(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans have answered their phones to hear a distant caller claiming to be with Microsoft and offering to “fix” our computers. A new survey finds the extent to which those tech support scams are reaching us — and ripping some of us off. Mary Jo Schrade, with the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, says three in five of us have received those calls, and one in six lost money on them. Schrade says, “Tech scammers are targeting everyone, even the most active technology users like Millennials and Gen Z.”The con artists are using sophisticated schemes that have evolved from cold calls to more of them using fake pop-up ads and fraudulent websites. “Scammers are fast-moving and innovative,” Schrade says, “so when someone encounters a pop-up that asks them to call a phone number or click on a link to resolve an issue, it’s important to be wary and use caution.”

Microsoft gets 65-hundred complaints every month from people reporting they were victims of a tech support scam in which scammers use the company’s name to lure victims into paying for unnecessary or harmful “services.” Many thousands more are going unreported. “Report the scam on the Microsoft website,” she says. “The more reports we receive, the better we get at fighting these scammers. Remember, we will never proactively contact you asking for your financial or personal information.”

While you might think young people would be more tech savvy, the survey found one out of ten Millennials and one out of ten Gen Zers who encountered a scam fell for it — and lost money.

On the web: www.microsoft.com/reportascam

(Clearfield, Iowa) – A fire at a large egg production plant in Taylor County over the weekend caused heavy damage to the facility, but there were no reports of injuries. The blaze at the 136,600-square foot Hen Haven egg plant in Clearfield, was reported at around 7:30-a.m. Saturday.

Law enforcement and at firefighters from at least six area departments and surrounding counties responded to the blaze at 1641 Yellowstone Avenue. Smoke that billowed from the facility was visible for miles.

To date, there’s been no word on what caused the fire, or a dollar amount of the loss. Additional information is expected to be released later this week.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Voters in the City of Atlantic will head to the polls for the second time this month, Tuesday (Tomorrow) to determine who will take the helm as Mayor in January. During the November 2nd City/School Elections, two candidates – Tim Teig and Grace Garrett – got the most votes, but didn’t reach that 50-percent-plus-one threshold. Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones did not run for re-election. Today (Monday) is the last day to vote absentee in the Cass County Auditor’s Office.

Teig received the most votes in the first election. He served as Mayor of Atlantic years ago. He also served on the city council in the 1980s. Grace Garrett was the second place finisher and will face Teig in the November 30 run-off. Garrett is currently an at-large member of Atlantic’s city council.

Tim Teig

Grace Garrett

Voting sites for this election will both be at the Cass County Community Center at 805 W 10th St. Atlantic 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wards will use the main entrance; and Atlantic 4th and 5th Wards will use the south entrance. Polls will open at 7:00 A.M. and close at 8:00 P.M.

The results of the election will be posted on the kjan.com News page, as soon as they are final.

Grinnell, Iowa (KCCI) — A 13-year-old boy is facing an attempted murder charge following a stabbing on Saturday morning in Grinnell. Police officers received a call just before 8 a.m., leading them to respond to a home on Melrose Lane. A 43-year-old man was found inside the home injured by a stab wound to the abdomen. The man was taken to Unity Point Grinnell Regional Medical Center, where he’s expected to recover.

Grinnell police arrested the 13-year-old, who is at a juvenile detention center awaiting his initial court appearance. Police are still investigating the incident. If anyone knows anything, police are asking them to call (641) 236-2670. Authorities says it appears the attack was unprovoked.

JAMAICA, Iowa — In an update to our previous report, an Iowa family’s home was a total loss following a Thanksgiving night fire in Guthrie County. Pictures from Katelyn Renze’s Twitter account show massive flames in Jamaica, visible when crews arrived at the home on Second Avenue around 6:30 p.m.

The Jamaica Fire Department said it started in the garage and spread to the home. There were two people in the home at the time, but they managed to get out. There are no reported injuries.

Ten fire departments responded to the fire, most helped transport water since Jamaica doesn’t have a large water tower.

(Radio Iowa) – The state’s “Taxpayer Relief Fund” has grown from 74 million dollars two years ago to more than one BILLION dollars this fall — and the latest newsletter from Iowa House Republicans says there’s no valid reason that money should not be returned to taxpayers. There’s more than 800 million in two OTHER state funds designed to respond to emergencies and last spring, Democrats in the legislature called for spending some of THAT money on pandemic relief. Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley says the G-O-P approved a state budget that provided the highest amount of funding ever for broadband, with more money to K-through-12 schools and public safety — all while accumulating what amounts to a billion dollars extra.

