SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Many licensed drivers in Iowa have not converted their identification to a version that is designed to help reduce identity theft and fraud. The Sioux City Journal reports two years after Iowa implemented the REAL ID program, only about 250,000 of Iowa’s 2.1 million licensed drivers have switched to identification that may be needed in the future to enter some federal buildings or board a plane.

Mark Lowe, the director of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division, says he is not surprised by the low number, and that the department needs to continue its awareness campaign to increase conversion. REAL ID was adopted in 2005, in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, to help states verify the identities of people applying for driver’s licenses and cut down on identity theft.

Iowa residents are not required to get a REAL ID driver’s license.

After the weekend deaths of three ice fishermen, state officials are warning all ice anglers to be extremely careful as they venture onto frozen ponds and lakes, especially with very warm weather in the forecast. Kevin Baskins, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says there’s no such thing as “safe ice” even during the middle of winter, but conditions are more risky now with spring arriving next week.  “Ice never forms uniformly,” Baskins says. “You can have objects that are just under the surface that aren’t visible that can cause the water to be a little warmer there and that ice to be softer.”

Some bodies of water may be fed by springs or pipes that pump in water and keep the ice very thin and fragile. Ice fishing season is not officially over, even though the high temperatures this week are forecast to reach into the 50s and 60s.  Baskins says, “Certainly, as you get to the far north, there is still some fairly thick ice that’s still available as you get up into some of those northern natural lakes.”

Anyone venturing onto the ice needs to watch out for thin, clear or honeycombed ice, while dark snow and dark ice are other signs of weak spots.  “When we get to this time of year, I don’t think people realize how quickly the ice conditions can change,” Baskins says. “As we start getting these warmer temperatures, now, we even have projections of it being above freezing during the nighttime hours, this ice will go out pretty fast.”

Divers recovered the bodies of all three missing fishermen from a farm pond in Union County on Saturday. All three were from Creston and they’re identified as: 71-year-old Earl Burkhalter, 73-year-old Charles Critz and 68-year-old James Oshel. Officials say it’s possible a tile line caused water to run into the pond, creating very thin ice.

(Radio Iowa)

State officials are planning to host an “Iowa Financial Literacy Summit” on May 5th for educators, students and their parents. Governor Terry Branstad says students from middle school and high school are the target audience for the summit, so they’ll be prepared to make good decisions about borrowing money for college. “Unfortunately many young people today take on too much debt because there’s a lot of sources and it’s really easy to borrow money,” Branstad says. “The problem is you’ve got to pay it back and you’ve got to pay it back with interest.”

Only three out of every 10 students at Iowa colleges or universities graduate debt-free. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says the three state-supported universities are taking steps to address the high level of debt among the student bodies. “To fundamentally change the debt mindset and to increase financial awareness, we must encourage financial literacy — beginning at an early age,” Reynolds says.

Officials in the Iowa Department of Education are organizing the Financial Literacy Summit and Ryan Wise, the agency’s deputy director, says the “temptation” of credit cards and borrowing too much money leaves many students stuck with significant debts before they even land their first full-time job. “It has never been easier for young people to spend money they don’t have,” Wise says.

In addition to the summit in May, the state education department has a “work team” that is evaluating the financial literacy curriculum being used in Iowa’s K-through-12 classrooms.

(Radio Iowa)

The City Council in Massena will meet this evening, beginning at 7 o’clock. On their agenda, in addition to other, regular business matters,  is a Resolution setting the date and time for a public hearing to vacate 1st Street, the setting of a date for a City-wide Clean-up day, and discussion on an Urban Renewal Plan amendment.

A man from Lorimor was arrested this (Monday) morning on assault and drug charges. Sheriff’s officials say 37-year old Corey Matthew Brown was arrested at 2:30-a.m. in Lorimor, and charged with domestic abuse assault, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of paraphernalia. Brown was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending an initial court appearance.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 48-year-old man accused of abducting his 9-year-old stepdaughter in Solon will be returned to Johnson County to face domestic abuse, weapons and other charges. The abduction of Brianna Crane on Saturday prompted officials to issue an Amber Alert. The Iowa Public Safety Department says the girl was dropped off safely to law enforcement by a third party around 1:30 a.m. Sunday through an arranged meeting.

Her stepfather, Kenneth Johns, was arrested about 9:35 a.m. Sunday after holding officers at bay for about 2 1/2 hours at a residence in Davenport.

A public hearing will be held Tuesday morning (March 10th) in Greenfield, with regard to the Fiscal Year 2016 Adair County Budget. The 9:30-a.m. hearing takes places as part of the Adair County Board of Supervisor’s meeting, which begins at 9-a.m.

Following the hearing, the Board will act on a Resolution approving the FY 2016 Budget, and other budgetary matters, including the Capital Projects Plan for FY2016 and a Compensation Schedule Resolution.

w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested recently, and two thefts were investigated. Officials say 22-year old Christian Robert Edward Mills, of Creston, was arrested Sunday morning on OWI/1st offense and Possession of a Concealed Weapon, charges. Mills was later released from the Union County Jail on $2,000 bond. And, 38-year old Sara Nicole Exline, of Afton, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center Friday afternoon, on charges that include Driving While Suspended, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Meth, and Possession of Marijuana. Exline was later released on $2,000 bond.

Authorities said also, a Creston resident reported on March 5th that his Snap-On brand air hammer was stolen from 410 West Adams St. sometime between 5:10-p.m. March 4th, and 7:10-a.m. March 5th. The loss was estimated at $350. And, an Afton resident reported that his Snap-On 1/2-inch drive impact wrench was stolen from the same location (410 W. Adams St.), sometime between 5:15-p.m. March 4th and 8-a.m. March 5th. The loss was estimated at $450.

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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