The Iowa Department of Revenue started accepting state tax returns for 2017 last week. Department spokesperson, John Fuller, says they’re doing some things to try and help you navigate through the process. “We’ve created a sort of microsite or site within our bigger website that sort of breaks that down into three easy steps and helps them understand what happens,” Fuller says,”how to file, when to file, what tools are available, things like that.”

The website is www.iowa-dot-tax-dot-gov (tax.iowa.gov). Some people might be a little bit apprehensive about filing with all the talk recently about the changes in the federal tax system. Fuller says you shouldn’t worry about that.”Filing state taxes this year will be much the same as it has been in the past. Next year will probably be different. This year there’s not a lot of changes,” Fuller says. The Iowa Department of Revenue pushed in the past for people to switch from paper to electronic filing, and Fuller says that’ now how a majority of the returns are sent in. “About 90 percent. I think most people find that it’s a little bit easier to do that,” according to Fuller. “A lot of times, whether they use a third-party software company, or go on our site, I think it’s just a little easier to navigate through. I think most people are just more comfortable with that.”

If you get onto the website and still have some questions, he says the department welcomes phone calls. “We get a lot of phone calls — obviously depending on what time of day and what time you call — you may have to wait a few minutes. And that phone number is 515-281-3114,” Fuller says. He says the give out some of the same advice every year to Iowa taxpayers on how to make the process go better — and he says it still applies. “Start early, because you may be missing something that you thought you had. So, avoid waiting to file until the last minute,” Fuller says.”File electronically if you can because it helps avoid mistakes. And take a minute when you are done to just double-check your work.”

The deadline to file your Iowa tax returns is April 30th.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowans are encouraged to clothe themselves in something red today (Friday) as a way to draw attention to a critical health issue. Lauren Livingston, spokeswoman for the Iowa chapter of the American Heart Association, says Wear Red Day events aim to raise awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death in Iowa. “Lots of businesses are doing activities,” Livingston says. “They might have heart health tables set up at their offices or they might be going on company walks, anything to promote heart health. They’re sharing pictures on social media of themselves wearing red. Across the nation, there are lots of Go Red for Women luncheons.”

Almost seven-thousand Iowans die of heart disease every year, the leading cause of death in Iowa since 1920. Coronary heart disease is responsible for about one of every five deaths in Iowa. While the numbers are grim, she says there is cause for optimism. “It’s affecting one in three people in America which is a huge number but, the good news is that 80% of heart disease and stroke is preventable through healthy lifestyle changes,” Livingston says. “That’s one of the big messages that we try to convey during Heart Month and throughout the year.”

Events include the Des Moines Heart Ball on February 10th, with Heart Walks planned later in Des Moines and Sioux City and a Go Red for Women event in Ames.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic Police today (Friday), arrested 31-year old Tony Mack, of Atlantic. He was taken into custody on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault, Interference with Official Acts, and Child Endangerment. Mack was booked into the Cass County Jail.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Two people have been sentenced for killing a teenage girl during a backyard shooting in Davenport. The Quad-City Times reports that 19-year-old Trevor Owens was given 20 years on Thursday at his sentencing in Scott County District Court. He’d pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other crimes. He was 17 at the time of the shooting in June 2016.

His 15-year-old co-defendant was sent to the Iowa State Training School for Boys in Eldora until he turns 18. He’d pleaded guilty to attempted murder. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes. Authorities say 15-year-old Ayana Culbreath was killed when the two males began shooting during the backyard gathering.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department reports a traffic stop 12:36-p.m. Tuesday at Old Lincoln Highway and Mynster Springs Road, resulted in the driver being arrested on a drug charge. A license plate check of the 1998 Dodge Avenger showed the vehicles’ plates were stolen out of Council Bluffs. A records check of the driver, 44-year old Michelle Renee Berry, of Council Bluffs, indicated she was wanted on a Council Bluffs P.D. warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Berry was arrested and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

A traffic stop Wednesday evening on a vehicle with a registration violation, resulted in the arrest of 33-year old Amy Conant, of Missouri Valley. She faces charges that include Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a multi-colored marijuana pipe with residue), and OWI/2nd offense. Conant was cited at the scene and released.

A woman from Oakland was cited for Theft in the 5th Degree, Wednesday night. 20-year old Nicole Paige Myers allegedly stole a $15.49 bottle of Jose Cuervo margarita mix alcohol, from the SuperFoods, in Avoca. She was given her citation and released.

The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office says a 16-year old male from Treynor and a 14-year old male from Council Bluffs, were arrested Wednesday night, for damaging the garage door, front siding, and concrete of a residence in Underwood. The teens were released on citations. The juveniles, who were not identified, were referred to Juvenile Court.

A man from Hancock was arrested Thursday morning, for allegedly breaking into The Station bar, in Hancock. 28-year old Andrew Heath was taken into custody at around 10-a.m., for causing $3,000 damage to two front windows and a door on the property. Heath was charged with Burglary/Breaking and Entering, Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree, and 5th Degree Theft. He was also arrested on warrant for Violation of Probation.

And, there were two men being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail who face additional charges. 37-year old John Joseph Burghardt, Jr., of Omaha, was presented with a warrant out of Nebraska, Thursday, for being a Fugitive from Justice. And, 23-year old Tyler David Miell, of Council Bluffs, was presented Tuesday with two warrants out of Council Bluffs, for 2 counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, False reports and 5th Degree Theft. Both men were read their warrants and returned to the custody of jail staff.

TOLEDO, Iowa (AP) — A man convicted of killing a woman whose body has never been found has been given 50 years in an Iowa prison.Court records say 51-year-old Tait Purk was sentenced Thursday. In December a judge found him guilty of second-degree murder for killing Cora Okonski nearly 18 years ago.

In May a jury convicted Purk of murder, but a judge found the verdict wasn’t backed by evidence.Okonski disappeared in April 16, 2000, while she was living with Purk in Tama. Purk had told authorities she had left to buy cigarettes and never returned.

A former fellow inmate of Purk’s testified that Purk told him he had killed his fiancee during an argument, kept her body in a bathroom closet overnight and then buried her.