Des Moines, Iowa –  State Treasurer Roby Smith is celebrating the holidays with a College Savings Iowa giveaway. “Visit Iowa529Contest.com before December 31 and register to win one of two $5,290 College Savings Iowa account contributions,” Smith said. “It’s not only a gift that requires no wrapping skills, but is also one that is sure to last!”

The College Savings Iowa 529 plan is a tax-advantaged way for families to save for tuition; room and board; computers; textbooks and other qualified education expenses at any eligible higher-education institution in the U.S. or abroad. This includes colleges, universities, trade schools and apprenticeship programs. Additionally, up to $10,000 per year per student can be withdrawn to pay for tuition expenses in connection with enrollment at a K-12 institution.

College Savings Iowa Participants have saved more than $5.7 billion to help pay for education expenses on behalf of a student in their lives. “This proves what I already know – people in Iowa care about the future of our youth, including me,” said Smith. “That’s why I’m encouraging all families to register for this giveaway. Don’t miss the chance to ‘let the sleigh bells ring’ on a child’s education savings and register today!”

To learn more about the Plan, visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com or call (888) 672-9116. Connect with College Savings Iowa on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, to stay informed on current events and updates. For additional details about the Plan, read the Program Description.

Des Moines, Iowa – State Treasurer Roby Smith is encouraging Iowa families to add a contribution to a College Savings Iowa account to their child’s holiday wish list. “The generosity of family and friends can sometimes feel a little overwhelming with new toys and gadgets for our kids, and flashy toys can lose their luster after a few months,” Smith said. “As you gather with friends and family this holiday season, share the magic of investing in your child’s education dreams.”

“There’s no need to worry about what size sweater or socks to get – a contribution to a College Savings Iowa account is a meaningful gift with flexibility that always fits,” continued Smith. Funds can be used to pay for tuition, room and board, books, computers, supplies and other qualified education-related expenses at any eligible education institution in the U.S. or abroad, including two- and four-year colleges, apprenticeship programs and trade schools. Additionally, up to $10,000 per student per year can be used for K-12 tuition.

“Opening a College Savings Iowa account or making a contribution to an existing account is the gift that keeps giving, not only for your student, but for you as well,” Smith concluded. Iowa taxpayers have the added benefit of deducting up to $3,785 of their contributions per Beneficiary account from their 2023 state income taxes.

For more information about College Savings Iowa, call (888) 672-9116 or visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com. Connect with College Savings Iowa on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, to stay up to date on current events and updates. For additional details about the Plan, read the Program Description.

DES MOINES – With the holiday season approaching, State Treasurer Roby Smith is encouraging family and friends of those saving with IAble, Iowa’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) plan, to consider making a gift contribution. “The holidays are about togetherness and showing those around us how much we love and appreciate them,” said Smith. “Gifting can come in ways other than a package with a bow. Making a contribution to a loved one’s IAble account is a gift that can last and grow.”

Together, Account Owners and their support systems can contribute up to $17,000 per year to an IAble account, allowing individuals with disabilities to save and maintain eligibility for federal assistance programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Funds in an Account can be used for Qualified Disability Expenses like housing, food, support services and assistive technology that help improve or maintain health, independence or quality of life.

There are also tax advantages to saving with IAble, including a state tax deduction. Any Iowa taxpayer contributing to an IAble account can deduct up to $3,785 of their contributions from their state taxable income for 2023.

This holiday season, to support loved ones in your life living with a disability, consider using Ugift® – a free and easy way to make a contribution to an IAble account. Account Owners can log in to their IAble account, locate their unique gifting code and share it with family and friends. “Once an Account Owner’s gifting code has been shared with you, visit UgiftABLE.com. Enter the code and the amount you’d like to contribute and complete the transaction. It’s that easy,” Smith continued. “Helping someone achieve their best life experience is a gift that continues to give long after the holiday season.”

Visit IAble.gov/resources/give-a-gift.com for more information. For additional information about IAble, visit IAble.gov. Connect with the Treasurer on Instagram, Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, for updates and news. For details about the Plan, review the Plan Disclosure Booklet.

COLFAX, Iowa — An east-central Iowa man officially holds the Guiness Book of World Record collection of pencils. Aaron Bartholmey, of Colfax, invited the community to look at his pencil collection as he counted every single one over the summer. At the time, the Guinness World Record for such a collection sat around 24,000 items. After he sat down and conducted another count, he found his collection of pencils amounted to 69,255. The collection includes everything from local business advertisements to a 100-year-old pencil, and even one with a high school basketball schedule. In July, counters from the American Pencil Collectors Society counted the pencils. Then, Bartholmey submitted the proposal to the Guinness World Records. Three months later, the record was certified.

While Bartholmey’s collection rewrote the record books, he says he’s already on the hunt for more. The childhood hobby that started after a flea market visit with his grandpa turned into one for the recordbooks. ‘It’s pretty unbelievable to know I hold that title and officially have the largest collection in the world!’ Bartholmey wrote in a statement.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports the arrest at around 12:40 this (Monday) morning, of 27-year-old Carlos Ivan Cortez, from Lenox. Cortez was arrested at the intersection of Elm and Page in Creston, and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and OWI 1st Offense. He was taken to the Union County Jail and held on a $2,300 cash or surety bond.