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Summit says county pipeline ordinances overstep authority

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Official with Summit Carbon Solutions today (Monday) argued that the main components of two county ordinances in Iowa that sought to limit the placement of carbon dioxide pipelines are entirely overridden by the authority of state and federal regulators. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, the company reasserted those arguments in a recent brief in federal court — its response to the appeals by Shelby and Story counties of a judge’s rulings late last year that agreed with Summit. An injunction prevents the counties from enforcing the ordinances.

The filings of written arguments by both sides of the case set the stage for oral arguments before a panel of Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals judges. The oral arguments are not yet scheduled. The judges are expected to issue a decision sometime next year.

Summit Carbon Solutions wants to sequester the carbon dioxide of more than 50 ethanol producers in five states. (Courtesy of Summit Carbon Solutions)

Summit seeks to build a 2,500-mile pipeline system in five states to transport captured carbon dioxide from ethanol producers to North Dakota, where the greenhouse gas would be pumped into the ground. It received preliminary approval in Iowa last month.

The work is incentivized by generous federal tax credits with the goal of slowing climate change. But many opponents of the project worry about the safety of people and animals near the pipeline that might be suffocated if it ruptures. The county ordinances create minimum separation distances — or setbacks — between the pipelines and populated places, such as cities, homes and livestock buildings.

The federal judge who ruled against the first county ordinances said, in part, they were so restrictive that they might make it impossible for a carbon dioxide pipeline to be built at all. A handful of ordinances that were adopted by other counties — most of which are also the target of pending lawsuits by Summit — were increasingly less restrictive. The most recent one was approved in April by Dickinson County, which has not been sued. Summit has declined to comment on the matter.

Chief Judge Stephanie Rose, of the federal Southern District of Iowa, said the Shelby and Story ordinances’ placement requirements are overruled by state regulators — the Iowa Utilities Commission — and that their safety-related provisions are the jurisdiction of federal regulators — the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Rose went further and decided that the counties’ placement requirements are also a safety feature and are overridden by PHMSA, but the agency itself has contradicted the judge. However, Summit argues Rose was correct about the relationship of setbacks and safety, and its attorneys point to an early version of Story’s ordinance: “Story County started down this path solely out of concern for pipeline safety,” attorney Ryan Koopmans wrote in the recent appeal brief. “The county’s first ordinance, No. 306, focused only on setbacks because there are ‘risks in the event of a spill or rupture.’”

Summit further says county ordinance provisions that obviously pertain to safety — such as requirements to disclose certain information to local emergency officials to aid their potential response to a breach — is also PHMSA’s jurisdiction.As for determining the pipeline routes, Summit argues state law gives the Iowa Utilities Commission absolute authority: “It does not matter whether Summit or any other pipeline company could somehow thread the needle through the counties’ heavily restrictive setbacks, or whether the counties would grant variances and let the pipeline pass through anyway (and they clearly will not),” Koopmans wrote.

The American Petroleum Institute, which lobbies for the nation’s oil and natural gas industries, and the Liquid Energy Pipeline Association also recently filed a brief in support of Summit’s positions. They said pipelines are vital to the U.S. economy, are the safest way to transport energy products, and that the ordinances would have “far-reaching ramifications and unintended consequences.”

The ultimate effect of the court action on the pending lawsuits against other counties is not yet clear. They have been paused until the Shelby and Story appeals conclude. PHMSA is in the process of revamping its safety standards for carbon dioxide pipelines, and the counties have said the current rules are not adequate to protect the public. They argue that there is room for some measure of local control of the issue.

Red Oak man arrested on an Assault charge early this (Monday) afternoon

News

July 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) — Police in Red Oak arrested a man early this (Monday) afternoon, on an Assault charge.  38-year-old Anthony Charles Wasson, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 200 block of E. Nuckols Street a little after 1-p.m.  Wasson was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

German heritage center in Davenport to be named national historic site

News

July 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – An eastern Iowa museum that’s dedicated to preserving the German immigrant experience for future generations is getting a new accolade. The German American Heritage Center and Museum in Davenport will be named this week as the newest site in the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, which covers a large portion of northeast Iowa. Jori Wade-Booth is spokeswoman for Silos and Smokestacks.

