Iowa Flood Center expands stream sensor network in Iowa

The Iowa Flood Center, based at the University of Iowa, has taken advantage of the state's unusually mild start to winter by continuing to install a second batch of 50 electronic stream stage sensors across Iowa. Now fully installed, the new instruments bring to 100 the number of affordable stream sensors purchased by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and installed on the downstream side of bridges by the Iowa Flood Center.

Developed in part by students at the center, the sensors use sonar to measure the distance to the water's surface and send reports every 15 minutes to a database at the center's UI headquarters so that Iowans have access to real-time monitoring of water levels in Iowa's rivers and streams. A river and stream-level map of the data is available on the center's website (http://ut.iihr.uiowa.edu/ifis/#).

Flood center researchers say that Iowa, with its thousands of bridges, could benefit from an even wider network of information if more sensors were put into wider use. Such a system would enhance safety in the state by improving the ability to monitor stream levels and predict flooding, and by improving public preparedness.

FYI
In addition to developing a system of flood sensors and maps, the Iowa Flood Center plans to build a network to detect and record soil moisture content -- another factor involved in flooding.

DID YOU KNOW?

Newborn screening is the healthy first step for Iowa babies

A few drops of blood collected shortly after birth can mean the difference between a healthy future and a lifelong battle with chronic, debilitating conditions.  The State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa helps to make that difference for the approximately 40,000 babies born each year in the state.

Each year, 40 or more Iowa babies are identified with a congenital condition that, if left undetected and untreated, could result in irreversible neurological delays, coma or death.  Instead, they have the healthiest start possible in life.  How does this happen?

Shortly after the birth, six tiny drops of blood are collected from the baby's heel.  From those few drops, the Hygienic Laboratory identifies more than 30 different conditions, including PKU and cystic fibrosis.

It's all part of the Iowa Neonatal and Metabolic Screen Program that helps give babies the best possible start in life.

FYI
Like most things with newborns, time is of the essence.  The tiny drops of blood collected at birth must reach the Hygienic Lab's Ankeny facility within 24 hours of to ensure the highest degree of accuracy.  A statewide courier system picks up the samples and delivers them to the laboratory, which conducts testing around the clock.

New advisory committee kicks off intensive community broadband expansion program

Des Moines, IA - This week, Connect Iowa and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) convened the first broadband advisory committee meeting, kicking off a new community engagement effort to expand broadband access, adoption, and use across the state. Community leaders from around Iowa are now joining forces to oversee the expansion of high-speed Internet to every corner of the state. Connect Iowa's new broadband advisory committee includes elected officials, public service agency representatives, providers, educators, librarians, and business people. Their common goal is to support and guide the Connect Iowa initiative.

During the meeting broadband stakeholders discussed the history of broadband expansion in the state, and the plan for bringing broader access to Iowa communities in the coming year. The meeting was a great success and set the groundwork for how diverse broadband stakeholders can work together to further progress across the state in 2012.

"The inauguration of our broadband advisory committee marks an important step for Connect Iowa and signals our commitment to closing the digital gap that persists in our communities," says Connect Iowa Program Manager Amy Kuhlers. "We are excited to be bolstered by the support of key stakeholders representing all areas of economic interest. Connect Iowa, with the support of the advisory committee, is undertaking the important work of building grassroots regional planning to grow and expand technology use in communities across the state."

The closing of the digital adoption gap in Iowa will have a significant impact on the way citizens learn, work, and live their daily lives. According to Connect Iowa's latest broadband availability research from the 2011 Iowa residential and business surveys:

• 37% of Iowa households still do not subscribe to broadband at home

• 45% of Iowans living in rural areas do not subscribe to broadband service at home

• 23,000 Iowa businesses are still not using broadband despite the fact that Iowa businesses that use broadband make an average of $259,000 more in annual revenue than businesses without

"The first meeting of the advisory council was really interesting because there were so many people representing different pieces of the broadband puzzle around the table," said committee member and Iowa State Librarian Mary Wegner. "I am excited that we will be working together to improve broadband adoption in Iowa, improve the speed, and get more Iowans using broadband. The most important part, and the part where libraries really come into the picture, is to help Iowans really understand the limitless opportunities and what they can do when they have access to high-speed Internet."

