In this first month of the year, Iowans may need to be more vigilant to keep from getting ripped off by scam phone callers, identity thieves and even by fast-talking health club managers. Dan Hendrickson, a spokesman for the Better Business Bureau, says it’s not too late to make a resolution to ensure your credit is safe. “We think it’s important that people check their credit report for free at Annual Credit Report-dot-com,” Hendrickson says. “That’s a really basic step people can take just to make sure their financial history is portrayed accurately and they can also look for things that don’t really add up or questionable notations in their credit file.”

By checking your credit report, Iowans can spot signs of identity theft early. It may also be helpful to register your phone on the “Do Not Call” registry to avoid a host of questionable sales pitches and pleas for charitable donations, but it isn’t a perfect system. “This will not cut out all the calls you don’t want,” Hendrickson says. “Basically the good organizations and good companies will follow that list closely. The ones that are more questionable or outright scammers will not.”  You can register your phone at Do Not Call-dot-gov. If you resolved to get fit in the new year, he suggests you get a check-up before you sign up for a health club membership. “We recommend people get a physical first, especially if you’ve been inactive for quite a while,” Hendrickson says. “It’s a good idea to get that baseline, find out what your health status is and work with your physician to set realistic health goals.”

There are other elements to consider before joining a gym to make sure it’s the right place for you. “We recommend researching the fitness club’s background, visit BBB-dot-org,” he says. “Check out if how they’ve handled complaints in the past if they’ve had complaints, and you also want to look at customer reviews.”  If the club is offering introductory deals, be clear on the terms and know exactly when any trial pay periods may be over.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County, Wednesday night, arrested 33-year old Matthew Scott Lighty, of Clarinda, for Driving While Suspended, with 27 withdrawals in effect, and 46-year old Kelly Ross Shulths, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were taken into custody following a traffic stop at around 7-p.m., south of Red Oak. Lighty was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on bond. Shulths was released from the scene on a citation.

(4-a.m. update) The Iowa Department of Transportation’s 511ia.org website is reporting two accident on Interstate 80 in western Iowa are blocking the road. I-80 eastbound near Minden is blocked due to a crash between Exit 27: I-680 and Exit 29: County Road L66, and I-80 westbound near Shelby at Exit 34: County Road M16 (Shelby), is also blocked due to a crash.

I-80 between Exit 17: County Road G30 and Exit 23: County Road L55 (near Underwood). The ramp is blocked because of emergency vehicles. I-80 between Exit 8: US 6 and Exit 17: County Road G30 (Underwood). The ramp is blocked due to a stalled vehicle.

Roads in the area are partially covered with ice this morning. For the latest road conditions visit 511ia.org, or call 511.

Members of the Atlantic School Board, Wednesday night, approved a Resolution of Intent to continue participation in the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) Program. The next step is to hold a Public Hearing and take further action within 30 days of the hearing, to act on the Resolution, which would specify: the method and amount to be used to fund the ISL; And the purposes within the general fund for which the ISL will be used.

If approved following the hearing, the ISL would be in effect for a period of five-years, levied annually as determined by the Board, commencing with the levying of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2019, and an instructional support income surtax imposed annually for each budget year, the percentage of which will not exceed 20%, to be determined by the Board annually for each budget year, commencing December 31st, 2019 and each year thereafter.

When ISL, when combined with the State Instructional Support Aid, is not allowed to exceed 10% of the regular program district cost, including the budget adjustment for any budget year. Instructional Support Program funds may be used for any General Fund purpose, but is not subject to collective bargaining, and therefore will not be used for employee pay or benefits.

The district received $708,671 from the ISL levy in the 2017 Fiscal Year. The revenues are a combination of income surtax and property taxes.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Schools, businesses and services are getting a jump on a winter storm set to hit Nebraska and Iowa overnight by announcing late starts and some closures on Thursday.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for most of Nebraska and a winter storm warning for a swath of Iowa from just east of Omaha, Nebraska, northeast through Denison, Fort Dodge and Mason City.

The forecast Wednesday night calls for rain, freezing rain and rapidly falling temperatures throughout the night into Thursday morning, when heavy snow and strong winds are expected to make travel dangerous.

Schools in Nebraska have announced late starts for Thursdays, and many Iowa schools and businesses in the storm’s path have announced plans to close Thursday. Some sporting, church and other events have also been canceled or postponed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says he’ll travel the state this year to inform the public about a new law requiring voter identification at the polls. Pate said Wednesday his plans include “educational summits” and meeting with groups that will get the word out.

