(Harlan, Iowa) – Official with Harlan Municipal Utilities (HMU) are warning their customers that some customers have informed the utility that that they have received emails with links to update their financial information. HMU says “We wanted to remind you that neither HMU nor our online payment providers will email you links and ask you to update your financial information through that link.

“If you need to update your information it is best to use your normal process of logging in to the site and entering it. These ‘scammers’ do a good job of creating the link and taking you to a page that looks similar to the one you are used to.”

(Radio Iowa) – The wide ranging energy bill Governor Reynolds submitted to the legislature includes a provision that’s been the subject of legal wrangling for the past five years. The bill would let the state’s major electricity providers, like MidAmerican and Alliant, have the “right of first refusal” or first chance at building new transmission lines. Doug Struyk is a lobbyist for the Resale Group of Iowa, which represents 26 public and private utilities. The group argues a competitive bidding process should be used instead.

“RPGI believes that anything that drives up the cost of their power is adverse to their economic development in their small communities,” Struyk said during a House subcommittee hearing on the bill. Officials from utilities in places like Mt. Pleasant, Anita and Ogden are members of the Resale Group of Iowa. Stryk told lawmakers the Biden and Trump Administration are on record opposing a closed bidding process for transmission lines.

“Because the competition and the ability to have additional capital and ideas that come from independent transmission companies outside of the incumbents in those states drive cost savings and drive speed,” Struyk said. Dehn Stevens, vice president of transmission and planning for MidAmerican Energy, also testified during the hearing. He said the derecho that hit the state illustrated the value of MidAmerican being able to quickly repair transmission lines.

“We competitively bid all of the materials, supply, equipment construction and labor for all of our project,” he said. “…We’re held accountable to our state and federal regulators on that topic of cost control.” Kyle Holub of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 109 said the union backs giving MidAmerican the first chance on transmission line projects because the company uses local labor.

“Our workers who are here in Iowa, your friends and neighbors who work on these power lines,” he said. “They’re the ones responding when the power goes out.” The legislature previously passed this policy. However, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the bill in which it was included was unconstitutional because too many subjects were covered in the bill.

(Radio Iowa) – Animal shelters across Iowa are seeing a higher number of people who say they can’t afford to keep their pets. The Siouxland Humane Society’s Jerry Dominick says he’s been in contact with around 20 other shelters which all report more people dumping pets because they can no longer take care of them. “People are struggling to pay bills, and they look at pets as being expendable. All the shelters, you know, we’re here to help,” he says.

Dominick says his shelter saw an increase in requests for assistance from pet owners last year. The facility offers a food bank, spay and neutering programs, and funding for emergency vet bills. “We would rather help keep people and their pets together than see those pets displaced and sit here in a shelter,” Dominick says.

The Animal Rescue League in Des Moines says they took in more than 13-thousand animals last year, almost three-thousand more animals than in 2020. Another non-profit in Sioux City, Noah’s Hope, says some owners surrender their dogs because they took on second jobs and don’t have enough time for them. The Humane Society of Scott County in Davenport saw a 35 percent increase in cats and dogs being surrendered last year.

Atlantic, IA – [February 17, 2025] – The Iowa Farmers Union, in collaboration with State Representative Megan Srinivas and Page County Farmer Seth Watkins, is hosting a Cancer Listening Post in Cass County. The listening session is scheduled for March 2nd, 2-3:30 PM at the American Legion Memorial Hall in Atlantic.

The event is being held to provide an opportunity for farmers, rural residents, and community members to share their personal experiences with cancer and its impact on their lives. Lawmakers will be present to listen and participate in discussions on tackling Iowa’s rising cancer rates.

Recent data highlights Iowa as one of the states with the fastest-growing cancer rates in the country. The Cancer Listening Posts will serve as a platform for individuals to voice concerns, discuss potential causes, and explore solutions to improve healthcare and prevention efforts in rural communities.

“These listening sessions are crucial for gathering firsthand accounts of how cancer is affecting our communities,” said State Rep. Megan Srinivas. “By hearing directly from those impacted, we can push for better policies, increased research, and stronger support systems for Iowans facing cancer.”

