(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) reminds Iowans with low to moderate income, Iowans who are elderly, and Iowans with disabilities that they can get free tax preparation services at sites throughout the state. Funding for the initiative comes from a two-year grant through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant program. VITA is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) initiative designed to promote and support free tax preparation services for the underserved, in both urban and non-urban locations.

DHS contracts with the Iowa Center for Economic Success to promote and deliver the tax preparation services through coalition partners across the state. You can find locations and times for tax preparation assistance at: http://theiowacenter.org/taxes/ or at http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/.

Michelle Bartusek with Iowa Center for Economic Success, says “Our volunteers train and certify with the IRS to prepare tax returns for Iowans and ensure they receive the credits and refunds for which they are eligible. Our focus remains on preparing accurate returns at no cost for Iowans who meet criteria for the program. This is money Iowa families can save or use to pay off bills, buy a car to get to work, or make a down payment on a home.”

During the 2018 filing season, over 141,000 Iowa families claimed over $61.7 million in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC eligibility can be complex and varies by income, family size, and filing status. By visiting a VITA site, Iowans can access IRS-trained and certified volunteers who can help them determine if they qualify for the EITC and other refundable tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit or education credits. Volunteers at these sites also prepare and e-file (electronically file) tax returns at no cost. More than 740 volunteers prepared over 19,000 returns during last year’s filing season.

DHS Director Kelly Garcia, says “The Earned Income Tax Credit can be extremely helpful for working Iowans, providing them more money to help them pay for groceries, housing costs and other bills. We want to spread the word and encourage Iowans eligible to file a tax return, even if they don’t owe any taxes, to take full advantage of the EITC.”

Police in Red Oak say there were no injuries, but the driver of an SUV was cited, following a collision Thursday afternoon, at the intersection of Joy and 3rd Streets, in Red Oak. Officials report a 2002 Dodge Durango driven by 67-year old Ronald Lee Lunsford, of Red Oak, was traveling east on Joy Street at around 4:25-p.m., when he failed to yield at the posted intersection. A 2019 Nissan Altima, driven by 44-year old Jeanette Eggerss, of Red Oak, was traveling southbound on the one-way 3rd Street when she was broadsided by the SUV.

Damage from the collision amounted to $8,000 altogether. Ronald Lunsford was cited for Failing to yield at a Yield Sign.

Police in Creston arrested 34-year old Ashlee Willets, of Creston, Thursday morning. Willets was taken into custody for allegedly violating the terms of a valid protective order. She appeared before the magistrate and was subsequently released on her Own Recognizance.

(Radio Iowa) — The Internal Revenue Service is offering a new income tax form specifically for senior citizens, which could become popular in Iowa, as we have a greater percentage of older residents than almost every other state. Norman Penix, a spokesman for the A-A-R-P Tax Aid Foundation, says the new 10-40 S-R form is identical to the traditional 10-40 form, with just one exception. “The new form is really just a larger print version to make it easier to read for seniors to be able to fill out on their own,” Penix says, “however, AARP is willing to do their tax returns for them as long as they’re within our scope of work.”

The S-R, or senior, form is brand new for this tax season and the tax preparer had to give it a close inspection to see if anything else had changed, besides the font size. “Not that I can see,” Penix says. “I’m looking at the 1040-SR right now on the screen and on a paper copy. Really, it’s just a larger print version.” According to the I-R-S, you can use the 10-40-S-R form if you or your spouse were born before January 2nd, 1955. While A-A-R-P initially made a name for itself as being specifically for retired persons, Penix says they offer tax preparation help to a wide range of people, not just seniors. “We do do taxes,” Penix says. “We do not have an age requirement for AARP nor do we have an income requirement, however, we have a scope document that limits what we can do.”

Iowans can enter their ZIP code on the website — www.aarp.org/money/taxes — to find the nearest tax preparation site.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Associated Press is unable to declare a winner of Iowa’s Democratic caucuses. Following the Iowa Democratic Party’s release of new results late Thursday night, Pete Buttigieg leads Bernie Sanders by two state delegate equivalents out of 2,152 counted. That is a margin of 0.09 percentage points. However, there is evidence the party has not accurately tabulated some of its results, including those released late Thursday that the party reported as complete. The AP’s tabulation of the party’s results are at 99% of precincts reporting, with data missing from one of 1,765 precincts, among other issues.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders will emerge from Iowa’s Democratic caucuses with the most delegates to the party’s national convention, regardless of which one eventually wins the contest. According to The Associated Press delegate count, Buttigieg and Sanders have each won at least 11 national delegates, with a handful of delegates still to be awarded. Elizabeth Warren has won at least five delegates, while Joe Biden has won at least two and Amy Klobuchar has at least one. Iowa will award 41 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Will the Iowa caucuses ever wrap up? Now the chairman of the Democratic National Committee is calling for a “recanvass” of the results. Party leader Tom Perez tweeted Thursday that “enough is enough” after three days of technical issues and delays. Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders are nearly tied for the lead after the delays. Both candidates have declared themselves victorious in Monday’s contest. The Associated Press said Thursday that it is unable to declare a winner in the contest. The Iowa Democratic Party suggested it may not comply with Perez’s request, issuing a statement that said it would conduct a recanvass if one was requested by one of the candidates.

AKRON, Iowa (AP) — Factory livestock farms are spreading across rural America, raising concerns about environmental damage and health risks for people living nearby. An industry once based on small, independent farms is evolving into large operations housing thousands of animals under one roof. The change is helping make beef, poultry and pork more affordable. But animal waste from the mega-farms has fouled waters. The enclosures spew air pollutants that promote climate change and are implicated in illnesses such as asthma. The stench of manure can make life miserable for people nearby. The spread of corporate animal farms is turning neighbor against neighbor in town halls and courtrooms across rural America. Iowa is a major battleground as the top U.S. producer of swine and egg-laying chickens.