CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – More people could receive a tax form in the mail this year that they’ve never seen before: a 1099-K form. The 1099-K form is a requirement for companies like ‘Venmo’ and ‘Etsy.’ It’s a law change that those with online businesses or side hustles will need to be ready for. Those online platforms used to only mail the form if the payment reached $20,000 and 200 transactions. The IRS wanted to drop the threshold to send the form in 2023 to just $600. Feedback from taxpayers, tax experts, and payment processors made it delay the change and move to a tiered transition period.

For the 2024 tax year, the threshold was dropped to 5 thousand dollars. In 2025, it will drop to $2,500 It will finally reach that $600 mark for 2026 and beyond. This tax season the threshold to get this form is lowering. Meaning more people will be filling out the form. It won’t just be small businesses who see this form show up in the mailbox. Nonprofits that use Venmo for donation purposes could also receive the form. It could also be sent to anyone who sells an item as a one-off if it’s over that threshold.

Experts recommend you keep track of every income, and every expense and holding onto any recipients you might be questioning. The forms are expected to start arriving by the end of this month.

(Creston, Iowa) – A Union County man was arrested Tuesday night on drug and other charges. The Creston Police Department reports 26-year-old Isaac Wayne Hayes, of Creston, was arrested at his home at around 9-p.m., Tuesday. He was transported to the Union County Jail and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Violation of No Contact/Protective Order Contempt, Interference with Official Acts, and Failure to Appear on previous charges. Hayes was being held without bond, pending an appearance before a Judge.

(Radio Iowa) – More farmers reported higher levels of stress last year compared to 2022 in the latest Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, which surveyed nearly 950 farmers statewide. Most of the respondents were men and 66 years old, on average. J-Arbuckle, an Iowa State University extension sociologist, led the poll. “There was a very big shift in the level of personal stress that was reported,” Arbuckle says. “I think that also kind of aligns with the decline in economic conditions leading up to the to the survey time.” Nearly half of the participants said they had medium-level stress, while 17-percent said they had high or very high stress levels. Arbuckle says the ratings can help indicate mental health needs in the state.

Arbuckle says, “We had probably some of the strongest ratings of past farm financial performance and really high ratings of job satisfaction.” He says job satisfaction is an important marker for mental health, but farmers also reported higher stress and were more pessimistic about their economic prospects for the next five years. “Sixty-two-percent indicated that they thought they would be worse,” he says, “and that’s the highest that we’ve ever recorded by a long shot.”

Farmers were surveyed last February and March when crop prices and farm sector forecasts were declining after historic highs from 2021 to mid-2023. The I-S-U survey about farmers’ quality of life, finances and conservation was first conducted in 1982.

(Radio Iowa) – Forecasters say Iowa may not see temperatures above 32-degrees again for at least another week, and prolonged exposure to extreme cold can cause all sorts of havoc for our bodies — and for our cell phones. Casey Brooks, manager of the U-S Cellular store at Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines, says you may not know it, but there’s liquid inside our phones. “What we’re really worried about with that is the lithium ion battery that’s contained inside any of those smartphones and they do contain liquid,” Brooks says. “When those batteries are put into extreme cold temperatures, the molecules shrink and that can cause potential issues for the battery life. The display, the buttons and everything can lag significantly.” If you’ve been outside with your phone and the device is cold, Brooks says don’t try to use it until it warms up, or it may not be cooperative.

“Once the phone gets back above that 32 degree mark, it’s going to start operating as normal, but that battery does have to warm back up to room temperature,” Brooks says, “and make sure you do that before you charge it.” Many of us carry our phones virtually everywhere, but especially now, in case of emergency during this harsh winter. If you’re going to be exposed to the elements, Brooks says try not to use the phone while you’re out in the wind and cold. “For carrying it, I would say keep it in a pocket close to your body,” Brooks says. “Your body is going to put off some body heat to keep that phone warm to prevent it from having that issue in the extreme cold. You can also put a case on that phone. That’s going to help give it one more layer of protection against the cold.”

Law enforcement encourages us to put the phone in the console or glove box while we’re driving to avoid being distracted by it, and Brooks says that’s a good idea, even in the chill. “As long as the car is running, that should be fine,” Brooks says. “Those compartments would be heated as well, but once you turn the car off, or you’re leaving the vehicle, you’d want to take that device with you, if possible.” She also recommends you keep your phone fully charged during the winter to avoid completely draining the battery. Taking along a portable charger may also be a good idea if you won’t be near a power source.

DUBUQUE, Iowa – One person died and three others were injured when three vehicles collided Tuesday afternoon in eastern Iowa’s Dubuque County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash happened a little before 4:30-p.m.. on Highway 52 at Kemp Road in Dubuque.