The Iowa Farmers Union encourages farmers, healthcare advocates, and concerned citizens to attend these sessions and make their voices heard. For more information, please contact thexter@iowafarmersunion.org.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) released a report on arrests that took place between January 21st and February 13th. Most recently…

On February 13th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Prudence Page, 38, of Atlantic, on the charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Page was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

On February 12th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Angela Shetterly, 54, of Griswold, on the charges of OWI 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Shetterly was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

On February 6th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Carlos Villanueva Lemus, 22, of Omaha, NE, on the charge of OWI 1st Offense.  Villanueva Lemus was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On January 25th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kalee Nolte, 31, of Atlantic, on warrants for Trespass and Forgery.  On January 27th an additional warrant was served on her for Violation of Probation.  Nolte was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

On January 25th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kurt Crecelius, 64, of Anita, on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Crecelius was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On January 25th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Timothy Chandler JR, 36, of Atlantic, on the charges of Drug Trafficking and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation.  Chandler JR was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On January 24th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jason Wingrove, 38, of Anita, on warrants for Trespass and Forgery.  Wingrove was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On January 23rd, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ryan Juhl, 37, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Sex Offender Registry Violation.  Juhl was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On January 21st, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tobin Jensen, 46, of Atlantic, on two warrants for Possession of a Controlled Substance – methamphetamine.  Jensen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (February 17, 2025) – MidAmerican Energy officials says they are “taking big steps to ensure reliable, affordable power for its customers in the years to come, especially as demand for electricity keeps growing.” According to a press release, the company is proposing two new generation projects to best serve its customers – particularly during times when they need it most and regardless of the weather. MidAmerican today (Monday) filed plans with the Iowa Utilities Commission to build a solar energy project across several sites in Iowa that is expected to generate up to 800 megawatts of power.The company also plans to develop two natural gas-fired combustion turbines at one location in Adair County that will generate 465 megawatts of power. Kelcey Brown, president and CEO, said “We’re focused on ensuring our customers always have reliable power, no matter what’s going on with the weather. We’re always looking ahead, planning for decades in the future, to make sure we meet the needs of our customers in the most affordable and sustainable way.”

Currently, MidAmerican’s electric rates in Iowa are 42% below the national average. The proposed generating projects will help the company keep rates affordable while also ensuring customers have the around-the-clock energy they need. The 2025 Solar Reliability Project would complement MidAmerican’s vast wind fleet, providing increased energy at times when wind energy may be lower. Like wind, solar energy requires no fuel and helps to keep energy prices low for customers. The project is expected to produce enough energy to serve 144,000 typical homes while occupying about 4,800 acres of land.

Under the proposal, MidAmerican would add solar installations at approximately six sites through 2027 and 2028. Collectively, the project would provide nearly $25 million in property tax payments and $270 million in landowner lease payments over the operational life of the project. Not all site locations have been finalized. MidAmerican is requesting Iowa Utilities Commission approval for the company’s proposed solar project by August. If approved, construction would begin next year and generate energy beginning in 2027. “It’s crucial for our economy to have energy that’s there when we need it most – regardless of whether it’s hot, cold, windy or cloudy,” Iowa Senate President Amy Sinclair (R-Wayne County), said. “Developing a diverse mix of energy sources that keeps rates affordable and serves Iowans into the future just makes good sense.”

In addition, MidAmerican is proposing a natural gas-fired combustion turbine project in Adair County, called the Orient Energy Center, which would generate an additional 465 megawatts of power beginning in 2028. This project is a substantial commitment to energy reliability, investing in generation resources that will serve customers for the next 40 years. The Orient Energy Center is expected to operate when load is at its peak and when customers need it the most, estimated at less than 10% of the year. The facility will provide more than 400 jobs during construction, approximately $7 million in property tax revenues over its service life and will bring up to five skilled craft jobs that pay between $100,000 to $125,000 annually to the community.

“Adding a tried-and-true natural gas power plant in Adair County to MidAmerican’s existing generation resources and the proposed renewable project is an ‘all-of-the-above’ solution that will help keep Iowa ahead of the curve and ensure we maintain a reliable grid,” Iowa Rep. Ray “Bubba” Sorensen (R-Adair County), said. A planning report that MidAmerican released in November, called a resource evaluation study, examined energy demand projections over a 20-year timeline. The company study projected above-average load growth and the need for near-term capacity additions to meet the growth as soon as 2026.

