Monday, Dec. 22

Killed in Iraq

A roadside bomb exploded near a U.S. military convoy in Baghdad today, killing two American soldiers and an Iraqi translator, the military said.

Two other soldiers from the 1st Armored Division were wounded in the attack at about 11:45 a.m., the military said.

The soldiers’ names were being withheld pending notification of next of kin, The Associated Press reported.

Up 5 percent

Purdue University students will face an average 5 percent increase in housing fees next school year under a plan approved by the university trustees.

The standard rate for housing and 15 meals a week will be $6,324, an increase of about $300 over the current rate, said John Sautter, Purdue’s vice president for housing and food service.

The new fees were approved during a Board of Trustees meeting on Saturday, The Associated Press reported.

Purdue’s room-and-board fees rank sixth among Big Ten universities, behind Northwestern, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio State and Minnesota, Sautter said.

Not stable

In a year of unpredictable shifts, retail gasoline prices ended with two weeks of stability. But that isn’t expected to last into the new year, an industry analyst said Sunday.

The average price Friday for a gallon of self-serve gasoline nationwide, including all grades and taxes, was about $1.51, according to the Lundberg Survey of 8,000 stations. That was down 0.08 of a cent since Dec. 5, but 6.51 cents higher than the average on Dec. 20, 2002, The Associated Press reported.

“We’re back down to approximately where we were in January,” analyst Trilby Lundberg said.

For 2003 overall, retail gasoline prices averaged about $1.61, up 21.6 cents from the average price last year.

Prices were stable for the last two weeks because of lower wholesale prices that already have begun to climb again, Lundberg said.

Deaths

Carrie B. Hunsberger, 94, a former resident of South Meridian Street, Portland.

Helen L. Houser, 86, 209 E. Seventh St., Portland.

Paul E. Bollenbacher, 73, Celina, Ohio.

Marion Jack, 88, Berne, a native of Jay County.

Vivian Jack, 85, Berne, wife of a Jay County native.

Theodotta D. Hilliard, 82, East Main Street, Redkey.

James Dean Enyart, 34, Shelbyville, a native of Jay County.

Details on page 2.

Weather

Rain is expected tonight, and lows will be in the upper 30s. Tuesday will see a 70 percent chance of light rain, and there is a 70 percent chance of light snow in the afternoon. Highs will be near 40.

Sunday’s high was 44, the low was 26 and the temperature at 7 a.m. today was 42, the Portland weather observation station reported.

On Wednesday, look for mostly cloudy skies with a 40 percent chance of light snow. Highs in the upper 20s are likely, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Christmas Day will be mostly cloudy with highs in the lower 30s.

Friday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and highs in the upper 30s.

Saturday will bring mostly cloudy skies and highs in the mid 40s.

On Sunday, look for mostly cloudy skies with a 40 percent chance of light rain showers. It will be breezy with highs in the upper 40s.[[In-content Ad]]