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FRIDAY, OCT. 4, 2019 | IN THIS ISSUE
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 Alliant Energy reaches settlement in power rate case
Alliant Energy says it's reached a partial settlement with other stakeholders on a major electric rate case before the Iowa Utilities Board that will increase electrical rates for its Iowa customers less than originally sought.
The partial settlement, if approved by the board, "will result in a modest base rate increase from interim rates in 2020 - which would be smaller than the final rates originally requested," the company said in a release. It did not indicate how much rates will go up for different customer classes, saying they will be determined in a subsequent ratemaking portion of the case.
Interim rates, which took effect April 1, raised a typical residential customer's monthly electric bill of $116 by about $8 per month. Alliant said the settlement calls for the use of bill credits to lessen the initial impact of the rate increase to customers in 2020.
The case involves replacing nuclear power the utility now buys from NextEra Energy's Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo, which will be decommissioned, with 1,000 megawatts of new wind generation. It includes investments to improve the reliability of Alliant's power distribution system and to add smart metering equipment. In the longer term, Alliant says the switch to wind power will benefit customers through reductions in the fuel adjustment clause portion of their bills and wind energy production tax credits.
The settlement calls for Alliant to receive $127 million in additional electric revenue and to provide $35 million in billing credits to electric retail customers in 2020. The company's return on equity will be 9.5 percent.
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Hy-Vee investigation finds malware on multiple payment systems
Hy-Vee Inc. released a new database for shoppers worried their credit or debit card information may be at risk from the payment data breach first reported on Aug. 14, the Business Record reports.
At least 11 locations were affected in the Corridor including five in Iowa City, three in Coralville, two in Cedar Rapids and one in Marion. Consumers can search by city which locations were affected at
www.hy-vee.com/paymentcardincident
.
An investigation found malware designed to access payment card data from cards used at point-of-sale (POS) devices at Hy-Vee fuel pumps, drive-thru coffee shops and restaurants, including Hy-Vee Market Grilles, Market Grille Expresses, Wahlburgers and the Hy-Vee West Des Moines corporate office cafeteria.
The malware was designed to access track data, which may include the cardholder's name, card number, expiration date and internal verification code. Hy-Vee reported that the malware was not present on all POS devices at some locations.
In a statement
, Hy-Vee said the malware has been removed and the company is continuing to work with law enforcement's investigation and payment card networks.
"It appears that the malware did not copy data from all of the payment cards used during the period that it was present on a given POS device. There is no indication that other customer information was accessed," Hy-Vee said.
Some cards may have been accessed as early as Nov. 9, 2018, at six locations, and as late as Aug. 2 at one location, which Hy-Vee did not name in its statement. Cards used at fuel pumps may have been accessed between Dec. 14, 2018, to July 29; cards used at restaurants and drive-thru coffee shops may have been accessed from Jan. 15-July 29. Hy-Vee will be contacting customers affected by mail or email, the company said.
In late August, a security researcher at Krebs on Security claimed card account records from the Hy-Vee incident may be part of a 5.3 million payment card dump on the data market Joker's Stash. Hy-Vee did not confirm any ties to the Joker's Stash listing.
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Mercy Iowa City is one of only two hospitals in Iowa to have been named a 100 Great Community Hospital by Becker's Review.
"It is a great honor to be recognized as a 100 Great Community Hospital for two years in a row, recognizing our excellent medical staff and colleagues, and their dedication to our patients and the communities they serve," Sean Williams, president and CEO, stated in a press release.
The list includes independent community hospitals with no more than 550 beds as well as facilities affiliated with large health systems, some with expansive rural geographies, and others in small communities outside of large cities. They have been recognized for their clinical quality, operational excellence and economic influence on the surrounding areas.
The Becker's editorial team selected hospitals for inclusion based on outside rankings and ratings organizations, including IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals, National Rural Health Association recognition, Leapfrog Group grades, Healthgrades awards and CMS stars, among other considerations.
About Mercy Iowa City, Becker's Review said: "The 234-bed facility includes 25 outpatient rooms and a level 2 neonatal ICU. More than 250 physicians serve on the hospital's staff, and in April the hospital opened an infusion center with six semiprivate bays and four private rooms. In May, Healthgrades honored Mercy Iowa City with its Outstanding Patient Experience Award for the 11th consecutive year."
