Gas prices jumped up across the state just before the weekend started, but an expert says the increase shouldn’t last long. Triple-A Iowa spokesman Brian Ortner says OPEC’s announcement they’re extending production cuts to the end of the year is one factor in the increase, as is the price of crude oil topping 87 dollars a barrel.

The maintenance lowers the production capacity. Ortner says there are several things that should keep the gas jump from being long term.

His advice is to understand the hike is something that won’t last long.

Some areas saw a jump of 70 cents on Friday.

Advocates say the state has failed to adequately address a lack of children’s mental health care services in Iowa. Kayla Powell was in the foster care system as a child and, as an adult, has become an advocate for children.

Powell spoke at a statehouse hearing on behalf of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Iowa. She outlined the group’s objection to a plan that would merge the state board created to oversee a children’s mental health system with some other state board, which hasn’t been named.

Powell says youth suicide has reached crisis levels and now is not the time to dial back the state’s focus.

The Children’s Behavioral Health System State Board is one of dozens of state boards included on an initial list for elimination or merger with another board in state government. A review committee will develop its final set of recommendations by the end of the month, then lawmakers will decide whether to follow through on the plan next year.

Five G-O-P presidential candidates were at the Iowa-Iowa State game this weekend, hoping to score points with potential Iowa Caucus-goers.

The two leading candidates in the Republican Party’s presidential race attracted the most attention in Ames. Before the game, former President Donald Trump briefly spoke to hundreds waiting outside the A-G-R fraternity and he threw some autographed footballs into the crowd. As Trump made his way into the stadium, Trump was cheered and greeted with a “U-S-A!” chant, but there were a some boos and obscene gestures directed Trump’s way during the day. Trump watched the game from a private stadium suite with Gary Kirke, a Des Moines businessman who’s the co-owner of two Iowa casinos. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis strolled through the throngs of tailgaters, then during the game, DeSantis sat in the stands next to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.

Reynolds has said she’s neutral in the presidential race so all candidates feel welcome to campaign here, but Reynolds isn’t ruling out making an endorsement on down the road — closer to the January 15th Caucuses. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy also campaigned in the tailgate zone before Saturday’s Iowa-Iowa State game.

Montgomery County deputies report that on Friday, September 8th just after 5:00 pm a traffic stop at highway 34 and G Avenue resulted in the arrests of 33 year old Kelli Kyle and 34 year old Austin Stites, both of Omaha.  Kyle was charged with possession of methamphetamine, 1st offense and Stites was charged with unlawful possession of prescription medication.  Both were taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

Also, on Friday just prior to 9:00 pm, deputies arrested 44 year old Brooke Scott on a warrant for violating probation.  She was held on $5,000 bond at the Montgomery County Jail.

On Sunday, Thomas Delgado, who was already in the Montgomery County Jail, was served a warrant for violating a no-contact order.  Bond was set at $300.