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. “We’ve had a strong demand throughout the winter,” Weinholzer says. “We’re exporting a lot of crude oil. Crude oil is trading up above $65 a barrel and all of that formed a confluence of reasons why prices have stayed high through the winter and are a bit higher than they were last year at this time.”

The average price for gas in Iowa is two-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. “Syria is not an oil exporter, not directly,” she says. “There’s some nervousness within the market about any continuing hostility and that’s keeping crude oil prices high. Crude oil prices have been high throughout the winter so it’s not having that significant of an impact.”

While the weather is still wintry, we’re almost a month into spring, which usually means an upturn in gas prices. “We’re most of the way through the switch-over from the winter to the summer grade of fuel, even though we’re not actually experiencing summer at this point,” Weinholzer says. “The summer grade fuel burns cleaner and costs more to refine so we always see prices rise in the spring, although I wouldn’t expect them to rise any more than a nickel or a dime between now and Memorial Day.”

The daily Triple-A survey shows Iowa’s most expensive gas is in Dubuque, averaging two-65 a gallon, while the cheapest gas is in Council Bluffs at two-49.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:55 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa regulator says the state’s top elections official will not be required to identify his private businesses in a conflict-of-interest disclosure form because other state officials have kept them secret without consequence. The statement from Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board director Megan Tooker comes a day after The Associated Press reported that Secretary of State Paul Pate owns a strip mall and two rental storage businesses that he didn’t list on an ethics filing last week.

OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) — The parents of a 16-year-old girl who died in a school bus fire in western Iowa last year are suing the school district. The Des Moines Register reports that Glen and Natalie Klindt accuse Riverside Community School District in the wrongful death lawsuit of negligent hiring, training and supervision of 74-year-old bus driver Donald Hendricks, who also died in the fire. The Klindts say the Dec. 12 death of their daughter, Megan Klindt, caused them severe emotional distress.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa appeals court has granted a new trial for a man convicted of murder who argued that the jury was biased against him. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Court of Appeals on Wednesday sided with Lee Christensen, who argued on appeal that several jurors had seen Facebook posts threatening the jury and warning of riots if Christensen weren’t convicted. Christensen was sentenced in 2016 to 50 years in prison for the June 2015 shooting death of 19-year-old Thomas Bortvit.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Court records say a Dubuque man scheduled for a murder trial in August has made a plea deal with prosecutors. The Telegraph Herald reports that a hearing is scheduled Friday for 36-year-old Michael Piantieri, who’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the Dec. 2 slaying of 42-year-old Beverly Puccio at her home. The agreement says Piantieri will plead guilty to second-degree murder and face a mandatory sentence of 50 years in prison.

More than two-dozen people packed Atlantic City Hall Wednesday evening, to listen about plans to attract and retain businesses in the community, in light of four local businesses that have already shuttered their doors or soon will be. At least two of those business owners are retiring, one has health issues. Chamber Executive Director Bailey Smith spoke to the Council about what they are currently doing and plan on doing to reverse the trend.

First, she said, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce provides business owners with continuing education opportunities, including partnerships with the Small Business Development Center and Iowa Works, to update owners on changing business practices, marketing strategies and staying up-to-date on labor laws. They also launched a “Shop local initiative” with 1st Whitney Bank, and the “Shop Local Passport Program,” in partnership with 15 businesses. Since its launch, almost $2-million dollars were spent at those businesses, combined.

Smith says those programs are creating positive change and educating the community. The Chamber next plans to launch a Mentorship Program. It will guide new business owners through the process by partnering them with existing business owners. Through confidential conversations, new entrepreneurs will be able to get advice and strategy on all facets of the operation of a small business.

And finally, several independent business leaders and investors are partnering together to pledge money to entrepreneurs looking to start businesses in Atlantic. The pledge will work as a loan vetted through a local bank and will help business owners buy inventory, cover building costs, etc. Interest in this program has been strong on the business leader and investor side.

Russell Joyce, with the Cass Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO), said their Board of Directors is supportive of the City and/or some other entities, providing an incentive program for retail. Joyce said over the past few years, a number of professionals have retired, but that’s turned out to be a positive situation, because it ended up bringing in younger professionals.

Even now, he said, with people in the retail sector reaching retirement age or past retirement age, there are positives to report. New businesses have come to town, some have moved to older buildings and refurbishing them, and some are considering expanding. Recruiting new retail is the real challenge, according to Joyce. Some solutions include doing more shopping locally, and for some businesses to adjust their business models to change with the times.

Some of those in attendance said the City needs to do a better job of promoting events and drawing people to town, especially in light of the Sesquicentennial. Barb Jorgensen, owner of The Little Cobbler, said the City needs to promote events and draw more people to town. Dr. Keith Leonard, a retired veterinarian, suggested the City help waive some fees for upstart businesses.

Mayor Jones and the Council reminded the audience that the Community Promotion Committee meets to discuss the issues, and anyone is welcome to attend. The public will be notified of the next meeting date and time, which is expected to be within the next month.

OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) — The parents of a 16-year-old girl who died in a school bus fire in western Iowa last year are suing the school district. The Des Moines Register reports that Glen and Natalie Klindt accuse Riverside Community School District in the wrongful death lawsuit of negligent hiring, training and supervision of 74-year-old bus driver Donald Hendricks, who also died in the fire.

The Klindts say the Dec. 12 death of their daughter, Megan Klindt, caused them severe emotional distress, and they’re seeking an unspecified amount in damages. The Klindts’ lawsuit also says they and Megan had complained about Hendricks’ driving before the fire. Hendricks used a walker and had back surgery scheduled the week of the fire.

Federal investigators have said the fire began in the engine compartment after Hendricks backed the bus into a ditch and became stuck.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 27-year-old Michael Weeden of Clarinda on a warrant for Criminal Mischief 4th Degree. Weeden was arrested at 2:00pm on Wednesday and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa –Principal Financial Group ® (Nasdaq: PFG) announced today (Wednesday), that it has received notice of an unsolicited mini-tender offer by Baker Mills LLC (“Baker Mills”) to purchase up to 60,000 shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. common stock (“PFG”) from Principal ® shareholders. The offer represents approximately 0.021 percent of Principal’s shares of common stock outstanding as of the April 16, 2018 offer date.

Baker Mills’ offer price of $49.00 per share is approximately 19.75 percent lower than the $61.06 closing price of PFG common stock on Nasdaq on April 16, 2018. This offer follows a recent similar offer by Baker Mills to purchase from certain PFG holders up to 50,000 shares of PFG. That previous offer, which terminated on March 2, 2018, resulted in the purchase by Baker Mills of 11,163 PFG shares.

As with the prior offer by Baker Mills, Principal does not endorse Baker Mills’ unsolicited mini-tender offer and recommends that shareholders do not tender their shares in response to Baker Mills’ offer because the offer is, as was the case with the previous offer, at a price that is significantly below the current market value of PFG.

As with the prior offer by Baker Mills for PFG, Principal urges investors to obtain current market quotations for their shares, consult with their broker or financial advisor, and exercise caution with respect to Baker Mills’ offer. Principal urges shareholders who have not responded to Baker Mills’ offer take no action.

Shareholders who have already tendered their shares may withdraw them at any time by providing written notice as described in the Baker Mills mini-tender offer documents prior to the expiration of the offer, currently scheduled for 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on May 18, 2018. Principal encourages shareholders to review carefully the “Withdrawal Rights” section of the offer documents.

To find out more, visit principal.com.