Lower 20s in many areas by 5pm with upper teens also possible north of highway 20. The falling temperature trend continues right into the weekend with temperatures into the sing digits on saturday. Some snow is still possible saturday night, mainly over the southern half of the area. Amounts will be very minor, and generally under 1. The big story continues to be on the Colder Weather for sunday with subzero highs likely in all locations. Wind chill numbers on sunday morning will very likely be in the 30 to 40 range with isolated colder values. Carry jumper cables with you and ensure you have plenty of gas in your vehicle if youll be out on sunday. Layer up, and dont forget about your pets today sct. Flurries, windy high 2531 winds nw 1530 alo 23 dbq 28 iow 29tonight clearing colder low 612 winds nw 1525 alo 1 dbq 8 iow 10tomorrow chance of snow late high 612 winds nw 1020 alo 4 dbq 7 iow 10tomorrow 126 winds nw 1020 alo 13 dbq 10 iow 8 several School Districts in eastern iowa are now using propane buses instead of the older diesel models. Cedar rapids, linn mar, vintonshellsburg are just some of those districts. Propane is considered a greener alternative to diesel. It emits fewer Greenhouse Gases because it has a lower carbon content compared to diesel. Propane buses cost about 5 thousand dollars more than their diesel counterparts. But districts say they recoup the cost from lower propane prices. Right now, diesel is selling for 2 dollars and 18 cents per gallon. Midwest residential propane is selling for 1 dollar and 46 cents per gallon, according to the Us Energy Information administration. The buses are also becoming a popular option for harsh iowa winters. As kcrgtv9s Jill Kasparie reports, propane buses are becoming the way of the future. Nats of bus rolling in some new rolling into eastern iowa. Theyre opening the door to savings. The fuel itself is probably about a third of the cost of running a diesel fuel. And then, in an oil change we only have to change seven quarts of oil versus 18 to 29 with some of our buses. The Cedar Rapids School district is expecting to receive its new propane fueled buses in time for next school year. Up the road at linnmar drivers started using their four new propane buses this school year. We are projecting about 3,200 a year of savings per bus, and thats not just in fuel but in reoccurring maintenance costs. Those who sell the buses say theres Something Else thats grabbing the interest of iowa School Districts. Propane buses dont have problems in the bitter cold, like diesel engines. With a diesel bus, number one you are going to hope that you have it plugged in, number two you are going to hope you have your fuel properly blended so you dont have a gelling issue, which will leave that sitting basically along the road, which then involves a tow truck. When its 40 below earlier this week with temperatures hovering around zero, linnmars transportation manager put his new buses to the test. We did have one bus ice up that morning, a diesel bus, had no issues with the propane operation whatsoever most School Districts also plug buses into block heaters to warm them for the cold dayayhead. Linnmar says it doesnt even do that with its propane buses. We have actually opted this year to run our without using the block heaters just to test them and we have had no issues at all. Tv9s Jill Kasparie with that story. Linnmar had to purchase a propane fueling system for 27 thousand dollars. Cedar rapids says its going to build a 10 thousand dollar base and plans to lease the fueling equipment. A federal Appeals Court has refused to reduce the sentence for a former Iowa State University scientist who falsified aids dongpyou han had received a sentence of 57 months in prison. Hans lawyer said that was unreasonable. This week, an Appellate Court upheld the sentence. A group of harvard researchers discovered han and his Research Team had improperly used rabbit blood to achieve some promising results in fighting aids. The cedar falls Area Education Agency 267 is on its way to increasing its budget this year. According to the waterloo cedar falls courier, the board of directors gave initial approval to 58 point 5 Million Dollars this week. Thats a 3 point 35 percent increase over last years budget. This budget is based off assumptions that aea 267 wont r reive any state or o oer categorical aid. The board is also assuming there will be a drop in enrollment in School Districts and private schools in 18 North Central and northeast iowa counties. Waterloo schools are getting rid off a slower paced beginning algebra class to challenge students. According to the waterloo of education approved the High School Course catalog on monday. Students are required to take 3 years of math to graduate, including algebra 1. One option to meet that requirement has included splitting the yearlong class to take it over two years. Now thats only an option in Certain Circumstance s. The iowa racing and Gaming Commission is fining the isle of capri casino in waterloo for letting someone underage gamble and drink. Radio iowa reports the casino has to pay 20 thousand dollars. Last july, an underage woman made it onto the gambling floor. The casinos director of operations says the Company Fired two employees involved, a a suspended another. Lisbon police are searching for a man who broke into a local bar and may have burglarized some homes. Police say the man broke into whiteys bar and grill early in the morning on december 27th. This is Surveillance Video from that morning. Police say he stole money and damaged a cash register, an atm, a juke box, and game machines. If you haveveny information, police. The country is still waiting for the three winners of the one point six billion dollar Powerball Jackpot to come forward and claim their prize. Dozens of people across the country also became overnight millionaires by matching most ofofhe powerball numbers. 