(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s Supreme Court has ruled the Iowa Utilities Board should have considered whether operating coal plants is economical when it approved an emissions control plan from MidAmerican Energy in 2020. Environmental advocates sued the Iowa Utilities Board for rejecting a report that said retiring some coal-fired power plants would be the most cost-effective way to meet state and federal pollution standards.

The report suggested electric generation from wind turbines and solar installations could replace the power being produced at MidAmerican coal-fired plants near Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Ottumwa and Muscatine. The Iowa Utilities Board ruled that evidence was irrelevant. The Iowa Supreme Court ruling says the board is required by law to consider cost effectiveness, so the board must now redo its review of MidAmerican’s emissions control plans.

Governor Reynolds recently appointed two new members to the three-person Iowa Utilities Board — and their terms start Monday.

(Radio Iowa) – Members of Iowa’s Congressional delegation are praising a move by the Biden administration to issue a last-minute emergency waiver to allow the sales of E-15 gasoline during the summer driving season. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion says she is glad to see the waiver happen. “This is great news. It’s gonna save families money at the pump. It’ll help with as I said energy security in our country and of course, supporting our Iowa economy,” Hinson says.

Current E-P-A guidelines prohibit the sale of E-15 from terminals in about two-thirds of the country after April 30th. Senator Joni Ernst tweeted that the hard work in pushing for the waiver paid off — and it’s time to permanently approve the use of E-15 throughout the year. Hinson agrees.

“I want to say thank you to the administration for taking this necessary step that we’ve all been advocating for,” Hinson says. “I think you’ve heard me say a time or two that I think we need the all of the above energy strategy, so I will continue to push for EF-15 to be sold year-round permanently so that our hard working farmers and producers have much-needed certainty.”

Senator Chuck Grassley says the Triple-A survey finds the 15 percent blend of ethanol in gas costs about ten cents less a gallon than the E-10. Grassley says it’s a way to help drivers with high gas prices. Congresswoman Hinson says the E-15 waiver comes on the heels of the negotiations that kept five key biofuels tax credits from rolling back. She says the entire Iowa delegation was in lockstep as they pushed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to keep the credits.

“I think it was very critical that we had an open line of communication, and he could understand where we were coming from as a delegation. I think it was very clear that in those conversations, multiple conversations over the course of the last week, leadership did realize we were not going to cave,” Hinson says. She says they had to make it clear how important biofuels are.

“We made the point about this is about our economy in Iowa, this is about jobs. This is about protecting farmers, and we should not be moving forward on this policy to take Iowa farmers for granted in the process,” Hinson says. “So again, the whole idea of delegation remaining in lockstep and ensured our success.”

Governor Kim Reynolds released a statement that calls the waiver “a huge win for Iowa farmers and our ethanol industry and proves that even our biggest adversaries can’t ignore the advantage biofuels brings to our country’s economy and national security.”

(Radio Iowa) – The lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Johnston says it’s unlikely the rest of Iowa will experience the kind of flooding that’s hit the 10 counties along the Mississippi River. Brad Small says almost all of the flooding in eastern Iowa is caused by melting snow the fell in Minnesota and Wisconsin, “which is somewhat unusual because a lot of our spring floods are kind of a cumulative thing that started in the fall with maybe a wet fall and then we had a big winter of snowfall and then spring rains started and this is kind of unique that it’s almost entirely driven by the snow pack,” Small says.

“We’re actually kind of low on our rivers in central Iowa and the Missouri is quite low, too.” Drought conditions exist in many areas of western Iowa and Small says it would take a lot of rain to change that. There have already been more than two dozen confirmed tornadoes in Iowa so far this spring. That includes 11 that hit the state on March 31st. Donna Dubberke, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Johnston, says storm spotters are important in identifying where tornadoes are forming.

“They fill in some of the gaps, so it’s ‘ground truth,’” Dubberke says, “and it lets us in real time calibrate what we’re seeing with the technology to what’s actually occurring.”

Dubberke and Small made their comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight on Iowa PBS. The five National Weather Service offices that provide forecasts and weather warnings for Iowa are located in Omaha; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Johnston, the Quad Cities and La Crosse, Wisconsin.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (April 28, 2023) – Villisca, Greenfield and Creston are set to benefit from Alliant Energy’s tree planting program. They are among 51 Iowa communities (see full list below) that will receive funds from a program developed in partnership with Trees Forever. Grants are designated for communities to plant a diverse mix of trees to aid energy efficiency as well as replace trees destroyed by the emerald ash borer.