Beginning in 2019, voters must show an Iowa driver’s license, Iowa non-driver’s ID, U.S. passport, military identification, veterans ID or a new non-photo ID issued by the state. A soft rollout in 2018 means voters without acceptable ID must sign an oath acknowledging they will need it soon. In 2019, those voters will be offered provisional ballots.

A special state House election on Jan. 16 is the first under the law’s soft rollout. The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the law last spring, arguing it would maintain election integrity. There’s no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Iowa.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department said today (Wednesday), that both Council Bluffs Police and Fire Departments are investigating an apartment fire that occurred this morning at 228 Harrison Street in Council Bluffs. Officers were called to assist the Fire Department with a possible fire in an apartment in the two hundred block of Harrison Street at around 9:30-a.m. Officers arrived in the area and found that a fire had started at 228 Harrison Street Apt. 4A.

The Fire Department had started putting the fire out when they found two subjects inside the residence. Both subjects were taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment. An investigation into the cause of the fire and the condition of the two subjects found in the apartment is underway.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz is facing a challenge from an unlikely opponent: his next-door neighbors. Trial is scheduled Feb. 6 in a lawsuit that pits the nation’s longest-tenured college football coach and his wife against the three other families who live along a private road outside Iowa City. A judge is expected to decide whether the Ferentzes breached a 2001 agreement and trespassed by planting trees and installing landscaping items along Saddle Club Road.

The fight over those encroachments is part of a long-running dispute. A judge ruled in September that the Ferentzes aren’t required to a homeowners’ association that neighbors formed in 2015 to split the costs of road maintenance. The ruling means the Ferentzes don’t have to pay $9,400 they were assessed for a repair project.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their regular, weekly meeting today (Wednesday), in Atlantic. During their session, the Board heard reports and FY 2019 funding requests from the Cass County Committee on Aging (CCCOA). Their $7,000 funding request is unchanged from previous years. It was taken under advisement.

The organization has five towns in the County who have representatives to serve on the CCCOA. Lewis, Marne and Wiota have chosen not to join at this time, but the organization hopes they will do so in the future. Locally, residents may find activities/services at the Anita Sunset Club, the Irregular Seniors of Cumberland, Massena Seniors, Griswold Golden Tigers, and the Atlantic Meal Site. The Griswold group has recently started a Tai Chi form of exercise, which has been well received.

The group works with CCCOA to serve seniors with programs such as exercise, healthy eating and assistance with insurance supplements. They have also begun to take advantage of Angels Home Health Care, which provides programs for things such as communication between doctors and patients, support groups, and dementia. Each month, a combined 250 seniors take part in some kind of gathering. CCCOA meets the fourth Tuesday of February, April, June, August, October and December, at the Atlantic Meal Site. Their meetings begin at 10-a.m.

In other business, the Supervisors appointed Judy Kennedy to fill a vacancy on the Cass County Conservation Board, and Peter T. Smith, as Pymosa Township Trustee, to fill a vacancy created by his father, Glen Smith. Glen Smith is serving in Washington, D-C., after being confirmed by the Senate to the Farm Credit Administration Board. They also received quarterly reports from Micah Lee, with Cass County Conservation, and Mitch Holmes, with Cass County Veterans Affairs. They tabled action on approving a 28-E (cost sharing) agreement with the Guthrie County Board of Health, for the sharing of environmental health services in Cass County. They also tabled action on appointing someone to the Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority, to fill a vacancy.

They also approved the renewal of a lease agreement with Marne & Elk Horn Telephone Company. The agreement grants METC the right to install, maintain and operate certain equipment on the Courthouse Tower, and, in lieu of rent, provide a high speed internet connections and internet services, to the courthouse.

And, the Board of Supervisors set January 24^th, January 31^st, and Feb. 7^th, as the dates for Public Hearings on an Ordinance authorizing the operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s) and off-road utility vehicles (UTV’s), on county roadways and trails.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of Iowa’s court system says “Iowans are losing access to justice” because more than 100 court jobs remain empty following budget cuts. Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady offered the assessment Wednesday during his annual judiciary address to lawmakers. Cady says the court system is operating with 115 “essential” positions unfilled. He adds rural Iowans are receiving fewer court services than urban residents.

Cady also says specialty courts dealing with substance abuse cannot be expanded until the Legislature increases funding. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds highlighted the need to better address opioids in her Condition of the State speech Tuesday. Cady’s office has a roughly $175 million budget that’s been reduced in recent years. Reynolds announced mid-year budget cuts Tuesday that include $1.6 million for the judicial branch.