The Iowa College Aid is reminding current and future college students to file and important form that could help them pay for college. The spokesperson for the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, Heather Doe, says it’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — more commonly called FAFSA. “It’s a federal form that you do have to complete to determine eligibility for any type of federal aid program – that includes PELL Grants, it also includes student loans that you are going to borrow. And it’s used by the state of Iowa and many other states to determine eligibility for state grants and scholarships,” Doe says. She says it is important to get the form done as soon as possible.

Doe says a lot of colleges have a March first priority deadline for financial aid filing. “And we families to get out there and get that completed, even if they don’t have their taxes completed yet,” Doe says. You can use your tax information from last year to file the FAFSA, and then update the information once the information for this year is available. Any student who hopes to get financial aid has to fill out the form.

“One thing to make sure to point out to everyone is you have to complete a FAFSA every year,” according to Doe. “So, even if you already filed one last year and you are going back for your second or third year of college, you have to complete it again.” Doe says it doesn’t take that long to complete the application. “The best way and most convenient way and fastest way is to file it on-line at www.fafsa.gov. And I do want to point out that dot-gov, because there are sites that look very similar to that with like a dot-com (address) and they’ll try to charge a fee,” she explains. “FAFSA is free to file, so if you are ever on a site where they want some credit card information — make sure to just get yourself out, because you are not in the right place.”

Iowa College Aid says Iowa high school graduates left approximately 22 million dollars in federal grant money unclaimed in 2013 simply by not completing the FAFSA.

(Radio Iowa)

There’s fear of potential “panic buying” of gasoline in Iowa over the next few days as pump prices will rise a dime a gallon on Sunday, thanks to legislators and the governor passing an increase in the state fuel tax. Rose White, with Triple-A-Iowa, says there may be a boost in sales at gas stations and convenience stores through Saturday, especially in metro areas along state borders like Sioux City, Omaha/Council Bluffs and the Quad Cities.

“Certainly with the change, there may be some impacted, specifically along the Missouri border as that difference will be almost 15 cents a gallon,” White says. “The other states however, the variances will be minimal.” With the higher tax, Iowa’s gas prices will be about three cents higher than Minnesota, a penny higher than Illinois, six cents higher than Nebraska, and a dime a gallon higher than South Dakota. Wisconsin is the only border state where gas prices will remain higher that Iowa, by about a penny. The increase of ten cents a gallon may not seem like much, but it can add up. Still, White says to resist the urge to dash out and fill your tank.

“We do encourage motorists not to participate in any panic buying just to save ten cents a gallon,” White says. “Instead, we just encourage you to not deviate from your normal fuel purchasing. If a lot of people do go out and buy fuel this weekend, that could actually create some shortages and we certainly do not want that to happen.” Some gas station owners in Iowa border cities may face a financial squeeze due to the new pricing structure.

“Many of them may have to lower their profit margins just to stay competitive, especially along that Missouri route,” White says. The 15-cent difference between Iowa and Missouri is nothing compared to disparities elsewhere. The gas in New Jersey, for example, is 36-cents lower than neighboring Pennsylvania. This is the first hike in Iowa’s gas tax since 1989, a move that’s expected to generate 215-million dollars a year to benefit road and bridge construction and repairs.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Commerce says Iowa companies exported a record $15.1 billion worth of merchandise last year which contributed to the nation’s record export level exceeding $2.3 trillion. In the report released yesterday the government says machinery led Iowa exports totaling about $3.6 billion in value. That was followed by food and related products and agricultural products. Canada was the leading destination for Iowa products followed by Mexico, Japan and China.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state insurance official says nearly 173,000 Iowans may have been affected by the recent data breach at health insurer Anthem Incorporated. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart said yesterday that 172,727 policyholders in Iowa may have had their personal information compromised.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Three people remain in the hospital following a house fire in Fort Dodge that killed a woman and two young children. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports that Ashley Ulrich, her infant son Matthew Osborne and his father Lucas Osborne were undergoing treatment for burns Wednesday at University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City. Three people died when flames engulfed their home Sunday afternoon, and others in the house escaped uninjured.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A mechanical problem forced a charter plane carrying the Evansville University men’s basketball team to turn around and land in Waterloo. Local television station KWWL reports the team spent Wednesday night at a hotel after an uneventful landing at Waterloo airport.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state insurance official says nearly 173,000 Iowans may have been affected by the recent data breach at health insurer Anthem Inc. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart said Thursday that 172,727 policyholders in Iowa may have had their personal information compromised. The cyberattack into a database of more than 80 million people was discovered earlier this month.

The health insurance provider says hackers gained access to names, birthdates, email addresses, Social Security numbers and other information of people who are currently covered or previously had coverage.

Gerhart says Anthem will contact each person affected by the breach and inform them of available identity theft services and other protections. He says the Iowa Insurance Division continues to work with Anthem to monitor the situation.

A Cass County farmer who was selected as a winner in a seed company’s contest, has donated his winnings to the Cass County FFA organization. Delbert Westphalen, of Atlantic, who’s been farming for more than 52-years, won a $2,500 prize in the “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” contest, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. It was his option to decide which non-profit group or organization would receive the funds.

