Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is one of the sponsors of a bipartisan bill that would provide a tax credit for those who take care of aging parents, grandparents or other family members. “It’s time that we recognize the essential role these caregivers play in supporting aging relatives or family members with a long-term illnesses and disabilities,” Ernst says. Ernst is sponsoring the Credit for Caring Act along with fellow Senators Michael Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado, Kelly Ayotte, a Republican from New Hampshire, and Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts.

“This legislation will provide up to a three-thousand dollar non-refundable tax credit to working family caregivers for qualified expenses,” Ernst explains.
She says the tax credit helps alleviate some of the out of pocket financial expenses that caregivers often take on, all while balancing full or part-time employment.

“The credit would be available to those working family caregivers who have incurred expenses of more than two-thousand dollars while caring for a family member who has been certified to be in need of long-term care,” Ernst says. “In particular, this credit would help cover the costs associate with caring for a family member — such as home modifications to accommodate special needs, medication management, respite care, and more.”

A-A-R-P supports the bill and says there are an estimated 317-thousand family caregivers in Iowa who provide an estimated unpaid care worth more than three-point-eight (3.8) billion dollars annually to their adult loved ones. Ernst says the credit would also phase out at higher income levels to ensure appropriate taxpayer protections are in place.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s spring turkey hunting season opens for youth-only tomorrow (Saturday). Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say about 50-thousand turkey licenses have been purchased so far this year. Jim Coffey, a forest wildlife species technician with the D-N-R’s Wildlife Bureau, predicts an excellent season ahead.

“We’re going to be coming off of a good hatch, not just last year but two years ago,” Coffey says. “I would expect to see lots of two-year-old gobblers out there. Those are sometimes aggressive birds that will come to the call more readily than the older birds do. Don’t be surprised if you have a couple-three birds show up to your calls this year.” The wild turkey population should be strong this spring, he predicts, as this past winter wasn’t too harsh.

“Unless we have deep snow over 10-inches, turkeys survive real well in Iowa,” Coffey says. “They want to get out. The sun’s changing, the temperatures are changing. They’re ready to get out and start doing their spring thing and get the nesting season started.” Many hunters could benefit from a reminder about safety, Coffey says.

“We want to make sure we identify our target, we identify downrange so we know what we’re shooting at because if we shoot the wrong thing, we may be in violation,” Coffey says. “We’re going to shoot male birds or bearded birds. On the ethical side, be friendly to the other hunters. Don’t try to sneak in on somebody or do something that might disrupt their hunt.”

The youth-only season begins Saturday and runs through April 17. The first of the four regular seasons will be April 18 through 21. The second is April 22 through 26. The third is April 27 to May 3. The fourth season is May 4 to 22. The archery-only license is good from April 18 through May 22. Learn more at: www.iowadnr.gov

(Radio Iowa)

GRAND RIVER, Iowa (AP) — A child who was found unresponsive earlier this week has now died, and the infant’s parents are both facing charges. Decatur County Attorney Lisa Jeanes says 3-month-old Sebastian Guill died Thursday at a Des Moines hospital. Autopsy results are pending.

Authorities say they received a report around noon Monday about an infant who was having trouble breathing. When emergency crews arrived at the Grand River home they found Guill unresponsive.

The child’s father, 25-year-old Joshua Guill, was initially charged with child endangerment causing bodily injury, but since the infant’s death he now faces charges of first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. The child’s mother, 20-year-old Jasmin Kifer, is charged with child endangerment causing serious injury.

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Roger Herring has announced that the Kiwanis and the middle school Builder’s Club workday scheduled for Saturday, April 9th, has been postponed due to the weather, and is rescheduled for  Saturday, April 16th, from 9:00 – noon at the Kiddie Korral Shelter in Sunnyside Park.

A woman already in the Montgomery County jail on numerous theft charges, now faces additional, similar charges. Sheriff’s officials said today (Friday), 39-year old Janet Lynn Tarbox, of Red Oak, was charged with six counts of Theft: One count each of 2nd and 3rd degree Theft, and four counts of Theft in the 4th degree.

The charges are the result of an ongoing investigation into employee theft from a business in Red Oak. Additional charges are expected. Tarbox was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $20,000 bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Thursday night of a woman on an assault charge. 24-year old Candi Marie Duncan, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Assault Causing Bodily Injury and Assault Causing Bodily Injury. Her bond at the Mills County Jail was set at $2,000.

Iowa homeowners who have tulips, daffodils, newly-planted trees and other tender plants poking up in their yards will need to get busy this (Friday) afternoon to save them. Meteorologist Craig Cogil, at the National Weather Service, says a Freeze Warning is posted for a wide portion of Iowa, roughly from Highway 20 south. “We’re going to see temperatures drop well below freezing overnight across the entire state,” Cogil says. “We are concerned about some of the trees and vegetation across the southern half to two-thirds of the state that have seen growth and are susceptible to freezing temperatures.”

Many areas of the state may see temperatures dip into the low-to-mid-20s tonight and into tomorrow morning. Homeowners will need to act to keep their plants from being nipped or possibly killed by the overnight cold snap. “Individuals in those situations, obviously, if you have smaller plants, cover them up, that helps out,” Cogil says. “People that have orchards will have mitigation techniques they use. The main thing is to get them covered up.”

We’re a couple of weeks into spring now but Cogil says this isn’t an unusual situation. “Some years, especially if you look back at 2012, had an extremely warm March, everything was ahead as far as growing was concerned,” Cogil says. “We saw that a little bit in March where temperatures were warm and things are maybe a little bit ahead of normal, but this is not entirely unusual.”

Some areas of northern Iowa are seeing flurries fly this morning and while it’ll be a cold weekend, Cogil predicts the sparse snow won’t accumulate.

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court says defendants facing drug charges must be told that they’ll lose their driving privileges for six months if they plead guilty. The court ruled Friday that defendants also have a right to know the amount of mandatory surcharges they’ll be required to pay on top of their fines. Those declarations came in an appeal filed by Kevin Fisher, who pleaded guilty to possessing a small amount of marijuana in Iowa City in 2013.

As part of a plea agreement, he agreed to plead guilty, spend two days in jail and pay a $315 fine.  He wasn’t told that his plea would also result in the automatic suspension of his drivers’ license for 180 days, or that he’d have to pay an additional $245 in surcharges.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Thursday night of a man wanted on an outstanding warrant. 36-year old Nathan Ray Johnson, of Audubon, was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd offense and Violation of a Protection Order. The charges stem from an investigation into an incident that allegedly occurred at a residence in Hamlin on April 3rd. Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted in making the arrest.

Johnson was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Emergency Management officials in Shelby County have upgraded the field/grassland Fire Danger rating to “High” this weekend. EMA Operations Officer Jason Wickizer says there will also be a chance of “Red Flag” Conditions.  He urges people to be mindful of drying conditions, wind and abundant dead vegetation.

Authorities therefore are asking anyone who plans to conduct controlled burns to contact their local fire chief, first. Be sure and call 755-2124 also, with the location of your burn, so dispatchers can gather logistical data.  Burns should be conducted with fire chief approval during the late evening or early morning hours only, when winds are usually reduced.