COPPER THIEVES ARE TAKING A TOLL ON EQUIPMENT OWNED AND OPERATED BY MID AMERICAN ENERGY.

EMPLOYEES RECENTLY CAUGHT SEVERAL SUSPECTS IN THE ACT OF STEALING COPPER AT A COMPANY FACILITY.

MID AMERICAN'S TINA POTTHOFF SAYS THE THEFTS PUT BOTH WORKERS AND THE THIEVES AT RISK:

POTTHOFF SAYS IF YOU SEE ANYONE TRYING TO STEAL COPPER, CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY:

ANYONE CAUGHT STEALING COPPER FACES A FELONY CHARGE UNDER AN IOWA PUBLIC UTILITY TRESPASSING LAW.

Cities using cameras that automatically ticket motorists for running red lights or speeding would be banned in Iowa under a bill that has advanced to the House.

The House Appropriations Committee moved the bill 14 to 11 making it available for debate on the floor this year.

Its fate in the Senate is unsure but Gov. Terry Branstad has said he'd consider signing it if it reaches him.

Cameras are used in Cedar Rapids, Clive, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Muscatine, and Sioux City.

The cities combined stand to lose more than $7 million a year from the tickets. The measure requires the cameras to be removed by July 1.

City officials say the cameras reduce crashes and injuries resulting from crashes.

Iowa's bishops have asked Catholics to fast as a way to demonstrate their concerns over mandates in the federal health care law.

Siouxland parishioners have been asked to fast on March 30 to highlight what the bishops call "ongoing religious liberty concerns."

The bishops say in a letter that the law will force religious people and groups to violate their "most deeply held convictions."

The federal policy requires nearly all employers to provide insurance coverage that includes free birth control for workers.

Houses of worship are exempt; religiously affiliated charities, hospitals and schools are not.

Bishops and others consider the religious exemption too narrow. President Barack Obama has said insurance companies would pay for the coverage instead of religious employers.

THREE MORE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS IN THE SIOUX CITY AREA ARE CLOSED OR WILL HAVE LIMITED TRAFFIC OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

PAUL AVENUE IS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD TO NASH STREET. THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE BUILDING DEMOLITION IN THE AREA. THE STREET IS EXPECTED TO REOPEN BY SATURDAY MORNING.

HARBOR DRIVE IS CLOSED FROM OGDEN AVENUE NORTH TO BRADLEY STREET. THAT SECTION WILL BE CLOSED THROUGH APRIL 6TH BECAUSE OF WATER MAIN CONSTRUCTION.

AND ONE OF THE EASTBOUND LANES OF SINGING HILLS BOULEVARD NEXT TO THE YORK STREET INTERSECTION CLOSES THURSDAY FOR SEWER CONSTRUCTION.  EASTBOUND TRAFFIC WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE THERE THROUGH MARCH 29TH.