(Radio Iowa) — Traffic safety officials fear with another four-day weekend ahead for many Iowans, there will be more chances for revelry, drunk driving and deaths on the state’s roads leading up to New Year’s Day. Linda Chapman, president of the Dubuque/Jackson County Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, says their message is simple and unwavering. Chapman says, “If you drink, make choices ahead of time and make sure that you do not endanger others on the highway.” Despite the rise in transportation options in recent years, like the use of ride sharing apps like Uber, the number of drunk driving deaths has continued to rise. “People do not make good choices and they lose their intelligence to a great degree,” Chapman says. “They get more brave and they think, ‘Oh, I can do it, I’m not drunk,’ when in fact, they are.”

MADD and Uber are partnering for a campaign called “Reasons to Ride,” encouraging everyone to forget the excuses and get home safely — whether it’s a bus, a designated driver or requesting an Uber. Kayla Whaling (WAY-ling), a spokeswoman for Uber, says there’s no excuse to drive impaired and endanger others on the roads. “There’s tons of transportation options available,” Whaling says, “and we want to remind them to plan ahead, leave their car keys behind and know how they plan on getting home before they leave the house.” If you don’t already have the Uber app on your smartphone, Whaling suggests downloading it before heading out to holiday get-togethers, or exploring other public transportation alternatives. She says Uber is dedicated to safety.

“We do provide all of this information when you request a trip which includes: the make and model of the vehicle, the driver’s name, the driver’s photo and the license plate,” Whaling says. “We encourage everyone to check that information prior to getting into the car, just to make sure they’re getting into the right car.” A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds 44-percent of traffic fatalities on certain days between Christmas and New Year’s Day are caused by drunk driving.
www.madd.org/uber

DES MOINES, Iowa – Officials with MidAmerican Energy report a change in state law means the Company’s Iowa customers will soon see a monthly “energy efficiency charge” on their utility bills – though customers are not actually paying a new fee. Beginning in January, Iowa’s regulated utilities, including MidAmerican Energy, will show energy efficiency fees on a separate line on monthly customer bills. Utilities are required to use the fees to fund energy efficiency programs. MidAmerican Energy does not profit from the fees, and the money collected is passed through to other customers to support their energy-saving projects. The legislation, signed into law in May, requires utilities to itemize the energy efficiency charge beginning January 1st. That’s a significant change from the previous law that has barred utilities from listing the charge on monthly bills and required them to include the fee in the energy rate charge.

The law will also reduce MidAmerican Energy customer utility bills by capping energy efficiency program spending. In 2017, MidAmerican Energy’s Iowa customers paid, on average, more than 7 percent of their bills toward energy efficiency programs, the highest in the nation. During that 12-month period, an average single family home paid $145.16, including $67.50 on electric and $77.66 on natural gas bills for energy efficiency programs. The legislation will limit energy efficiency program spending at 2 percent for electric and 1.5 percent for natural gas. The spending caps will save MidAmerican Energy customers an estimated $80 – $90 million annually. On average, it will save about $81 per year for MidAmerican Energy’s residential gas and electric customers, $172 for commercial and more than $12,000 for industrial energy users.

Once the Iowa Utilities Board issues a ruling on MidAmerican Energy’s latest proposed energy efficiency program spending plan, which the board must file by the end of March, the company’s Iowa customers will pay reduced energy efficiency charges. Those reductions will take effect later in the year, depending on the board’s ruling. While MidAmerican Energy customers will pay less each month, the company says it will continue to offer energy efficiency programs and customer energy savings incentives. Separately, MidAmerican Energy customers will see a new monthly bill format beginning in January. MidAmerican Energy redesigned the bill, based on customer input, to make it easier to understand monthly energy use and charges.

Numerous accidents were reported today (Friday), as ice, snow and blowing snow made driving conditions treacherous. Just before 11:30-a.m., a single-vehicle accident occurred in Cass County at 650th (Highway 71) and Troublesome Creek Road. A woman complained of back pain, but was otherwise not seriously injured. The woman was transported to CCMH by ambulance. At around 8:40-a.m., Marne 1st Responders and Medivac Ambulance were called to a van rollover accident just east of mile marker 54 off Interstate 80. The van was said to in the median. One person complained of back pain following that crash, as well, but again, no serious injuries were reported. Roads in the area remain completely to partially covered with snow and/or ice, including I-80 between I-680 and Des Moines.

No further details are currently available.

BERESFORD, S.D. (AP) — Work will begin next year to connect northwest Iowa communities to a regional water system that can help keep water rates and accessibility stable. The Sioux City Journal reports that the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System is preparing to add nearly 34 miles of pipeline that will connect to Sioux Center and Hull. The system serves Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota.

Officials in both cities say connecting to the system will help stabilize water rates and ensure there is enough water for new or expanding businesses. Lewis & Clark Executive Director Troy Larson says work on the first section of the addition will begin in the spring and finish in the fall. He says Sioux Center and Hull should begin receiving water by 2022.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold two meetings in the coming week. On Monday, they’ll hold the last meeting of 2018. Action items on their agenda include allowing or disallowing, family farm credits and agricultural land credits, in accordance with the Code of Iowa. And, they’ll review a draft of the new Cass County Employee Handbook, followed by approval of the Handbook and Policies.

Wednesday morning, the Supervisors will handle several, annual administrative matters. That includes: A Resolution approving the number of and appointment of, Administrative Assistants and deputies for each of the following…County Attorney, Recorder and Treasurer; Also the appointment of two township trustees for each of the 14 townships in Cass County, whose officers are appointed rather than elected; The Supervisors will also appoint members of the Board to serve on committees, and appointments to various county councils, commissions, and other governmental subdivisions. In other business, the Supervisors will set the 2019 (plus 2020 New Year’s Day) Holiday Schedule, and mileage reimbursement rate for employees and for sheriff’s civil processing.

Both meetings begin at 8:30-a.m. in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse.