Three separate accidents took place over the past week in Union County, with a total of two injuries reported. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 22-year old Madison Jane Selvy, of Creston, was transported to the Greater Regional Hospital in Creston, after the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee she was driving went off the edge off northbound Highway 25 at around 1:45-p.m., Tuesday. Selvy tried to bring the SUV back onto the pavement, but then lost control. The vehicle entered the east ditch, where it rolled over and landed on its top. Selvy had to be extricated from her vehicle before being transported by ambulance to the hospital. The Jeep sustained $5,000 damage

On Jan. 21st, 18-year old Jesse Daylon Vicker, of Creston, was transported by private vehicle to the hospital in Creston, after the 2004 Chevy 2500 pickup she was driving, went out of control after hitting a patch of ice on 205th Street, in Union County. The pickup entered the north ditch, rolled over and came to rest upright. A farm fence owned by Thayne Glynn, of Creston, sustained $300 damaged during the accident. The pickup truck – valued at $7,500 – was a total loss.

And, on Jan. 20th, 24-year old Alexis Ann Owens, of Red Oak, was traveling west on Highway 3 in Union County at around 8-a.m., when she looked down to see how fast she was going. When she looked up, she saw a 2019 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 27-year old Myles Promes, of Urbandale, was slowing down for a vehicle in front of his, that was in the process of turning off of Highway 3. Owens’ 2011 Ford SUV hit Promes’ pickup in the rear, causing a total of $6,500 damage. No injuries were reported.

MINEOLA, Iowa (AP) – Neighboring residents and other people opposed to the construction of a chicken confinement facility in western Iowa filled a meeting at a church and roundly criticized the plan as better suited to an industrial park. Eight barns would be built on a property that sits about a mile north of Mineola, and plans are to raise 200,000 or more chickens there every eight weeks. Last week the Pottawattamie County supervisors voted to recommend that the state deny approval. The opponents’ concerns aired at Monday’s meeting in Mineola included the potential smell, the impact on the water table and extra road traffic.

The Iowa Caucuses are in four days and Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson has this report on the closing message from one of the leading candidates. (click on the left side of the audio bar below, to listen)….

On Tuesday, your heard Joe Biden’s closing message to Iowans. Tomorrow (Thursday), Radio Iowa will bring you the latest on Amy Klobuchar’s campaign sprint.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – Classes are canceled district-wide in Waterloo today (Wednesday) over safety concerns. Someone made a threat on social media Tuesday night, threatening to blow up four school buildings. The threat posted to Facebook, targeted East and West High Schools, George Washington Carver Academy and Central Middle School. Snap shots of the threat were shared multiple times on social media.

In a statement released early today, district officials said police and school staff worked throughout the night to investigate the threat as they try to identify the person or persons responsible for the post. District officials say while great progress was made in resolving the issue, more of the investigation needs to be completed before students can safely return to school.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report 30-year old Christopher Bird, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday afternoon. Bird was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for an original charge of Driving While Suspended or Revoked. He was booked into the Union County Jail and released on a $1,000 bond.

And, a woman residing in the 500 block of W. Spencer Street, in Creston, reported Monday morning, that someone broke into her vehicle parked outside of her residence, and took documents including the registration, and proof of insurance. Two children’s jackets were also taken. Entry to the vehicle was gained by prying the driver’s side door open. The damage and loss was estimated at $300.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Police have arrested a suspect in the armed robbery of a student at a Cedar Rapids high school. Cedar Rapids police said Tuesday the 18-year-old male remained in custody but would not yet release his name or the charges against him. The robbery was reported a little after 3:30 p.m. Monday in a parking lot at Kennedy High School. The 18-year-old student was nearing her vehicle when confronted by the robber. Police say he displayed a handgun and took only her cellphone. She was not injured.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A nurse has been given four years in prison for fraudulently obtaining painkillers from her patients in eastern Iowa. Katie Boll, from Manchester, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. She’d pleaded guilty to tampering with a consumer product resulting in injury and acquiring the painkiller oxycodone by deception. Federal prosecutors dropped 12 other counts in exchange. She also was ordered to forfeit her nursing license. Authorities said Boll was a nurse for the Good Neighbor Society in Manchester when she schemed to acquire hydrocodone, morphine and other painkillers from at least 14 patients in her care.

(Radio Iowa) — The Internal Revenue Service is now accepting our 2019 federal income tax returns and the Iowa Department of Revenue is taking our state returns, as of Monday. John Fuller, public information officer for the state tax agency, says they aren’t usually swamped with returns at this stage, unless someone is expecting a big refund. “We probably don’t get a lot early in the process,” Fuller says. “It’s probably beneficial for people to file sooner rather than later. With me, I’m always searching for one document or making sure I haven’t misplaced my W-2, but there’s a lot of early filers in Iowa, too.”

Iowans were very vocal in their complaints in recent years as refund checks were taking longer than usual to process due to increased security measures. “Our goal this year is to process returns in 30 days,” Fuller says, “and if we hit the 45-day mark, we’ll kick in some overtime on that.” The state revenue department has redesigned its website to better serve taxpayers. It’s at tax-dot-iowa-dot-gov (tax.iowa.gov).

Fuller says the site is a good starting point to find tax guidance, new tax forms, and answers to all kinds of tax questions. There’s information on how to file, tips to avoid common mistakes, and details on how to check the status of a refund. In addition, there’s a toll-free hotline: 800-367-3388. “We’ve enhanced our technology on our phone system which has been a frustrating experience when people have to wait too long,” Fuller says. “There’s a little more automation. We’ve also extended the time period when they can call. There’ll be people here answering the phones until 6 o’clock Monday through Thursday.”

Friday hours are from 8 A-M to 4:30 P-M. Fuller says they’ve also extended the front desk hours to help walk-in customers. Iowa taxpayers are required to provide their federal return with their Iowa return and Iowa returns are due April 30th.