73 tickets were each good enough for one Million Dollars. Eight tickets won two million. And a aiowan won one of those two Million Dollar prizes. That ticket came from a caseys Convenience Store in western iowa. It matched the first five numbers but missed the powerball. Ththts good for a millili dollars, but the buyer also took the power play option which doubled the prize. Nearly 225 thousand tickets in iowa won prizes. Seven tickets in the state were just one number away from getting a share of the big prize altogether, iowans spent 12 Million Dollars buying powerball tickets for this drawing. A chairperson for the Powerball Group says it has sold more than three point two billion dollars worth of tickets since november. Some of that money goes back education, veterans, College Scholarships more than three quarters of a billion dollars in construction work is almost finished in iowa city. Much of the work is on the university of iowas arts and music campuses. The new Arts Building will open in may. Then in june, work at the new Hancher Auditorium will wrap up. And in august crews will finish work on the voxman music building. The buildings replace several destroyed in the 2008 flood. Those who are going into the buildings have persevered during this interim time and they too celebrate seeing the building come together, it means a lot because its a real symbol of this university and communitys recovery from the flood. Crews are also planning to complete the new 360 Million DollarChildrens Hospital by the end of the year. In a tv9 followup this morning. Pipe work is done and the heat is back on at the linn county courthouse this morning. Pipes burst earlier this week, leaving a mess and cutting off heat to the a portable heating and power unit from the countys Emergency Management agency pumped heat into the building until the regular system was back. There were two leaks in the system that heats bofh the jail and courthouse. Facilities managers blame an air pocket in the pipes. A cedar rapids dog is enjoying the National Spotlight and some new hardware this morning. Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the award for amazing journey sissy sissy the schnauzer got her golden hydrant statue at the world dog awards. It aired last night on the cw. She ran away from home one night last february and walked several blocks to Mercy Medical center. Then, she walked right through the automatic doors and into the lobby of the hospital where her owner was recovering from surgery. First of all, we want to thank everyone who voted for sissy, and everyone who shared her journey to Mercy Hospital to see memewere very proud her. Sissys category relied on public votes to win. Nancy and her daughter said they enjoyed their trip to california for the show. Cities in linn county can now plan their budgets for this year. Computer issues had delayed an annual report city leaders needed to make their decisions. Falling temperatures ararlikely few scattered flurries likely as well. Plan on temperatures to be into the 5pm with upper teens also possible north o o highway 20. The falling temperature trend continues right into the weekend with temperatures iio the Single Digits on saturday. Some snow is still possible saturday night, mainly over the southern half of the area. Amounts will be very minor, and generally under 1. The big story continues to be on the Colder Weather for sunday with subzero highs likely in all locations. Wind chill numbers on sunday morning will very likely be in the 30 to 40 range with isolated colder values. Carry jumper cables with you and ensure you have plenty of gas in your vehicle if youll be out on sunday. Layer up, and dont forget about your pets today sct. Flurries, windy high 2531 clearing colder low 612 winds nw 1525 alo 1 dbq 8 8 iow 10tomorroro chance of snow late high 612 winds nw 1020 alo 4 dbq 7 iow 10tomorrow night chance of snow low 126 winds nw 1020 alo 13 dbq 10 iow 8 thanks kaj. Fallllg temperatures are likely today with a few scattered flurries likely as well. Plan on temperatures to be into the lower 20s in many areas by 5pm with upper teens also possible north of highway 20. The falling temperature trend continues right into the weekend with temperatures into the Single Digits on saturday. Some snow is still possible saturday night, mainly over the southern half of the area. Amounts will be very minor, and generally under 1. The big story continues to be on the Colder Weather for sunday with subzero highs likely in all locations. Wind chill numbers on sunday morning will very likely be isolated colder values. Carry jumper cables with you and ensure you have plenty of gas in your vehicle if youll be out on sunday. Layer up, and dont forget about your pets today sct. Flurries, windy high 2531 winds nw 1530 alo 23 dbq 28 iow 29tonight clearing colder low 612 winds nw 1525 alo 1 dbq 8 iow 10tomorrow chance of snow late high 612 winds nw 1020 alo 4 dbq 7 iow 10tomorrow night chance of snow low 126 winds nw 1020 alo 13 dbq 10 iow 8 thanks kaj. In a tv9 folloloup this cities, townshshs, and