More and more Iowans are forfeiting proceeds from unclaimed property, and State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald is trying to get the word out on how they can claim the goods. The state logged almost 40 million dollars in unclaimed assets last year. Fitzgerald says only about 15 million dollars went back to the rightful owners. “Unclaimed property comes from bank accounts, savings accounts, people forget about property they own, when they move they don’t get their utility deposits back. That’s where it comes from, Fitzgerald says,”now the average over all is about 400 dollars that somebody has coming.”

Online scams which try to get people to give up their personal information have made it harder to convince people that they have unclaimed property. “When you try to notify folks in this day and age everybody is hypersensitive to scams. Oh, sure they want to give me money. They don’t believe it…. but actually the state’s holding millions of dollars. ,” according to Fitzgerald.

The money goes into the general fund until someone steps forward to claim it. The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt run through the treasurer’s office tries to find the owners of abandoned bank accounts, utility deposits, and other assets. Fitzgerald encourages you to visit the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt website and search for any unclaimed assets awaiting them.

(Radio Iowa)

The leader of the largest union representing state employees says they are appealing a ruling on the new collective bargaining law. AFSCME Council 61 president Danny Homan says the union is appealing the October ruling that denied a request to throw out the state’s new collective bargaining law. The union argued the law which significantly reduced issues which many public employees can collectively bargain for created separate classes of public employees and was unconstitutional. Polk County District Judge Arthur Gamble ruled lawmakers had “credible basis” for treating some types of employees differently and said the law was constitutional. Homan issued a statement announcing the appeal which said “we have no timeline for knowing whether or not the Supreme Court of Iowa will hear our case, but we will never stop fighting for the rights of Iowa public employees”

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak, Tuesday afternoon, arrested a man on an OWI charge after his employer called police. Officers were called to the Red Oak Good Samaritan Society for a man who had possibly operated a motor vehicle owned by the Society while under the influence of alcohol. An investigation resulted in the arrest at around 4:30-p.m., of 61-year old Steven Mathew Turnbull, of Red Oak, for OWI/2nd offense. Turnbull was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $2,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Tiny homes have been promoted as the solution to all kinds of housing needs, and they’ve inspired at least six national TV shows. But the popularity of the trendy structures often fails to translate into acceptance when developers try to build them next door. Neighbors have organized to stop the projects in at least a dozen cases across the nation. They complain that the developments could hurt property values and clash with existing housing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says her Republican caucus will go forward with plans to hire a human resources manager to oversee harassment complaints at the Legislature, a move that diverts from Senate GOP officials. Upmeyer made the announcement Tuesday, shortly after Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix told reporters the Senate GOP office will put such hiring on hold. Dix’s office will instead hire outside counsel for more guidance on the issue.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — The Muscatine city administrator has filed a lawsuit against the city’s mayor, alleging she defamed him during the mayor’s tumultuous first term that saw her removed from office and then returned to the position by a judge’s order. The Muscatine Journal reports City Administrator Gregg Mandsager filed the suit Friday against Mayor Diana Broderson, just days after she was re-elected. Mandsager accuses the mayor of five charges including defamation and infliction of emotional distress.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A charity honoring a firefighter who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks is declining to accept a $100 donation from Gov. Kim Reynolds’ campaign. The campaign had planned to donate $100 received from Iowa executive branch officials Kim and Connie Schmett to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, due to an investigation into the Schmetts’ work as agents of Saudi Arabia. But the foundation says it has no interest in their money.

A man from the Bronx, NY, was arrested Tuesday evening in Council Bluffs, on fraud & other charges. Council Bluffs Police say officers responded at around 5:45-p.m. to 1745 Madison Ave., for a subject attempting to obtain $7500 in funds from another person’s account. The man was later identified as 39-year old Joey Whiting, of the Bronx, New York.

Joey Whiting

As officers arrived, Whiting fled on foot and was taken into custody a few blocks away after a brief struggle. He had five fraudulent ID’s in his possession. Whiting was arrested for Forgery, Identity Theft and Assault on a Peace Officer. He also had a valid extraditable warrant for Forgery from New York.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, Tuesday afternoon, issued a supplemental Press Release to that which was issued on November 8th, 2017, which  seeks to clarify the charges and sentencing each defendant in a fatal fentanyl overdose case received.

