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Friday, April 1 News

UTILITY BILLS

Disconnection notices will start going out to thousands of Iowa residents behind on their bills for electricity and natural gas as the winter moratorium on utility disconnections ends today.
The Iowa Department of Human Rights Energy Assistance Program Manager, Christine Taylor, says that has led to more interest in the state assistance program.

The moratorim on disconnection begins in November and is designed to help the state’s most vulnerable households.

Figures from the Iowa Utilities Board show as of February more than 179-thousand accounts were past due, up from 165-thousand last year.
Taylor says anyone now facing disconnection should contact their utility and their Community Action agency for help.

GARDEN SHOW

The annual Siouxland Garden Show is set for this weekend, Friday and Saturday, in South Sioux City.
Kevin Pottebaum with Woodbury County Extension says it’s great to stage the garden show in a non-virtual setting.

A variety of educational sessions are planned.

The event is held at the Marriot in South Sioux City.  Doors open at 9 am each day, and the show runs until 6 pm.  Admision is $5 per day, with children 12 and younger admitted free.

CROPLAND VALUES

A survey released by the Realtors Land Institute shows land values haven’t dropped off at all. Scott Seifert presented the results.

Their survey is done every six months, and he says when you look at a full year their survey is close to what other yearly surveys have found for cropland prices.
Seifert says land prices probably won’t change a lot in the short term as commodity prices remain strong.

SHIP DECOMMISSION

The U-S-S Sioux City is among nine Littoral Combat Ships the Navy wants to decommission to save money.
The Department of Defense would also eliminate five cruisers, four landing dock ships, two submarines, two oilers, and two expeditionary transfer dogs.
The moves would save the Navy an estimated three-point-six-billion dollars over the next five years.
The Littoral Combat Ships never performed the way the Navy wanted and many of them still aren’t being used.

NEBRASKA ELECTION

The date of the special election to replace Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry will be announced today.
The Governor’s Office will make the announcement following Fortenberry’s resignation from Congress.
The Republican’s resignation after being found guilty of lying to the F-B-I triggered the start of a 90-day vacancy period to replace him.
State Democratic and Republican party leaders will select the nominees for the election.