Sales grow as Powerball jackpot reaches $800 million

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With Powerball sales breaking records, the odds are growing that someone will win the $800 million jackpot. But if no one matches all the numbers Saturday, the next drawing is expected to soar past $1 billion. Officials with the Multi-State Lottery Association, which runs the Powerball game expect about 65 percent…

University of Missouri temporarily bans hoverboards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri is temporarily banning hoverboards. The Columbia campus on Friday told students not to bring the motorized two-wheel scooters to school. Officials cited safety concerns. More than 30 universities nationally have banned or restricted hoverboards on their campuses in recent weeks, saying they’re unsafe. Concerns center on possible…

Repairs to Illinois bridge must wait due to rare mussel

BELVIDERE, Ill. (AP) – Presence of a rare mollusk has delayed repairs to a bridge in northern Illinois. The Rockford Register Star reports that the Belvidere Public Works Department’s plans to repair a bridge five miles west of downtown will have to wait until 2017. That’s because the Illinois Department of Natural Resources needs to…

For Democrats, a stable of surrogates ready to campaign

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – While Hillary Clinton has been rallying Democrats out West, former President Bill Clinton has been carrying her campaign’s message through Iowa. Next week, when the Democratic front-runner returns to Iowa herself, her daughter, Chelsea, will be courting supporters in New Hampshire. The family tag-team across the early voting states is…