DENVER, Iowa (KCRG) – A Denver, Iowa teacher is resigning after the district refused to reinstate her contract as a track coach. Abby Fliehler was an art teacher and coach at Denver High School, but says her coaching contract wasn’t renewed despite the district choosing to keep her on as a teacher. The community presented the Denver School Board with a petition to re-hire Fliehler as a coach, but the board refused. Fliehler says she doesn’t know why she was fired, but suspects it’s because she called out racism and sexism in the district. Her last day with the Denver Community School District is September 27.
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (KCRG) – An Independence police officer helped make quick work of a porch fire at a home on 6th Avenue early Wednesday morning. The Independence Fire Department was called to the fire in the 600 block of 6th Avenue SW early Wednesday morning. The fire department shared images on social media, crediting an Independence police officer who was there first, for using a garden hose to knock down the fire. Fire crews then used thermal imaging to ensure the fire was out and removed burned portions of the deck. Firefighters said they were at the scene for less than an hour. No one was injuries were reported.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) has approved electric and gas rate increases for Alliant Energy. Under an approved settlement, Alliant can increase its annual electric rate revenue to $185 million and a return on equity reduction from 10.0% to 9.65%. This will increase the average residential monthly charge for electric customers from $13 to $15.50. The IUC also okayed Alliant to increase its annual gas rate revenue to $10 million. The IUC ordered Alliant to file compliance filings and associated tariffs within 30 days of Wednesday’s order based on the decision and documents in this rate case proceeding. Rate changes for customers will take effect upon the IUC’s review and approval of the compliance tariffs. Under Iowa law, because Alliant used a future test year to determine rates, the IUC will conduct a subsequent proceeding to determine whether the actual costs and revenues are reasonably consistent with those approved by the IUC. This will occur approximately 15 months after the new customer rates become effective. As part of the proceedings in this rate case, the IUC received hundreds of written public comments and held three in-person public consumer comment meetings throughout Alliant’s Iowa service territory and one virtual comment meeting.
WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa State Patrol says one person is dead and two more are hurt after a crash early Wednesday morning in rural West Liberty. Iowa State Patrol says crews responded just before 12:45 a.m. to a report of a single vehicle crash in the 1200 block of Elder Avenue. Investigators say a 2006 Chevy pickup was traveling north on Elder Avenue when the driver lost control on a curve. The Chevy went off the road and hit a field drive, causing the vehicle to “vault” before coming to rest in a bean field. According to West Liberty Fire, two people inside the Chevy were able to get out of the wreckage before emergency crews arrived. They were transported by ambulance to University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City for their injuries. A third person in the Chevy was “partially ejected” from the vehicle and died at the scene. Iowa State Patrol says that person was not wearing a seatbelt.