The grants, which total $165,370, will help communities plant trees in public places like local parks, schools, libraries, community buildings and streets. Trees provide more shade and cool the air, helping lower overall energy costs. A diverse tree population also helps build resiliency against tree diseases to create a healthier ecosystem.

In Creston, The Creston Chapter of the FFA was awarded a $4,640 grant for shade tree planting downtown, on the campus of Southwestern Community College, and Union County Fairgrounds. Greenfield Chamber/Main Street & Development  received a grant for $3,000 to plant trees in Public Right-Of-Ways (ROW), and the Villisca Lions Club received a grant for $1,000, for Community tree planting in the ROW throughout the town, with the help from the Lions Club, Community Betterment group, and students.

“Our commitment to improving the environment and supporting the communities we serve is unwavering,” said Julie Bauer, Executive Director of the Alliant Energy Foundation. “The grants awarded will not only help communities achieve tree restoration goals and improve energy efficiency, but they will provide benefits for generations to come.”

In addition to the funds, communities also receive educational and tree-planning support from Trees Forever. A tree expert helps communities select the best species for their area and create a care and maintenance plan to make sure the new trees have long and healthy lives.

“This is a remarkable partnership that fulfills so many of the core tenets of both Trees Forever and Alliant Energy,” says Kiley Miller, President and CEO of Trees Forever. “Trees Forever specializes in empowering people and communities to become involved in the work of conservation. These projects are community-led and accomplished with local volunteers. With some expert guidance, individuals are making a positive difference in their home towns with a greener, more energy efficient future.”

The Community Tree Planting Program is part of Alliant Energy’s One Million Trees initiative, which aims to plant one million trees by the end of 2030. In collaboration with organizations focusing on public forest restoration and preservation, urban forestry, and non-profit partners, the initiative is dedicated to tree-planting efforts in communities and rural areas across Iowa and Wisconsin.

Trees Forever administrates and facilitates tree planting programs. Alliant Energy has been working with Trees Forever since 1990, and together they have planted over 1.1 million trees and provided $7.9 million in grants.
Several communities have planted or are planting trees this spring; others will plant in the fall. To learn more about the program, visit alliantenergy.com/onemilliontrees.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic firefighters were called to battle a blaze Friday afternoon shortly after 1:00 pm., Friday. When they arrived, a recreational vehicle parked in the driveway behind the house at 214 W. 14th Street. Thick black smoke was visible for several blocks before firefighters arrived.

According to Atlantic Fire Chief Tom Cappel, the owner of a 2001 Dutchman RV had just plugged the vehicle’s water heater in for the first time this season. The fire was observed shortly thereafter. And, while the damage was too extensive to determine the exact cause of the blaze, Cappel says the water heater is suspect.

The fire caused extensive damage to a nearby Ford Ranger pickup, and rendered unsalvageable a riding lawn mower. Firefighters used foam to snuff out the flames. They were on the scene for about 30-to 45-minutes.

No injuries were reported.

CRESTON, Iowa – April 28, 2023 – If you travel on Interstate 80 at night, there’s an upcoming closure that may impact your route. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office reports DOT crews will be painting lines on the pavement on the north- and southbound on ramps for westbound Interstate 80 at Jordan Creek Parkway (exit 121) from 10 p.m. Sunday, April 30 to 1 a.m. Monday, May 1, weather permitting. The ramps will be closed while we are painting.

During these ramp closures, you’ll be directed to a marked detour to 60th Street where you’ll turn around and go westbound on I-80.

(Waterloo, Iowa) – A car traveling the wrong way on Highway 218 in Waterloo early this (Friday) morning, collided head-on with a semi tractor trailer. The accident happened at around 2:15-a.m. at mile marker 185. The Iowa State Patrol reports the 2013 Dodge Charger driven by 26-year-old Jordan Welch, of Waterloo, was traveling south in the northbound lanes when it struck a 2020 Freightliner semi, driven by 50-year-old Ray Mount, of Manly (IA). As a result of the impact, the car became engulfed in fire.

The semi was forced through the concrete median barrier and into the southbound lanes of Highway 218. Welch was flown by AirCare helicopter to the UIHC in Iowa City. The crash remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Waterloo Police, Fire & EMS, Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Enforcement personnel, the Iowa DOT and a wrecker service.

