w/ Denny Heflin
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.1MB)
Subscribe: RSS
MidAmerican Energy has begun the process of studying potential locations to build a new nuclear power plant in the state. Company spokesperson, Tina Potthoff (Pot-off), says the study is focusing on Muscatine and Fremont counties in the southwest corner of the state.
“When evaluating sites to include in this study, we look at things like geography, environmental issues, proximity to transportation routes and proximity to existing transmission lines,” Potthoff explains. She says the study is in reaction to a law the legislature enacted a law in 2010 directing MidAmerican to look at and analyze the possible construction of nuclear power-generating facilities.
“We are in the process of beginning soil and environmental sample taking, that’s a part of the study process to asses land suitability in the event that a determination will be made to to develop the facility in the location,” Potthoff says. “And it is important to note that no decision has been made to build any generating facility in Iowa, this is simply part of the study process and those samples will be taken as several locations this fall. An overview of the study will be in 2013.” Crews moving around taking soil samples have drawn notice from residents.
“There’s definitely been an interest in this, as there should be. We want to make sure that we’re letting people know –especially in those sites where we might be on their land or their neighbor’s land — that they understand what is going on,” according Potthoff. “The sites under study also may be a good location for other generating facilities in the future, especially a natural gas plant, if a nuclear plant is not pursued.” Iowa currently has just one nuclear power plant located in Palo (Pay-low) in eastern Iowa.
Today is the 40th day before election day, and the first day that absentee ballots may be voted in a county auditor’s office. Any Iowa voter may request an absentee ballot if they expect they cannot go to the polls on election day. Voting an absentee ballot may be done in different ways:
A voter who chooses to vote an absentee ballot by one of these methods will be asked to fill out an official Iowa absentee ballot request form.
Persons soliciting absentee ballot request forms while acting as an agent for a political party or candidate must offer a receipt to the voter for the completed request form.
Track your absentee ballot at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/absenteeballotstatus/search.aspx.
The NFL and the referees’ union have reached a tentative contract agreement, ending an impasse that began in June when the league locked out the officials and used replacements instead.
With Commissioner Roger Goodell at the table, the sides concluded two days of talks at midnight Thursday with the announcement of a tentative deal, which must be ratified by the union’s 121 members.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tweeted “Pleased to report that an agreement has been reached with the NFL Referees Association. Details to follow.”
The replacements worked the first three weeks of games, triggering a wave of frustration that threatened to disrupt the rest of the season. After a missed call cost the Green Bay Packers a win on a chaotic final play at Seattle on Monday night, the two sides really got serious.
It was not certain who would work this week’s games, which begin Thursday night with Baltimore hosting Cleveland.
The Iowa State Patrol will soon dedicate bridges near Lewis to two fallen troopers.
On October 18, the Iowa State Patrol will formally dedicate the trooper Lance Dietsch and trooper Stanley Gerling memorial bridges near Lewis. The two bridges span Indian Creek and Turkey Creek on Highway 6 just west of Atlantic near Lewis.
The ceremony will be held at the Iowa State Patrol Communications Center at 56911 Whitepole Road in Lewis at 10 AM. Once the ceremony is over, those who desire photos at the bridge sites will be taken there in small groups.
The State Patrol says the memorials will serve as a reminder of gratitude to fallen troopers and the families they leave behind.
Both troopers being honored were killed in a plane crash near Highway 6 near Lewis on June 30th, 1989.
A Corning woman was arrested Wednesday for writing bad checks.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports Dorothy Snyder of Corning was arrested Wednesday at about 11:20 AM. She was arrested on two warrants for writing bad checks in Adams and Montgomery Counties. She was being held on $900 cash bond.
A rollover accident in Neola blocked part west bound I-80 for almost two hours Wednesday.
Just before 1 PM, a semi driven by 23-year-old Inderjit Singh of Chowchilla, CA was traveling west on I-80 near mile marker 27 in Neola. When the semi drifted onto the shoulder Singh over corrected causing the semi to roll onto its right side.
The incident caused one and a half lanes of traffic to be blocked on I-80 westbound in Neola. All lanes were re-opened about two hours later just before 3 PM.
No other details about the incident are currently available.
Police have identified a man who died in a single-vehicle crash in West Des Moines.
Authorities say 21-year-old Jeffrey Douglas Jones of Earlham was killed just before 6 a.m. Wednesday when his vehicle left the roadway on an interstate mix master that connects Interstates 80, 35 and 235. Police say Jones’ vehicle crossed several lanes of traffic and struck a concrete jersey barrier.
Jones was alone in the car. Authorities say they believe speed played a role in the crash. Jones was originally from Shellsburg. Authorities say they are still investigating.
Cass County Health System and Cass County Public Health announce the availability of seasonal influenza vaccinations. Community clinics are scheduled for the following dates and times:
Charges for flu vaccinations at these community events will be $30 for seasonal vaccine, and $45 for the high-dose vaccine (those 65 and older). Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Humana, and hawk-i can be billed. Both injectable and mist forms are available at these community clinics.
Businesses desiring onsite flu vaccination clinics for their employees may contact Denise Coder, Community Health Coordinator at 712-243-7475 or coderda@ihs.org. Additionally, Cass County Public Health will be conducting flu vaccinations for students during school time at all Cass County schools in October. Schools are distributing consent forms, which are due back to the school by October 1.
Flu vaccine will be available at Atlantic Medical Center beginning Monday, October 1st. No appointment is necessary; the immunization nurse is available from 8:30 am – noon and 1 pm – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday; 8:30 – 11:30 am on Saturdays. AMC follows the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on influenza vaccinations:
HOUSTON (AP) – Bud Norris pitched into the eighth inning for his first win since May 21, and Jose Altuve homered and the Houston Astros avoided a sweep with a 2-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, who are vying for the second NL wild card, on Wednesday night.
Norris (6-13) allowed two hits and struck out seven without a walk in 7 1-3 innings to snap a career-long 12-game losing streak which spanned 18 starts in the last National League game in Houston with the Astros moving to the American League West for 2013.
The victory broke a 10-game winning streak for the Cardinals over Houston and cut their lead over Los Angeles and Milwaukee to 3 1/2 games for the second NL wild card spot after both teams won Wednesday.