The governor has approved the renewal of a tax incentive for businesses that set up shop in five cities situated along Iowa's borders.

All but five legislators voted for the legislation and Governor Terry Branstad signed it into law Thursday afternoon.

Paul Eckert, the city manager for Sioux City, says 15-hundred jobs in Sioux City can be traced back to the tax break established when the program began in 2006.

The program is only available in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Burlington, Fort Madison and Keokuk and the bill the governor signed into law yesterday extends the program for five more years.

Businesses that promise to locate or expand in those five cities may qualify for a state withholding tax credit under the program.

The business can claim a tax credit that amounts to three percent of the gross wages it pays to newly hired employees.

The cities also get an equal amount from the state. It can be used on projects, like streets, that benefit the business involved.

CONTRIBUTED BY LEARFIELD COMMUNICATIONS

GAS PRICES IN IOWA HAVE INCREASED AROUND 20-CENTS A GALLON IN THE LAST 24 HOURS AND 75 CENTS A GALLON THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

SOME STATIONS IN MORNINGSIDE HIT $3.94 A GALLON THURSDAY WITH MANY  OTHERS AROUND $3.80 A GALLON.

GAIL WEINHOLZER  OF TRIPLE-A IOWA, SAYS THE SUDDEN RISE IN GASOLINE PRICES ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST IS BLAMED ON THE CLOSING OF TWO REFINERIES FOR MAJOR REPAIRS.



THE REFINERIES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO RESTART OPERATIONS UNTIL AFTER MEMORIAL DAY.



SHE SAYS IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR A REFINERY TO SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE DURING THE SPRING OR FALL SWITCH TO NEW BLENDS OF GAS:



BECAUSE THE REFINERIES ARE BOTH LOCATED IN THE CHICAGO AREA, THE PRICE SPIKE IS LIMITED TO IOWA AND SURROUNDING STATES.

IN FACT, OF THE TOP 10 STATES IN THE COUNTRY FOR AVERAGE PRICE, SIX TO SEVEN OF THEM ARE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST AND UPPER GREAT LAKES REGION.

Radio Iowa contributed to this story

CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF AN ILLNESS THAT SENT 47 BRYANT ELEMENTARY STUDENTS HOME FROM CLASSES.

SCHOOL DISTRICT SPOKESPERSON ALISON BENSON SAYS SIOUXLAND DISTRICT HEALTH WAS NOTIFIED BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKEN ILL:

BENSON SAYS THREE STAFF MEMBERS AT BRYANT ARE ALSO SICK WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS.

SHE SAYS NO OTHER CITY SCHOOLS ARE REPORTING SIMILAR ILLNESS ISSUES.

THE DOWNTOWN MALL AREA BY THE ROTH FOUNTAIN WILL BE ROCKING AGAIN THIS SUMMER AS FRIDAY'S ON THE PROMENADE CONCERTS ARE RETURNING.

ORGANIZER BRENT STOCKTON SAYS THE FIRST OF SEVEN SHOWS IS WITH THE CHICAGO BASED BAND "RICO" ON FRIDAY, MAY 24TH:



THEN ON MAY 31ST IT'S GUITARIST JIM SUHLER AND "MONKEY BEAT"



FIVE MORE ACTS ARE SCHEDULED THROUGH JULY 12TH. LISA HALEY AND THE ZYDECATS WILL PLAY JULY 5TH DURING THE CITY'S MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL.

IT'S THE 8TH YEAR FOR THE FRIDAY CONCERT SERIES AND ADMISSION TO EACH SHOW IS ONLY THREE DOLLARS.