A state agency estimates it will collect more than one-and-a-half MILLION dollars in new fees from procrastinators or from people trying to avoid paying the taxes to pay unemployment benefits.

Iowa Workforce Development will levy a 500-dollar fine to Iowa businesses that fail to properly register as an employer. Officials estimate 32-hundred business owners will try to skip registering, to avoid paying unemployment taxes, or they’ll fail to meet the quarterly registration deadlines. In addition, the agency has the go-ahead from lawmakers to assess a 200-dollar fine to businesses that send in their registration paperwork through the mail. The legislative committee that reviews state government rules was briefed on these new fees yesterday (Tuesday).

All Iowa businesses are required to pay unemployment taxes electronically.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a Des Moines mother has been arrested after officers found her three children alone outside their home, including one naked and covered in feces, and another with a full diaper. TV station KCCI reports that a 4-year-old boy was left in charge Monday of his 2-year-old and 1-year-old siblings. County records say Destinee Miller remains jailed Tuesday on child endangerment charges.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Animal rights and free speech organizations have sued the state of Iowa challenging a 2012 law that made it illegal to get a job or gain access to a livestock farm through misrepresentation to conduct an undercover investigation. Animal rights activists often get a job to secretly videotape abusive behavior at chicken, pig and cattle farms and release it to the public. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Des Moines.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s office has corrected multiple errors in its guidance on the number of signatures that some Congressional candidates must gather to get on the ballot. For months, the office’s website misinformed potential candidates in Districts 2 and 3 about minimum signature requirements. A spokesman says the errors were corrected last week after they were pointed out by The Associated Press.

DANVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Crews are ready to begin an extensive $3 million restoration of Lake Geode in southeast Iowa. But the first task of opening pipes to drain the popular lake is proving to be a challenge. The Hawk Eye reports the plate covering the pipe may be stuck because of pressure, friction or being tied down. Divers may try to cut a hole in the plate or the reinforced concrete pipe. Once the plate is removed, water will flow to the other side of the dam and into Cedar Creek.

The board that governs the three state universities is delaying a decision on tuition increases. Board of Regents president Michael Richards released a statement today (Tuesday) that the board will not do its tradition first reading of a proposed tuition increase at its meeting next week in Cedar Falls. He says the board needs additional time to consider the proper tuition increase, and that they don’t want multiple tuition increases during the year.

The Regents raised tuition two percent last December, and then had to raise it again by three percent after state budget cuts. The presidents of the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and Northern Iowa each recently recommended to the board’s tuition task force that tuition be raised seven percent.

The U-I and I-S-U want to keep that same increase each of the next four years, while U-N-I proposes gradually reducing the increase each year.

(Radio Iowa)

Specialists with Iowa Workforce Development have been helping the workers at the Ferrara Candy Company in Creston after the announcement last week that the plant would close later this year. I-W-D’s Elizabeth Waigand says the good news is they have some time before the more than 200 workers are out of a job.

She says Ferrara won’t be closing until December and that makes it easier than if the company would have closed immediately. “Even though it is an unfortunate situation — it does give us and our community leaders time to plan.” Waigand says another positive factor is the state unemployment rate is low and many companies have been looking for workers to fill jobs. She says Workforce Development got calls soon after the Ferrara announcement from some 40 businesses who are interested in the company’s workers.

“We know that they have skill sets that other business are eager to take these employees on. But there will be people that may want to change their careers at this time of life,” Waigand says. She says workers who want to move in a different direction can get help with training to learn new skills. Waigand says she did a quick online search and found some 664 jobs available in the eight-county area, which means there are many opportunities available.

She says that number is actually higher than the listings as one company many be looking for five positions with the one listing. While the prospect of finding a new job looks good for the Ferrara workers, she says they will still be dealing with the emotional loss of a job they may’ve had for many years.

“If I lose my job, it’s not just losing some of my income. It’s also losing friends that I worked with for 10-plus years, you’re losing the routine of getting up every day and going to my job. It’s losing what you know how to do best — so that takes time,” according to Waigand. She says Workforce Development also helps the workers cope with they psychological impact of losing their job. Waigand says it’s something they talk about in the community and remind everyone about.

“Don’t expect people just to be on their top of spirits — because it takes time,” Waigand says. “We know that we are going to support these employees and find the next career that is right for them. But, it’s going to take time to cope with this.” Waigand says they have been meeting with the employees and will continue meeting with them and others in the community to prepare them for the plant closing.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Council Bluffs, today (Tuesday), released images of a vehicle whose occupant or occupants is believed to have been involved in shooting incidents Sunday morning. The still-frame images are from surveillance video. They show a white GMC or Chevy Z71 extended cab truck. If you have seen a vehicle matching the images shown below, please contact Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP (7867). Police warn you should not approach the truck or the occupants, who are considered to be armed and dangerous. (A summary of the original story about the incident follows…)

Council Bluffs Police are investigating a shots fired incident. Authorities say that at around 8-a.m. Sunday, officers responded to several 911 calls of shots being fired in the 600 block of Stutsman. A white, possibly Chevy, pickup truck was seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Upon arrival officers located several vehicles and a residence that had sustained damage. No injuries were reported. The area was closed off to traffic while Council Bluffs Crime Lab processed the scene and collected evidence.