PALO, Iowa (KCRG) – The City of Palo’s Planning and Zoning Commission has voted to recommend a new ordinance outlining regulations for a Google data center, but this agreement has several key differences compared to a proposal made by Linn County. Google dropped out of similar negotiations with Linn County earlier this year and is now working exclusively with the City of Palo. This center is set to go up near the Duane Arnold Nuclear Power Facility, which is coming back online largely to power the new data center. The regulations in the ordinance Palo commissioners passed Monday night have several differences compared to the proposal Google was considering with Linn County. In the now abandoned ordinance from Linn County, the supervisors required a water study be done by the county to track water usage. Google would also have to sign into a water usage agreement with the county, allowing more local oversight. That agreement is missing from Palo’s ordinance. The city would defer to the state by mandating Google get a water permit with the Iowa DNR. As discussed in Monday’s meeting, the DNR will also handle discipline for violations. Linn County would have required Google to enter into an Economic Development Agreement with the County. In the new agreement it’s not a guarantee, only if Google makes a request. One other change is about transparency. Linn County explicitly demanded that Google keeps open records, barring trade secrets, meaning Google would need to justify redactions under state law. Instead, Palo is allowing Google to make redactions on information it deems confidential or proprietary. It took Palo’s Planning and Zoning less than 30 minutes to vote on this deal. It now goes to the City Council, which must hold a public hearing before a final vote. Before granting Google a building permit, the city wants a comprehensive site plan and project timeline. The city also wants an emergency response plan, noise limits, and road use agreements before construction begins.
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) — Iowa became the last state to make torturing a companion animal a felony when Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law Monday. House File 2348 allows people who torture animals to face up to five years in prison and a fine of more than $10,000. It also increases the punishment for repeat offenders. Reynolds said the new law is common sense. “This isn’t just about being punitive,” Reynolds said. “This is about cracking down on intentional, willful and malicious infliction of pain, or prolonged death on innocent animals.” The new law is specific to companion animals and does not apply to livestock. It also does not increase penalties for the neglect of animals.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – The Iowa Department of Education says it saw few impacts after last week’s cyberattack on the Canvas program. Canvas manages grades and assignments at universities across the country including The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Dubuque and school districts such as Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, and Marshalltown. An estimated 30 million students globally were affected while trying to use Canvas to take final exams or complete assignments. Access to Canvas has since been restored. The Iowa Department of Education says it was notified, but it does not oversee contracts with Iowa schools or universities. The department says it only uses Canvas for on-demand educator courses and it does not collect personal data. Officials say there is no evidence that personal data for Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired was compromised.
VAN BUREN COUNTY, Iowa (KYOU/KCRG) – Iowa State Patrol says a 15-year-old boy from Birmingham, Iowa was airlifted to the University of Iowa Health Care after a crash Monday evening in Van Buren County. According to a crash report, the teen was driving a BMW east on Highway 2 when he attempted to make a left turn onto Route W40 south of Bonaparte. The report says at the same time a woman from Missouri was driving westbound on Highway 2 in a SUV. Iowa State Patrol says the teen driver failed to yield the right away and collided head-on with the SUV. The teen was taken by helicopter to UIHC in Iowa City. The other driver was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
