A recent change by the Internal Revenue Service gives farmers who have been hit by drought a little more time for recovery. I-R-S spokesman, Christopher Miller, says the agency has changed the rules when it comes to livestock losses. He says farmers often sell off livestock during drought conditions, and in order to take advantage of tax conditions under the law, they have to replace the sold off livestock within a specified time. Miller says that time limit had been four years, but the I-R-S has extended the deadline another year for those who were facing a December 31st deadline this year.

“And that also means that impacted farmers can defer taxes on capital gains on that sale of the livestock,” Miller points out. The I-R-S regulations say the one-year extension applies to capital gains realized by eligible farmers and ranchers on sales of livestock held for draft, dairy or breeding purposes due to drought. Sales of other livestock, such as those raised for slaughter or held for sporting purposes, and poultry are not eligible.

“If you are a farmer in Iowa impacted by drought conditions over the last few years, you will have an extension of time to replace the livestock that you had to get rid of because of those conditions. And you also have an extension of time to defer any taxes that you get because of the gain in selling that livestock,” according to Miller. Miller urges Iowans to check to see if they qualify under the extension.

“To learn more, farmers simply need to read the I-R-S publication, 2-2-5, and that’s available on our website irs.gov and we’ll also have a notice there that outlines the affected counties in Iowa,” Miller says. He says you should be able to find all the information you need on the website.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 4-year-old girl has been seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash in eastern Iowa. Deputies and other first responders arrived Tuesday morning to a crash site on Highway 61 near Davenport. Authorities say a Jeep was trying to turn right at an intersection when it was struck in the rear by the semitrailer. The Jeep went into a ditch and struck two steel posts. The driver of the semitrailer has been cited in the crash.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A group is focusing its attention on a property that has a concrete structure which supported the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River. River Action Inc., a nonprofit environmental group, wants to use the property to build a pedestrian bridge to the new River Heritage Park. The railroad bridge officially opened on April 21, 1865, but two weeks after its opening, a steamboat crashed into it, causing one span to burn.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Several occupants of a Clear Lake motel are moving out to comply with a court order. A magistrate ruled Friday that motel owner Ted Christensen was within his rights to evict the occupants. Christensen says he is trying to sell the property and has a potential buyer, but a sale condition is that there are no tenants.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Woodbury County supervisor accused of shooting a gun into the air near his wife has been given 30 days in jail. Forty-four-year-old David Tripp received the sentence for domestic abuse assault and was ordered to report to jail by Friday. Tripp, a former jailer, was accused in December of firing a gun in the air in the driveway of his home. His wife was nearby but was not hurt. Tripp was elected as a county supervisor in 2010. His term will end in January.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) continues to work closely with local public health and health care professionals, state entities and the CDC in response and preparation to the West African Ebola situation. Despite what you might read on social media or hear around the water cooler, there are and have been NO cases of Ebola in Iowa.

Last week, screening of travelers coming from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia began at international airports at the time of arrival in the U.S. They are asked about things like current symptoms and possible exposures to patients with Ebola while in West Africa. If needed, appropriate action is taken at that time; for example, travelers with symptoms consistent with Ebola are not being allowed to continue until they are medically assessed. If they are well, they are given information about what to do once they arrive at their final destination – such as Iowa. Meanwhile, in Iowa, public health officials are notified of the arrival of the traveler. Iowa officials then re-interview the traveler to confirm their health status and their risk of exposure to Ebola. Appropriate action is then taken in Iowa, such as the traveler staying at home and away from others for 21 days, or
taking their temperature and reporting this to public health for 21 days.

This will lower the risk of Ebola spreading in Iowa, and should reassure the public that extraordinary action is being taken by the U.S. Public Health system to protect them. Other actions taken by IDPH over the past several weeks include several webinars for local public health agencies, emergency responders, hospitals, health care providers, and state agencies regarding transmission of the Ebola virus and how to prepare for any suspected cases.

Iowans should remember that Ebola is not transmitted through water, air, food or casual contact. Ebola is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of a sick person, or exposure to objects such as needles that have been contaminated. In addition:

* People are not contagious after exposure unless they develop symptoms.
* Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the
average is 8 to 10 days.

LAMONI, Iowa (AP) — Officials at a small private university in southern Iowa say a student is being questioned after the school was briefly on lockdown because of a campus threat. Graceland University spokesman Kirk Bjorland says the threat was resolved after the student was taken into custody Tuesday without incident. He did not elaborate.

The school posted on its official Twitter page and Facebook page around 11 a.m. Tuesday that the campus was on lockdown because officials had received a report of an individual with a gun on campus. Officials later said there was no active shooter on campus but an active threat.

Bjorland said there is no additional information available about the circumstances of the campus threat.