(from left to right) Dennis Kenealy (President, 4 Star Seed); Eric Miller (Atlantic FFA Advisor); Gary Miller (CAM FFA Advisor); Kevin Blair (Griswold FFA Advisor); Delbert Westphalen; Mike Lund (Sales Mgr.,4 Star Seed); Lana Westphalen (Center)

Delbert said “We wanted to do something that was going to benefit a lot of the people in the County, not just one particular area or one particular group.” By choosing the FFA Food Stand at the Cass County Fair, he says “we’re benefiting everybody, but most of all we’re benefiting the county fair so we can maintain that as the only free county fair in the State of Iowa. And we want to keep it that way.” Westphalen told KJAN News the FFA is near and dear to his heart.

He said “I was actually in FFA longer than 4-years because I stayed to get my American Farmer degree, and it’s some of the best times that I had growing up.” He said the FFA taught him responsibility, and “Is one of the reasons I’m a farmer.” Westphalen received his check Thursday afternoon at the Atlantic High School from 4 Star Seed President Dennis Kenealy and 4 Star Sales Manager Mike Lund, who represented the Monsanto Company.

The funds were presented to FFA Advisors Eric Miller (Atlantic High School), Gary Miller (CAM FFA) and Kevin Blair (Griswold FFA). Eric Miller said they hope to raise 40- to 45,000-dollars to construct the FFA Food Stand. Miller said they “Can do it less cheaper, but we want to do it right. We don’t want to just piece-meal it, put it together part-time. If we’re gonna do it, let’s do it right.”

So far, he says, they’ve raised $28,000, with almost no fundraising efforts conducted. $9,000 was raised through word of mouth contributions. The Trevor Frederickson Foundation contributed $5,000 early on in the process, and they’ve received a $2,000 grant from the Iowa West Foundation. Miller says he’s applied for a $10,000 Cass County Endowment Fund grant, and if it is approved, the project is a go for this summer. He says they should know by the end of this month if the grant is approved. Once the project begins, the old FFA Food stand will be razed and the new structure put up in its place.

He says the new FFA Food Stand will have better plumbing, better electrical service, and be more modern, making it more safe than it is now.  “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” was launched by the Monsanto Fund is 2010, and has grown to include 1,324 eligible counties in 40 states. The program is part of the “America’s Farmers” Initiative, which highlights the important contribution farmers make every day. For a list of the “Grow Communities” winners and more program information, go to growcommunities.com, on the web.

A school in Council Bluffs was placed on temporary lock down late Thursday morning as a precaution, after an incident involving an unruly student. According to Bluffs Police, officers were called to Lewis Central High School at around 11:35-a.m. to assist staff members with an unruly student inside the school. Prior to the arrival of officers the unruly 14 year old male was detained by staff members for his own safety as well as the safety of other students and staff members. The school was placed in lock down as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all students. The situation with the student was quickly resolved and activities at the school returned to normal very quickly. The student was charged with Disorderly Conduct and removed from the school. No weapons were involved and no students or staff members were injured as result of this incident.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — At odds over education funding, Iowa lawmakers have established a negotiating committee to attempt to reach compromise. A joint conference committee with lawmakers from both chambers met Thursday. The Republican-majority House and Democratic-controlled Senate must determine a funding level for K-12 education for the upcoming academic year.

House Republicans have advanced a plan that would provide about $100 million in additional funding, while Senate Democrats want to give schools over $200 million in additional funding. Both proposals include money dedicated to teacher leadership training. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Council Bluffs Democrat, calls education a priority because it’s a “ticket to a better life.”

But Rep. Chuck Soderberg, a Republican from Le Mars who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, says the House proposal is what the state can afford.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to grant nearly $1.5 million in disaster funding to Iowa to aid with flood recovery projects. The USDA on Thursday announced that it will give $1,495,000 million to Iowa to help recuperation efforts after rainstorms in 2013 caused severe flood damage in five counties. The funding is part of the USDA’s distribution of $84 million to help 13 states.

According to the USDA, the investment in the Emergency Watershed Protection Program is slated to aid with 150 projects across the country. Restoration projects in Iowa include reshaping and stabilizing stream banks, improving water quality and reducing the potential impact of future floods.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the program aims to address damage to the nation’s watersheds from natural disasters.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A House panel has approved a bill that would legalize the sale of more fireworks in Iowa, a move that echoes action in the Senate. Members of a ways and means subcommittee approved the bill Thursday. It now heads to a full committee for consideration. The bill would require retailers to obtain a license to legally sell firecrackers, roman candles and other fireworks. Currently, state law allows only sales of sparklers or certain “novelty fireworks.”

Several groups spoke in opposition to the bill and argued it would lead to more injuries. Rep. Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley and chairman of the subcommittee, says it’s important to give consumers the right to buy fireworks. A similar bill is advancing in the Senate.

Legislation to address a shortage of psychiatric treatment beds across the state has cleared a three-member panel in the Iowa House. The bill would direct the Department of Human Services to devise a tracking system to locate an available bed when a patient is having a psychiatric emergency. Representative David Heaton, a Republican from Mount Pleasant, says a county sheriff from his community recently made 40 calls trying to find room for a patient.  “Forty calls and he ended up having to take two of his deputies off staff and place the client in a police car and travel 312 miles across the state to Sioux City,” Heaton said.

According to Heaton, officers sometimes make the trip only to find that the available bed was already filled.  “And think about the patient in the back of the car, handcuffed with his hands behind the back, spending 6 or 7 hours in the car,” Heaton said. “It’s horrible. It’s inhumane.” Heaton says the closing of the mental health facilities in Mount Pleasant and Clarinda will make the situation worse. He says it will take time for the state’s new regional mental health systems to come up with more community placements for the mentally ill.

The DHS is already working on a monitoring system with the help of a federal grant.

(Radio Iowa)