Iowans who pay estimated quarterly taxes face their first deadline of the new year next week as fourth quarter taxes are due January 15th. Bob Burger, a C-P-A in Omaha-Council Bluffs, says there are new rules every filing season. The year’s biggest issue is thanks to new requirements under the federal Affordable Care Act, as the penalty is rising for anyone who doesn’t have health care coverage.

“That penalty, if you don’t have health insurance, at a minimum is increasing from $95 in 2014 to $325 for an uninsured household in 2015 and then in 2016, it goes up to $695,” Burger says, “so that’s a significant jump.” As you begin to organize all of your tax paperwork, Berger says don’t forget about contributions to non-profit groups you made during the past year.

“Most of the people don’t realize how big of an advantage charitable donations are,” he says. “Make sure, when you go to the charity, get a receipt and bring that with you because it’s a huge deduction and it benefits both parties.” The I-R-S requires you have proof of such donations, with a cancelled check, a bank or credit card statement, or a letter or receipt from the organization. Donors also need written acknowledgement from the charity for all gifts worth $250 or more.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Glenwood report the arrest today (Wednesday), of 37-year old Wendy Meadows. The Glenwood woman was arrested for Harassment. Her bond was set at $1000.

The rules regarding use of your driver’s license as a form of I-D at the airport are changing, even for domestic flights. Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall points to information on the website totalnewswire.com, which says the Department of Homeland Security will begin enforcing what is now a 10-year-old law called the Real ID Act, which set new regulations for sufficient ID for air travel. Passengers have long had to use their federally issued passports for international trips, but for millions of Americans, that may now extend to flights inside of America as well.

Only 22 states are in full compliance with the law. Many more have been granted extensions that will expire by October 10, 2016 (or earlier). However, four states have not received extensions, meaning their residents will be out of luck starting January 10.

In the Midwest, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin are in full compliance with the law. Many other states have received temporary extensions through October 10 to comply, while Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri are not in compliance at all. You can find the full list of States compliant with law, those that have received an extension to comply, and those not in compliance, at http://totalnewswire.com/drivers-license-domestic-flights-new-rules/?trackback=email

If you have any questions, contact Tracey J. Marshall at the Cass County Treasurer’s Office.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Atlantic Police say no injuries were reported following a chain-reaction accident Tuesday afternoon, near 7th and Olive Streets. Officials say vehicles driven by Sherrill Clausen, of Atlantic, Shirley Schmitt, of Marne, and Michael Grogan, of Audubon, collided at around 2:30-p.m.

All three vehicles were traveling west on 7th Street, when Clausen and Schmitt slowed for the traffic light. Grogan’s vehicle struck the rear of Schmitt’s vehicle, causing it to be pushed into the rear of the Clausen vehicle. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,200. Police cited Grogan for Following too Close.

Creston Police say no citations were issued and no injuries were reported following a collision Tuesday afternoon at West Taylor Street and Wyoming Avenue. Officials say a 2001 Ford Taurus driven by 29-year old Christina Elizabeth Mills, of Bridgewater, was traveling west on West Taylor Street at around 2:50-p.m., when 43-year old Katharina Jean Davis, of Terre Haute, IN., tried to make a left turn off of Wyoming Avenue. Davis told police she didn’t see the approaching Taurus because of other traffic in the area. Her 2001 Chevy Impala was struck by the Taurus, causing a total of $6,000 damage.

A Madison County woman was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Creston, on a warrant for Fraudulent Practice in the 3rd Degree. Creston Police say 35-year old Jordan Ingram, of Winterset, was arrested at around 2-p.m. at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Ingram was later released on a $5,000 bond.

20-year old Jacob Davis, of Red Oak, was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Creston, on two Union County warrants for Failure to Appear, on an original charge of Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card (under $1,000), and for Failure to Appear on an OWI/1st offense charge. Davis was being held in the Union County Jail on $3,000 bond.

Creston Police report also, 63-year old Dora Shimer, of Creston, was cited for Failure to Abate Nuisance, on her property at 405 S. Pine Street. Shimer was released on a promise to appear later, in court.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former Sioux City high school band director has pleaded not guilty in a student sex case. Court records say 34-year-old Lucas Sursely, of Sioux City, filed a written plea Tuesday to one count of sexual exploitation by a school employee. He resigned from North High School on Dec. 11. His trial is set to begin on April 26.

Authorities say Sursely texted a 15-year-old female student in one of his classes about having sex with her and sent the girl a picture of himself in his underwear.

The Powerball jackpot has been growing since early November and is now up to an estimated $450 million for tonight’s (Wednesday) drawing. Mary Neubauer, spokesperson for the Iowa Lottery, says “That’s the fourth largest jackpot in the history of the Powerball game. The jackpot is also number six on the list of the largest lottery prizes we’ve ever seen in North America.”

When lottery jackpots climb near record territory, more people tend to join office pools or buy multiple tickets with friends and family. Neubauer suggests the best way to keep office pools hassle “One of the most important things to do is keep very careful track of who did put money into the pool and who didn’t put money into the pool, so there won’t be any questions about that later,” Neubauer said.

The person who buys the tickets should also provide everyone in the pool with photo copies of the group’s tickets before the drawing. Neubauer says there have been court battles in Iowa and elsewhere over lottery office pools. “The arguments in those cases were that the people in the office pool were alleging that the person who bought the ticket took one of the tickets that should have been the office pool ticket and substituted in a different ticket because they were trying to keep the money for themselves,” Neubauer said.

The largest Powerball jackpot won in Iowa was a $241 million prize claimed in June 2012 by the “Shipping 20,” a group of co-workers from the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids.

(Radio Iowa)