“We continue to fund the priorities that we hear from Iowans, but also we hear from Iowans that if there is an overpayment — which I look at this as an overpayment — we need to figure out how we get that back in the hands of Iowans, so they can get that back in the economy,” Grassley says. The Taxpayer Relief Fund was created in 2019, so ALL state tax revenue that’s over and above the official projections set by a three-member state panel is deposited in the fund. Grassley says its exponential growth shows Iowa’s economy is resurgent.

“Our economy has really been strong here in this state,” Grassley says. “You go anywhere, people are hiring. People are buying.” Governor Reynolds and the Republican leader in the Iowa Senate have said their long-term goal is to eliminate the state income tax. Grassley, the top Republican in the House, agrees.  “I don’t think that there’s any elected Republican in our caucus that would say: ‘Oh, no we don’t want to work to get the state’s income tax as low as we can,'” Grassley says. “Obviously, the ultimate goal would be zero.”

Democratic leaders in the legislature say tax cuts should benefit working Iowans. In 2011, the legislature created a Taxpayer Trust Fund for up to 60 million dollars in unexpected state tax revenue every year. The fund originally provided state income tax credits, but was changed three years ago so ALL state tax collections that exceeded expectations have been deposited in the renamed Taxpayer Relief Fund.

(Atlantic, Iowa) The Cass County Board of Supervisors have a regular meeting set for Tuesday morning in their Boardroom at the Courthouse. On the agenda for their 9-a.m. session, is a regular report from Engineer Trent Wolken, with regard to Secondary Roads. The Board will then move to act on approving the employment of an IT/GIS Director, and a Resolution authorizing an internal loan to temporarily cover the costs prior to receipt, of General Obligation Bond proceeds.

Discussion and possible action, will follow with regard to the possible use of funding from the American Rescue Plan (for COVID relief), and consideration of a request regarding radios and repeaters for Firefighters/EMS providers. Afterward, the Board may appoint a member to the Cass County Conservation Board for the remainder of a term.

A report is expected to be received also, from the Cass County Mental Health and General Relief Coordinator, for the month of October.

(Audubon, Iowa) – A special meeting of the Audubon School Board will be held 7-a.m. Monday in the High School Board Room. During their early session, the Board will act on approving a Resolution appointing the Paying Agent, Bond Registrar, and Transfer Agent and agreements for those same parties. They will also act on approving: a Form of Tax Exemption Certificate; Continuing Disclosure Certificate; and a Resolution for the Issuance and Providing for and securing, the payment of bonds.

(Pacific Junction, Iowa) – A traffic stop Saturday evening outside of Pacific Junction resulted in a pursuit and the arrest of a man from Mills County. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says at around 6:24-p.m., deputies tried to stop a 2008 Chrysler 300 at Highway 34/190th Street, but the vehicle failed to stop. Speeds during the resulting chase exceeded 100-mph before the vehicle stopped near mile marker 40 on Interstate 29.

The driver of the car, 33-year-old Aaron Wade Opdyke, of Malvern, was arrested. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, authorities found nearly seven-ounces of marijuana, along with methamphetamine.

Aaron Wade Opdyke (Mills County S/O photo)

Opdyke was transported to the Mills County Jail and held on $15,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) -Community colleges in Estherville, Mason City and Sheldon have been notified they’re among 150 U.S. community colleges that can compete for what a former president has called the “Oscar” for achievement and student performance. The Aspen Institute’s one-million dollar prize is handed out once every two years to just one of the country’s more than one-thousand community college. Robert Leifeld, Iowa Lakes Community College vice president for administration, says the Aspen Institute evaluated publicly available data to come up with its list of 150 schools.

“Student retention, the completion, transfer and equitable rates as far as those of low income and students of color — those are the key areas they look at when they did the initial round of selecting the institutions,” he says.
North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City and Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon are the other two Iowa colleges on the list. Leifield says the next step is to fill out an official application. It’s due in early December and the Aspen Institute will then select 10 finalists.

“Of the 10 finalists, then there’s an on-site visit and that will be about in the fall of 2022,” he says. “Then they’ll look at more information and my understanding that information would include employment and earnings data and insight about promising practices that the institution is working on, pursuing or implemented.” The next Aspen Institute Prize for Community College Excellence will be awarded in early 2023. Three community colleges in Florida and one in California have been recognized since the award was established. Leifeld says it’s an acknowledgement that a community college is accomplishing its mission.

“That they’re serving students, they’re helping students and the students are reaching their goals,” he says. The Aspen Institute is an international non-profit that hosts an annual Ideas Festival that draws well-known participants like former presidents, Supreme Court justices and leaders from other countries.