This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 12 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 31, 1973
Page
1
Willie Camber, 67, was shot by two gunmen early today when he answered a knock at his front door. The assailants then entered his home, took $23 from his wife, and fled. Detroit’s 1973 homicide total rose to 746, the nation’s highest per capita rate. Seven weekend slayings increased the city’s toll.
Madison reports New Year’s Day marks a shift in Wisconsin oleomargarine policy with no state tax on sales. The dairy industry long opposed or supported reforms amid bitter politics. Over a century, more than 100 bills addressed the butter substitute issue.
Federal energy chief William E. Simon said a one cent per gallon increase was likely to reimburse dealers for reduced sales amid the fuel shortage. He noted the rise would be the first outside Nixon Phase IV limits and cited holiday traffic as causing long lines limited to metropolitan areas. Simon added the government is probing potential petroleum hoarding and tightening fuel allocation enforcement nationwide.
United Press reports New Year's travel was light, with lower traffic deaths than the National Safety Council's forecast of 470 to 570. Gas concerns and reduced speeds kept drivers off the road, with Chicago seeing few open stations. At 1 am EST the count stood at 173 deaths.
A belt of heavy snowfall stretched from Kansas to the Ohio Valley with warnings extending to western Pennsylvania. Kansas Russell reported 11 inches, St. Louis 10, Indianapolis 9. Travel advisories issued from Kansas and northern Oklahoma to the upper Atlantic as winter storm watches began. In Colorado and the lower Ohio Valley freezing rain and blowing snow were noted while other regions saw fair skies.
A frigid Iowa snap drops below 20 below zero in northwest counties with wind chills 30 to 60 below. Low readings include minus 23 at Spencer and minus 12 at Waterloo while Des Moines nears 0. forecaster warn of dangerous wind chills through New Year’s Day.
United Press reports most stations closed until after New Year as supplies dwindle. A Detroit attendant fatally shot a motorist who refused to pay, saying he thought the man reached for a gun. Police noted scarcity and long lines from New York to Oregon as officials rationed fuel and cut patrols. President Nixon paused travel amid the squeeze. a Tempe motorist found a $5 bill left at the gas cap after siphoning.
President Nixon signed the 1973 Flood Disaster Protection Act raising flood insurance ceilings to 535000 for homeowners and 200000 for merchants at subsidized rates, while authorizing nearly 900 million in sales of stockpiled copper and aluminum. The measures extend emergency flood coverage and set conditions for future federal aid, as Kissinger joined Nixon at his bluff top villa amid a flurry of congressional bills.
Iowa unemployment payments totaled more than 26 million dollars in fiscal 1973. UI program protected about 750000 workers from July 1, 1972, to June 30, 1973. 53,000 employers paid 30.5 million dollars in taxes and reimbursements, keeping the state trust fund one of the nation’s most stable. The fund received 35.7 million dollars, ending the year with a balance of 110.3 million.
Iowa Senator William Plymar pushes Senate File 318 to revise drunk driving rules. The plan creates two tiers for alcohol related offenses and would empower officers to require breath or chemical tests without arrest. It seeks a per se BAC of 0.10 or higher and a separate driving while impaired tier for 0.05 to 0.09.
Sources close to Governor Robert D. Ray say he will likely run again though no decision has been made. GOP leaders doubt he will retire and anticipate a mid February announcement with campaign organization forming in coming weeks. Ray, Iowa’s unchallenged party leader, has floated retirement or a fourth term and may return to private law practice if he steps aside.
Four people died after a gasoline container in the trunk of their car exploded in a two car crash on U.S. 45 near Harrisburg Illinois. Police said the gasoline likely caused the deaths and urged motorists not to carry fuel in vehicles.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.