Congressman Young Hopes The New EPA Administrator Will Be Kind To The Renewable Fuels Industry
(Shenandoah) — Republican Congressman David Young says now that Scott Pruitt has left the E-P-A, Iowa’s congressional delegation is turning its attention to Pruitt’s replacement. Young says he and other Iowans are urging acting E-P-A Administrator Andrew Wheeler to support the federal production mandate
for biofuels — and pay a visit to Iowa.
Young says it’s important to keep reminding whoever is in charge at the E-P-A that President Trump promised Iowans he’d defend the Renewable Fuels Standard. And Young says Iowa’s congressional delegation is urging Trump to appoint a permanent replacement for Pruitt who will approve or exceed the biofuel production levels spelled out in the Renewable Fuels Standard.
Young says Pruitt not only raised serious ethical concerns by his actions as E-P-A administration, “he hurt Iowa farmers by recklessly undercutting” the federally mandated production levels for biofuels.
University Of Iowa Lost Money On Des Moines Campus
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa lost nearly $1.2 million from its operation of a business campus in Des Moines.
University officials say the decision to close the former AIB College of Business is due to reductions in state support.
The university announced last week the move to sell the campus’ seven buildings and permanently furlough 33 full-time staffers whose positions aren’t directly tied to student instruction.
The university took possession of the nonprofit institution in 2016. The merger was described as a gift to the university.
The terms of AIB’s gift agreement say the property could be sold if the school’s officials determined that operating the campus was “no longer feasible for economic or other reasons.”
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Polk County Supervisors To Consider Offering Flood Assistance To Low Income Families
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Polk County supervisors are scheduled to vote Tuesday on a program aimed at helping low-income people replace water heaters and other items damaged in the June 30-July 1 flash flooding.
The county said in a news release Monday that residents whose incomes fall below 80 percent of the median income level for Polk County could qualify for up to $6,000 to replace their water heaters, furnaces and electrical panels. Income verification and a city inspection of the home would be required.
Owner-occupied mobile homes could be eligible for up to $750 for water heaters, furnaces and electrical panels.
Rental, multifamily and commercial properties are not eligible for the program.
Help For Veterans
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The health care system for Nebraska and western Iowa veterans has ordered teletype machines so deaf or blind veterans can contact the Veterans Affairs Department.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that the VA’s Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System said last week that it’s ordered some of the machines. One will go in the lobby of the VA hospital in Omaha.
The VA for years has distributed teletype machines for free to help some deaf, hearing-impaired or blind veterans make text-based calls from their home telephone lines. But the VA hasn’t had machines of its own to answer if a veteran called for help.
A test of the new devices is scheduled to begin Friday.
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Fatality Occurs Following High Speed Car Chase
WADENA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a Missouri man died in a crash that ended a police chase in northeast Iowa.
The Iowa State Patrol says a Fayette County sheriff’s deputy was pursuing a car early Saturday morning in Wadena when the car crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a parked, unoccupied pickup truck. The car driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man’s been identified as 28-year-old Jared Hill, who lived in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Feasibility Study Conducted To See If Mason City Train Depot Can Be Moved To New Location
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Minnesota company is studying the feasibility of moving a historic northern Iowa train depot that otherwise faces demolition.
The Globe Gazette reports that Thein Moving Co. has begun a feasibility study on relocating the Mason City Depot.
Mason City Planning and Zoning Manager Tricia Sandahl says the study will determine if the building can be moved and how much it would cost. She says the study costs $4,800.
Mason City Finance Director Kevin Jacobson says the money will likely be taken from the city’s general fund.
Sandahl says three sites have been identified for a potential move.
Canadian Pacific announced plans to demolish the structure earlier this year. Railroad spokesman Andy Cummings said the depot has been vacant since the railway relocated its operations to another structure in 2013.
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