Sheriff’s deputies in Page County arrested a man from Coin, Thursday, following a traffic stop. 48-year old Gary Lynn Runyon, Jr., was arrested for Driving while license is barred, an Aggravated Misdemeanor.

Runyon was transported to the Page County Jail where he was booked into the jail later posted bond before being released, pending future court proceedings.

(Radio Iowa) – A state panel meets tomorrow (Friday) to set official estimates of state tax revenue for the next 15 months. Robust projections could lead House Republicans to accept the Iowa Senate’s plan to accelerate state income tax cuts. But House Speaker Pat Grassley says a 2018 law includes a benchmark that state tax collections grow by at least four percent before the tax cuts are triggered to kick in.

“We might sit here tomorrow and revenue has grown to a point where it’s not an issue, but if that’s not the case, we’re going to take a cautions approach to looking at the triggers,” Grassley says. Governor Kim Reynolds supports removing that tax revenue measurement, so a series of promised income tax cuts automatically take effect in 2023.

“We recognize that’s been a priority of the governor’s so we’ll engage in those conversations,” Grassley says. Another factor in the tax debate has been federal pandemic relief money, which is not to be used by states to cut taxes. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a statement, saying states may cut taxes — so long as an accounting shows the extra federal funds aren’t the reason a state is in a position to cut taxes. Grassley says he hasn’t seen that statement, but lawmakers will look at potential tax changes if it doesn’t jeopardize the federal aid.

“We obviously want to get money back in the pockets of hardworking Iowans, but we also want to do that in a responsible way that we don’t end up upside down like some of our neighbors,” Grassley says. Last month, the governor of Illinois proposed corporate tax changes that would raise 932 million more in taxes. The State of Illinois faces a budget deficit. Iowa has nearly a billion in cash reserves and the state’s economic emergency fund.

The Atlantic Police Department reports 26-year-old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested on separate charges, twice in one week. On March 8th, Baker was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution, and Public Intoxication. And, on Monday, March 15th, Baker was arrested again. This time on a Cass County warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree.

Chief Dave Erickson reports also, 22-year-old Sean Smith, of Atlantic, was arrested March 8th, on Cass County warrants for Child Endangerment, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Meth, and Theft in the 5th. The following day (March 9): 32-year-old Justin Patton, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd of subsequent offense; 33-year old Randy Frazier, of Atlantic, was arrested for Compulsory Education Violation/1st offense; and, 27-year old Mark Nyanchoka, of Clive, was arrested for Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations.

Baker and Patton remained in the Cass County Jail, as of March 18th.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City park has been renamed for a late resident and the first Black winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The Iowa City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved changing the name of Creekside Park to James Alan McPherson Park. McPherson enrolled at the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop after graduating from Harvard Law School, and in 1978, won the Pulitzer for “Elbow Room,” a collection of short stories. He joined the Writers’ Workshop faculty in 1981. He died in 2016. The park that now bears his name was recently renovated and features a new playground, shelter, basketball court, and restroom.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey of bankers points to a quickly recovering economy in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states as the survey’s individual indicators soared and the overall index rocketed to its highest reading since it began in 2006. The overall index of the Rural Mainstreet Survey shot up more than 18 points to 71.9 in March from February’s 53.8. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss credits in part sharp gains in grain prices, federal farm support and the Federal Reserve’s record-low interest rates.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Des Moines – Iowa seniors and Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to be aware of current Medicare card scams in our state.  To learn more about Medicare scams impacting Iowans, register for our live event on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. at https://bit.ly/3s0g8Ua. “It’s important for Iowans to protect their Medicare number and not give it to unknown callers,” SHIIP/SMP Director Kristin Griffith said. “Medicare will rarely contact you by phone, and if so, you can also hang up and call Medicare back to confirm that the call is legitimate and not a scam.”

Medicare scams include the following:

• Scammers falsely tell Medicare beneficiaries that Medicare is issuing new Medicare cards.  Medicare isn’t issuing new cards and Medicare employees don’t contact participants through unsolicited calls, emails, or visits. Medicare communicates with beneficiaries via mail.
• Scammers falsely allege Medicare is issuing new plastic or metal Medicare cards or black and white Covid-19 Medicare cards.  The scammers state that in order to get your new card, you need to provide personal identifying information such as your Medicare number, birth date or even financial account numbers. Medicare will never ask for your personal information or Medicare number unless you contact Medicare yourself.
• Scammers falsely allege Medicare is replacing the Medicare card due to suspicious activity, or promise the new Medicare card will give them new and enhanced Medicare benefits not available with their current card. Scammers often threaten that the current Medicare card is going to be deactivated.  This is not true.
• “Spoofing” is a process often used by scammers.  Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Scammers also often use “neighbor spoofing” so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number, or spoof a number from a company or a government agency like Medicare or Social Security Administration that you may already know and trust.

If you suspect Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse contact Iowa SHIIP/Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 1-800-351-4664 or www.smp.iowa.gov.

Des Moines, Iowa – The Iowa Insurance Division today announced that Trinity Healthshare Inc. (now known as Sharity Ministries, Inc.) has agreed to a consent order that says Trinity will cease operations in Iowa on June 30, 2021, following charges that were filed against Trinity Healthshare Inc. and The Aliera Companies in 2020.

“While Trinity has denied the allegations, it has agreed to cease operations in Iowa.  Trinity will continue to facilitate sharing among current Iowa members until June 30, 2021, so that members have sufficient time to find alternative options,” Iowa Insurance Division spokesman Chance McElhaney said.  “Consumers who have purchased these products are eligible for the ACA special enrollment period open now through May 15.  Consumers are encouraged to speak with licensed insurance agents who can help them determine what options may be available to them.”

According to the statement of charges, Respondent Trinity, purportedly operated as a health care sharing ministry, acted as an unauthorized insurer by offering health care insurance products to Iowa consumers which were not approved for sale in Iowa.  It is alleged that Aliera marketed, offered, sold, and administered these plans on behalf of Trinity without being appropriately licensed.  Both Aliera and Trinity are alleged to have utilized unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the offer and sale of these health care products.  The other Respondents in this matter are not part of this settlement.

Consumers may contact Consumer Advocate, Sonya Sellmeyer, if they have questions about the special enrollment option at 515-654-6538.