WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5, 2018  |  IN THIS ISSUE  
 
Kirkwood Community College will launch a new Construction Technologist Apprenticeship early next year as part of its efforts to create new education and training delivery models to fill critical workforce needs. 
 
Developed as a result of the Corridor's tight labor market and in collaboration with local employers, the new apprenticeship is just one of the earn-and-learn models available to area employers with immediate need for solutions to labor shortages.
 
"While the low unemployment rate is great news for the overall economy, it creates a strain on some industries desperate for quality labor," said Kirkwood Vice President of Continuing Education and Training Services Kim Becicka in a release.  "These new and customized models fill an immediate employer need, benefiting the present and future of an industry as well as an individual employee's career." 
 
The Construction Technologist Apprenticeship is a three-year program that will result in students holding a portable Department of Labor credential and having the majority of Kirkwood's Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) diploma completed.
 
The college will hold an information session on Dec. 6, for anyone interested in starting or advancing their career in the construction industry. The free event is set for 3:30 p.m. in  Jones Hall at Kirkwood's main campus, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, in Cedar Rapids. To register, call ( 319) 398-1022.
 
The Iowa Utilities Board yesterday approved MidAmerican Energy Company's proposed "Wind XII" project, allowing the company to build up to 591 megawatts (MW) of new wind electric generation in Iowa.  
 
MidAmerican estimated the project construction cost at $922 million in its filing.

Tuesday's order states that MidAmerican has satisfied conditions in Iowa Code and is eligible for advance ratemaking principles associated with the project. In the settlement agreement, the ratemaking principles established a cost cap of $1.56 million per MW, including allowance for funds used during construction. The agreement also provides an allowed return on the common equity portion of Wind XII, which will be included in Iowa's electric rate base at 11 percent.

The completed wind project will give the utility more than 6,600 MW of renewable generation in Iowa. MidAmerican said in its filing that Wind XII will, by 2021, allow the company to generate enough renewable energy to cover 100 percent of its customers' annual energy needs.  
 
In a statement cautiously applauding the move, nonprofit environmental group the Sierra Club said it would continue to push MidAmerican to provide a true "100 percent clean energy" plan, one that phases out the company's continued heavy reliance on coal generation. 
 
"Sierra Club strongly supports investment in clean, responsibly-sited, renewable energy generation," Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative Elizabeth Katt Reinders said in a release. "But customers will not get the full benefits of clean energy development without a swift transition away from costly, polluting coal. It's disingenuous for MidAmerican to claim that it will achieve its '100 percent' renewable energy vision' with Wind XII, when the truth is that the company owns one of of the largest coal fleets in the country, with no plans to retire those plants." 
For the complete list of this week's Movers & Shakers, see the Dec. 3 edition of the CBJ. 
 
Building on the success of its first year, RUN CRANDIC organizers on Tuesday announced routes for the next edition of the marathon and half-marathon run, returning to the Corridor on April 28, 2019. 

Next year's marathon will start in Iowa City and end in Cedar Rapids, the opposite of the 2018 race. 

The marathon will begin on the new Park Road Bridge near Lower City Park in Iowa City. From there it will follow Dubuque Street up to North Liberty before connecting with Highway 965. Near Swisher, it will cross back over I-380 and enter Shueyville before heading north on Club Road and enter Cedar Rapids on Kirkwood Boulevard. The finish line will be in Cedar Rapids' historic Czech Village near the iconic Bridge of Lions.

"Starting on a bridge over the Iowa River and ending at a bridge over the Cedar River will make this a memorable run," said Jill Wilkins, race coordinator, in a release. "The course really showcases our communities in a unique way, and we're confident runners will be pleased with the route."

The half-marathon will be an "in-and-out" route, beginning and ending at the Bridge of Lions in Cedar Rapids' Czech Village. Runners will utilize part of the Cedar River Trail-South, eventually connecting and joining with the marathon route at Club Road and Wright Brothers Boulevard. A post race celebration is being planned in Czech Village. 
 
Also new this year will be the opportunity to run as a four-person marathon relay team. Registration is open and early bird pricing runs until Dec. 14 for the event. For more details visit www.RUNCRANDIC.com. 

Sen. Chuck Grassley
Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ron Wyden of Oregon have introduced legislation that would close a loophole in Medicaid allowing pharmaceutical manufacturers to misclassify their drugs and overcharge taxpayers. The legislation would also provide the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with additional authorities to ensure drugs are properly classified.

"Misclassification of prescription drugs hurts millions of Americans whose lives depend on those medications, such as EpiPen, but can't afford them due to unnecessarily exorbitant pricing," Mr. Grassley said in a release. "This legislation is a significant step forward to fixing the problems in our health care system that have allowed pharmaceutical manufacturers to price gouge taxpayers and consumers for too long."

The Right Rebate Act of 2018 would give HHS additional authorities and tools to monitor drug manufacturers who participate in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP) and would allow the HHS secretary to require drug manufacturers to reclassify their drugs and impose civil monetary penalties when drugs are knowingly misclassified.

