A rate plan approved by state regulators will hold the line on electric rates for the 530-thousand customers of Alliant Energy Company. Alliant spokesman, Justin Foss, says the rate plan came out of a new agreement to purchase power from the Duane Arnold Nuclear plant that began in February of this year. We are going to get a lot cheaper energy, a lot less expensive energy from the plant. So, that’s a great thing, so that lowers rates,” Foss says. Foss says the plan has a couple of parts, one is the rate freeze. The base rate — the majority of the price of energy — is going to stay the same, that it has been since late 2010, and it’s going to stay that way all the way through 2016,” he explains. The rate plan also includes 105 million dollars in customer credits, which began showing up on electric customer’s bills May 1. In 2014 we are going to be able to give back about 70 million dollars in credits to reflect that lower cost,” Foss says, “but, because our other costs are rising, the credits will be less in 2015 and 2016.” He says it’s hard to say how much credit each electric customer sees on their monthly bill. “It depends on how much you use. So, people who are seeing a lot of usage are seeing a little bit more credit on that, and people who are not using as much are not seeing as much credit,” according to Foss. “So, it’s really tough to put an average amount on that.” Foss says customers with questions can go to: alliantenergy.com/iowarates.

Radio Iowa

A new federal report finds fewer Iowans are falling behind on their house payments, but for those who are still struggling, new programs are being put in place to help keep Iowans in their homes by lowering payments. Tim Bowler, a deputy secretary at the U-S Treasury Department, says the numbers are improving and home foreclosures are dropping.  “The amount of delinquencies in the state of Iowa has dropped significantly over the last few years,” Bowler says. “Right now in Iowa, approximately one out of every 20 households is delinquent on their mortgage and that’s a number that’s been trending down pretty consistently over the last 5 to 6 years as the economy and the housing market has gotten better.” The national average is about one in 17 homeowners are behind on their mortgage payments, while he says countless others are one paycheck away from missing a payment. While Iowa’s delinquency numbers are falling, Bowler says the figures are still too high, so he’s touting what are called “Making Home Affordable” programs. Bowler says, “Our programs are designed to help those folks that have been paying their mortgage and face an unexpected financial hardship that’s resulting in that mortgage becoming unsustainable for that family.” He says homeowners who undergo mortgage modifications through the program are saving a median of more than 500-dollars per month on their mortgage payments.  Bowler says, “They might be able to find assistance through our programs in helping find a mortgage solution for them that will make their housing payments more sustainable in order to help them manage through their hardship.” For more information, call 888-995-HOPE or visit www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov.
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Radio Iowa

(AP) – A western Iowa cross country team is running to raise money for their coach’s son, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton team has gathered pledges for each mile they run this fall.

The proceeds will benefit their coach, Terry Weisenborn, and his family. Weisenborn’s 2-year-old son, Hayden, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The fundraiser was inspired by Julie Hays, the mother of runner Savannah Hays.

Savannah Hays said she thought the fundraising effort was a good way to help the coach.
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(AP) – A 17-year-old faces two counts of homicide by vehicle after investigators say he killed two teenagers in a car crash in western Iowa.

Trevor Ray Feauto, of Clarksville, was taken into custody on Wednesday.

Sac County Sheriff Ken McClure said Feauto was driving a 1996 Dodge Ram pickup that crashed into a 2009 Chevy Impala on Aug. 23 near the town of Breda.

Bailey Jacobsen, 16, and Lindsey Quirk, 16, were both killed in the crash.

McClure said a report from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Crime Lab found that Feauto’s blood alcohol level was 0.133 percent.

Feauto was being held at the Northwest Iowa Youth Emergency Shelter in Cherokee.

The Creston Police Department arrested and charged a Creston man for driving while suspended. 45 year old Danny Bird was arrested and released from the Union County Jail on 3-hundred dollar bond.

The Red Oak Police Department are investigating a report of a rear window of a Dodge Caravan owned by Wilda Hall of Red Oak being broken. Officials say the window was broken out while the vehicle was parked at her residence in the 4-hundred block of East Grimes Street in Red Oak. Loss is listed at 150-dollars.

A Glenwood man has died as the result of a traffic accident Thursday afternoon in Council Bluffs. Police Officers along with fire personnel from Council Bluffs responded to a single vehicle roll over accident on Interstate 80 eastbound at mile marker 3 just to the east of the South Expressway. Police say it appears the driver Patrick Jack of Glenwood lost control of his vehicle and apparently struck the center cable barrier and slid sideways down the center ditch and roll an unknown amount of times before coming to rest on its roof in the ditch.

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield have announced its award winners of its 75th anniversary celebration. The Villisca Swimming Pool received 75-hundred dollars for enhancements and repairs to the existing swimming pool to make much needed improvements and to ensure the community the community pool is accessible for people of all ages to encourage exercise and recreation. The projects were chosen because they demonstrated a long-lasting impact on making the healthy choice the easy choice, and improving overall community health and wellness in their communities. Sixteen other projects were chosen throughout Iowa and South Dakota.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop Thursday afternoon at the intersection of North 3rd Street and East Oak Street in Red Oak. The vehicle stopped had fraudulent license plates attatched to it. Upon their investigation deputies determined the vehicles driver 41 year old Rondy Ruby Porter of Red Oak was driving while suspended and subsequently arrested. Porter was transported to the Montgomery County Jail where she is being held on 3-hundred dollar cash bond. Porter was also cited for operation without registration; improper registration and no insurance.

w/ Mark Saylor

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