State will provide
questions for the first debate between U.S. Senate candidates Mike
Johanns and Scott Kleeb (KLEBB).
The June 5 debate in Lincoln is being organized by the American
Legion for Cornhusker Boys State.
Boys State is a weeklong government leadership program for some
400 high school boys. A similar program is held for girls.
Kleeb won 69 percent of the vote last week in beating Tony
Raimondo in the Democratic primary.
Johanns overwhelmed political newcomer Pat Flynn in the
Republican primary.
They want to replace Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican who decided
not to seek a third term.
There will be press coverage of the debate, but it is closed to
the public.

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) - A murder trial has begun with a new type
of visitor in the courtroom.
In what is believed to be a first for the state, media cameras
are being allowed in a district court courtroom for a trial. It's
part of a pilot project that could lead to more video and still
images from court proceedings across the state.
Judge Paul Korslund is overseeing the trial that began
yesterday. He says that allowing cameras could improve the public's
understanding of how the courts work.
The state Supreme Court is behind the pilot project also being
conducted in the Lancaster County District Court.
On trial in Beatrice is Richard Allen Griswold. He has been
charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a woman
in November.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Officials at Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha are
making plans for expansion as city leaders further their plans to
abandon a neighboring baseball stadium.
The zoo says it will tear down Rosenblatt Stadium, which has
been the home of the NCAA College World Series for more than 50
years. City leaders are planning a new stadium north of downtown
Omaha.
Zoo officials say razing the stadium will make way for exhibit
expansion and parking.
Zoo Director Doctor Lee Simmons says the cost to transform the
ballpark into zoo property is estimated at $14 million. Tentative
plans call for expanded exhibits for elephants and polar bears and
other arctic animals.

In South Dakota...

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign says it
would agree to former South Dakota Senator George McGovern's
proposal that she and Barack Obama hold joint appearances in the
last weeks of the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination.
But Obama's campaign in South Dakota indicates no interest in
holding joint appearances.
Geoff Wetrosky of Clinton's South Dakota campaign says Obama
apparently is ready to declare victory in the nomination fight. He
says the campaign should continue through June 3rd, when South
Dakota and Montana hold the nation's last primaries.
Matt Lehrich of Obama's campaign in South Dakota says the two
Democratic campaigns have not discussed joint appearances. He says
Obama will continue working hard to win votes and delegates in
South Dakota.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The state's farmers took advantage of
nice weather last week to get back in the field. Fifty-seven
percent of the corn and 18 percent of the soybeans are planted.
Both are behind the five-year average.
The seeding of oats, barley and spring wheat is nearly complete.
Ninety-two percent of the state reports enough topsoil moisture.

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) - The state Tourism Office has tinkered with
its marketing plan in response to higher gasoline prices.
Spokeswoman Wanda Goodman says it's paying more attention to
potential tourists in neighboring states because they would drive
less and pay less for gas.
She says people will still take a vacation -- it's just that it
might be shorter or closer to home.
Goodman says tourism inquiries to the state and traffic on its
Web site are up over last year.