A vote is expected today (Wednesday) in the U-S House on a bill, drafted by Iowa Congressman David Young, that seeks to crack down on identity thieves and help victims of such fraud. “Many in the Third District of Iowa have spoken to me about their fear of having their identity, bank or credit card numbers, and other personal information stolen,” Young said on the House floor Tuesday.

The Justice for Victims of IRS Scams and Identity Theft Act would require the Attorney General and Treasury Secretary to submit reports to Congress detailing how they have prosecuted identity theft crimes. According to Young, Americans lose billions of dollars to con artists and many Iowans worry about getting a call from their bank or credit card company explaining their information has been stolen. “This reality can turn an individual’s and a family’s world upside down. Millions of Americans have gotten that call and many have lost everything because of identity theft,” Young said.

A 2016 report indicated Americans submit up to 14,000 complaints about IRS impersonation scams every week. “This is serious,” Young said. “These scams are indiscriminate and can impact any person at any time.”

Young added that the Department of Justice should suggest “what can be done to deter criminals and prevent identity theft from happening.”

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a woman who was convicted of 2nd Degree Robbery in Johnson County, is listed as escaped from a detention facility. 37-year old Amy Lorene McBride failed to report back to the Gerald R. Hinzman Residential Center as required, Tuesday morning.

Amy McBride

McBride is a white female, 5’4″ tall, and weighing 157 pounds. She was admitted to the work release facility on 3/29/2018.  Persons with information on McBrides’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is defending his decision not to disclose his role in a new corporation that recently spent around $2 million to open a storage rental business and purchase a strip mall. Pate said in a statement Tuesday evening that his disclosure form is accurate because he reported receiving rental income from unspecified commercial and residential properties.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lawmakers in the Iowa Senate have updated employee policies and ethics rules to better address allegations of sexual misconduct and other harassment within their half of the state Capitol. The Republican-controlled chamber held last-minute procedural votes Tuesday. The changes are a culmination of growing public scrutiny over how the Iowa Capitol, particularly Senate Republicans, should handle such allegations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman has been charged for the death of her 6-month-old son. Court records say 33-year-old Latyia Johnson was arrested Monday and is charged with child endangerment resulting in death. Court records don’t list the name of her attorney. Court records say she told police Monday that she’d given him more than an adult level of an allergy medication and a children’s pain reliever _ information that was consistent with an autopsy report.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa children should no longer face so-called “lunch shaming” in school cafeterias under a new law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Reynolds announced Tuesday that she signed the bill, which lawmakers approved unanimously. Iowa is following the lead of several other states that have passed similar legislation that bans staff from throwing away meals that were already served or publicly identifying students whose parents owe money.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate did not disclose his role in a new corporation that has recently spent around $2 million to open a storage rental business and purchase a strip mall. In an ethics filing last week, Pate affirmed that the only outside business in which he engaged during 2017 was the eastern Iowa asphalt paving company he has long owned.

But business and government records reviewed by The Associated Press show Pate formed a company days before the 2016 presidential election, PRG Group LLC, and it worked throughout 2017 to open a new mini-storage business in Cedar Rapids. In a February filing, Pate called himself its “managing partner.”

An aide said Tuesday that Pate was “preparing a response” to questions about the matter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lawmakers in the Iowa Senate have updated employee policies and ethics rules to better address allegations of sexual misconduct and other harassment within their half of the state Capitol. The Republican-controlled chamber held last-minute procedural votes Tuesday amid the expected final days of the legislative session.

The changes are a culmination of growing public scrutiny over how the Iowa Capitol, particularly Senate Republicans, should handle such allegations. Last year, the state agreed to pay $1.75 million to a former Senate GOP staffer who says she was fired after reporting misconduct in the office that included the use of sexually explicit language.

The chamber’s updated employee handbook expands the process for how people who work in and around the Senate can report misconduct. Democrats and Republicans say the changes add clarity.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department, Tuesday, released a report detailing three separate arrests. On Sunday, Officers arrested 32-year old David Allen Coenen, of Harlan, following traffic stop. Coenen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated, interference with official acts, and careless driving. That same day, 28-year old Brooke Rene Scheffler, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for a disturbance in the 900 block of Court Street.  Scheffler was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with domestic abuse assault, possession of a controlled substance, and prohibited acts.

And, last Friday, following a traffic stop, Harlan Police arrested 30-year old Dustin Allen Hansen, of Harlan.  Hansen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated, carrying weapons, and speed.

The Atlantic City Council is set to meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday (April 18th) in their Chambers, at City Hall. Among the items on their agenda, is a presentation by Nishna Valley YMCA Director Dan Haynes, with regard to upcoming improvements to the YMCA building, and discussion with regard to a possible contribution to the YMCA Iowa West Foundation Grant. A number of improvements at the Y will be financed through the grant. City Administrator John Lund says a contribution from the City, will reflect well on the YMCA’s application to the Foundation. If the Council chooses to make a contribution, Lund says it could appropriate those funds from the Recreation Center Improvement Reserve (YMCA) Fund, for which Local Option Sales Tax and the contribution from AMU are deposited. The fund is expected to close the end of FY2018 with a balance of slightly more than $139,540.

In other business, the Council will hear from Atlantic Chamber Director Bailey Smith, and CADCO Executive Director Russell Joyce, with regard to a working group having been formed to address concerns over the recent loss of several businesses in the downtown district. They are expected to showcase many of the current programs in-place to help recruit new businesses and expanding businesses, as well as some new initiatives and a proposal to jump start entrepreneurial enterprises, including a plan by several independent business leaders, to partner in pledging money to persons looking to start a business in the community. The program, vetted through a local bank, will help business owners by inventory, cover building costs, and more.

The Council will also act on the third and final reading of an Ordinance removing the north/south only STOP signs on Sunnyside Lane, at the intersection with 6th Street. As previously mentioned, the move, if approved after the third reading, is designed to improve traffic flow through the area, in light of the increase in traffic for the ethanol plant.

The Atlantic City Council will also act on approving the Mayor’s appointment of Joyce Jensen to the Board of Adjustment to fill a vacancy, and the re-appointments of Mary Ward and Christina Bateman to the Board of Adjustment. At the beginning of their meeting, the Council will receive a presentation from Dolly Bergman, with regard to the City’s having received a “Tree City USA” award for the 22nd year running. The award ceremony took place April 4th. Bergman has been instrumental to the City’s receiving the honor.