Connect Iowa, in collaboration with the Iowa Economic Development Authority, is working with broadband providers and other public and private partners to speed up the expansion of broadband in unserved and underserved areas. The organization is pinpointing remaining gaps in Iowa's broadband availability and supporting the development of a statewide plan for the deployment and adoption of technology that promises economic development and better quality of life for Iowa residents.

The committee's first meeting kicked off a week of intensive training for a new grassroots program that Connect Iowa will be unveiling next week. The committee expects to meet quarterly with the next meeting planned for April.

If you have suggestions regarding how technology can be improved to better serve your community, Connect Iowa wants to hear from you. To submit comments, ideas, or gain access to the initiative's many online tools and resources, please visit www.connectiowa.org or contact Amy Kuhlers at akuhlers@connectiowa.org.

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About Connect Iowa: Connect Iowa is a subsidiary of Connected Nation and operates as a nonprofit in the state of Iowa to promote broadband access, adoption, and use. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) is leading the initiative to increase broadband Internet access throughout rural Iowa. Connect Iowa was commissioned by the state to work with all broadband providers in Iowa to create detailed maps of broadband coverage and develop a statewide plan for the deployment and adoption of broadband. For more information visit: www.connectiowa.org.

Hy-Vee Dietician Stacy Mitchell, a long-time fan of Country Style, was surprised to see how healthy a choice Country Style is, compared to other frozen confection.  "Talk about a really satisfying treat that can fool you!  I've even said to my family, 'I don't want to know how many calories are in this stuff.'"  Both Country Style flavors, even if consumed in a one-cup serving is 100 calories less and about half the fat of regular soft serve.  It also has 2-3 grams less of saturated fat.   Country style is also gluten-free, kosher and contains no high-fructose corn syrup.  According to Mitchell, even diabetics can enjoy Country Style, as a single carbohydrate exchange, if they savor a half-cup serving.  Customers at the Bettendorf Hy-Vee can now package quart-size containers to serve at home.  Country Style is also available in the Milan Hy-Vee.

Country Style Ice Cream was founded in 1947 when Wayne Lindgren and his brother Chester "Whitey" Lindgren collaborated to produce a quality soft serve mix and opened the first Country Style on 23rd Avenue and 43rd Street in Moline, Illinois. Wayne eventually bought out Whitey's share of the business. Committed to quality, Wayne and his wife, Desyl, set out to establish Country Style as the finest quality soft serve ice cream in the country. Kent Kindelsperger took on the Country Style tradition and purchased Country Style on February 8, 1988 and continues to head the company today.

Illinois EPA Permitting Process is Now Faster and More Transparent

SPRINGFIELD - January 13, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn announced a new Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) online portal that will make the environmental permitting process more user-friendly by eliminating red tape for businesses in Illinois. It also increases transparency in the process by allowing applicants and other interested parties to track the progress of the Agency's decision-making process. The portal is a result of Public Act 97-0094, which Governor Quinn signed last July.

"This process will help us grow our economy by cutting red tape for businesses, while also maintaining our strong commitment to the environment," Governor Quinn said. "This site will allow companies to navigate the environmental permitting process more effectively and efficiently."

"The improvements in the permitting process were developed in coordination with the Illinois business community with the goal of making compliance with environmental regulations less burdensome, yet without sacrificing protection of the state's air, land and water, and public health," said Illinois EPA Interim Director John Kim.

"The Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and the Agency developed this positive first step to implement permitting reforms.  The changes should markedly improve the Agency's ability to respond to the needs of Illinois' businesses, and will result in cost, time, and resource savings.  I commend the Agency for their fine work," said Todd Maisch, vice president of government affairs for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the new portal, several other measures have been or will be implemented in the near future that will increase efficiency and reduce the time it takes to receive an environmental permit in Illinois. One such tool is the Registration of Smaller Sources (ROSS) program tailored to smaller sources of air pollution, rather than requiring them to undergo the extensive permitting process that larger emissions sources must go through.

Among the features of the web portal (epa.state.il.us) are:

§  Application forms; many can be edited, saved and submitted electronically

§  Application checklists, instructions and guidance

§  Summary information on permitted projects

§  An online permit tracking system that gives the status of a pending application

In the coming months, the Illinois EPA will be working with the regulated community to implement additional process improvements that will further reduce time and cost burdens on both business and the agency, while still meeting the same environmental protection goals.

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