More people have died in fire-related incidents in Iowa this year than any year since 1993. Ron Humphrey, a special agent with the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office, says the tentative fire fatality count for 2017 has climbed to 53. “We’ve confirmed 38, but I’ve got 15 that are still in the ‘unconfirmed’ category because we’re waiting on autopsies, confirmations from fire departments, or other reasons,” Humphrey told Radio Iowa.

Two fires within the last week in eastern Iowa’s Scott County killed nine people, including four children. Two more people were killed in a school bus fire near Oakland on December 12. “Tentatively, we’ve had about 20 fatalities since Thanksgiving, including the multiple fatalities in Davenport and Blue Grass in the last week,” Humphrey said.

The fire in Davenport on December 21 killed a 23-year-old woman and her four children; ages 5, 4, 2, and 9 months. Investigators said their mobile home did not have a working smoke detector. According to Humphrey, more than half of Iowa’s fatal fires involve homes where a working smoke detector could’ve potentially saved lives.

“Usually, there’s a nonworking smoke detector, or they’re not present, or there’s so much damage that we’re just not able to tell if there was a smoke detector in there working or not,” Humphrey said.

The 53 (tentative) fire-related fatalities in Iowa this year compares to 47 last year and 31 in 2015. This year’s unconfirmed total is more than double the 26 fire deaths in 2013.

(Radio Iowa)

(Update) — A traffic stop late Thursday night, in Atlantic, resulted in a foot pursuit and the arrest of 29-year old Justin Patton, of Atlantic. Iowa DOT Enforcement Officer Brian Rink was making the stop at around 10:30-p.m. Thursday, when Patton took off on foot.  Cass County Deputy Tyler Shiels was dispatched to the vicinity of 10th and Oak Streets, where the foot pursuit was underway. Shiels and his K9 partner were deployed and located Patton, who was taken into custody and brought to the Cass County Jail.

(AP) — As a deep freeze sets in across half the country, officials are urging people to help those most vulnerable, especially the homeless and the elderly. Forecasters are warning people to be wary of hypothermia and frostbite from the arctic blast that’s gripping a large swath from the Midwest to the Northeast.

The prolonged, dangerous cold weather has sent advocates for the homeless scrambling to get people off the streets and to bring in extra beds for them. Health officials say older people are at increased risk from such severe cold, from medication side effects to falling risks. They encouraged people to check on family members, friends and neighbors.

Animal advocates are urging people to remember their pets and not to leave them outside.

BLUE GRASS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of four family members killed by an early Christmas morning house fire in eastern Iowa. The blaze erupted a little after 12:30 a.m. Monday in Blue Grass. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office identified three of them as 71-year-olds Larry Loose Sr. and Rose Loose and their 36-year-old son, Steven Loose. They were pronounced dead at the scene. A second son, 35-year-old Michael Loose, escaped from the house and later was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The State Fire Marshal Division is still investigating the cause of the blaze. Blue Grass is a community of about 1,500 residents 150 miles east of Des Moines.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Adams County conducted a traffic stop just before midnight, Thursday, and upon further investigation, arrested a man from Union County. Noah Boykin, of Creston, was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Red Oak Police, Thursday night, arrested 40-year old Richard Allen Straw, of Red Oak. Straw was taken into custody at around 7:22-p.m. in the 100 block of W. Grimes Street, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $1,000 bond.

And, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 37-year old Luke Daniel Rinehart, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue a little after 7-p.m. Thursday. Rinehart was charged with Violation of a No Contact Order. He was being held without bond in the Montgomery Jail.

Egg prices are expected to increase in the coming months as other countries want to increase the number they import from the U.S. The heightened demand for U.S. eggs overseas comes as the Dutch egg supply was contaminated by misuse of an insecticide and Europe, Africa and East Asia deal with bird flu outbreaks. Iowa State University professor Hongwei Xin directs the Egg Industry Center. “These AI (Avian Influeza) outbreaks in other countries, it’s very unfortunate for them, but it does benefit our industry somewhat,” Xin says.

Iowa is, by far, the top egg producing state in the nation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts a dozen eggs will cost about 30 cents more at the start of 2018 compared to the first quarter of 2017. Xin says another factor in the price spike is Americans are eating more eggs. “We are at about 274 eggs per capita, per year. This is the highest of the past 38 years and it is, actually, anticipated to continue to increase into 2018,” Xin says.

