Iowa ranks among the top third on a list of best states in which to retire, according to a new report from the personal finance website Bankrate.com. Analyst Taylor Tepper says Iowa placed 16th overall on the report based on seven main criteria, including things like cost of living, crime, culture, health care and weather.

“Iowa did very well — its best category was cost of living, which is obviously very important for seniors who are living on a fixed income,” Tepper says. “It finished #11 and that really propelled it up towards the rankings. Health care quality, Iowa finished #12.”

The Hawkeye State landed relatively high on the report thanks to its good placement in key categories which are important to retirees, things like health care costs and crime. “You’re going to spend some $280,000, a couple will — when they turn 65, throughout their retirement on health care, so you want to make sure those dollars are going toward better outcomes,” Tepper says. “On crime, Iowa’s a relatively safe place to live.”

There were only a few areas where Tepper sees room for Iowa to make improvements. “The main places where it didn’t do particularly well were weather and taxes,” Tepper says. “Weather, Iowa was 33rd, taxes it was 40th. Higher taxes put a bigger burden on retirees who are living on those fixed incomes.”

South Dakota ranked as the best state in which to retire, followed by Utah, Idaho, New Hampshire and Florida. New York placed last on the list, just below New Mexico, Maryland, Louisiana and Arkansas.

https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/best-and-worst-states-for-retirement/

(Radio Iowa)

The head of the U.S. Small Business Administration was in Iowa Friday for a roundtable discussion with women business owners. The Iowans told Linda McMahon they’ve purchased new equipment, increased advertising and one plans to reinstate her company’s bonus program because of federal tax cuts. A report released Thursday shows no overall growth in hourly wages in June of this year compared to June of last year. McMahon says she doesn’t dispute that statistic, but it doesn’t match what she’s hearing.

“Most of the businesses that I talk to around the country, I am constantly hearing that: ‘We are increasing our wages,'” McMahon says. “I mean, we heard today there are more 401K contributions not only from the company, but from the employees.” She says other factors point to a “really healthy” economy where wages will start to rise.

“We will see competition in the marketplace for workers and wages will go up as a result of the supply and demand issue…because there are fewer employees out there looking for work,” McMahon says.

A woman who owns a business in Pella told McMahon she’s hiring people from Missouri and Minnesota who keep their homes there, but commute for the work-week. McMahon says encouraging internships and especially apprenticeships will help Iowa students and Iowa businesses fill jobs here. McMahon has visited 40 states since she took over as the leader of the Small Business Administration in early 2017.

(Radio Iowa)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa charity is seeking donations to provide new, fully-stocked backpacks to children in the foster care system. Families Helping Families of Iowa says donations are being collected through July 23 at places around Cedar Rapids. Those places include two Bankers Trust locations, Capri College, the Junior League, Nadia’s Salon, and United Fire Group, as well as the Families Helping Families office.

An array of school supplies are being sought, from backpacks to pencils and pen and notebooks. A full list of needs can be found at http://www.familieshelpingfamiliesofiowa.org/programs/school-supplies/ .
The backpacks will be handed out to around 400 children on Aug. 4 at the Families Helping Families office in Cedar Rapids. The group’s Back to School Rally will also hand out free ice cream and vouchers for shoes and haircuts.

A spokesperson for the Iowa State Patrol is reminding motorists that the state’s year-old law against texting and driving doesn’t just apply to vehicles that are in motion. Sergeant Nate Ludwig says it’s also illegal for a driver to text when they’re waiting at a stop sign. Ludwig says it can be frustrating for other drivers who are playing by the rules.

“It creates a little bit of a road rage between motorists,” Ludwig says. “You’re at a stop sign and maybe tap that horn…you know, usually, people will put their phone down because they realize, ‘oh yeah, somebody’s watching me while I’m on my phone – that’s probably not real safe.'”

The Iowa State Patrol recently reported, over the first year of the stricter texting-while-driving law, Troopers issued 1,131 citations to motorists. The violation can cost a person over $100. Ludwig says the State Patrol, at times, has placed Troopers in unmarked cars to catch unsuspected motorists who are texting behind the wheel.

“I know other states, like the Tennessee State Patrol, have utilized commercial motor vehicles – big semis traveling down the road, because those guys sit up high and 9 times out of 10 they’re getting passed on the interstate by other vehicles going by ’em and it’s alarming to see the number of people who are using their phone on the road,” Ludwig says.

The law that made texting while driving a “primary” offense took effect on July 1, 2017. Prior to that, police could only issue a citation for texting while driving if the officer stopped the driver for ANOTHER offense.

(Radio Iowa)