(Radio Iowa) – An advocacy group for older Iowans is raising concerns about Alliant Energy’s proposal to raise its natural gas and electric rates. Brad Anderson is state director for A-A-R-P. “We look at pocketbook issues that impact older Iowans,” Anderson says,”and we have determined that now is just not t e right time to be raising rates on older consumers.”

Alliant has asked the Iowa Utilities Board to approve a five percent rate increase for its 250-thousand natural gas customers. Alliant is seeking a seven-point-seven percent increase in rates for its half a million electric customers in Iowa. Anderson calls that excessive.

“The proposal will raise residential natural gas and electric rates by nearly $300 million over the next two years,” Anderson says. “…This amounts to around $250 per year for residential customers.” Anderson says A-A-R-P is urging the Iowa Utilities Board to carefully review Alliant’s application, including its return on equity, which is a measure of its profitability.

“AARP certainly is paying attention to utility rates across the country because of the fact that older Iowans on a fixed income have been struggling over the last several years with inflation and that means that older Iowans have had to choose between paying for prescriptions or paying for food and rent,” Anderson says, “and we don’t want to add utilities into the mix here.”

Alliant says it needs to modernize and strengthen its energy grid by moving overhead power lines underground — and that will reduce power outages. About 20 percent of the company’s lines are underground today. Alliant’s last rate hike was in 2019 and since then the company says it has dealt with inflation and the repair of infrastructure damaged by the derecho in August of 2020. The Iowa Utilities Board has held four public hearings this month on Alliant’s rate hike request.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna reports, ” Pursuant to Code of Iowa Sec. 50.51, the Secretary of State’s Office has ordered a post-election audit of the November 7, 2023, City/School Election. By random selection, Precinct 5 City of Grant Mayor Race will be the precinct audited. The polling place location for Precinct 5 is the Elliott Community Building.

“The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office will conduct this audit on Wednesday, November 15 starting at 9:00 a.m. The audit will take place in the Supervisor’s meeting room in the Courthouse, 105 E Coolbaugh Street, Red Oak. Said proceeding shall be open to the public.”

(Radio Iowa) – An elderly central Iowa couple was killed in a car crash last night (Sunday night). Des Moines police say a Buick was turning at an intersection when it was struck on the passenger side by a Camaro. The Buick hit a utility pole and overturned, killing both occupants. They’re identified as 76-year-old Fred Lehman, and his 79-year-old wife, Mary. Both were from Des Moines.

Police say the driver of the Camaro was an 18-year-old Des Moines man.

Fred & Mary Lehman (Picture supplied by family via DMPD)

A news release says witness statements and evidence at the scene indicate a significant contributing factor in the crash was — the Camaro traveling at a high-rate of speed.

The teen driver’s name has not been released and there’s no word yet on any charges.

(Radio Iowa) – The board that governs Iowa’s three state-supported universities has shortened its name and released a new logo. A state government realignment law took effect July 1st. It shifted the Iowa School for the Deaf and Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired to be part of the Iowa Department of Education. The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, which previously managed those two organizations, is now to be known as the Iowa Board of Regents.

The board’s new logo includes this line: Governing Iowa’s Public Universities.

The Iowa Board of Regents has released a new logo today. A spokesman for the board says it was designed internally.

A news release from the Iowa Board of Regents describes the new logo and tagline as fresh, simplified — and a future-focused look for the Board of Regents’ brand.

On July 18th, Governor Reynolds unveiled a new logo and slogan for Interstate welcome signs and state agency websites. The Iowa Board of Regents has created its own branding. A spokesman for the board says the logo was designed internally.

(Radio Iowa) – Long-range weather forecasts predict favorable conditions in Iowa for Thanksgiving next week, while the travel forecast indicates it’ll be a very busy holiday on Iowa’s roads. Brian Ortner, spokesman for Triple-A-Iowa, says their estimates are showing a significant boost in Thanksgiving travelers for our region of the Midwest, which contains Iowa and five other states.

In the months since the COVID-19 pandemic ended, we’ve seen a steady increase in travel numbers for Iowa and across the country, as Ortner says many people are taking a “YOLO” attitude. “Back in late August, there was an initial survey done of our AAA members, asking them why they’re traveling now and why they’re traveling in more numbers, and a lot of them said because it’s the ‘You Only Live Once’ belief, and people want to get out and spend time with friends and family.”

When people make plans to take a trip, gasoline prices often won’t make an impact once their decision is made, but Ortner says it’s a nice bonus when pump prices fall in correspondence with a holiday. “If we look at the price per gallon today, on average across the state, we’re at $3.05,” Ortner says. “That’s a great number and there are some spots around the state that are even less than that $3 level. We compare that to a year ago at this time, we were at $3.51 a gallon so, more than 40 cents difference.”

The motor club says about four-point-three million people in our region will be traveling over Thanksgiving, with three-point-eight million going by motor vehicle and another 231-thousand will be flying. “We’re at a new high for what we consider ‘other travel,’ so that’s cruises, trains, bus and that sort of thing,” Ortner says, “and a lot of folks are heading for those destination cruises. That number is up almost 13% over last year.”

Nationwide, Triple-A projects 55-point-four million people will be traveling at least 50 miles from home over the four-day Thanksgiving holiday.