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Friday) is Workers Memorial Day and labor groups across the state have ceremonies planned to honor those who lost their lives on the job in the last year. The Iowa Labor Center’s Paul Iverson says year-after-year there is one connection between the deaths.  “Every year, so many things that were so senseless that could easily have been prevented if proper safety practices were followed,” he says. Fifty workers died on the job in Iowa in the last year. They were as young as 20 and as old as 84. Iverson has been putting together small obituaries for the last six years for each worker who died in the state in an attempt to remember they are not just statistics.

“All of those numbers you see are real people. That had real lives. There’s a real human cost and hoping that policymakers take that into account,” he says. Among the 50 people who died on the job, nine were from injuries related to a fall. Around 10 were struck by cars, and several were hit by distracted drivers.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – In an update to our earlier reports, officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office said Friday (today), that at around 12:45-p.m., Thursday, area first responders were called to the scene of a single-vehicle accident with injuries, near Highway 6 and Lansing Road. Deputies on scene found that a 1996 Buick Century being operated by Jack Tye, of Griswold, was traveling South on Highway 6.  The person who reported the accident said they had passed Tye’s vehicle, and shortly after, in their rear-view mirror, saw the car drift out of its lane to the left, cross the opposite lane of the highway, and enter the ditch.

A further investigation indicated that Tye’s vehicle continued through the ditch and into an adjacent field.  The vehicle then backed up into the ditch where it came to rest.  Upon first responders’ arrival, both the Jack Tye and his passenger, Donna Tye, of Griswold, were still within the vehicle.  First responders helped the two out of their car. They were transported to a local hospital for what was believed to be non-life threatening injuries.

The vehicle sustained an approximated $5,000 of damage

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Local non-profit organization SHIFT ATL officials say they are excited to invite the public to their annual fundraiser, “Summer Soiree,” Saturday July 15, 2023. The event takes place on 4th street in Atlantic, between Chestnut and Walnut Streets. Guests can expect the same great experience as the past two years including a steak dinner, full bar and tons of fun. New this year will be live entertainment featuring Nashville band, Two Story Road! Cocktail hour begins at 5:30 with the dinner to follow. Dinner will consist of Noble Provisions steak, grilled on
location, buffet-style sides and dessert. A beer garden will be open all evening with tickets available for purchase at the gate and inside the event that evening.

Event tickets will be released at 10am on May 10, 2023, at shiftatl.org/dinner. Tickets are $65/person, which includes dinner and entry to the live music. Tables of eight can be purchased for $500, which includes eight dinners and eight tickets to the live music. There is limited seating available, and this event is anticipated to sell out quickly. Tickets for the live band entertainment can be purchased before the event for $20/person at shiftatl.org/dinner or the night of the event at the gate. Gates will open for the live music at 7:30 p.m., following the Summer Soirée dinner.

Summer Soirée 2023 is made possible through support of Executive sponsors like Cass Health, TS Bank, Landus, Camblin Mechanical, AM Cohron and Son, Armour Insurance, Rigid Edge Exteriors, Lindeman Tractor and Green Acres Lawn and Landscaping. Advocate sponsors include Rolling Hills Bank and Trust, Megan Roberts State Farm, Principal Financial (Mark Smith and Erin Freund), Atlantic Rotary and Venteicher Auctioneering, with Supporting sponsors Henningsen Construction, Anita Supply Center, Rush CPA and Associates, Iowa Corn, KSOM and Casey’s.

If you are looking to sponsor this year’s event, please contact SHIFT ATL at shiftatlantic@gmail.com. Funds raised from this year’s event will be poured directly back into SHIFT ATL’s latest venture, Sunnyside Range, to make facility and programming upgrades to keep a vital community attraction available for years to come.

SHIFT ATL, a 501(c)3 nonprofit formed in 2019, continues to build upon their broad but straightforward vision for the place they have made home: to shift the direction of Atlantic’s social and economic development opportunities by leveraging partnerships and strengthening social bonds within the community. They intend to revitalize Atlantic through projects, services and programs that will enhance the community and foster a sense of growth. To purchase tickets or a table for the event, visit shiftatl.org/dinner or contact Jessie Shiels at 712-304-2651. To learn more about SHIFT ATL projects, to donate or to get involved, contact shiftatlantic@gmail.com, visit the website shiftatl.org or facebook page, @shiftatl.