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Minor injury accident in Union County

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December 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say one-person suffered what were described as “suspected minor/incapacitating” injuries, Monday, during a collision between two pickup trucks. The crash happened at around 8:50-a.m. at the intersection of State Highway 25 and 130th Street, west of Green Valley Lake State Park. Authorities say a 2002 GMC pickup driven by 17-year old Kaden Bolton, of Creston, was stopped at the stop sign and proceeded into the intersection. He didn’t see an approaching southbound 2000 Chevy pickup driven by 28-year old Dillon Harry, of Orient, and pulled out in front of him.

Harry tried to avoid the collision, but his pickup hit the other pickup. Both vehicle ended-up in the southwest ditch. Dillon Harry was transported EMS to the hospital in Creston. Officials say both drivers were wearing their seat belts. Damage from the collision amounted to $13,000. There were no citations issued.

Iowa Slaying-Charges

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December 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – One of two men accused of killing a man in Cedar Rapids wants their trial moved out of Linn County. Thirty-four-year-old Drew Wagner cited pretrial publicity in his request filed Sunday. Wagner and 32-year-old Drew Blahnik have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other crimes in the slaying of 31-year-old Christopher Bagley. He went missing from his home in Walker in December 2018. Investigators have said Blahnik has confessed to stabbing Bagley in retaliation for his robbery of a large-scale marijuana trafficker. The court records don’t show that Blahnik also has requested that the trial be moved.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 12/31/19

News, Podcasts

December 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

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

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Creston man arrested Monday afternoon

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December 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Creston Police, Monday afternoon, arrested a man for Violation of a No Contact Order. 34-year old Steven Bochniak, of Creston, was arrested at around 2-p.m., in the 400 block of N. Pine Street.  He was being held in the Union County Jail, while  awaiting a bond hearing.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, 12/31/19

News, Podcasts

December 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Frederickson Fund donates $1k to Anita Playground Project

News

December 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Sara Sisler and Melanie Petty pictured. (Photo submitted by Melanie Petty)

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund recently donated $1,000 to Project Playground.  The Anita Town and Country Club has been actively raising money for the project and will be placing a new playground in the Anita city park.  Donations are still being accepted so if you can help them out please mail a check to them at PO Box 374 Anita, IA  50020.  They are a 501(c)3 so all donations are tax deductible.

Fund spokesperson and Trevor’s mom, Melanie Petty, said “We are happy to help out another non profit group with a worthy project.  We truly believe Trev would be proud of what we are accomplishing in his name and look forward to some other local projects that are in the works.” A reminder also, that the 12th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at the Nishna Hills Golf Course on Saturday, August 8th. Stay current on what the fund is up to by listening to KJAN and keeping an eye The Fund’s FaceBook page: Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund.

 

 

Superintendent fired from post at center for disabled Iowans

News

December 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – The superintendent of an Iowa care center for people with intellectual disabilities has been fired amid a federal investigation. Jerry Rea was notified in a letter Monday that he was being dismissed from his position at the Glenwood Resource Center. The letter says the dismissal is a result of disregard for policies and procedures. Associated Press efforts to reach Rea on Tuesday were unsuccessful. Rea had been placed on paid leave earlier this month. Few details have been released about the federal investigation. It covers concerns that residents with a range of developmental and physical disabilities were the subjects of sexual arousal experiments.

Expert: All Iowa merchants need to plan for responding to a hacker attack

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December 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa business owners need to add one more thing to their list of New Year’s resolutions. An expert suggests businesses of all sizes plan ahead for a digital data disaster should hackers ever break into your computer and access your customers’ files. Consumer advocate Lara Sutherlin says if you store any client data electronically, it’s vital that you are prepared to respond quickly and efficiently. Sutherlin says, “Have a plan in place if you do get exposed to a data breach, to notify your consumers, to notify regulators, to notify law enforcement.”

In perhaps the largest case in Iowa in the past year, the Hy-Vee grocery chain was hit by a data breach that was discovered this summer. Malware was blamed for exposing the payment information of an untold number of customers. It’s unpleasant to ponder, but it’s reality, Sutherlin says, adding, the responsibly for handling a data breach requires two main parts.  “Make sure you’re doing everything you can to shut down further information from being released from your business,” she says, “and that the people that may have been exposed are quickly notified and can act on that information.”

Trying to hide a data breach will only work for a short time before someone notices, and then not only will there be a public relations fiasco, you could face penalties for concealing a loss of information.

Donations need to be made by the 31st to count on 2019 taxes

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December 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The final days of 2019 are winding down and so are your chances to make a donation that you can claim on your federal income taxes. I-R-S spokesman, Chris Miller, says you have until Today (Tuesday). “Those who plan to itemized deductions should know that charitable contributions are deductible in the year that they are made. So take care of any last minute donations by December 31st,” Miller says.

He says the day you make the donation is the day that it counts. “Keep in mind that donations charged to a credit card before the end of 2019 count for a 2019 tax year deduction — even if the bill isn’t paid until 2020,” Miller says.  Miller says the same thing goes…”If you’re mailing a check — checks to a charity count for 2019 if they are mailed by the last day of the year,” according to Miller. “So, they don’t have to be processed by the bank or the charity — just mailed by the end of the year.”

Miller says if you make cash or other donation, be sure to get a dated receipt so you can claim them as deductions for this year.

Officials urge would-be Caucus-goers to update their voter registration now

News

December 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Democrats are urging caucus-goers to update their party registration today (Tuesday). Those who register by the close of business on December 31st are guaranteed to be on the list of eligible registered voters on Caucus Night. “That’s going to speed things up quite a bit at the sign-in line.” John Deeth is a volunteer with the Johnson County Democrats. He says making sure your registration is up to date will streamline the check-in process, especially at large precincts with lots of new voters. “By up to date, I mean both your address and your party affiliation,” Deeth says. “Both parties, you have to be registered with that party in order to participate in the caucus.”

Iowans may update their voter registration through the secretary of state’s website or in person at county offices. Caucus-goers will still be able to register to vote or switch their party affiliation at their precincts on February 3rd. “You can update your voter registration on Caucus Night and we welcome people who do that, but it will be faster for you if you get your registration up to date before January 1st,” Deeth says.

You must be a registered Democrat to participate in the Democratic Party’s Caucuses — and you must be a registered Republican voter to participate in the Iowa G-O-P’s Caucuses. Republican Party officials released a list of G-O-P precinct meeting locations last week.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Kate Payne)