Wade-Booth says, “We have about 100 sites that all include farms, museums, historic sites, businesses and so forth, all tell some part of the story of agriculture.” The facility at the foot of the Centennial Bridge and near the banks of the Mississippi River opened in 2004 in a historic building. It offers visitors an interactive experience to learn about the immigrants’ journey by sea, train and foot, to their final destination — the museum — which was originally a busy hotel for thousands of immigrants in the 1860s.

“The German American Heritage Center and Museum is important because not only does it preserve the heritage of our German-speaking ancestors that came to Iowa,” Wade-Booth says, “but it also tells the important story that German Americans had a huge impact on industry and agriculture in Iowa.” Those thousands of German immigrants played a significant role in helping Iowa to develop as an early ag powerhouse, something the state maintains to this day.

Photo courtesy German American Heritage Center and Museum

“A lot of people think of agriculture inside a box, like there’s tractors and crops and mud on your boots,” Wade-Booth says, “but really it’s the science, technology and math, and it encompasses a whole lot more than just growing corn and soybeans or having animals.” The museum details other elements of agriculture, like how Davenport used to be one of the nation’s top cigar-producing cities, as tobacco was a widely grown crop here more than a century ago. Lumber was also big for Iowa then, as were the state’s many fisheries. Wade-Booth says her organization works in partnership with the National Park Service.

“Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area was designated in 1996 by Congress to tell the story of American agriculture,” she says. “We’re the only heritage area in the country that tells that story. We covers 37 counties in northeast Iowa, basically everything east of I-35 and north of I-80.”

The ribbon-cutting at the museum is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) at 11 A-M to welcome the facility as a new national heritage area site.

Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann kicks off RNC by nominating Trump

News

July 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa delegates at the Republican National Convention have cast their votes for Donald Trump for president. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann was chosen to kick off the process with a nominating speech.

Kaufmann began his remarks by talking about the Iowa Caucuses, the lead-off contest in the presidential election.

Trump got over half of the votes cast in the Iowa Caucuses, 30 points ahead of his closest competitor. Kaufmann says the vast majority of states seconded Iowa’s choice.

Kaufmann, a former state legislator, became chairman of the Iowa G-O-P 10 years ago. While Kaufmann declared neutrality as the party’s leader in the competitive 2016 and 2024 Iowa Caucus campaigns, he has been a stalwart supporter of Trump’s General Election campaigns.

Kaufmann closed by repeating the themes for each of the four nights of the Republican National Convention.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is a temporary chair of the Republican National Convention. She will preside over the nominating of Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance. Bird is scheduled to speak at the convention tomorrow (Tuesday) night.

Great Lakes seeing blue-green algae issues

News

July 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The executive director of the Iowa Regents’ Lakeside Lab says they’re seeing an increase in toxic blue-green algae in the Great Lakes. Mary Skopec says after years of drought, the lakes are filled with high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and contaminated sediment. It’s a combination that causes the algae to grow, especially when things warm up.

“It’s very concerning. The lakes are our drinking water source, and we want to make sure that we don’t pull those toxins into our drinking water. But when people are recreating being exposed to that can be quite, quite damaging to health,” Skopec says. There are more than 70 places, where the shorelines have also collapsed, compounding the problem. Skopec says people can still swim in the Iowa Great Lakes but need to watch out for debris and stay away from water that looks green and murky and occasionally bright blue.

Blue Green Algae on West Lake Okoboji. (photo by Sheila Brummer)

“Obviously don’t want people or pets in that water. We know that dogs can succumb to the toxins within hours.” Skopec says the good news is E. coli testing in almost a dozen spots around the Great Lakes showed levels meeting recreation standards.

(reporting by Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)