Patrol investigators say a Honda SUV was northbound on Highway 52 at the same time a Toyota van was southbound. Both vehicles collided head-on. A northbound Subaru SUV then struck the Honda. Two of the drivers were taken to the hospital where one was pronounced dead. A passenger in one of the vehicles was also injured and transported to the hospital. The driver of the Subaru was injured, but did not require hospitalization.

The crash remains under investigation. The names of the victims was not immediately released.

(Radio Iowa) – University of Northern Iowa administrators are asking the state Board of Regents for the O.K. to demolish a 75-year-old dorm and to approve buying an apartment complex that’s adjacent to the Cedar Falls campus. U-N-I spokesman Pete Moris says over 40 percent of U-N-I students live on campus and there’s been a growing demand for campus housing, but students prefer apartments rather than a dorm like Campbell Hall.

“When you look at the…over $27 million of deferred maintenance that we would have to put into Campbell, just to keep it standing, it didn’t seem like a really fiscally responsible thing to do for the university,” Moris says, “so when this opportunity arose to purchase this apartment complex, it was really a win-win.” A 10-acre property called “The Quarters” sits near U-N-I’s basketball arena and has 11 apartment buildings that could house up to 480 students.

Moris says the apartment complex is fairly new and the 21 million dollar purchase price can be covered by the university’s revenue bonds.  “You’re talking about a facility that’s got its own clubhouse. It’s got its own pool, so it’s really kind of the best of both worlds,” Moris says. “You’re very close to your campus community, but it also feels like, ‘Hey, you’re on your own,’ and beginning your adult life and living in an apartment.”

Campbell Hall — the dorm targeted for demolition — doesn’t have a fire sprinkler system and hasn’t been occupied for three years. The Board of Regents is scheduled to consider the university’s housing plans at its January 15th meeting.

DES MOINES— Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a proclamation to ease restrictions on transportation of heating and motor fuels.

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through 11:59 p.m. on February 6, 2025. The proclamation suspends the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code pertaining to hours of service for crews and drivers delivering propane, diesel, natural gas, and other fuels used for residential, agricultural, and commercial heating purposes.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Officials with the Adair/Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency, this (Tuesday) evening, released details about a fatal fire that occurred earlier in the day. EMA Coordinator Jeremy Cooper said in a press release, that at around 9:20-a.m., the Guthrie County Communications Center dispatched a simultaneous page for Menlo Fire and Stuart Fire and Rescue for a possible house fire in the 400 block of 3rd Street, in Menlo.

A Menlo firefighter and truck arrived on the scene several minutes later and confirmed there was smoke showing from the residence, and that there was an active fire. As the firefighter walked around the structure assessing the structure and situation, he was met by neighboring people who told him there may be someone inside the home. As he performed a walk around of the structure, the firefighter banged on the windows and side of the house to see if he could get the attention of anyone inside the home or hear any voices from inside the residence.

The Stuart Fire Dept. arrived on the scene at around 9:35-a.m. and found heavy smoke coming from the eaves of the home and flames bursting out the peak of the west gable wall above an attached garage. Stuart Fire initiated a quick interior attack with a search team, and within minutes, found the body of a 73-year-old woman at the end of a hallway, about 16-feet from an exit. Medical crews responded at around 9:45-a.m., and requested an air ambulance, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

EMA Coordinator Jeremy Cooper said it appears that the fire was burning for a while, prior to the 911 call, as a portion of the floor burned through, and furniture was falling into the basement. He said the fire appears to have started in the northwest corner of the home’s living room area, as that was where extensive fire damage was located. Cooper said “Menlo and Stuart Fire crews did an amazing job and quickly responded to the fire, unfortunately a life was lost today, and that always weighs heavy on our first responders.

“They not only battled the flames and cold,” he said, “but also their emotions as most people in small communities as Menlo know everyone and have a connection with each other.” The cause of the fire remains under investigation, as the State Fire Marshal’s Office was on the scene working the investigation (late Tuesday). The unidentified victim was transported to the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny, to determine the cause of her death.

Agencies on the scene included: Menlo Fire; Stuart Fire; Stuart Rescue; Dexter Fire; Casey Fire; the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office; Stuart Police, and the Adair & Guthrie County EMA.

(Massena, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board (CCCB) will hold a Cabin Fever Escape program near Massena on January 18th, from 1-until 4-p.m. The program/open house will take place at the Outdoor Educational Classroom outside of Massena. It is FREE, and all ages welcome.

You’re invited to cure your cabin fever by spending some time outside with family friendly FUN! Bring your mugs, sleds, dress for the weather, snowshoes, and cross country skis will be available! If you get cold, warm and tasty drinks and a movie will be playing inside our lodge! There will be no snow activities planned as well!

The Outdoor Educational Classroom can be found by taking Highway 148 south of Massena. Turn Left on Tucson Road and follow it East for about two miles. Then, turn right into the parking lot. The CCCB hopes to see you there, on January 18th.