(Omaha, NE) – Officials with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in Omaha, report several established Omaha-based companies have recently become victims of scammers who are exploiting their addresses to carry out fraudulent operations related to animal adoption and transportation. Midwest Puppy, LLC, Greater Omaha Express, LLC, and Greater Omaha Leasing, LLC, all of which are licensed and registered with the Nebraska Secretary of State, have had their addresses falsely associated with these fraudulent activities that cost consumers more than $16,000.

Following an investigation conducted by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), it was determined that Prime Chihuahua Dogs, Pet Wave Transport, and NG Pomeranian Puppies are scam companies deliberately deceiving unsuspecting consumers by misrepresenting their locations. BBB has received numerous complaints and Scam Tracker reports throughout 2023 concerning these fraudulent entities. The Nebraska Secretary of State has verified that neither Prime Chihuahua Dogs, NG Pomeranian Puppies, nor Pet Wave Transport are registered companies.

BBB has confirmed the legitimacy of Midwest Puppy LLC as a licensed dog breeder duly registered with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and the Nebraska Secretary of State. The owner of Midwest Puppy LLC has been in contact with BBB, sharing instances where confused consumers have arrived at his residence, seeking dog breeds he does not offer. Some individuals have even shown up to collect puppies they had already paid for. Recognizing that his address is being fraudulently exploited by multiple entities, the owner has promptly reported the matter to the Attorney General’s office and local law enforcement.

Prime Chihuahua Dogs, which previously associated itself with the address of Midwest Puppy LLC, recently took down its website. However, shortly thereafter, a new website called NG Pomeranian emerged, fraudulently using the same address. Another company involved in these fraudulent activities is Pet Wave Transport, which falsely claims to operate from the address of Greater Omaha Express, LLC and Greater Omaha Leasing, LLC. Upon receiving inquiries from BBB, the president of these companies contacted BBB and categorically denied any association with Pet Wave Transport. He clarified that his businesses primarily handle dry and refrigerated shipments, and strongly suspects that someone is exploiting his address for fraudulent purposes.

Multiple consumers have come forward with disturbing experiences involving Prime Chihuahua Dogs and Pet Wave Transport. One consumer reported paying for two puppies from Prime Chihuahua Dogs, only to be subsequently contacted by Pet Wave Transport, requesting additional funds for a larger shipping crate. Despite complying with the requests, the consumer never received the promised puppies. Similar accounts have been shared by other consumers who made payments to both the dog breeder and Pet Wave Transport, yet received no puppies in return. Victims reported to BBB that they communicated with the scam companies via text message and email. When one consumer asked to contact the company by phone, the company stopped communicating with the person.

Investigations into these scam operations have revealed several significant red flags. Both websites, primechihuahua.dog and petwavetransport.com, were privately registered within the past two years, with the registrant contact information indicating a location in the Capital Region of Iceland. Notably, the websites exhibited numerous grammatical and punctuation errors and featured images of puppies for sale. Pet Wave Transport made false claims of being a member of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) and emphasized their commitment to revolutionizing pet transportation globally.

In the years since BBB issued an in-depth study, “Puppy Scams: How Fake Online Pet Sellers Steal from Unsuspecting Pet Buyers,” the fraudulent animal adoption industry has intensified. BBB urges caution to potential animal adopters and warns of the deceptive practices employed by these fraudulent entities.

BBB tips for researching puppy sellers:

·         See pets in person before paying any money.

·         Try to set up a video call to view the animal.

·         Conduct a reverse image search on photos attached to ads.

·         Research the breed to figure out the average market price.

·         Check out a local animal shelter for pets to meet in person before adopting.

(Radio Iowa) – An eastern Iowa psychiatrist is touring Iowa to show off her collection of rare, antique dolls, some of which are nearly 200 years old. Dr. Barbara Brown, of North English, says she’s been accumulating dolls for decades and doesn’t subscribe to the theory that they’re haunted, frightening or even creepy. “Personally, I don’t think most dolls, antique dolls — or new dolls even — are creepy, but I know that some people do.”

While the live-action “Barbie” movie is due out this summer, most motion pictures that feature dolls would fall into the horror category, like the “Chucky” series, or the sci-fi thriller “M3GAN” that came out last year. Brown says dolls have gotten a bad rap. “Because I’m a psychiatrist, it is interesting to me to try to understand why some people think dolls are creepy,” she says, “and I talk a little bit about that, and just give a general overview of antique dolls.”

Brown’s collection of dolls ranges from 1830 to 1930. Some are made of paper mache, wood, bisque and fabric. Brown will present a free program on her dolls tomorrow (Saturday) at the Mulberry Center Church in Webster City.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer is reporting a very good second quarter. Deere and Company is declaring net income for the quarter at more than two-point-eight billion dollars, up from just over two-billion-even a year ago. The Quad Cities-based farm and construction equipment maker is also reporting worldwide net sales and revenues rose by 30-percent for the quarter, and 31-percent in the past six months.

Chairman and C-E-O John May says in a news release that Deere is continuing to benefit from “favorable market conditions and an improving operating environment,” adding, the company’s on the way “to another year of exceptional achievement.”