Fort Madison Community Hospital was the other Iowa hospital on the list. The full list can be see here.
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In this week's CBJ Report on CBS2/FOX 28, editor Adam Moore discusses additional plans for Hawkeye Downs' buyer, a potential new indoor sports facility in North Liberty and U.S. Cellular's 5G rollout in the Corridor. Watch the full report here.
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The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in August 2019 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau.
The deficit increased from $54.0 billion in July (revised) to $54.9 billion in August, as imports increased more than exports. The previously published July deficit was $54 billion. The goods deficit increased $0.8 billion in August to $74.4 billion. The services surplus decreased less than $0.1 billion in August to $19.5 billion.
Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit increased $28.3 billion, or 7.1 percent, from the same period in 2018. Exports decreased $3.2 billion or 0.2 percent. Imports increased $25.1 billion or 1.2 percent.
For more information, visit bea.gov.
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Oct. 8
Hiawatha Business Summit, by Hiawatha Economic Development Corp., the city of Hiawatha and the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 8-9 a.m., Mercy Medical Park, Third Floor, 1195 Boyson Road, Hiawatha. Enjoy networking with the Hiawatha business community and a short program. Free. For information, visit
bit.ly/2lKcbWf.
TechBrew AM, by Technology Association of Iowa and Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 8-9 a.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. TAI President Brian Waller conducts casual interviews with CIOs, who discuss their career path and share what's most important for Iowa's tech community. Free. To register, visit
bit.ly/2UdEiu7.
Growing an Endowment for Your Nonprofit, by Association of Fundraising Professionals, Eastern Iowa Chapter, 11:30-1 p.m., Hills Bank, 3905 Blairs Ferry Road, Cedar Rapids. Learn why endowments are important in your fundraising strategy and how to engage donors, professional advisors and your board. Cost: Members, free; nonmembers, $25. To register, visit
conta.cc/2m2WGbZ.
Marketing Forum, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Driven by group discussion, participants will receive advice and tips, learn from others and grow their professional network. This month's topic is sales versus marketing. Free. For more information, visit
bit.ly/2PiBXPV.
Marion Airport Runway Expansion Groundbreaking, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, noon, Marion Airport, 1690 Marion Airport Road. The project includes upgrades to the existing runway, expanding it from 23-feet wide to 60-feet wide. Free. For information, visit
bit.ly/2oxAhF4.
Small Business Lunch Roundtable, by SCORE of East Central Iowa, noon-1 p.m., Granite City Food & Brewery, 4755 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. This is an informal, small group networking opportunity for those in business or thinking of starting a business. Free. To register, visit
conta.cc/2mgXCcX.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
The Trump administration says it plans to implement new rules that will increase demand for ethanol, reversing a decline caused by exemptions given to oil refineries, the Associated Press reports. The proposal announced today follows months of complaints by Midwest farmers, politicians and the ethanol industry that the federal government's granting of waivers to refiners had violated federal law and forced some ethanol plants to close. Roughly 40 percent of U.S. corn is used to produce ethanol, so declining demand for the fuel additive can depress prices for the grain. Although the proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture wouldn't address the current loss of ethanol demand, it would ensure that beginning in 2020, the government would comply with a 15-billion-gallon standard already required under federal law.
According to the Waterloo Community School District, a teacher is on administrative leave after a comment on a social media post about a climate march in Iowa City today. The climate march will feature 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. In the comments on a thread below an article about her appearance, teacher Matt Baish is quoted as saying, "Don't have my sniper rifle." The district confirms Mr. Baish is a teacher at West High School and is currently on administrative leave. District leaders say the situation is under investigation.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
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CBS2 First Weather Forecast
The chilly conditions continue today with more sunshine. Temperatures will be near 60 degrees. Clouds will begin to file in this afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front. Rain will begin to develop late tonight and become more widespread by Saturday morning. Light to moderate rain showers will continue through the day. Rainfall totals will likely be under an inch with this system, but there could be some locally higher amounts if a thunderstorm develops. Clouds and rain will hold temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s. The front will move out Saturday night and it will be dry Sunday. Once again it will be cool with temperatures near 60.
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