Graceland University is located in Lamoni.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Woodbury County supervisor accused of shooting a gun into the air near his wife has been given 30 days in jail. The Sioux City Journal reports 44-year-old David Tripp received the sentence Tuesday in district court for domestic abuse assault. He was ordered to report to jail by Friday. Tripp, a former jailer, was accused in December of firing a gun in the air in the driveway of his home. His wife was nearby but was not hurt.

Tripp said Tuesday he had thought about aiming the gun at himself. His attorney says his client is seeing a psychiatrist after being diagnosed with depression. He is also seeing a counselor for alcohol abuse.

Tripp was elected as a county supervisor in 2010. His term will end in January.

The Cass County Health System has begun screening patients for Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever indicators. In the ongoing effort to contain this virus, the Centers for Disease Control has recommended all healthcare providers implement this screening process in areas where patients could present with symptoms of Ebola. According to Todd Hudspeth, Chief Executive Officer, the screening is precautionary, as there have been no cases of Ebola diagnosed in the state of Iowa, and only three in the entire United States.

Hudspeth said “It’s a simple thing we can do to ensure the health and safety of our patients and community. On the off chance that someone local would contract a case of Ebola, early diagnosis allows us to ensure the proper infection control procedures and equipment would be used, thus limiting the spread of the virus.” The screening involves asking patients coming into Atlantic Medical Center, or the CCMH Outpatient Clinic, hospital inpatient areas and the Emergency Department four questions (see below).

Another precaution CCHS officials have taken is to assign an in-house Ebola coordinator, as recommended by the CDC. Dr. Patricia Goodemote, CCHS Chief Medical Officer, has been designated for this local role. “Dr. Goodemote is one of our Emergency Department physicians. Prior to coming to CCHS, she served for 24 years in the United States Air Force, where she received extensive disaster preparedness training,” Hudspeth explained. “She is monitoring CDC and Iowa Department of Public Health updates on a daily basis and will serve as our local expert with regard to Ebola updates and protocols.”

Dr. Goodemote states, “Although the risk for Ebola is low in Iowa, we want to be prepared. Fortunately, people coming from countries with Ebola patients are being screened on arrival in the United States and being followed closely by Public Health for 21 days to ensure they do not develop symptoms. In addition, if they have had any exposure to individuals with Ebola while in these countries, they are also being quarantined in their homes for 21 days. These measures are limiting the risk to all Americans. Realize if the person does not have symptoms they are not contagious.”

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, if an individual has been exposed to Ebola and begins to experience symptoms, they should self-isolate at home and immediately contact their healthcare provider or an emergency room by telephone. Then the appropriate infection control procedures can be implemented before the patient transfers for medical care to limit the risk to the community, but still allow for care of the individual.

Up-to-date information on the Ebola outbreak can be found on the Centers for Disease Control website, http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola.

****************

Ebola Hemoraghic Fever Screening Questions:

1. Have you (patient) traveled to West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, or Sierra Leone) in the past 21 days? (Circle one)

Yes No

2. If yes to Question #1, do you (patient) have any of the following symptoms? (Check all that apply)

___Fever more than 38.6 Celsius or 101.5 Fahrenheit AND

___Severe headache
___Muscle pain
___Vomiting
___Diarrhea
___Abdominal pain
___Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding)

3. Has anyone with the patient today traveled to West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, or Sierra Leone) in the past 21 days? (Circle one)

Yes No

4. If yes to Question #3, does this person(s) have any of the following symptoms? (Check all that apply)

___Fever more than 38.6 Celsius or 101.5 Fahrenheit AND

___Severe headache
___Muscle pain
___Vomiting
___Diarrhea
___Abdominal pain
___Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords says that “dangerous people with guns are a threat to women.” She appeared in Iowa on Tuesday to rally female voters and inject gun control into one of the nation’s marquee Senate contests two weeks before Election Day. Giffords is nearing the end of a two-week national tour that includes stops in Minnesota, Oregon and Washington State this week.

The Arizona Democrat has become the reluctant face of the gun control movement. She was shot while meeting with constituents almost four years ago. The attacker killed six and left Giffords with permanent brain damage.

Giffords has pushed Congress unsuccessfully to expand background checks for all gun purchases. As the midterm elections approach, she’s fighting to ensure gun violence isn’t forgotten.

WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) – A Winterset woman has been charged with vehicular homicide following a car crash in May that killed two people. Court records show 21-year-old Mari Silliman faces two counts of vehicular homicide. Des Moines television station KCCI reports she turned herself in earlier this month and is out after posting bond.

The single-vehicle crash in May killed 20-year-old Logan Waltz, of Winterset, and 21-year-old Taylor Aleman, of West Des Moines. Matthew Thomas Lindholm, an attorney for Silliman, says his client plans to plead not guilty to the charges. He says alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the crash, and there will be an investigation into road conditions prior to the crash.