Mr. Grassley, a longtime advocate for lower prescription drug prices and a vocal critic of EpiPen's high cost, said he learned that Mylan, EpiPen's distributor, classified its popular anti-allergy medicine as a generic instead of as a brand name product in the MDRP. That incorrect classification allowed Mylan to pay smaller rebates to states and government programs. 
 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first generic version of the EpiPen in August - a move the Iowa senator praised as "great news for millions of Americans who depend on life-saving, anti-allergy devices." 
 
The full legislative text of the bill can be found  here.
 
Dec. 6
CBJ Workforce Awards, by the Corridor Business Journal, 7:30-10 a.m., The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. The CBJ is partnering with Kirkwood Community College to recognize companies in the seven-county region that are ahead of the curve in creating and maintaining their workforce talent edge. Tickets: $45 up to Nov. 29,  $60 after; table of 10 $450, or $600 after. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com/events.

Wake Up Marion: Hy-Vee, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, 8-9 a.m., Hy-Vee, 3600 Highway 151 E., Marion. Start the day with coffee and connections with other chamber members. Free. For more information visit bit.ly/2CCuGCA.

Tax Law Seminar, by Terry Lockridge & Dunn, 1-4 p.m., The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. Join tax experts from Terry Lockridge & Dunn for a seminar focused on individuals, real estate owners and business owners about the impact of the new tax law. Topics will include Section 199a, itemized deductions versus the standard deduction, changes in tax rates, withholding tables and more. Free. To register, contact Jody Thies at [email protected], or call (319) 364-2945 in Cedar Rapids or (319) 339-4884 in Iowa City.

Recruiting and Retaining Millennials, by Kirkwood Community College, 2-4 p.m., Kirkwood Center for Lifelong Learning, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. Learn how to recruit and retain millennial workers to take advantage of all they have to offer. This workshop covers a range of helpful tips, best practices, and organizational psychology theories. Cost: $79. For more information, visit bit.ly/2KplHGI.

BizMix, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Marion Chamber of Commerce, 4-7 p.m., Veterans Memorial Building, 50 Second Ave. Bridge, Cedar Rapids. BizMix brings together area professionals for an evening of casual networking over complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, and is hosted by a different member business each month. Free. For more information visit bit.ly/2zbfSr4.

Protecting Your Intellectual Property, by SCORE of East Central Iowa, 6:30-8 p.m., Linn Area Credit Union, 3015 Blairs Ferry Road NE, Cedar Rapids. Learn ways to protect your investment in trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets. Free. To register, email your name to [email protected] and mention the Dec. 6 workshop.

Dec. 7
First Friday Coffee Connections, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, 7:30-8:30 a.m., GEICO, 2320 Landon Road, North Liberty. Join for an hour of networking before heading off for the daily grind. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/2JsUkLk.

Ribbon Cutting: Wickwire Chiropractic, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, noon, 955 29th Ave., Ste. B, Marion. Help celebrate the opening of Wickwire Chiropractic's new Marion location. Free. For more information visit bit.ly/2znQyis.

Advance in 60, by EDC, noon-1 p.m., North Liberty CoLab, 215 Highway 965, Ste. 1, North Liberty. Join the EDC's Julie Zielinksi to learn how to calculate customer acquisition costs and make better marketing decisions on a limited budget. Free. For more information visit bit.ly/2SRTxru.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
On Wednesday, a group opposing so-called "smart" energy meters will present evidence in front of the Iowa Utilities Board in Des Moines to argue for the ability to opt out of Alliant Energy's smart meters free of charge. Currently, tens of thousands of Alliant customers have the newer smart meters to measure energy usage, accounting for about 67 percent of their customers. More than 170,000 other households have smart meters, serviced by companies other than Alliant.  Those presenting in front of the IUB Wednesday cite concerns that the smart meters are easy to hack into and that radio frequencies emitted from the meters might be harmful. Alliant says they've spent months trying to dispel these concerns about the meters.  "In the last few weeks, we've seen a lot of false narratives out there," said Justin Foss, spokesperson for Alliant. "We've seen a lot of misinformation published. Safety's our biggest thing. We would not install anything that was unsafe for ourselves or our customers."
 
Cedar Rapids Kernels fans with disabilities will find getting around Veterans Memorial Stadium easier as a multi-year face-lift nears completion. After years of improvements, Veterans Memorial Stadium is now ADA compliant - a relief for many people across the city. One person sharing this sentiment is Cat Hafsi, who says without ADA-compliant areas, life would be different.  "We pretty much would have to stay home or find other alternatives," said Ms. Hafsi, who has cerebral palsy and uses a walker. She says it can sometimes be a challenge to get around the stadium for people who use wheelchairs, but the improvements are helping. The stadium is nearing the end of a more than three-year renovation plan. For example, bathroom amenities like soap dispensers, hand dryers and sinks have been lowered to help anyone reach.

T hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28 
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast

Mostly sunny skies and a southwest wind will help temperatures climb into the mid-30s this afternoon. The brief warm up does not last long, however. A clipper will arrive late tonight, bringing increasing clouds and cooler temperatures. With limited moisture, we're not anticipating any precipitation with this clipper. T he clipper system will bring much colder temperatures for the end of the week as high pressure dominates the weather. Highs will hold in the low to mid-20s Thursday and Friday under mostly sunny skies. Overnight lows will plunge into the single digits and teens with wind chills near zero.