Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Alexander Londo reports today (Thursday), that the county is “Currently in Extreme Fire Danger,” and Tthere will be no burning allowed until further notice.” The County is under a Wind Advisory until 6-p.m. Gusty winds and low humidities will create a very high risk of grassland fires today. Do not carelessly discard smoking materials, and use extra caution when driving high profile vehicles.

Pottawattamie County is also under a ban on opening burning until further notice.

The Atlantic Police Department reports five arrests, include the arrest on Monday, of 26-year old Robert Joens, from Exira. He was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Poss. Controlled Substances/Meth & marijuana, Open Container, Interference with Official Acts, and a Controlled substance violation. Last Sunday, Atlantic Police arrested 29-year old Alicia Dellaca, of Avoca, for Driving While License Revoked. And, 18-year old Allison Campbell, of Walnut, was arrested for OWI/1st offense.

On Feb. 21st, 48-year old Daniel Laws, of Elk Horn, was arrested by Atlantic Police, on a Cass County warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. On Feb. 20th, A-PD arrested 30-year old Alen Sisira, of Atlantic, for OWI/2nd offense.

All subjects were transported to the Cass County Jail and booked-in. As of Wednesday, only Joens remained held in the jail.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (The Gazette) — A plan developed by MidAmerican Energy and Iowa City calls for using a portion of a city park for MidAmerican’s first solar energy project. The Iowa City Council has scheduled a public hearing March 24 on leasing nearly 19 acres at Waterworks Prairie Park to MidAmerican, which would install about 10,000 solar panels. The system is expected to generate three megawatts of energy that would be tied into the electric grid.

The lease would run for 30 years and could be extended. The city would receive an annual payment starting at $13,440, and it would increase by 3% annually.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa legislature has sent the governor a compromise bill on solar energy. Last year, utilities sought permission to charge new fees to customers with solar panels on their homes or businesses. The bill now calls for studying the value of solar power starting in 2027 and establishes some alternative billing methods. Representative Gary Carlson, a Republican from Muscatine, says the compromise was developed by representatives of the state’s electric utilities, pork producers and the solar industry. “It’s gratifying to see that the groups came together and have come with a solution that’s good not only for the growth of the solar industry and utilities, but for Iowans,” Carlson says.

Last year Republican Senator Michael Breitbach, of Strawberry Point, was the lead advocate for charging new fees to customers who tap into the electric power grid when their solar panels aren’t producing power. Breitbach says this year’s deal gives some certainty to solar customers. “It also gives us a pathway forward on how the determination will be on the value of solar,” he says. Senator Eric Giddens, a Democrat from Cedar Falls, says solar power helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels for electricity. “It will strengthen the solar industry in this state, make distributed solar installations more affordable for homeowners, businesses and farmers,” he says.

The bill passed the House unanimously Tuesday and the Senate passed it 48-to-zero, Wednesday afternoon.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne says she’ll support a multi-billion-dollar spending package to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, is among the members of Congress who signed a letter to House and Senate leaders, urging passage of the bill. She expressed hope the legislation can be finalized before the end of the week. “They’re working on a vaccine for it,” Axne says, “but that’s sometime down the road. We hope to pass a funding package to help fight the greater impact of coronavirus getting deeper into our country.”

Axne says one of her biggest concerns is that any vaccine developed will be affordable to the public. “We’re absolutely looking to ensure that the funding doesn’t get pulled from other accounts, but is strictly used for this, that the vaccines are affordable and available to every single person that needs it,” she says. “We are looking at hopefully giving things like interest-free loans being made available to small businesses impacted by the outbreak.”

Under the plan, Axne says state and local governments would be reimbursed for costs incurred, while also assisting the federal response. She expressed concern over the funding bill’s delay and questioned whether the federal government is as prepared as it should be to handle COVID-19, especially with spending cuts made by the Trump Administration. “We have a lot of positions within the CDC that were left unfilled, unfortunately,” she says. “We certainly have gaps within the system that this administration decided not to fill in positions, and not to support as much with the resources that were needed. I have faith that we have incredibly smart scientists in this country and we’re going to be able to get this figured out.”

To avoid spreading the virus, Axne says to avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you are sick, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible, and wash your hands.

DES MOINES, Iowa (The Des Moines Register) — A public information advocate says the appointment of an Iowa Human Services Department spokesman to the state public records board will make it easier for the department to deny access to information. Matt Highland was named Wednesday to the Iowa Public Information Board, which enforces open records laws.

Randy Evans is director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, and he told The Des Moines Register the appointment could mute cases beyond just those involving the human services department. The governor’s office says Highland is “a perfect candidate” for the board. Highland says he would excuse himself from department-related complaints.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

• 2 large eggs
• Kosher salt and pepper
• 12 oz. carrots (about 3 large carrots)
• 1/4 cup panko
• 1 red chili, seeded and thinly sliced
• 1 cup fresh cilantro
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced, divided
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
• green salad, for serving

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.

Using a food processor with the large grater attachment, coarsely grate carrots.  Add to the bowl with eggs and toss to coat.  Fold in panko, then chili, cilantro and 2/3 of scallions.

In a small bowl, combine lime juice, 1 tablespoon oil and remaining third of scallions.

Heat a large cast iron skillet on medium, then add 1 tablespoon oil.  Drop 6 spoonfuls of carrot mixture into the skillet and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes per side; transfer to a wire rack.  Repeat with remaining oil and carrot mixture, adding more oil to the skillet if necessary.

Gently stir feta into lime-scallion mixture.  Serve over carrot fritters with green salad, if desired.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska resident accused of stabbing to death a woman in northwest Iowa has had her trial rescheduled to start June 8. Melissa Camargo-Flores, of Dakota City, Nebraska, is accused of killing 24-year-old Kenia Alvarez-Flores in Sioux City on April 8, 2018. Court documents say Camargo-Flores admitted stabbing Alvarez-Flores. Camargo-Flores told investigators she’d been involved in a relationship with the victim’s boyfriend. Authorities say the two women were not related.