Adair County Sheriff issues a statement w/regard to RAGBRAI® traffic

News

July 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater today (Monday), issued a statement with regard to bicycle traffic that will be passing through the County next week. On July 23rd riders on RAGBRAI will be passing through Adair County and Vandewater says that “will most certainly impact traffic during a big portion of the day.”
Bicyclists will be leaving from Atlantic early on the morning of the 23rd and ending the day in Winterset. The official route will take them on State Highway 92 from south of Cumberland all the way to Greenfield. When they leave Greenfield, they will travel south on State Highway 25 to Orient and then east of Orient on 310th Street until they exit Adair County west of Macksburg.
The Sheriff notes there are specific routes through Greenfield and Orient, where the riders will detour off of the highways and make a pass through more of the center of each town. (See the maps posted in this story). “I would encourage anyone who can, to avoid driving on or intersecting with the RAGBRAI route, if possible,” Vandewater say. “If you do find yourself on the route or intersecting with the route, expect delays.
If your choice of roadways that day intersects with the RAGBRAI route, the delays shouldn’t be terrible. Should you find yourself attempting to travel east on State Highway 92 or southbound from Greenfield on State Highway 25, be very, very patient and expect potentially mind-numbing delays during the busiest of times. Your ability to safely pass large groups of bikers traveling approximately ten miles per hour will be limited.
If you are traveling westbound on State Highway 92 or 310th Street or northbound on State Highway 25, please consider reducing your speed, strictly avoid any distractions and remain vigilant when operating around bikers. There is almost no margin of error when it comes to bike traffic versus a motor vehicle. Any type of collision between a bicycle and a motor vehicle could prove fatal, with mere inches possibly making the difference.”
Sheriff Vanedewater said also, “I believe local citizens who know the roads will easily find an alternate route. I am concerned about commercial traffic who may be from out of the area and may be unaware that RAGBRAI is even passing through on their “regular” route. Because of that, I would ask everyone to share this post in hopes of making as many motorists as possible aware of the potential issues on Tuesday July 23rd.”

American, Delta Offer Flights To Select UI Football Road Games

Sports

July 15th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Eastern Iowa Airport has worked with two carriers to add special direct flights for Hawkeye fans wanting to travel to select University of Iowa football road games this fall.

Below is a list of flight options for fans looking for air travel from Eastern Iowa to Ohio, Michigan and California.

American Airlines: Nonstop to Columbus (CMH) for Ohio State game departing Cedar Rapids (CID) at 2 p.m. on Oct. 4. The return flight on Oct. 6 departs at 9:29 a.m. ET.
Delta: Nonstop to Detroit (DTW) for Michigan State game departing Cedar Rapids (CID) at 1:45 p.m. on Oct. 18. The return flight on Oct. 20 departs at 10 a.m. ET.
Delta: Nonstop to Los Angeles (LAX) for UCLA game departing Cedar Rapids (CID) at 12:15 p.m. on Nov. 7. The return flight on Nov. 10 departs at 11:15 a.m. PT.
There will also be a nonstop flight on Delta from Seattle (SEA) to Cedar Rapids (CID) for the Washington home football game. The flight will depart Seattle at 9:35 a.m. PT on Oct. 11. The return flight on Oct. 13 will depart at 11 a.m. This will be the first-ever nonstop flight CID has had to/from Seattle and provides fans of the Huskies, as well as Hawkeye fans living in the Seattle area an easy four-hour flight.

Sandfort, Mulvey Named to NABC Honors Court

Sports

July 15th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Two University of Iowa men’s basketball student-athletes – juniors Payton Sandfort and Riley Mulvey – have been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court, it was announced Monday by the NABC.

NABC Honors Court honorees include juniors, seniors and graduate students who finished the 2023-24 year with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher.

The NABC recognizes teams and athletes from all levels of college basketball. More than 2,100 players earned the Honors Court distinction.

It is the first career NABC Honors Court accolade for both players.

