Maytag's old home town may turn to a casino

The last time we mentioned Newton, Iowa, it was to mark the closing of the Maytag plant there. (Or when Democratic presidential candidates stumped there.) Recently, a local non-profit development group offered a proposal to build a casino complex adjacent to the Iowa Speedway on Interstate 80, reports William Petroski of the Des Moines Register (which also produced the graphic at left).

Developers say the casino would draw from the 10 million cars that drive by the site each year and would pump millions back into the community, still trying to replace the 2,600 jobs lost with Maytag's closing, Petroski reports. "The Newton casino plan faces major hurdles besides obtaining approval from Jasper County voters," he writes."The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission meets in March to discuss whether to issue additional casino licenses, and some commissioners have expressed concern the state's gambling industry is becoming saturated." Iowa has 20 casinos, and Gov. Chet Culver has said Ottumwa and Fort Dodge deserve preference for any new casino licenses. (Read more)

Andy Karr of the Newton Daily News reports on a recent city council meeting at which casino developers emphasized the complex would need no taxpayer funding, just a positive referendum vote to allow gaming. (Read more)