The study evaluated the energy resources that would most cost-effectively and reliably serve projected customer needs. The report identified solar energy and natural gas-fired combustion turbines as the best resources in the short-term and eventually small modular nuclear reactor generation in the long-term. Through this mix of near-term solar and natural gas generating projects, MidAmerican seeks to address the looming energy supply shortfall and be able to serve customers with reliable and affordable energy well into the future – advancing its all-of-the-above and around-the-clock energy strategy.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett today (Monday), asked “for everyone’s cooperation to keep the City of Atlantic’s streets clear of vehicles, so [that] the Public Works Department [crews] can maintain the streets without interruption.

“Please move your vehicles to your driveway or closest public parking lot. We encourage citizens to only drive on the roads if absolutely necessary. This will also allow for Police, Fire and First Responders to easily access streets in a safe and efficient manner.”

Garret said also, “Thank you for doing your part to keep the City safe!”

Iowa Sportsbooks had another big day for the recent N-F-L Championship Sunday. Iowa Gaming Association spokesperson Wes Ehrecke.

Ehrecke says Kansas City’s attempt to win a third straight championship was one of the big draws of the fans here and outside the state.

Ehrecke says the Iowa Gaming Association only tracks the aggregate numbers for the Superbowl, but says it is the biggest event for sports books.

Ehrecke says the sports gambling industry has hit its stride now in Iowa.

Sports betting in Iowa became legal in August of 2019.

Atlantic, IA – Cass County Extension is partnering with the SWISH (Southwest Iowa Soil Health) group to host an educational event focused on soil health for area farmers and ag professionals. The second Annual Southwest Iowa Winter Soil Health Conference will be held at the Cass County Community Center, located at 805 West 10^th Street in Atlantic, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on Wednesday, March 5^th.

The conference will feature soil health experts and farmers from across Iowa sharing their boots-in-the field experience on making conservation practices work on their farms. A meal will be served over the lunch hour. This event is free to attend and open to the public; pre-registration is required by February 26 for meal and materials.  Registration can be done by phone or email to ruth.blomquist@usda.gov or 319-541-2969. Registration is also available online using the attached QR code or via the link on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

The morning session will kick off with NRCS State Soil Health Specialist, Hillary Olson talking about the efficacy of the soil health principles. Hillary will dive into soil health testing and discuss whether tests can measure differences in the soil due to management. Heartland Cooperative Conservation Manager and Nuffield Scholar, Ruth McCabe, will present her thoughts and experiences from an international study on conservation practice adoption. Following Ruth, Warren County farmer Aaron White will discuss practices he’s implemented to improve efficiency and soil health in his corn, soybean and cattle operation, and his goal of building a resilient farm for future generations.

The conference keynote presentation will be given by Brian Dougherty with Understanding Ag.  A dedicated educator and regenerative ag consultant, Brian will focus his session on using a systems approach to building soil biology and improving farm resiliency and profitability. The day will conclude with a panel of local farmers sharing their on-farm experiences in making conservation practices work on their farms and building soil health for increased farm resilience.

This field day is organized by the SWISH group; a volunteer group of farmers, ISU Extension and Outreach staff, NRCS staff, IDALS staff, and industry partners who are passionate about soil health and committed to increasing soil health awareness and adoption across southwest Iowa. This field day is made possible with support from many organizations, including Iowa SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education), ISU Extension and Outreach in Cass County, Iowa Soybean Association, Dakota Bio, Midwest Soil Restore, Iowa Ag Water Alliance, Green Cover Seed, Ducks Unlimited and several southwest Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

For more information about the event, contact local extension field agronomist Aaron Saeugling at clonz5@iastate.edu, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

QR Code to registration Form:

DES MOINES – State Treasurer Roby Smith today (Monday) announced Iowans broke new records for claims and searches during the 2025 Unclaimed Property Day celebration. Overall, there were more than half a million visits to GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov resulting in 13,137 individual claims, an increase of 92% from 2024.

“This year’s Unclaimed Property Day was a huge success with the value of claims filed totaling more than $4.6 million,” said Treasurer Smith. “The largest claim from the event totaled over $250,000. Even with this success, there’s still more we can do to reunite Iowans with their unclaimed property, so I encourage every citizen to search GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to see if they’ve got something to claim!”

As of publication, more than half a billion dollars remains to be claimed in Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. As Iowa’s only legitimate source of unclaimed property, Treasurer Smith encourages past and present Iowans to search for their unclaimed property anytime by visiting GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov.

Connect with the Treasurer on Facebook,  Instagram and X, to stay informed of updates and news.