The Iowa Attorney General has dramatically increased enforcement of a law requiring excavators to contact Iowa One Call 48 hours before excavation.

The number of lawsuits filed has increased from an average of three filed per year from 1999-2009, to 13 lawsuits that were last year. The civil penalties also increased from an average of $13,500 from 1999-2009 to a total of $53,000 assessed last year.

Iowa Code, Chapter 480, spells out the responsibilities of anyone planning to dig. It also outlines the civil penalties that may be incurred if someone violates the code, including potentially substantial fines.

You can visit www.iowaonecall.com or www.call811.com for more information.

The past five Iowa winters have been snowier than normal, and colder than usual in four of them.

The next one? State climatologist Harry Hillaker says that it’s an even bet for more snow than usual and a slight chance of lower temperatures than normal.

The Pacific Ocean’s La Nina conditions -when equatorial waters are lower than normal – are expected to be relatively strong this winter.

Hillaker says the last 20 times that such La Nina conditions occurred, Iowa had snowier-than-usual winters on 12 occasions, and 11 of those winters were colder than normal.

But conditions vary from one side of Iowa to the other. He says snow was heavy in northeast Iowa last winter, “but there was not much winter in the south.”

–AP

Another case of West Nile virus has been confirmed in western Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health says the most recent case involves a woman from Mills County.

The report comes on the heels of four other cases of West Nile involving people from Fremont, Pottawattamie, and Harrison Counties. Several other possible cases are being investigated in western Iowa.

Even though the weather has cooled and decreased the mosquito population, the Health Department says there’s still a significant risk of getting West Nile until the first hard frost.

Ann Pavkov with the Iowa Department of Public Health says the months of standing water from Missouri River flooding could be creating an ideal breeding place for mosquitoes.

A press release from the Health Department provides more tips on preventing the West Nile virus:

Use insect repellant whenever outdoors, especially during peak biting times from dusk to dawn. Use repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always read the repellent label and consult with a health care provider if you have questions when using these types of products for children.

Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes, and socks whenever possible outdoors.

Eliminate mosquito-breeding sites by removing sources of standing water in outdoor areas whenever possible. For example turning over or removing items where water can collect, such as ceramic pots, toys, buckets, tires, wading pools, and tarps covering firewood and boats.

A meeting regarding possible post office closures in the Council Bluffs is scheduled to take place tonight.

The meeting will be held at 40 Pearl Street in Council Bluffs tonight at 5:00. People who attend the meeting can expect to get more information about the possible closures and more details about the financial situation of the postal service.

Interstate 80 westbound near Adair has reopened after a crash occurred on the freeway Monday afternoon.

At least three people were hurt in the incident that occurred at about 3:00 PM Monday, with reports saying one person was airlifted from the area.

The crash forced interstate 80 westbound to close near the 75 mile marker for a little less than four hours Monday. The interstate was re-opened at about 6:45 PM Monday.

No other details are currently available as the incident remains under investigation.