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The good news just keeps getting better if you are selling your home in Iowa. Sale prices and number of homes sold continue their upward trend. Sales increased almost 10 percent and average days on market reached a new 3 year low according to the Iowa Association of REALTORS

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines today made available the results of its second annual stress test as required by its regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency. As a result of the merger transaction with Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle on May 31, 2015, the Bank also made available the results of the Seattle Bank’s second annual stress test. Results can be found on the Bank’s investor relations page

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded more than $2,773,730 in grants to the City of Portland for investment in low-income housing projects.

If you’re looking to blaze a new trail this summer, consider hitting the water for something different. Iowa boasts a number of water trails, which offer a unique perspective on Iowa in summer.

Some customers of the Xenia Rural Water District in central Iowa are being told to boil water before consuming after a water main break Wednesday night, state environmental officials said. The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. approximately two miles north of Stratford. The break drained the water tower and affected more than 800 customers

In a settlement announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Interstate Power and Light, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy, has agreed to install pollution control technology and meet stringent emission rates to reduce harmful air pollution from the company’s seven coal-fired power plants in Iowa. The settlement also requires Interstate Power and Light to spend a total of $6 million on environmental mitigation projects, and pay a civil penalty of $1.1 million to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act.

In a settlement announced today by the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Interstate Power and Light, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy, has agreed to install pollution control technology and meet stringent emission rates to reduce harmful air pollution from the company’s seven coal-fired power plants in Iowa. The settlement also requires Interstate Power and Light to spend a total of $6 million on environmental mitigation projects and pay a civil penalty of $1.1 million to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act.

Recent rainfall has resulted in 100 percent drought free conditions for the first time in Iowa since November 2014. Streamflow remains normal to above normal for most of the state, while groundwater in one small area of northwest Iowa is slightly below normal.

The effort by state, federal and local law enforcement agencies to enforce Iowa’s boating while intoxicated law as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign resulted in making contact with more than 1,400 boaters on 380 vessels.

Recent rains have continued to sustain the drought free conditions in Iowa. The Drought Monitor, streamflow, and shallow groundwater conditions are near normal for most of the state.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) has announced details for the 2015 Strong Communities Award. Beginning on July 20, 2015, FHLB Des Moines members and partners will have the opportunity to win $15,000 to promote small business growth and retention in their communities.

Hunt Mortgage Group, a commercial real estate lender, announced today that it has provided a Fannie Mae loan in the amount of $6.4 million to finance the acquisition of a student housing property located in Ames, Iowa

A group of state, federal and local law enforcement agencies will partner again to focus enforcement of Iowa’s boating while intoxicated law as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign to draw public attention to the hazards of boating under the influence.

Gov. Terry E. Branstad today announced Emmet County has met the criteria to become designated as a Home Base Iowa Community. Today he also announced Iowa Lakes Community College has been designated as a Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMP).  A formal announcement and press conference will be held today in Estherville at the Iowa Lakes Community College at 4:30 p.m.