2024 Hawkeye 10 All Academic Award Winners

Sports

July 15th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

2024 Hawkeye 10 Summer Sports: All Academic Award Winners
Criteria: Senior letterwinners who have attained a cumulative 3.5 GPA during their high school career.
Girls Softball Boys Baseball
Name School Name School
Avery Knuth Atlantic Creighton Tuzzio Clarinda
Avery Nicholas Atlantic Quinten Fuller Creston
Callee Pellett Atlantic Samuel Henry Creston
Claire Pellett Atlantic Dylan Hoepker Creston
Riley Wood Atlantic Gavin Millslagle Creston
Presley Jobe Clarinda Milo Staver Creston
Lylly Merrill Clarinda Cael Turner Creston
Maddie Smith Clarinda Jake Fink Denison-Schleswig
Sophie Hagle Creston Ty Fink Denison-Schleswig
Claire Leinen Denison-Schleswig Nolan Allmon Glenwood
McKenna Koehler Glenwood Kayden Anderson Glenwood
Sara Kolle Glenwood Nolan Clark Glenwood
Liz Thiesen Glenwood Bryant Keller Glenwood
Faith Weber Glenwood Briten Maxwell Glenwood
Lilyana Albertsten Harlan Community Kellan Scott Glenwood
Sarah Batz Kuemper Catholic Gavin Bruck Harlan Community
Kaylie Diercksen Kuemper Catholic Braydon Ernst Harlan Community
Allison Ostrander Kuemper Catholic Quinn Koesters Harlan Community
Kaci Peter Kuemper Catholic Franz Reisz Harlan Community
Melinda Schaefer Kuemper Catholic Matthew Sorfonden Harlan Community
Martha Sibbel Kuemper Catholic Evan Loew Kuemper Catholic
Carolynne Fell Lewis Central Benicio Lujano Kuemper Catholic
Kyleigh Moore Lewis Central Brody Goeser Lewis Central
Kaysie Kells Red Oak Luke Woltmann Lewis Central
Jaydin Lindsay Red Oak Seth Zwickel Shenandoah
Joselyn McCunn Red Oak Camden Lorimor Shenandoah
Merced Ramirez Red Oak Brandon McCall Saint Albert
Jenna Burdorf Shenandoah Cole Pekny Saint Albert
Kassidy Stephens Shenandoah
Caroline Rogers Shenandoah
Lily Barnes Saint Albert
Tessa Clifton Saint Albert
Olivia Gardner Saint Albert
Alexis Narmi Saint Albert
Katelynn Hendricks Saint Albert

IOWA STATE CROSS COUNTRY UNVEILS 2024 SCHEDULE

Sports

July 15th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State cross country teams prepare for their return to the course after enjoying an abundance of success in 2023. Both the Cyclone men and women posted team finishes in the top 20 at the NCAA Championships.

“I am looking forward to the Fall 2024 Cross Country Season as our returning athletes are coming off a historic spring,” said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Jeremy Sudbury. Women’s Cross Country Head Coach Amy Rudolph shared similar sentiments, stating “I am really excited for the 2024 Cross Country season and opening things up with our home meet at the end of August. Our schedule this year really sets us up to do well in championship season with the goal being the national meet.”

Last season, the men earned their eighth ever top-5 finish at the NCAA Championships in Virginia, finishing fifth as Sanele Masondo and Rodgers Rotich earned individual All-America status. The women were 20th, led by fifth-year seniors Madelynn Hill, Dana Feyen and Janette Schraft.

“After losing three of our top five from last year, I am looking forward to seeing our upperclassmen lead this team with a very deep sophomore and freshman class,” said Rudolph. “We will again see many changes within our top seven throughout the season which gives us an advantage having that kind of depth.”

This season, ISU once again opens the year hosting the Cyclone Preview in Ames. The meet takes place on Friday, August 30 at the Cyclone Cross Country Course. Last season, the Iowa State men’s and women’s squads dominated the rest of the fields to take both team titles in front of a sea of Cardinal & Gold. It is the second time in as many seasons that Ames will host a regular season cross country meet. ISU had not hosted a regular season meet since the 2012 Iowa Intercollegiate prior to last year.

“The Cyclone Preview at home this year will be a great chance to engage with our fans and run on our beautiful course, we hope to have a nice crowd come out and support our athletes,” said Sudbury.

More details on the Cyclone Preview, including parking and fan information, can be found here.

Iowa State will also prep for the 2024 NCAA Championships, held this year in Madison, Wisconsin twice with the Nuttycombe Invitational and the Wisconsin Pre-National meet. The Cyclones will make the trek to Madison first on September 27 for Nuttycombe before returning October 19 for Pre-Nationals.

“We are going all-in on getting to know the National Course in Madison, Wisconsin by racing there twice in the regular season,” said Sudbury. “I’ve always felt if you can learn how to run that course it’ll pay huge dividends in the post-season.”

Following Pre-Nationals, the Cyclones will travel to Waco to compete at the Big 12 Championships on November 1. Last season the women finished third behind then-top 10 squads BYU and Oklahoma State while the men were fourth overall. Hill, Schraft, Maelle Porcher and Said Mechaal all earned All-Conference honors with top-15 individual finishes.

After a two-week break, Iowa State will return to action on November 15 at the NCAA Midwest Regional held in Peoria, Illinois. Last season, both the men’s and women’s squads finished second in Stillwater to earn automatic bids to the NCAA Championships. The season will conclude with the national championship meet, held on November 23 in Madison, Wisconsin.