Getting an email from the I-R-S might make some of us snap to attention, but Iowans are being advised if they get such an item in their in-boxes, they can likely just delete it. I-R-S spokesman Christopher Miller says a new tax scam is making the rounds. “The IRS is warning taxpayers to be on the lookout for fake emails that seem like they’re from the IRS inviting them to sign up or register for something called e-services or electronic services,” Miller says. “If you get an email like that, don’t fall for it, it’s a scam.”

The agency -does- offer an e-services program but it’s for professional tax preparers only, not the general public. He says the phony website looks almost identical to the real one. If the tax collection agency wants to reach you, Miller says, it won’t be using that means. “The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to ask for personal or financial information,” Miller says. “That includes any type of electronic communication, like text messages or social media. If you get something that seems like the IRS is trying to contact you by email, it’s going to be a scam.”

If you do wind up on what appears to be an IRS website, there’s one sure way to verify it’s authentic. “The only official website of the IRS is www.irs.gov,” Miller says. “Don’t be fooled by sites claiming to be the IRS but that have addresses ending in dot-com or dot-net or dot-org. The only real IRS site is IRS.gov.” Criminals use these look-alike websites to lure people into providing personal and financial information that may be used to steal the victim’s money or identity. If you find a suspicious website that claims to be the IRS, send the web address by email to phishing@irs.gov using the subject line, “Suspicious Website.”

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two black men who served 25 years in prison in the 1977 killing of a retired, white Iowa police captain say they were framed by detectives and are asking a jury to award them more than $100 million.  Terry Harrington and Curtis McGhee were convicted in the slaying of John Schweer in Council Bluffs. They were freed in 2003 after the Iowa Supreme Court found prosecutors had committed misconduct.

The men’s attorneys said during opening statements Thursday in Des Moines that they will show two former Council Bluff detectives coerced car theft suspects into implicating Harrington and McGhee in Schweer’s death. The Nebraska men are suing the detectives and the city.

Their attorneys say they’re seeking justice from a system that deprived them of freedom for much of their lives.

The trial date in the case of an Atlantic man facing a felony charge of Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury, and a Serious Misdemeanor charge of Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury, has been set. According to online court records, arraignment for 45-year old Rex Dean McDermott is slated for November 19^th, with a pre-trial conference scheduled to occur on December 10^th. His trial will take place on January 8^th, in Cass County District Court.

McDermott was arrested following an incident which allegedly occurred at R&B Feeds in Atlantic on October 13th. McDermott has entered a plea of Not Guilty to the charges. He is currently free on $6,000 bond.  On October 24^th, McDermott was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol in Webster County on a charge of OWI/1st offense, and cited for Failure to obey a stop or yield sign. He plead Not Guilty to the OWI charge and was released on $1,000 bond the same day.  A hearing for his initial appearance on the Failure to Stop citation was continued 180 days, pending the outcome of the OWI case.

The City Council in Walnut will hold a regularly scheduled meeting this evening. During their 5-p.m. session, the Council will discuss, among other matters,  a possible Streetscape enhancement project, and a possible refacing of the billboard located adjacent to Interstate 80. They’ll also discuss and possibly act on an annual evaluation of the City Employees, along with the Codification of the City of Walnut Code of Ordinances, followed by action on the adoption of a Resolution ordering the City Clerk to publish a notice of hearing on The Adoption of the Proposed Code of Ordinances.