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a couple from Council Bluffs, who sued Council Bluffs Water Works for damages to their home and property, resulting from multiple water main breaks. Court documents indicate Jim and Angela Sutton’s house in Council Bluffs sits near an intersection where an underground water main broke in November 2020, sending water flowing to the surface. The Suttons alerted Council Bluffs Water Works to the problem and, over the next eight weeks, crews inspected and repaired breaks to the pipe on five different occasions. The escaping water soon became standing water.

The Suttons allege that all the water caused their house to settle, resulting in damage to its foundation, interior walls, garage floors, and doors. They sued Water Works under two legal theories: count 1, strict liability; and count 2, negligence. Water Works moved to dismiss the strict liability claim, arguing that the Iowa Municipal Tort Claims Act doesn’t permit a strict liability claim against it. The district court denied the motion.

Water Works’ officials appealed the decision to deny the claim. In making its decision, the Justices had to consider “Whether the Iowa Municipal Tort Claims Act allows a claim for strict liability—liability that doesn’t depend on negligence or intent to do harm—against a municipality for damage caused by an underground water main break.” They concluded Water Works attorneys failed to show that the Iowa Municipal Tort Claims Act bars the Suttons’ claim for damages based on strict liability. They therefore affirmed the district court’s denial of the motion to dismiss this claim.

Their decision was filed today (Friday).

(Johnston, Iowa) — The Johnston Police Department is warning residents about a new imposter scam. The scammers are impersonating a member of the Johnston Police Department. While impersonating, the scammers will attempt to solicit payment. “Calls threatening you or asking for money are flat-out scams – don’t become a victim,” said Johnston Police Chief, Dennis McDaniel. “These scammers steal the names of real agency personnel solely to scare you into paying them. While the scammers may change up the phone numbers they are calling from; they are calling for one mission, to get you to share your account information, or send money.”

Tips to avoid scam calls:

• Don’t trust caller ID readings – scammers often spoof names and numbers to make them appear like a local caller.
• Let numbers you do not recognize go directly to voicemail. And do not call unknown numbers back.
• Hang up on anyone who threatens you with arrest, legal action, or seizure of your accounts.
• Do not converse with anyone online that you do not know, and certainly do not share any personal photos of yourself.
• Hang up if anyone directs you to pay using store gift cards, money wires, or mailed cash. These are often used because they are difficult to trace.

If you do receive a scam call, please contact the Johnston Police Department at 515-278-2345.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Nishna Valley Trails organization and Cass County Conservation Department, invite you to celebrate “National Trails Day,” on June 3, 2023, with” Truckin’ on the Trails” at the Schildberg Recreation Area West Rotary Shelter (102 Buck Creek Rd., in Atlantic. The event takes place from 11-a.m. until 2-p.m.

Whether cycling or walking, pushing strollers, or riding trikes, all people are welcome. The event is a chance to experience and appreciate Cass County’s trails and will offer live music and food trucks Master Griller Catering, Atlantic Kiwanis, and Louie’s Shaved Ice. Nishna Valley Trails and Cass County Conservation will be sharing information, and Bike Farm will also be at the event offering minor bike maintenance and door prizes.

Event schedule:
● 10:30 AM “Nishna Valley Trails Gravel Sampler” Join Jon Jordan for a bike ride on both trails and gravel. Jon will give a primer on gravel skills vs. road skills before the ride. Any “non-skinny” tire bikes will work for this ride. Participants will ride from Schildberg Rotary Shelter (West parking lot) to South T-Bone Trailhead (63395 Dunbar Rd. Atlantic) and back (approximately 10 miles). (Please note this ride begins prior to the official start time of the event)
● 11-2 Live music, food trucks, organizations sharing information
● 1 PM 1.5-mile kids loop starting from Rotary Shelter

Truckin’ on the Trails is just one of many events taking place across the nation on National Trails Day, the first Saturday in June. National Trails Day is an annual event hosted by the American Hiking Society that encourages support of the nation’s public trails. Trails have positive impacts on mental and physical health, and National Trails Day is a day of public events that invites thousands of trail users of all shapes and sizes to participate.

Truckin’ on the Trails is being hosted by Nishna Valley Trails, Cass County Conservation, Bike Farm, and Cass County Tourism. A Cass County trails map can be found online at: https://www.atlanticiowa.com/experience/cass-county-trails-map-2/. Hard copies of the map will be available at the event and are always available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report five people were arrested, Thursday. Two of them, 20-year-old Emily Rae Marie Dohrn, and 36-year-old Christina Marie McDonald, both of Creston, were arrested at around 1:10-p.m. at 800 W. Taylor Street, on drug charges. Dohrn was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. McDonald was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine 1st Offense. Both women were was cited and released on a Promise to Appear.

A man and a woman from Creston were arrested at around 5:24-p.m. Thursday, in Creston, for Violating a No Contact/Protective Order – Contempt of Court. 37-year-old Douglas Edward Woodward III,and 33-year-old Rachel Marie Colburn, were arrested at 806 Laurel Street. They were being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by a Magistrate.