School Districts in linn county can move forward with new annual budgets. County Auditor Joel Miller certified the annual valuation report yesterday. Computer system issues delayed it for several weeks. The Computer System has had other issues in the past. The usda is hoping to help producers transition to organic farming. In todays agribusiness report, where its getting the money and how it hopes to help train farmers. But right now, heres a look at todays opening farm markets. Good morning its. Good morning, this is the david geiger. A bill that would shut down a controversial es. Twelve democrats joined republicans to disapprove the epas waters of the us rule in a vote of two hundred 53 to one hundred 56. From iowa. Only congressman Dave Loebsack voted against it. The bill was originally drafted up by iowa senator joni ernst. And passed the senate in a 53 to 44 vote in november. However. Both vote totals are short of the twothirds majority needed to override what will likely be a president ial veto. Supporters of wotus argue getting rid of the rule would leave an unworkable one in its place. E. Weakening environmental protections. Opposition to the rule say it is an epa power grab. The Iowa Farm Bureau says the expanded definition of the water rule would make 97 percent of iowa land under epa jurisdiction. With the Production Report behind us, analysts are looking at some other underlying factors moving the grain markets. Were looking at some new direction here and what we really have in the marketplace is the funds side of the market. Sitting with near record positions on the short side so really just out of new sellers to the down side. Meantime, argentina corn, which was well under estimates 20 cents is back to about the same value as us in the United States so were at some support values around the world and the technicals are positive so its a market thats just trying to find a bit of a technical bounce here short term. The Cattle Market continues to push higher on the beef market were up around 23 percent and and just since december, early december, so a big move to the upside. The market is coming under some pressure just on anticipation of the market topping out on beef and cash cattle. The hog market continues to push up seasonally anticipating that were going to see the slaughter come down versus what the forecast was by the government in the last hog and pig report. Thats a supportive starting to pick up a bit. China is going after us distillers dried grains. The Chinese Ministry of commerce announced the investigation of us. Ddgs with solubles exported to china this week. The us gains council says its disappointed in the announcement. To start antidumping and countervailin g duties. Its ceo thomas sleight uays the allegations are unwarranted and unhelpful. And could have a negative effect on us ethanol and ddgs. Adding us trading practices are fair throughout the world. However. He says they stand ready to cooperate fully with the investigations. Ddgs are concentrated. Ound up corn. Usually a coproduct of ethanol plants. Theyre use as a supplement of protein and energy in feed rations. The usda announced a three point eight Million Dollar fund to help producers transition into organic farming. The money will support research, education, and extension projects assisting current and the funding is through the organic transitions program. Administered the the National Institute of food and agriculture. Which has awarded more than 25 Million Dollars since 2009 to help the organic community. And thats all i have for the show today. Thanks for joining. See you next time. Well pt a video every day in the agribusiness section of kcrg. Com. Youll find it under the news tab. Im david geiger with the agribusiness report. Trt 3. 33 oc webtease a farm in virginia is looking for goat snugglers. Its not a joke. The farm expects about 90 newborn goats by mid february. So, it needs volunteers who want to snuggle and feed all the babies. Newborn goats have to be bottlefed four times a day and they have to be kept warm. The farm says you donthave to have any experience to volunteer as a goat snuggler. Get ready to get hooked. Up next, John Campbell line. That includes some hawkeye basketball players who had a reel good time on the water. More coming up on todays big ol fish. Stay with tv9. Its. Falling temperatures are likely few scattered flurries likely as well. Plan on temperatures to be into the lower 20s in many areas by 5pm with upper teens also possible north of highway 20. The falling temperature trend continues right into the weekend with temperatures into the Single Digits on saturday. Some snow is still possible saturday night, mainly over the southern half of the area. Amounts will be very minor, and generally under 1. The big story continues to be on the Colder Weather for sunday with subzero highs likely in all locations. Wind chill numbers on sunday morning will very likely be in the 30 to 40 range with isolated colder values. Carry jumper cables with you and ensure you have plenty of gas in your on sunday. Layer up, and dont forget about your pets today sct. Flurries, windy high 2531 winds nw 1530 alo 23 dbq 28 iow 29tonight clearing colder low 612 winds nw 1525 alo 1 1 q 8 iow 1010morrow chance of snow late high 612 winds nw 1020 alo 4 dbq 7 iow 10tomorrow night chance of snow low 126 winds nw 1020 alo 13 dbq 10 iow 8 what better way to reel in your first big catch than with mom and dad or the grandparents. Whoppers w