(Radio Iowa) — The Ankeny-based Casey’s Convenience store chain reported this week that strong sales in several categories led to an increase in earnings in the second quarter compared to last year. Chief executive officer Terry Handley talked about the results in a conference call. “Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter were up over 40 percent to a dollar-80 , compared to a dollar-28 a year ago. The results were primarily driven by increased control on operating expenses, margin gains both at the pump and inside the store, as well as operating 94 additonal stores from the second quarter last year,” Handley says.

Gas prices were higher in the past year, but Handley says they still made good margins. “We achieved an average margin of 20 cents per gallon for the quarter and drove a seven-point-two percent increase in gross profit dollars from the fuel category,” Handley says. “Same store gallons sold in the quarter were down one-point-one percent — due to our optimization efforts in the quarter — as well as softer demand.” The optimization efforts include added bio-diesel and premium fuels that have bigger margins. Handley says the yearly results for gas sales are similar to what they saw in the quarter. “Same store gallons sold year-to-date were down three-tenths of one percent, with an average margin of 20-point-three cents per gallon, resulting in an increase in fuel gross profit dollars over 10 percent to 242-point-one million dollars,” according toe Handley.

He says same-store sales of groceries and merchandise were up two-point-seven percent with an average margin of 32-point-four percent. Handley says the sale of prepare foods were up two-point-two percent with an average margin of 62-point-four percent. He says strategic price increases for food items helped expand the margin in the quarter.

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds traveled to southeast Iowa Friday to visit a small business launched by a couple of Florida transplants. Carson King and his son, Zach, moved to Iowa about a year ago to open ‘Oh Donuts’ in Sigourney. The governor gave the whole grain and gluten-free donuts a thumbs up. “What a great concept,” Reynolds said, “not to mention that all the ingredients are organic. They source all of the ingredients locally, in the state of Iowa, which I think is amazing.”

Reynolds said her visit to the unique donut shot gave her an idea. “I’d like to have a ‘Startup Day’ at the Capitol and have startup companies from all across the state come in, just talk about what they’re doing, what’s working, maybe what some of the barriers are – so legislators have a chance to hear first-hand,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds also got to try her hand at making donuts. She said it’s a skill sure to “make her more popular with her grandkids.”

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports that on Wednesday, Dec. 19th, a contractor will shift southbound Interstate 29 traffic in Sioux City off a detour route.  At 9-a.m., the left lane of southbound I-29 will be closed for the application of pavement marking. Later in the morning, Wednesday, the contractor will reopen the left lane and close the right lane, as well as the southbound exit and entrance ramps at Exit 149/Hamilton Boulevard.

While the southbound I-29 right lane is closed, southbound I-29 traffic exiting to Hamilton Boulevard will exit at the southbound Virginia Street exit to Floyd Boulevard and continue to northbound I-29 to Exit 148/Wesley Parkway. Ramp traffic from Hamilton Boulevard to southbound I-29 will go through Wesley Parkway to enter southbound I-29 until pavement markings are completed. Each ramp will reopen as soon as traffic control at that location is complete.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A controversial high-voltage power line across western Wisconsin has been put into service after almost three years of construction. Supporters say the 180-mile, $580 million Badger Coulee line will enable clean and cheap wind energy from Minnesota and Iowa to reach big cities where there’s demand. Opponents consider it an unnecessary expense that guarantees profits for the owners while discouraging conservation and local renewable energy investments.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A spokeswoman for an Iowa college says the school welcomes a student group’s request to withdraw a union petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board. Grinnell College spokeswoman Debra Lukehart released a statement saying, “The college’s concern has always been about how the expansion of the student union could affect Grinnell’s distinctive culture and diminish educational opportunities for our students.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters in Cedar Rapids say a 43-year-old woman has been hurt in an apartment fire. Fire officials say in a news release that the fire was reported around 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Gateway Apartments. Officials say the woman received CPR at the scene, and was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Her condition was not known late Friday afternoon.

UNDATED (AP) — Joe Biden is aware that age is an issue as he ponders a 2020 presidential run. He is talking with friends and longtime supporters about whether he’s too old to seek the White House. That’s according to several sources who have spoken with the 76-year-old former Democratic vice president. It could be the biggest hurdle to launching another bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, especially in an era when many in the party yearn for a new generation of leadership.