And, at around 6:44-p.m. Thursday, Creston Police arrested 43-year-old Julio Cesar Villalpando Castro, of Creston, at 302 N. Pine Street. Villalpando Castro was charged with Burglary 3rd Degree. His cash or surety bond was set at $5,000.

(Radio Iowa) – If you fancy yourself a road trip this weekend, consider the 82nd annual Orange City Tulip Festival. This year’s Tulip Festival is currently under way. The event Queen is Amanda Hulstein, a senior at MOC/Floyd Valley High School. She says the excitement of being named Tulip Queen has been building since she was crowned last November. “Just through the day I was very excited and it just brought me memories from other tulip festivals that I’ve been involved in. And when we went back out on stage to find out who the Queen was, I was a little nervous but I was always so smiley. And then when Mayor de Haan read my name, I was almost in shock because I didn’t know that it would actually be me,” she says.

Hulstein rode the queen’s float Thursday afternoon as things got underway and says she learned something about the event as it took off. “One thing that I realized that many people don’t notice is all of the people that work behind the scenes and work year round to make these three days in may happen it’s just crazy how many people are involved and how much they do for our town,” Hulstein says.

The Orange City Tulip Court: Nevaeh Sampson, Kinzie Van Kekerix, Queen Amanda Hulstein, Elizabeth King, and Katelyn Huizenga. (OCTF photo)

Hulstein offers advice for people attending the Orange City Tulip Festival. “Get outside, get involved with anything that you can,” she says. “When the Dutch dancers asked for you to be pulled out into the crowd, definitely go out there. Make sure you get to all the different events like the Dutch dozen. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which is the night show this year. See all the tulips take lots of pictures and enjoy.”

Hulstein plans to attend Iowa State University when after graduation. The Orange City Tulip Festival runs through Saturday. Go to octulipfestival.com to see the full schedule of events.

(Radio Iowa) – Studies find ten-percent of us feel like we have -no- friends at work, while 70-percent say workplace friendships are crucial to their overall happiness. University of Iowa researchers are studying the importance of our work relationships and how to improve them, especially post-pandemic. Beth Livingston, a U-I professor of management and entrepreneurship, says we all feel the need to connect with others, particularly if we’re spending eight, ten or 12-hours a day at work. “When we don’t feel like we can connect with other people in our workplace, it leaves us with a kind of gaping hole in terms of our connection with other people,” Livingston says, “and that is especially true for people who may not have those extended connections outside of work, and so connecting with other people at work becomes increasingly important.”

These connections were key before COVID-19, but it’s even more vital now as so many people who began working from home during the pandemic have made the change permanent. “I have not run across a company yet who is not concerned about the wellbeing of their employees and the burnout that so many employees are talking about now,” Livingston says. “The social affiliation and connection can really fill your cup. It can make you feel more energized. It can provide you a sense of connection and meaning in the workplace.”

Workers who feel friendless and isolated may be more likely to quit, she says, further contributing to the continued plague of turnover. Livingston says Iowans can make it a goal to seek out new friendships at work. “You don’t have to wait and be passive recipients of connections. You can go out and say, ‘I’m going to ask people about their lives,'” Livingston says. “‘I’m going to take notes and remember things about them. I’m going to try to strike up conversations that demonstrate that I have an interest in who they are and what they’re doing.’ And you can practice those things. They are skills that you can do.”

Studies find people with plenty of friendly social connections at work tend to be more engaged, they’ll produce higher quality work, and they’re less likely to quit. Employers are taking note, she says, as the company can save money by not having to hire and train new people.  “A lot of times I think people feel like, ‘Well, I’m just not a good people person, I’m not someone who is naturally able to connect,’ and the good news is, those are absolutely things that you can practice and plan to do better.”

Livingston calls loneliness a “critical social issue,” as loneliness is linked to an increased likelihood of depression, it impacts mortality rates, and it can erode physical and mental well-being.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that’s expected to offer child care assistance to more Iowans. It raises the income limit for families to qualify and increases government payments to facilities that care for the kids from those families. Reynolds says it’s been about 15 years since the state raised the income limit for state child care assistance. Parents have had to work at least 28 hours a week to qualify, but the new law raises that to 32 hours a week.

“It’s just minimal and I think we’re just really doing whatever we can to really help families, but to encourage them,” Reynolds says. “We have such a workforce shortage in the state of Iowa.” Tammy McNeil is the owner and director of Childcare Discovery Center in Fort Dodge, where Reynolds signed the bill into law. She says the higher payments to providers will help her center a lot, as the parents of nearly half the kids are getting government-funded child care assistance.

“I have been in child care for almost 40 years and to watch it slowly crumble has been heartbreaking,” she said. “Thank you for recognizing the importance of child care and working directly with us to address our concerns and take action.” Reynolds was surrounded by children enrolled in McNeil’s center as she signed the bill into law.

The Legislative Services Agency estimates nearly 27-hundred more children will be enrolled in the state’s child care assistance program due to the hike in income eligibility for parents.

(Reporting by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)