Temperatures are rising and gasoline prices are falling, a welcome combination for Iowans who are planning Memorial Day weekend getaways. Gail Weinholzer, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says the motor club is predicting about 35-million Americans will be traveling at least 50 miles away from home over the upcoming holiday. “That’s about a one-and-a-half percent increase over last year,” Weinholzer says. “Certainly, the downward pressure on fuel prices in April has done a lot to encourage people to travel after a rather wicked February and March that we had as far as gas prices.”

She says there’s a direct correlation between the drop in fuel costs and the expected rise in travel. Earlier this year, analysts predicted gas would hit four-dollars a gallon in the Midwest, perhaps a buck higher on the coasts. “But mercifully, in April, we saw a reduction in 23 out of the 30 days in gas prices and that’s gone a long ways in helping people plan their Memorial Day travel,” Weinholzer says. “Unless there’s some sort of significant political or environmental impact, it should remain that way through the summer.” The average price of gas has fallen in recent weeks in Iowa and Weinholzer was asked if it would keep falling.”I don’t know if we’ll continue to see it drop, certainly we’ll see a stabilization at the very least,” she says. “When we were looking at crude oil prices in March being $108 a barrel, that was pretty steep. They’re down now to about $94 a barrel.” The current average gas price in Iowa is three-47 a gallon, down from three-85 a year ago. The current U-S average is three-68.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

Officials with “Live Healthy Iowa” say the “Living Healthy Iowa Dream Team” ended its 100 Day Wellness Challenge on May 1st with 192 pounds lost and 761 hours of physical activity recorded. The Dream Team is comprised of 10 Iowans and a team captain who served as role models of health and wellness during the course of the Challenge. The Dream Team celebrated their accomplishments at a final Dream Team Day May 5th in Ames, with Live Healthy Iowa staff members.

The day consisted of health screenings, measurements, team bonding, awards and a luncheon. Nichole Crane of Nevada was awarded ‘Outstanding Weight Loss Achievement’ for leading the team in weight loss with 41 pounds lost. Sandy Booker of Greenfield was awarded ‘Outstanding Physical Activity Achievement‘ for leading the team in the activity division with 136 hours of physical activity. ”

In southwest Iowa, ,embers of the Dream Team include: Natalie Karas, of Oakland, and Sandy Booker, of Greenfield. The team captain of the Dream Team is Stephanie Broders, an ACE-Certified Personal Trainer, from Ames. The Dream Team will also be participating in Burst Your Thirst, a Live Healthy Iowa challenge focusing on hydration and physical activity from June 18th-July 30yh, 2012. Registration is open at www.livehealthyiowa.org.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman is reminding residents of the County that the Cass County Courthouse will be closed next Monday, May 28th, in observance of Memorial Day. The Auditor’s Office will however, be open this Saturday, May 26th, from 8-a.m. to 5-p.m., to conduct election business. That would include Absentee voting and registration.

If you are not yet registered to vote, May 26th is THE LAST DAY to pre-register and still be eligible to vote in the June 5th Primary election. If you have moved since last registering, and/or have changed your name since you last registered to vote, you should re-register. The Auditor’s Office will also be open on Saturday, June 2nd, from 9-a.m. to 5-p.m., for election business, which again, would include Absentee voting. Sunderman says same day registration and voting is permitted after the voter presents proof of identity and residency.

If you have any questions, please call the Cass County Auditor’s Office at 712-243-4570, or e-mail auditor@casscoia.us

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities investigating the deaths of a Nebraska woman and her 10-year-old son say they are not looking for an “outside” killer or at-large suspect. Council Bluffs Police Sgt. Dave Dawson says investigators “do not suspect any outside foul play” in the deaths of 41-year-old Charlotte Schilling and her son, Owen Schilling, of Plattsmouth. Their bodies were discovered Sunday evening in a wooded area of a state park near Council Bluffs, but were not identified until Tuesday. The pair had been missing since May 10, when Schilling checked Owen out of his elementary school. Police found Schilling’s vehicle the next day at the park. Dawson says he expects police to release how they died later this week.

Firefighters from Walnut responded to a call about a semi tractor-trailer fire on Interstate 80 westbound Tuesday afternoon, at the Walnut exit. Dispatch reports at around 2:45-p.m. indicated flames were coming from the engine compartment. The trailer was said to have been carrying a highly flammable fuel. The truck driver managed to get most of the fire out with his on-board extinguisher before firefighters arrived. They weren’t on the scene for very long, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.