(Radio Iowa) — The director of the Iowa Department for the Blind says there is “rapid growth” in the number of Iowans who are losing their vision — and Emily Wharton is asking the governor and legislators to set aside 80-thousand dollars so she can hire another “independent living teacher.” Wharton already has a team of five teachers who travel the state, helping Iowans over the age of 55 who are losing their vision due to conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetes.

“These folks are wanting to enjoy their retirement and finding it difficult to do a lot of the basic tasks in life,” she says. “They don’t know how to get around if they’re, maybe, unable to drive. They don’t know how to cook or clean their house safely, how use their technology to stay in touch with family and friends and how to really participate in activities that they enjoy and be a part of their community.”

The agency’s “independent living teachers” work with individuals, train small groups and seek out local volunteers who can provide support to Iowans in their communities who are suffering vision loss. Wharton says the goal is to keep people living independently in their own homes.  “If we can just keep one person from having to go into a nursing home or a really restrictive assisted care facility, we do end up saving quite a bit of money,” Wharton says.

The department recently changed the travel patterns for its independent living teachers. “Clients are grouped into geographical areas, so the teacher will go into a certain smaller geographical area for a period of four weeks and see each of those clients in that area once a week and this enables the clients to practice what they’re learning during that week and come back with questions and ideas,” Wharton says, “and we found that this really increases retention, reduces frustration and we’re seeing a lot quicker progress.”

An estimated 54-thousand Iowans currently have “low vision” and about eight-thousand of them have registered with the Iowa Department for the Blind. A study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine predicts the number of visually impaired Americans will double by 2050.

(Radio Iowa) — State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald says 273 Iowans who are intellectually or physically disabled have accounts in a relatively new state-run, tax-free savings program. Fitzgerald says a disabled person or a relative may contribute to an I-ABLE account. The money may be used a variety of things, like a specially-equipped vehicle or job training.

Many plan for the money to help a disabled adult son or daughter find somewhere to live after their parents pass away. Fitzgerald says nearly one-point-four million dollars has been invested in the program since it was established in early 2017 and a quarter of a million has been withdrawn. A disabled American usually loses their Social Security Disability and Medicaid benefits if they have more than two-thousand dollars in savings, but the I-Able program meets federal guidelines so that doesn’t happen. Iowa is among more than a dozen states with this kind of a savings program. Fitzgerald says I-Able gives those concerned about the well-being of a loved one the opportunity save for future disability-related expenses.

(Radio Iowa) — One of the priorities of the Iowa Association of School Boards in the new year is to get the legislature to pass an extension of the one-cent sales tax for infrastructure. Atlantic School Board vice president Kristy Pellett talked with other board members about how the tax has helped her district.”Mostly capital needs, technology. In our district of Atlantic it’s been an important resource and fund for us,” Pellet says. “We’ve spent over 15 million dollars on projects in Atlantic. Those have included H-V-A-C and L-E-D lighting improvements. The important part of that — that has increased our energy efficiency in the district — which saves dollars in the general fund.”

She says there are other projects where the fund has helped. “We have also utilized that to improve education and safety for our students,” she says. “One of those items was a one-to-one computer initiative. We’ve added elevators to three of our buildings using this fund. And most recently we purchased a building to house our alternative school.”

The penny tax is scheduled to end in 2029 and Pellett says they are pushing for an extension now because the tax helps ensure better bond rates for projects. “By extending that you allow that opportunity for districts to utilize that revenue with today’s expenses and bond against future proceeds,” Pellett explains.

Pellett says board members are aware of the tight funds in the state, but says this would extend a tax that has proven to be successful and is not creating something new. She says the money generated helps the entire community. There is a benefit even if you don’t have students in school right now. Those are public use facilities that are used for many, many activities other than just the education of our kids,” Pellett says.

Pellett encourages parents and community members to talk with their school boards to learn more about how the tax is used in their districts. She is encouraging school board members across the state to talk with local legislators about the importance of extending the tax.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say one person was injured trying to extinguish a house fire in Waterloo. The blaze was reported around 9:25 a.m. Thursday. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that residents tried to put out the blaze, which started in the basement and spread up through a wall to the attic.

Waterloo Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Troy Luck says the resident’s injuries didn’t appear to be life-threatening. The person’s name hasn’t been released. The fire cause is being investigated.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers, Friday (Today), said  “With the chance of an accumulating snowfall to occur in Clarinda Saturday night through Sunday, the Clarinda Police Department would like to remind the citizens of Clarinda about the snow ordinance.

“The ordinance states that; no person shall park any motor vehicle or other apparatus upon any street of the city that will obstruct the removal of snow when there has been an accumulation of two (2) inches or more. Any vehicle left parked on any street in violation of this ordinance may be impounded, and the registered owner of the vehicle will be subject to a $15.00 parking fine, and payment of all applicable towing and storage fees in order for the vehicle to be released.”

The parking ban remains in effect until the snow ceases to fall and the streets have been plowed from curb to curb.