Free tax preparation services will be available in Shelby County next month, for low and moderate income taxpayers as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. For more information or to make an appointment call on or after February 1st to 712-755-3104. Call between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. After an appointment is scheduled the taxpayer will receive a confirmation letter explaining what to bring to the appointment.

The VITA program is open to Iowa residents with adjusted gross income below $57,000. Tax preparation services will be provided by IRS trained and certified local volunteers who utilize the Tax Wise software to complete returns. Most returns will be electronically filed and to speed up the refund process participants are encouraged to have a savings or bank account, although it is not required. Taxpayers can have refunds deposited into more than one account and also purchase Series I US Savings Bonds.

Only Basic Federal, Iowa and nearby state returns will be processed. The program does not prepare Schedules or Forms related to Business profit/loss (except Schedule C-EZ or C with business expenses under $10,000), Capital gains/losses, Farm or rental income, Employee business expenses, or Moving expenses. A professional tax preparer should be consulted for these services.

In Shelby County the VITA program is a joint effort of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Iowa Center for Economic Success. The program is financially supported by the Internal Revenue Service and the Iowa Department of Human Services. For more information about the program contact the Shelby County Extension Office at 712-755-3104.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – A northwestern Iowa woman has pleaded not guilty to allegations that she intentionally crashed the car she was driving into another vehicle.
Melissa Ebert entered a written plea on Friday to two counts of attempted murder and other crimes. No trial date has been set.

Prosecutors say the 29-year-old Ebert threatened to kill herself and her passenger, Damian Johnson, before purposely veering her car into the path of an oncoming car on Sept. 9. Court documents say Ebert and Johnson were arguing before the collision. The collision severely injured Ebert, Johnson and the driver of the other car.

Police in Creston say one person was arrested Monday night on an OWI/1st offense charge. Jon Moberg, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 9-p.m. at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Moberg was later released on $1,000 bond.

Creston Police are also investigating a break-in and theft, both of which were reported Monday. A resident in the 900 block of W. Summit Street in Creston, told police that sometime between Midnight Jan. 22nd and 10-a.m. Jan. 23rd, someone broke into and vandalized his rental property at 304 S. Vine Street. The front door of the home was kicked-in, causing damage to the door jam, and broken glass throughout the house. A patio door was also broken, and the home’s thermostat turned-up. The Damage was estimated at $650.

And, a resident in the 600 block of Grand Avenue in Creston, said someone took a charcoal grill off her front porch. The theft, which occurred sometime between Jan. 18th and 25th, resulted in an estimated loss of $150.

The area’s top news at 7:07-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A meeting sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach “Heifer Development: Breeding & Selecting for Longevity & Profit” will be held on Monday February 1, 2016, 5-9 pm at Cass County Community Center in Atlantic.

Record-high cattle prices of 2014 and early 2015 followed by the recent price decline of the feeder and fed cattle markets may have placed some financial stress on cow-calf producers. High-priced replacement females will need to be productive for several years in order to be profitable investments. Presenters will focus on current genetic and phenotypic selection tools that can be utilized to improve cow longevity and enhance lifetime productivity in your herd.

If registered 3 days prior to event, a registration fee of $20 can be paid at the door. Walk-in registration fee will be $25. Please register by Friday January, 29 to ensure a meal will be available. Please call 515-294-2333 or email beefcenter@iastate.edu to register or contact Chris Clark Extension Beef Specialist at 712-250-0070 or by email at caclark@iastate.edu for more information.

SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON COUNTIES IN THE KJAN LISTENING AREA…(6:16-A.M.)

…ROADS MAY REMAIN SLICK FOR THE MORNING COMMUTE…

TRAVEL COULD STILL BE HAZARDOUS IN SPOTS THIS MORNING WITH ICING AND SNOW FROM MONDAY STILL ON THE ROADS…AND BRISK NORTHWEST WINDS PRODUCING AN ADDITIONAL COATING OF SHALLOW BLOWING SNOW OVERNIGHT. MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO SLOW DOWN…DRIVE DEFENSIVELY…AND PLAN FOR EXTRA TRAVEL TIME.

A man has died after authorities say he jumped from the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge into the Missouri River. The Omaha World-Herald reports authorities were called to the bridge linking Council Bluffs and Omaha, at around 11:15-a.m., Monday, after they received word a man had stepped over the bridge railing. As they were enroute, rescuers were told the man had jumped from the bridge. The air temperature at the time was around 29-degrees.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A U.S. Supreme Court decision that makes retroactive a 2012 ruling striking down automatic life prison terms for people sentenced as teenagers is not expected to have much impact in Iowa since the state’s Supreme Court already extended the federal court ruling.

The federal court justices on Monday voted 6-3 to extend the 2012 decision to previous cases involving teenage killers. Now, even those who were convicted long ago must be considered for parole or given a new sentence.

Iowa’s high court in the 2013 appeal of Jeffrey Ragland had already concluded the federal court’s 2012 ruling applies retroactively to teenagers previously sentenced to life. The Iowa Attorney General’s office says the ruling affected 39 Iowa juvenile life offenders and most of them have already been resentenced.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group of Iowa lawmakers say they want more clarity from education officials on the implementation of early literacy initiatives in the state. Members of the Senate Education Committee told officials from the Iowa Department of Education on Monday that they want more data on how some state dollars are being used to improve reading proficiency for students between kindergarten and third grade.

A 2012 state law aimed at improving literacy for young students includes monitoring, programming and testing. It also requires a summer reading program for third-graders, though education groups have expressed concern about how it will be funded and implemented.

Some lawmakers suggested state officials give school districts more guidance on programming for students. A department spokeswoman says the agency appreciated the meeting and will provide follow-up information.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A House panel in the Iowa Legislature has given initial approval of a bill that would remove the age limit for children to use a handgun under the supervision of a parent. A House Judiciary subcommittee agreed Monday to send the legislation forward to its full committee. A similar measure last session had little support in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The bill would allow a child of any age to possess a pistol or revolver under direct supervision of a parent or guardian. Current law requires the child to be at least 14 years old. State law has no age limit for a minor to possess a rifle or shotgun if there is consent from a parent or guardian. Several bills in the House this session propose expanding gun rights.