(Radio Iowa) – Three environmental groups are calling on MidAmerican Energy to retire its coal power plants in order to save Iowa customers millions of dollars. A Sierra Club analysis of the utility’s numbers found it lost 27-million dollars over the past five years by operating two coal plants in Sioux City. Kerri Johannsen, energy program director for the Iowa Environmental Council, says MidAmerican’s latest emissions plan doesn’t meet state standards for operating in a cost-effective way. “The argument we’re making is that MidAmerican’s plan does not meet that standard of managing these emissions cost-effectively,” she says, “because shutting down the plants would be more cost effective.”

By retiring two coal plants in Sioux City by 2023, the report says MidAmerican could save 92-million dollars. Johannsen says the Sierra Club, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, and the Iowa Environmental Council are urging the company to save money in addition to avoiding the public health and climate impacts of the plants.  “There are a lot of utilities that, once they crunch the numbers, they found that the better option for customers is closing down these expensive old plants and replacing them with renewables,” she says.

The environmental groups are making the arguments to the Iowa Utilities Board, which is reviewing MidAmerican’s latest emissions plan. A hearing in the case is slated to go before the board in February.

(Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

WASHINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Police say two people suffered injuries during an explosion at a home in southeast Iowa. The incident was reported early Monday in a residential area of Washington. KCRG-TV reports all the residents of the home were evacuated. Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire caused by the explosion. The explosion blew out windows in neighboring homes. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Washington is about 30 miles south of Iowa City.

(Clarinda, 8:37-a.m.) — Page County authorities say a missing Clarinda Academy student has been returned to campus.

Authorities in Clarinda are searching for a student who left the Clarinda Academy campus overnight. The student left campus around 1:45 a.m. and traveled in an unknown direction. The student was described as being a 15-year-old white male, wearing a gray hoodie and blue sneakers. No other description was available.

Anyone with information on the student is urged to call their local law enforcement agency.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will conduct an in-person and electronic meeting 9-a.m. today (Via dial-in at (605)-313-6157, access code 526272#). Among the items on their agenda are organizational procedures, including: The election of a Board Chair and Vice Chair; Approve Deputy Clerk appointments by County Auditor and Attorney; Action on a Travel Policy Resolution; Action on a Master Matrix Resolution (for livestock confinement facilities); and the appointment of Board members to area boards/commissions, and their alternates.

In other business, the Board will hold a Public Hearing on an FY21 Budget Amendment, following by action on a Resolution to approve the amendment, and an Appropriations Resolution. They will also hear from Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, with regard to a Jail Administrator new hire, and County Engineer Nick Kauffman. He will discuss several matters with the Board, including: Empowerment of County Engineer; A Right-of-way and temporary easement purchase; A Bridge Weight limit Resolution, and other, Secondary Roads Dept. matter.

During their meeting last week, the Adair County Supervisors voted to continue current Adair County Courthouse COVID-19 mitigation measures through at least the end of this month. That means the courthouse will remain locked and services will be conducted at a window outside the building. Beginning today, the Supervisors will meet in person for budgeting purposes. Everyone else will participate by phone conference (by using the numbers above).

Officials say visitors are asked to enter the west door elevator entrance window. They are asked to call the courthouse, and employees can help them from that particular window. If someone must enter the facility, the staff will take their temperature. Otherwise, the driver’s license services are by appointment only.