COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Mitt Romney says President Barack Obama’s statement that the “private sector is doing fine” will “go down in history” as an extraordinary miscalculation by an out-of-touch president.  Speaking in Council Bluffs today (Friday), Romney pounced on the comments Obama made during this (Friday) morning’s White House news conference. Romney says Obama’s remarks led him to ask: “Is he really that out of touch?” Romney says Obama is “defining what it means to be detached and out of touch with the American people.” Romney’s aides say his campaign will continue to give Obama grief on the matter. The comment revived memories of a statement Republican nominee John McCain made in 2008, during the economic turmoil, that the economy’s fundamentals were sound.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court is giving the green light to a major wind energy expansion by the state’s largest public utility. The court today (Friday) upheld a 2009 decision by the Iowa Utilities Board that guaranteed MidAmerican Energy could raise customers’ rates in the future to pay for a huge wind energy project set to be completed this year. The court rejected a challenge by NextEra Energy Resources, a rival who argued MidAmerican didn’t demonstrate a need for extra capacity and didn’t properly consider other alternatives. In a 5-0 ruling, the court says the board’s decision was based on “substantial evidence” the expansion would reduce emissions, diversify the fuel supply, promote economic development and maintain reasonable prices for customers. MidAmerican spokeswoman Ann Thelen says the company is pleased with the ruling.
 
MidAmerican says it owns the most wind-powered capacity among the nation’s rate-regulated utilities. Among its area projects, are: The Adair Project in Cass and Adair Counties, producing 174.8-megawatts (MW) of power; The Eclipse Project in Audubon and Guthrie Counties, producing 200.1 -mw; The Morning Light Project in Adair County, which produces more than 101.2-mw of power; The Rolling Hills Wind Energy Project in Adair, Adams & Cass Counties, which generates 443.9-mw of power; and the Carroll Project, which can produce up to 150-mw of power.

All together, there are 56 wind turbines which have been built or are in the process of being erected, in those counties. The total amount of energy generated by those turbines amounts to slightly more than 1,070-megawatts. Mid-American says by the end of 2012, all of their wind energy projects, when completed, will have the capacity to generate more then 2,284-megawatts of power. According to the American Wind Energy Association, 1 Megawatt of wind-generated power can provide electricity for anywhere from 240-to 300-households, per year.

For more information: http://www.midamericanenergy.com/wind/include/pdf/facts_iowa_wind.pdf

June is one of Iowa’s most popular months for weddings and if you’ve gotten an invitation to attend someone’s nuptials in a few weeks, you can expect the unexpected. Wedding planner Adelaide Polk-Bauman says many Iowa couples are mixing things up. “When you look at the trends for 2012 there is certainly a theme,” Polk-Bauman. “There are modern twists on the very traditional, classic wedding ideas.” The location is one big change. Many Iowans aren’t getting hitched in churches but instead, they’re tying the knots in mansions and country clubs — or in backyard gardens of their own homes.  “Brides are pushing the envelope,” she says. “They’re getting married in modern art museums and refurbished barns that kind of capture that vintage, old world feel but maybe with more of a contemporary look.”

Polk-Bauman says one tradition has returned — in the wedding dress itself.  “The royal wedding really influenced a lot of brides’ decisions for their dress,” she says. “Everybody saw Kate Middleton choosing a very classic, traditional white wedding dress, long lace sleeves, with the train and the veil, the works, but she made a point of going with a very contemporary designer. Alexander McQueen is known for really mixing things up in the fashion space.” Polk-Bauman says the traditional hand-tied wedding bouquet is also making a comeback.  “Brides we’re seeing are choosing white flowers, the traditional but smaller bouquets,” she says. “If you have a particular flower in mind, you may want to try to plan you wedding in season of the flower so your budget doesn’t go through the roof.”

Polk-Bauman says many brides are jazzing the flowers up by adding sparkling ribbons or gemstones. When it comes to the reception, some Iowa brides are skipping the three-tier wedding cakes for cupcakes. Also, instead of a sit-down dinner, some are opting for a specialty buffet like a taco bar.

(Radio Iowa)