Authorities say 30-year old Charles Jesse Beuterbaugh, of Pottawattamie County, 27-year old Dustin C. Sullivan, of Council Bluffs, and, 31-year old Cody Lanus, of Omaha, Nebraska, were each convicted of conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, a Schedule I controlled substance, which resulted in the reasonably foreseeable death of a 20-year-old male and serious bodily injury to another male.

In addition, 22-year old Michael David Redmond, Jr., of Council Bluffs, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, a Schedule I controlled substance.

The investigation into the drug trafficking group began on June 28, 2015, when law enforcement was called to a Carter Lake, Iowa, residence regarding an unresponsive male. Law enforcement found the body of a 20-year-old male in Beuterbaugh’s living area. In addition, law enforcement learned that a second male had been transported to a local hospital from the Beuterbaugh residence prior to law enforcement being called, and had been placed on life support.

The investigation revealed that Beuterbaugh had provided “acetyl fentanyl” to both victims, which was determined to be the cause of death of the 20-year-old male, and the reason for the hospitalization for the second male. Beuterbaugh had obtained the acetyl fentanyl through an organization that began distributing fentanyl, or an analogue of fentanyl, in November of 2014 and continued to distribute in April of 2016.

All defendants charged in the case have entered guilty pleas. To date, United States Senior District Court Judge James E. Gritzner has sentenced Beuterbaugh to 240 months in prison; Sullivan to 162 months in prison; Lanus to 144 months in prison; and, Redmond, Jr. to 120 months in prison. Amanda N. Pandis and Walter John O’Donohue, III are scheduled to be sentenced in February of 2018.

The Atlantic City Council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in their Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda is an order to approve an amended 28 agreement between the City of Atlantic and Cass County, with regard to the Public Safety Communications Commission. The original agreement was filed with the County Recorder in Oct., 1999. The County Board of Supervisors adopted changes to the agreement during their meeting last Wednesday. The City – represented of course by the Council – will have to adopt them as well, in order for the agreement to take effect. The changes are for the most part of the “housekeeping” variety, and include adding “28E” and the word “Communications” to the title, along with the new location for the facilities across the street from the courthouse. Griswold and Anita were removed from the Commission, as well.

Mike Kennon, 9-1-1 Director of Communications, will be on-hand to speak with the Council, Wednesday evening, to address any questions or concerns. Council members Jimerson and Somers are on the Commission, and represent the City’s interests. In other business, the Council will act on an Order approving a cleaning contract with Melissa Johnson for the remainder of FY 2018, at an annual cost of $23,400. Johnson’s bid for the services was the lowest of three received by the City, for cleaning of the Library, City Hall and Police Department. A cleaning service was made necessary, after the Facility Maintenance Manager’s position was eliminated. City Administrator John Lund says going with a private company for the service, will save the City $38,407 per year.

The Council will also act on an Order approving the FY 2017 Urban Renewal Report, which is a standard, annual formality. The report is sent to the Iowa’s Department of Management. And, the Council will receive a Department Head report from Police Chief Dave Erickson. Prior to adjourning for the night, the Council will enter into a closed session to discuss with Legal Counsel, matters related to the Atlantic Municipal Airport.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some Republican and Democratic lawmakers say they want the Iowa Legislature to revisit a recent change in state law that reduced a key Medicaid benefit for the elderly and poor.

Lawmakers on a legislative committee made the comments Tuesday about a reduction in so-called retroactive benefits, which help Medicaid patients with medical costs incurred up to three months before they registered for the program. A health care budget approved in the Legislature reduced that eligibility window.

It’s unclear what lawmakers want to do when they return in January. A proposal to effectively suspend the change was discussed at the meeting, but Republicans on the committee ultimately voted it down amid concern about the legal implications of such action.

Health care groups warn the reduction will shift costs to hospitals, providers and patients. State officials say the change will better align with the private insurance market