According to Xin, the growing demand is prompting producers to add hens to their flocks. That will eventually mean more eggs — lowering the price. Xin adds that egg prices are seasonal and usually reach their peak during the winter holidays and again around Easter.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Amy Mayer, Iowa Public Radio)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is preparing to notify families in early February that federal money could run out for a health insurance program that covers roughly 60,000 low-income children in the state. The Iowa Department of Human Services is also exploring options in case funding ends for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known in the state as hawk-i. DHS could recommend freezing enrollment, switching kids to Medicaid or ending hawk-i entirely.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa prosecutor’s office has partnered with a school district to address truancy among students. The Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office launched the anti-truancy program with Mason City Schools about a year ago. District official Jadie Meyer tells the Mason City Globe Gazette that the program aims to work with students, parents and school officials to get kids back in school. She says nine students and their families have been involved.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Ethanol plants in Iowa have produced a record amount of the gasoline additive this year, narrowly topping last year’s record. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol trade group, says Iowa’s 43 ethanol plants turned out 4.2 billion gallons of ethanol this year surpassing the 4.1 billion gallons produced in 2016.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A Marine says she’s been given an apology but no explanation for an errant warrant that led to her arrest in a Des Moines suburb. Sgt. Kaylie Coats was arrested Dec. 7 while home on leave. The warrant alleged Coats hadn’t paid for a $45 cab ride in Clive in 2015. She told a judge the next day the allegation was wrong because she’d been stationed in California at the time. A few hours later the Clive police chief called Coats and apologized, explaining only that the warrant was issued in error.

Financial experts are combing through all of the looming changes in tax code and some Iowans may benefit from taking a few decisive actions before 2018 arrives, though time is quickly running out. Jeff Strawhacker, a C-P-A in West Des Moines, says the sweeping tax reforms that passed through Congress and became law last week will have far-reaching affects.

“Almost every Iowan will be impacted to some extent, whether it be through the lower rates, the increased brackets, the increased standard deduction, the cap on deductions,” Strawhacker says. “The question is, how will they be impacted and will it be a favorable or detrimental impact and I think that’s the key question.” There’s no easy answer to that question, he says, as it has to be taken on a case-by-case basis. One of the fundamental changes that’s coming is in how Iowans, their families and their businesses calculate their federal tax bill. Since most of the changes go into effect next year, Strawhacker says there’s a narrow window of time to make moves that could soften or avoid the impact of crackdowns.

“Consider pre-paying the March 2018 property taxes on their residences before the year-end,” Strawhacker says. “That’s due to the $10,000 cap on state income and property tax deductions that goes into effect in 2018 combined with the increased standard deduction.” Another change that’s coming may influence when and how much we donate money to charities.

“Consider accelerating charitable donations from 2018 into 2017,” Strawhacker says. “With the increased standard deduction that goes into effect in 2018, they may not receive a tax benefit from those donations but if they move them into ’17, we probably have a better chance of getting some tax benefits.” The tax law change may result in a dip in contributions to some charitable organizations, but Strawhacker thinks most people donate to such agencies because they want to, not just to get a tax break. Iowans who want to make some changes in their financial pictures will need to get busy.

“There’s not a lot of time to do much more before year end,” he says, “but I think the bigger key now is to look forward into 2018 and future years and determine what changes you might need to make going forward.” He notes, CPAs aren’t only useful for preparing your taxes, but also for helping you to make sound financial decisions year-round.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is preparing to notify families in early February that federal money could run out for a health insurance program that covers roughly 60,000 low-income children in the state.

The Iowa Department of Human Services is also exploring options in case funding ends for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known in the state as hawk-i. DHS could recommend freezing enrollment, switching kids to Medicaid or ending hawk-i entirely.

Ending the program would force families of about 44,000 children to seek other coverage or let them go uninsured. Department spokesman Matt Highland says DHS is still reviewing how newly approved short-term federal funding affects hawk-i’s finances. Notification to families could be delayed to March.

Highland says the department hopes Congress will approve long-term program funding next year, making contingency plans obsolete.