(Radio Iowa) — A new agreement reached between Alliant Energy and the operator of Iowa’s only nuclear power plant will see the plant shut down five years earlier than first projected. NextEra Energy Resources spokesman, Peter Robbins, says the change came about as they looked at a new agreement with Alliant to purchase power from the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo.

Robbins said “We took a look at all options that were on the table an both companies agreed to move forward with shortening the term of the power purchase agreement. As of right now were are anticipating Duane Arnold Energy Center will cease electrical production, will cease commercial operations at the end of two-thousand-20.”

Robbins says employees of the plant will have some decisions to make. “We have about 540 people who work here at Duane Arnold right now and they’re part of our corporate family so today’s decision was very difficult for the entire company,” Robbins says. “We have a path forward for them. Our company believes in doing the right thing and treating people with respect — and that’s what we are going to do in this case.” He says employees will have several options as the plant moves toward closing.

“Between now and the end of 2020 we will be able to offer people who are retirement eligible an enhanced retirement package,” he says. “When we do shut down in late 2020 we are still going to need about 300 people here on sight. So we’ll have hundreds of jobs available on sight in 2020 as we start the decommissioning process. And for anybody who is interested, we will offer jobs within our company.” He says Next-Era has operations in 35 states. The shutdown of the Palo operation will begin soon after the energy contract expires.

“A lot of what that work involves is unloading fuel from the reactor and putting it safely in what’s called spent fuel pool to let it cool down. That takes place over a period of years,” according to Robbins. “So, the decommissioning process for a nuclear power plant is very gradual, very lengthy. We anticipate it will start in late 2020, and it will carry on for a significant amount of time.” Robbins says the declining costs of other sources of energy have led to the decision to shut down the plant.

“You are just seeing continued pressure on all sources of energy — from renewables and from natural gas — and we are certainly seeing that in the market place in Iowa,” Robbins says. Next-Era Energy Resources says it plans to invest approximately 650 million dollars in existing and new renewables generation across Iowa before the end of 2020. Alliant Energy says it will save customers nearly 300 million dollars in the next 21 years by switching away from the use of the nuclear power. Alliant Energy has agreed to make a 110 million dollar buyout payment to Next-Era Energy Resources in September 2020 to cover the cost to shorten the term of the power agreement.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A former Davenport official who admitted placing a hidden camera in a restroom has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. The Quad-City Times reports 47-year-old Roy DeWitt was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty in June to eight counts of invasion of privacy.

DeWitt, a former city housing programs manager who now lives in Pella, said he was “extremely remorseful for what I did.” An arrest affidavit stated that DeWitt concealed a digital camera in an employee-only restroom at a city-owned apartment building. The affidavit said eight people were recorded multiple times from January 2017 to March 2018.

DeWitt was fired March 19 after failing to attend an interview and pre-disciplinary meeting. He had worked for the city since 2007.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports charges have been filed and an arrest was made, in connection with the significant vandalism that occurred to the Clarinda High School on July 30, 2017.  19-year old Jayden Anthony Morris, of Clarinda, is charged with felony criminal mischief in the first degree, felony burglary and serious misdemeanor trespass. Morris was being held in the Page County Jail on $16,000 bail. The school sustained somewhere between $40,000-$50,000 damage as a result of the incident.

Reports concerning the incident have been submitted to the office of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.

(12:40-p.m. News)

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety said today (Friday), that in light of the missing person investigation of Mollie Tibbits, concerns have been raised about the number of juveniles reported missing in Iowa in recent weeks. In FY 2017 4,311 juveniles were reported missing to The Missing Person Information Clearinghouse. That’s an average of approximately 12 juveniles a day. The vast majority of which are found or returned home within 24 hours. Authorities says these cases are typically runaway situations. The number of missing juveniles reported in recent weeks is in line with historical numbers.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a small plane slid off a runway as it landed at the Burlington airport in southeast Iowa. The accident occurred around 1 p.m. Thursday, with the single-engine plane ending up on a grassy median. Medics examined the two people who were on the plane, but neither was taken to a hospital. Their names weren’t released.

Airport director Mary Beaird told The Hawk Eye the plane “caught a gust of wind and slid off” the runway.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — A new program in northwestern Iowa provides financial support for residents enrolled in West Iowa Tech Community College programs. The Sioux City Journal reports that the Cherokee County Promise program covers the cost of tuition and fees after financial aid has been applied. Students enrolled in the program commit to working and living in Cherokee County for three years after they graduate. Dr. Matt Johnson is the CEO of the Cherokee Regional Medical Center. He unveiled the incentive program at the college on Wednesday.

Iowa Workforce Development says the county is projected to lose 14 percent of its workforce in the next decade. The agency says those expected losses are mostly attributed to an aging population and young professionals leaving the area.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department reports two recent arrests. This past Monday, 18-year old Kyle David Confere, of Harlan, was arrested following an investigation into a complaint of harassment. Confere was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with harassment in the 2^nd degree. On Sunday, 28-year old Brittni Dawn Finken, of Harlan, was arrested in the 1000 block of 7^th Street after a call for service regarding damaged property. Finken was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with criminal mischief 3^rd degree.

And, 58-year old Cynthia Lea Carpenter, of Harlan, was cited Monday for two counts of harassment following an investigation.

Authorities report an arrest was made Thursday in connection with the death of a child from southeast Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says the child’s mother, 22-year old Kelsie Thomas, of Ottumwa admitted during an investigation interview, she killed her 5-year old daughter. Thomas was then placed under arrest by law enforcement and is being held in the Wapello County Jail. She was charged with Murder in the First Degree, a Class “A” Felony.  No Bond has been until Thomas has an initial arraignment on the charge.

Kelsie Thomas

Officials say the afternoon of July 19th, the Ottumwa Police Department received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive five year-old female at a residence in Ottumwa.  Police and Fire responded to the residence.  The child was transported to Ottumwa Regional Health Center where she was pronounced deceased. The Ottumwa Police Department requested assistance of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation with the death investigation. The Office of the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s office conducted the autopsy of the child, but the results are still pending.

An investigation into the incident continues.

MADRID, Iowa (AP) — City officials have indefinitely tabled a central Iowa mayor’s proposal to fire its police chief. Madrid Police Chief Rick Tasler faces termination after numerous allegations of misconduct. He has been named in multiple federal lawsuits alleging excessive force. The Madrid City Council unanimously voted at a special meeting Thursday to postpone its decision until an investigation of the professional wrongdoing allegations is completed.

Mayor Kurt Kruse had called the meeting to terminate Tasler. Tasler alleges Kruse’s recommendation is political. Glen Downey is the attorney who filed the lawsuits against Tasler. He said at the meeting that Tasler has “zero respect for the Constitution and zero respect for those citizens he believes are not worthy of his protection.” The council’s decision comes days before a special election for the next mayor.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa State Patrol says one person was killed when two trucks collided on Interstate 35 on Thursday, just north of the Iowa-Missouri border. State troopers say the first truck was pulling a trailer carrying a directional arrow sign indicating drivers should merge into the left lane. A semi that was also traveling northbound on I-35 hit the truck from behind, spinning it 180 degrees, while sending the semi into the ditch, where it rolled. The semi’s driver was killed. He’s identified as 62-year-old Charles Griebel of Savage, Minnesota. The other driver wasn’t hurt.