KWIT: Regional News for 6/23 (2008-06-23)

In Iowa...

NEW YORK (AP) - Raging Midwest floodwaters that swallowed crops
and sent corn and soybean prices soaring are about to give
consumers more grief at the grocery store.
In the latest bout of food inflation, beef, pork, poultry and
even eggs, cheese and milk are expected to get more expensive.
That will happen as livestock owners go out of business or are
forced to slaughter more cattle, hogs, turkeys and chickens to cope
with skyrocketing costs for corn-based animal feed.
The floods engulfed an estimated 2 million or more acres of corn
and soybean fields in Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and other key growing
states.
That's sending world grain prices skyward on fears of a
substantially smaller corn crop.
The government will give a partial idea of how many corn acres
were lost before the end of the month.
But experts say the trickle-down effect could be more dramatic
later this year, affecting everything from Thanksgiving turkeys to
Christmas hams.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The state is expanding its emergency
food assistance program to three dozen counties.
The service will allow eligible flood and storm victims access
to disaster food stamps even if they normally don't qualify for
food assistance.
Department of Human Services officials say the maximum one time
benefit for a family of four is $540.
A few counties area already offering the help, and on Monday the
benefits expand to 36 counties. State officials say federal
officials will likely authorize more counties.
Officials say the application process is simple and benefits are
almost immediate.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - With wind turbine towers popping up on the
U.S. landscape at a rate of almost 10 per day, the need for people
to maintain and repair them is reaching the critical point.
Community colleges in Iowa, North Dakota and other states are
jumping at the chance to help fill that need and develop a niche
for themselves through wind tech programs.
A spokeswoman for the American Wind Energy Association says that
the demand for workers is so high that companies try to recruit
students right out of college.
Last year, 3,200 new wind turbines were installed across the
nation as power companies responded to the push for more green
energy.
Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville has a wind tech
training program.
Dwaine Higgins, a graduate of the program, says his job outlook
in the wind industry is virtually unlimited.

In Nebraska...

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) - Dozens of Democrats attending the state
convention in Fremont over the weekend were irritated with the
party.
They were frustrated that a paperwork problem kept them from
being considered as delegates to the national convention. Most of
them were from the 2nd Congressional District.
Some said they didn't know they had to submit a form to the
state Party, while others said they submitted the form but still
weren't on the list.
Preston Love Junior of Omaha says he didn't know a form was
required and takes responsibility. But he said he wishes
communication had been better.
State Party spokesman Eric Van Horn says officials did
everything they could to make sure delegates knew they had to
submit forms and were careful with the paperwork.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) - The plane that had to divert to the
Scottsbluff airport last week had a problem with a malfunctioning
oil pressure light.
Initially, officials said an oil pressure problem caused the
plane to make an emergency landing at Western Nebraska Regional
Airport.
But Airport Manager Darwin Skelton now says faulty wiring made
the oil pressure light come on.
United Airlines flight 7177, operated by Mesa Airlines, was
traveling from Rapid City, S.D., to Denver when it was diverted
Thursday evening.
Skelton says all of the plane's passengers have Scottsbluff. And
the plane was repaired Friday morning and flew on to Grand
Junction, Colo., for a complete inspection.
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Information from: Star-Herald, http://www.starherald.com

In South Dakota...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The South Dakota Board of Regents will
hear reports this week on several major building projects planned
for three university campuses.
The University of South Dakota plans to renovate Slagle
Auditorium and create the USD Performing Arts Center.
The original cost estimate was $8.1 million -- $4.6 million of
which would come from bonding and $3.5 million from private
donations.
The School of Mines and Technology wants to build a Paleontology
Center. The Legislature approved $7 million in bonds, and another
$3 million is to come from private donations and federal funds.
At an earlier stage in the process is a proposal to build an
addition to the Barnett Center on the Northern State University
campus in Aberdeen. No cost estimate was listed.
The regents meet Thursday and Friday in Brookings.

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) - The University of South Dakota is
hosting a two-day institute for teachers of gifted students.
The Institute for Teachers of Gifted Youth, in its sixth year,
is cosponsored by the USD School of Education and the South Dakota
Association for Gifted Children.
The event features local, state and regional educators and
gifted students from the South Dakota Ambassadors of Excellence
camp.
It includes sessions on meeting the needs of gifted children in
classroom settings, social and emotional support for talented
students and multicultural aspects.
The institute runs Monday and Tuesday.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)