At some point in many women’s lives, they will have to make major financial decisions. Money Talk, a course offered locally this March by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, gives women the knowledge to make those decisions and improve their lives. Sandra McKinnon, Family Finance Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, says “Women are often vulnerable when it comes to their financial future. Women tend to live longer than men, have lower wages, be more conservative in their investments and are in and out of the workforce more frequently.”

McKinnon says “The Money Talk program is designed to help women improve their money management skills and overall level of financial knowledge. Participants will develop confidence in decision making and gain control of their finances.”

The 5-session class will be held Thursdays, starting March 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic. Registration deadline is February 29.
Instructors for the class include McKinnon, as well as several local professionals, and will cover the following topics:

March 3: Financial Basics – Sandra McKinnon, Iowa State University Extension
March 10: Insurance Essentials – Tammy Cullen, Cullen & Associates
March 17: Investment Fundamentals – Jenny Johnson, Wiges & Johnson
March 24: Retirement Realities – Megan Roberts, Megan Roberts State Farm
March 31: Legal Issues -Jody Lorence, Otto, Lorence & Weiderstein, PLLC

The program is strictly educational, using a research-based Extension curriculum, and does not promote any company or product. Local speakers were invited to share their subject matter expertise, and to be a voice of experience for participant questions.
The cost for the 5 week program is $25 per person. This includes all sessions, handout materials and a 192-page workbook that participants will use to track their goals and progress. This program registration fee is below the usual course fee of $75 per person due to support from the Cass County Extension Council and local sponsors Cullen & Associates; Wiges & Johnson, Ameriprise Financial; Megan Roberts, State Farm; and Otto, Lorence & Wiederstein, PLLC.

For more information, or to register, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132.  A registration form can also be found on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

“What You Should Know About Heart Attacks” is the topic of this month’s session of “Healthy U,” which will be held on a special date and time – Monday, February 29th at 5:30 pm at Cass County Health System.

Anand Deshmukh, MD, FACP will be presenting about heart attack causes, symptoms, and treatments. Dr. Deshmukh is a visiting cardiologist at CCHS from Methodist Physicians Clinic Heart Care Center.

Dr. Anand Deshmukh, MD, FACP.

The session will be on Monday, February 29th at 5:30 pm in Conference Room 2 at Cass County Health System. Healthy U is a free educational series offered by Cass County Health System that focuses on a different health topic each month. All registered attendees receive a healthy boxed meal in addition to the educational program presented by medical professionals.

For more information, or to make a reservation for Healthy U, call 712-243-7479.

Statehouse Republicans are railing at Democrats, but not Republican Governor Terry Branstad, over a tax issue. Republicans in the legislature want state tax law to mimic a federal tax break for depreciation of equipment in small businesses. Senator Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says the thousands of Iowa small business owners, including farmers, could claim as much as 95 million dollars if this federal tax break were made available at the state level and he’s blasting Democrats for failing to endorse it.

“This is shameful,” Feenstra says. “In a time they need it most, more than any time, they don’t want to give these deductions and tax credits to our job creators.” Republican Governor Terry Branstad did not include this tax break in the financial plan he submitted to legislators in January. Branstad told reporters the state couldn’t afford it. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake says she and other Republicans in the legislature believe they can make room for this tax cut in their budget plan.

“That’s why we’re working on it,” Upmeyer says. “We’re showing him a path.” The tax break Republicans propose would apply to the income tax returns Iowa small business owners are filing right now, for tax year 2015. Iowa small businesses didn’t get this tax break in 2014 either. The legislature did not adopt the “bonus depreciation” congress granted small businesses on assets acquired during 2014.

(Radio Iowa)

The entire state’s under a wind advisory today (Friday) and strong gusts are causing traffic troubles in northwest Iowa. On Highway 75, just south of Merrill, a semi truck and trailer has overturned, partially blocking the northbound traffic. Authorities are detouring northbound traffic on Highway 75, until such time they can get the truck back upright. A second truck and trailer apparently tried to pull off the roadway on to the shoulder, when the rig had jack-knifed. Authorities are working on both situations.

Meteorologist Todd Heitkemp at the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, says winds are approaching hurricane strength. “We’ve had gusts reported all across the upper Midwest that exceeded 40, 45 and even 50 miles an hour,” Heitkep says. “The latest, strongest wind gusts, we’ve had over 70 miles an hour in Mitchell.” The winds are blowing in much warmer weather. Most of Iowa will see high temperatures this afternoon in the 50s and 60s. Shenandoah had 73 on Thursday for the state’s hot spot.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Dallas company has canceled plans to build a nearly $31 million rail car maintenance facility in Sioux City. The Sioux City Journal reports that TrinityRail officials confirmed the bad news to city officials earlier this month. When TrinityRail announced the Sioux City expansion in October 2014, a surge in tanker cars transporting crude oil and ethanol had raised demand for the company’s services. But demand for tankers has dropped sharply as global prices for crude oil collapsed.

The 150,000-square-foot facility was supposed to create 250 new jobs including 160 that would pay $16.63 an hour. That’s why state officials approved tax credits for the project. TrinityRail is a subsidiary of Trinity Industries, a Dallas-based conglomerate.