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

The Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant offers funding assistance for wildfire suppression equipment, slide in units, hoses, nozzles, adapters, portable tanks and pumps, personal protective equipment and communication equipment. Additionally, if a fire department has a special need that can be tied directly to wildfire suppression, this grant allows for such special requests

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.