A Muscatine citizens group has asked Gov. Terry Branstad to recuse Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Roger Lande from handling any issues related to Grain Processing Corporation (GPC).

The group, Clean Air Muscatine (CLAM), believes Lande has a conflict of interest because he was a partner in a Muscatine law firm which represented GPC prior to being named IDNR director in 2010.

As it announced a week ago, Lee Enterprises -- owner of the Quad City Times and Muscatine Journal -- filed Monday (12/12) for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in order to complete the refinancing of its nearly $1 billion debt.

The company said last week it would file the "prepackaged" bankruptcy after failing to obtain the consent of 6 percent of its lenders to the refinancing deal.

The pricetag for the new Interstate 74 bridge and corridor improvements may escalate to $1.4 billion -- more than double the projected cost in 2004 -- before the work is completed.

During the presentation to the Bettendorf City Council last week, Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) officials said the overall bridge/corridor work currently is estimated at $767 million, but by 2015 the cost is expected to increase to $1 billion.

Adding in inflation and a contingency amount for unanticipated cost increases between 2015 and when the work is actually completed, the total price for the bridge and highway upgrades could reach $1.4 billion, the IDOT said.

CLICK HERE to view the Iowa Department of Transportation slideshow presentation to Bettendorf City Council December 6, 2011.

MidAmerican Energy wants to boost electric rates, and is proposing a first-ever "environmental compliance" adjustment clause to reflect those costs on customers' electric bills.

The privately owned utility says it plans to seek approval for an overall 3.5 percent rate increase in February 2012. Interim rates could be in place by March.

Rather than file a general rate case, the utility has outlined in filings with the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) that it wants to add two automatic adjustment clauses for "environmental compliance" and "coal and coal transportation" costs.

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. lost $1.5 million in its second quarter ended October 23, while admissions at its Bettendorf casino were off nearly 5 percent for the quarter compared to a year ago.

Second quarter revenues for the Isle corporation were $247.5 million, up from $246.7 million for the same period last year. However, increased expenses resulted in the loss of 4 cents per share. A year ago, the Isle lost 3 cents per share ($1 million) during the second quarter.

Lee Enterprises -- owner of the Quad City Times and Muscatine Journal -- says it plans to file a "prepackaged" voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan by Dec. 12 as it moves to finalize a debt restructuring announced in September.

The newspaper chain said it wasn't able to get about 6 percent of its senior lenders to agree to the restructuring plan and needed to use the bankruptcy process to complete the refinancing deal. Lee's properties in Tucson, AZ and Madison, WI, are not part of the planned filing.

A Muscatine citizens' group says it will seek to intervene in the state's lawsuit seeking an injunction and civil damages against Grain Processing Company (GPC) for alleged violations of state and federal pollution laws.

Clean Air Muscatine (CLAM) is a non-profit corporation established for the purpose of protecting communities in Muscatine County from pollution.

Seven months after the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission recommended legal action against Grain Processing Corp. (GPC) for alleged violations of pollution control laws, the Iowa Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit against the Muscatine firm.

The lawsuit in Muscatine County District Court cites many of the same findings alleged in the environmental commission's April 19 recommendation.

The new Interstate 74 bridge may be at least a decade away, but the city of Bettendorf is being asked to commit an estimated $7.8 million for "aesthetic" improvements along the project corridor.

The memorandum of understanding outlining the financial commitments by Bettendorf, Moline, Davenport and the states of Iowa and Illinois is to be voted on at the December 6 council meeting.

The aesthetic components of the project total $46 million and include:

• The pedestrian/bike lane on the bridge.
• The pedestrian overlook planned for mid-span of the new bridge.

MidAmerican Energy spent $2.3 million on its nuclear plant feasibility study over the past 16 months, but has asked the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) to keep details of most of those expenditures confidential.

The privately owned utility company was given approval by the legislature in April 2010 to collect a total of $15 million over a three-year period to pay for the nuclear plant feasibility study.