Iowa board begins set of hearings on proposed oil pipeline

Iowa board begins set of hearings on proposed oil pipeline

BOONE (AP) — A regulatory board has begun a set of hearings over the proposed construction of an oil pipeline across Iowa.

The three-member Iowa Utilities Board met Monday at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Boone for the start of so-called evidentiary hearings over several days. They will include comments from representatives for Dakota Access LLC, the company that wants to build the pipeline.

Parties opposed to the pipeline are also scheduled to speak, including affected landowners.

People who both oppose and support the project spoke earlier this month at a one-day public hearing on the pipeline, which would run through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois.

The board is expected to issue a decision in December or early next year.

Dakota Access is a unit of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners.

MidAmerican says Iowa wind turbine will be nation’s tallest

DES MOINES (AP) — MidAmerican Energy says a wind turbine being built in southern Iowa will be the nation’s tallest.

The Des Moines Register reports the utility is building the turbine in Adams County as part of a 64-turbine development that should be completed by the end of the year.

Unlike regular towers built of steel, the taller tower will be concrete. The tower will rise to 377 feet, compared to a typical 263 feet, and when the blade is added the height will reach 554 feet. That’s nearly as tall as the Washington Monument.

Mike Gehringer, MidAmerican’s vice president of renewable energy, says by building the tower higher, the turbine can generate more electricity. He says such towers could make some “low-to-medium wind resource areas” viable for wind energy.

Iowa health officials report 2 central Iowa men die from flu

DES MOINES (AP) — Public health officials say two central Iowa men have died from the flu and the state now has one of the highest influenza virus activity rates in the nation.

Iowa Department of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says the two men who died were between 41 and 60 years old.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates about 300,000 Iowans get the flu each year and an average of 1,000 die annually from the flu and its complications including pneumonia.

The CDC says Iowa, Oregon and Rhode Island currently have the highest influenza activity.

Quinlisk says getting a flu vaccine is the best defense and anti-viral medications started within 48 hours of when symptoms develop can make flu illness shorter and reduce the risk of hospitalization or death.

Man charged with fatal stabbing on west side of Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS (AP) — A 47-year-old man has been charged with murder in the stabbing of another man at a motel on the western outskirts of Cedar Rapids.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner says in a news release that officers and medics were sent to the Ced-Rel Motel along U.S. Highway 30 a little before 12:30 a.m. Monday. They found 23-year-old Jimmi-Jon Lint in one of the rooms, suffering from several stab wounds. Gardner says Lint died later at a Cedar Rapids hospital.

The suspect was found in another motel room and taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Then he was taken to Linn County Jail and was charged with murder. Gardner identified him as Michael Lehman.

Body found in living room of burning Burlington house

BURLINGTON (AP) — Firefighters have found a body inside a burning home in Burlington.

Fire marshal Mark Crooks says fire crews and police who were dispatched a little before 10:50 p.m. Saturday to a house on Acres Street were told that someone was trapped there. Intense heat prevented police officers from getting inside. Firefighters eventually entered and found the body on the floor of a first-floor living room in the two-story house.

The victim’s name hasn’t been released. The fire is being investigated.

2 people killed when cars collided in Des Moines, police say

DES MOINES (AP) — Police say two people have been killed and another has been injured in a Des Moines traffic accident.

The collision occurred on the 3700 block of Hubbell Avenue around 6:10 p.m. Sunday. Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said in a news release Monday that 53-year-old Deanna Gliem was driving south on Hubbell when her vehicle struck a vehicle that was entering southbound Hubbell from East 37th Street.

Both people in the other car were killed. Police identified them as 60-year-old Richard Hummel and his passenger, 59-year-old Randall Sonnenburg.

Both men lived in Des Moines.

Parizek says Gliem, who also is from Des Moines, was hospitalized for treatment of minor injuries.

No. 7 Iowa State rolls past Chicago State 106-64

AMES (AP) — Jameel McKay scored a career-high 25 points with 11 rebounds, and No. 7 Iowa State rolled past Chicago State 106-64 Monday night in coach Steve Prohm’s home debut.

Abdel Nader had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Cyclones (2-0), who won their 18th consecutive opener at Hilton Coliseum.

Iowa State let Chicago State (1-1) hang around in the first half. But the Cyclones opened the second with a 13-0 run to go ahead 62-35.