(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she’s open to considering changes in how state officials review applications for building and maintaining pipelines in Iowa, but Reynolds says it would unfair to make retroactive changes that would apply to Iowa Utilities Board’s current review of a construction permit for Summit’s carbon capture pipeline. “They made decisions based on the law that was on the books,” Reynolds says. “…It’s probably not very fair to go back and change the rules…Doesn’t seem right.” Reynolds says the rules about rerouting the proposed path for a pipeline around an unwilling landowner’s property may need an update for the next time a developer seeks state approval of a permit to construct and operate a pipeline in Iowa.

“Taking a look at some of those things so it’s not this battle that, if there is an alternate route that could work, you know, it shouldn’t have to start over on the whole process and then timeline and then all of that is just cost, eventually, too, and it just delays it,” Reynolds told Radio Iowa.

The Iowa House has attempted to put limits on the use of eminent domain to seize property from unwilling landowners along the proposed carbon pipeline route, but the Iowa Senate did not bring the House plans up for a vote during 2022 or 2023.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Thursday, said it was notified of a fish kill on January 25 at McLoud Run Trout Stream in Cedar Rapids.  On Tuesday, January 23, the City of Cedar Rapids reported an estimated release of 450,000 gallons of chlorinated drinking water from an unoccupied building located at 4425 Center Point Road NE, which eventually entered McLoud Run. City officials believe the release was caused by a fire suppression line that may have burst during the recent cold snap, but were unaware of any pressure loss.

DNR staff from the Fisheries Bureau are investigating the fish kill, but have been hampered by very murky stream conditions. Staff have observed between 200-300 dead fish as of this morning, including trout and white suckers.  McLoud Run is Iowa’s most southerly trout stream and the only trout stream near a major urban area. Several popular fish species in this stream include Brown Trout, Creek Chub, Rainbow Trout, Green Sunfish and White Sucker.

The dead fish count was a expected to be finalized soon.

If you see dead or stressed fish at a lake or river, call the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694 as soon as possible. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of a fish kill and potentially stop a fish kill in progress.

(Lewis, Iowa) –  The Wallace Learning Center, Armstrong Memorial Research Farm, near Lewis (53020 Hitchcock Ave.), will host an “Innovation to Profit Series,” on February 13th, from 10:30-a.m. until 2-p.m.  Those in attendance can expect to: receive up-to-date research opportunities to boost your profitability, productivity and sustainability; Engage with farmers to discuss challenges and opportunities in your area; and Get to know your regionally-based Iowa Soybean Association agronomists, conservation agronomists and producer services team.

The morning session will cover “Soybean Seeding Rates & Biologicals.” The presentation by Drew Clemmensen, ISA research agronomist, and Anthony Martin, ISA data analyst, will dig into the data from ISA seeding rate, long term cover crop and biological trials. Discover how seeding populations performed in different management systems to optimize seeding rates and cost savings. Attendees will take a deeper dive into the biological trial data and how it could impact local farmers.

The afternoon session is with regard to “Southwest Iowa Conservation,” and features Joseph Wuebker, ISA conservation agronomist. Crop producers will learn where they can start with conservation practices. You’ll also hear from local agronomists on the benefits, timeline planning and cost share opportunities for conservation practices specific to your area. Discussion pertaining to planting and scouting tips will follow, with fellow Southwest Iowa farmers and agronomists.

(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association / Joclyn Bushman)

The final topic is “Enhancing Nitrogen Recommendations using Data,” presented by Mitch Baum, Iowa State University postdoctoral researcher.  The Iowa Nitrogen Initiative (INI) is a public-private partnership that works directly with Iowa farmers to conduct nitrogen rate research on their farm fields. In 2023, 270 trials were conducted, a 400% increase from the pilot year in 2022. In this presentation, INI researchers and staff will give a short overview of the project and present yield response data from the 2023 trials, ending with an update on decision support tool development and trials of interest for 2024.

Register today to reserve your spot. And, if you are looking to continue your education and expand your knowledge, Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits for the event are currently pending.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Hy-Vee, on Thursday, January 25th, 2024. The Ambassadors welcomed Katelyn Burnett as the new Store Manager and heard about her goals for Atlantic Hy-Vee.

Katelyn began working at Hy-Vee at the age of 15 years old as a cashier and bagging items for customers. While Katelyn attended college, she continued to work at Hy-Vee in many different departments such as catering, special events, marketing, and human resources. Fast forward to the end of 2022, Katelyn began the process of becoming a store manager. In November of 2023, Katelyn received word she would be moving to Atlantic to become store manager and has since spent the last few months learning about the community while taking part in all things Christmas in Atlantic.

Ambassadors and Hy-Vee Staff (Left to Right): Krysta Hanson, Magan Sramek, Sue Liston, Kathie Hockenberry, Kelsey Beschorner, Julie Waters, Jeremy Butler, Colt Doherty, Emily Kennedy, Katelyn Burnett, DeeDee Kalny, Elaine Otte, Dr. Keith Leonard, Dolly Bergmann, Anne Quist, Rick Mericle, Andrew Martin, Bill Saluk, Scott Bennett, Jim Kickland

Katelyn shared with the Ambassadors that her favorite part of working in a small-town like Atlantic, is being involved in community partnerships and events. One of Katelyn’s goals for the Atlantic Hy-Vee is to host monthly “character weekends” such as the brunch they are hosting this Saturday from 11AM-2PM featuring Elsa and Olaf from Frozen.

Hy-Vee employs anywhere from 120-150 people with most staff working in the summer months and in the Garden Center. Hy-Vee is open daily, 6AM to 10PM, with services ranging from floral to catering and pharmacy to dietitian services.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say two men were arrested on separate charges, Thursday. Officers arrested 31-year-old Rogelio Olivera-Martinez, of Creston, at around 7:12-a.m. He was taken into custody at his residence on charges that include Public Intoxication, Interference with Official Acts, Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, Burglary 1st Degree, and Domestic Abuse Assault – Injury or Mental Illness 1st. The cash-or-surety bond for Rogelio Olivera-Martinez was set at $27,300.

And, at around 1:40-p.m., Thursday, Creston Police arrested 25-year-old Dylan James Lawrence, of Creston. He was taken into custody at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) and charged with OWI/1st Offense. Lawrence posted a $1,000 cash or approved surety bond, and was released.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa City man was arrested after police said he used a shovel to hit a washing machine at a laundromat earlier this month. KCRG reports 40-year-old Nicholas Lecnar, of Iowa City, is charged with criminal mischief for the January 13 incident. Police said at around noon on that day, Lecnar used a shovel to hit a washing machine several times, causing $1,725 in damage.

The incident was captured on security cameras, with clear images of Lecnar’s face, according to a criminal complaint.

It’s the dead of winter but Iowa’s hard-core cyclists are thinking ahead to spring and getting back in the saddle. The Iowa Bike Expo, what’s billed as one of the largest one-day bike shows in the Midwest, will be held tomorrow (Saturday) in Des Moines. Luke Hoffman, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, says they’re expecting at least five-thousand people to attend the free event. Hoffman says you’ll be able to chat with representatives from local businesses, state and local government agencies, as well as vendors selling bikes, apparel and gear.

The expo will be followed by the RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party. Both are being held at the Iowa Events Center.

WOODBINE, Iowa (KETV) — No school can have eyes on every camera feed at once. But using artificial intelligence, the Woodbine Community School District believes it has the next best thing to get a head start in responding to an active shooter situation. Superintendent Justin Wagner tells KETV that they’re using AI to buy time in the event of an emergency.

An alert comes when a gun is brandished in front of a camera. When the AI sees a gun, it’s sent to a command center at the company ZeroEyes. There, someone manning a computer will confirm it’s a gun. Then, the alarm is sent to school officials and nearby law enforcement with an exact location.

ZeroEyes Chief Operation Officer Rob Huberty said that happens in seconds, often minutes before a potential active shooter decides to pull the trigger. ZeroEyes is in hundreds of schools in 40 states, including some others in Nebraska and Iowa.

The AI is constantly trained by bringing different types of guns into a green screen room, which teaches the computers what a gun will look like. Superintendent Wagner said they’re not trying to keep up with the latest in safety technology, they’re trying to LEAD it, saying they can’t affort NOT to stay ahead of threats to the district.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — There’s no doubt which of Iowa’s specialty license plate designs is most popular. The state’s “blackout” plates were an immediate hit with drivers when they were first released July 1, 2019. Four months later the simple design — white lettering over a black background — was the state’s most popular. Nearly 50,000 had been issued at that point, well more than the 30,000 University of Iowa plates issued.

Now, almost five years later, 585,772 of the state’s 4,605,643 total plates, about 12%, are blackout, according to Iowa DOT data from the 2023 calendar year. And other states have taken notice. Blackout plates with the regular number-letter combination are $35, plus an annual $10 fee. Personalized versions cost $60, with a $15 annual fee.

Black and gold University of Iowa plates are still the second most popular specialty plates in the state, with nearly 27,000 in circulation, more than 92% of which are personalized. Iowa State is third, with more than 19,000 cardinal and gold plates issued, 92% of which are personalized.

Other colleges with plates include Briar Cliff, Buena Vista, Central, Clarke, Coe, Cornell, Des Moines University, Dordt, Drake, Dubuque, Graceland, Grand View, Grinnell, Iowa Wesleyan, Loras, Luther, Morningside, Mount Mercy, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Palmer, Simpson, St. Ambrose, Upper Iowa, Wartburg and William Penn.

The three most popular Iowa Department of Natural Resources specialty plates, of which a portion of the cost goes to the Wildlife Diversity Program and Resource Enhancement and Protection, feature birds. The most popular DNR plate features a goldfinch, the state bird, with more than 13,000 in circulation. Eagles are next on the list (5,236 total plates), and pheasants are third (4,414).

Other DNR options include deer (4,281) and trout (1,937).

CLIVE, Iowa (KCCI) — Authorities used Stop Sticks to flatten the tires of a woman who was allegedly drunk while driving the wrong way on Interstate 80/35 in Polk County late Wednesday night. There was an active dense fog advisory when Courtney Allen, of Huxley, drove the wrong way on the interstate for miles, prompting multiple 911 calls from other drivers, according to court documents.

Allen was traveling north/eastbound in the south/westbound lanes of I80/35. A Clive police officer traveling in the correct direction activated their lights and sirens when they caught up with Allen, but said she did not stop. Responding officers eventually deployed the Stop Sticks, which popped the wrong-way driver’s tires and forcing her to stop.

Allen is charged with second-offense operating while intoxicated, driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway, reckless driving, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle and not wearing a seatbelt.