DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An environmental collaborative is asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to push Iowa and nine other Mississippi River states to address pollution in the river.

The Des Moines Register reports (http://dmreg.co/2fZZOgM ) that the Mississippi River Collaborative says the EPA has failed to require enforceable regulations, deadlines or funding to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous pollution. The pollution contributes to the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone, an area that’s unable to support aquatic life.

The environmental collaborative looked at clean-water efforts in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Its report calls the EPA’s efforts weak and ineffective. The collaborative represents 13 environmental and legal groups, including the Iowa Environmental Council.

Highway G-71 in Mahaska County from Highway 163 to Bussey will be closed to thru traffic from November 21st to November 25th. Residences can be reached, but the railroad cannot be crossed as they are replacing the railroad for safety reasons.

GRANDVIEW, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters in southeastern Iowa have rescued a worker from more than 200 feet up inside a 620-foot industrial chimney at a MidAmerican Energy plant.

The Muscatine Journal reports (http://bit.ly/2fib2NA ) that rescue workers were called to the Louisa Generating Station in Grandview late Tuesday afternoon to save an employee trapped 230 feet up. The Muscatine Fire Department says it was the first time its team conducted a high-angle rescue outside of training events.

To reach the trapped employee, the team made its way up interior ladders and skywalks and used a system of ropes to lower the employee down in extreme heat and low visibility inside the chimney. The rescue effort took six hours, and the employee was safely removed. One firefighter suffered a minor injury during the rescue.

OSAGE, Iowa (AP) — A private equity firm from Texas is buying Iowa sock maker Fox River Mills.

The family that owned Fox River for more than 40 years agreed to sell it to Dallas-based LongWater Opportunities for an undisclosed price. Employees of the Osage, Iowa-based company were told Tuesday.

The Mason City Globe Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/2fg9zHA ) that Fox River will become a subsidiary of another sock maker that LongWater already owned, New Jersey-based Standard Merchandising Co.

Fox River specializes in knitting socks and handwear under its own brand and for other companies. It was founded in 1900.

Fox River President and co-owner John Lessard says he believes the family found a new owner that believes in U.S. manufacturing. But it wasn’t immediately clear what the sale will mean for jobs in Osage.