Many of Iowa’s animal shelters are struggling with overcrowded conditions. The state’s largest nonprofit animal shelter last week reported a record number of homeless animals in their care. Tom Colvin, executive director of the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Iowa, says the Des Moines operation has over 13-hundred (1,300) animals under its watch. “Every place you look right now there are cats and dogs,” Colvin says.

The shelter is receiving dozens of animals a day. Colvin notes adoptions are critical, but Iowans can take other actions to help ease the burden on the state’s animal shelters. “It’s virtually impossible to adopt our way out of the homeless pets situation,” Colvin says. “Therefore, we have a lot of resources at the Animal Rescue League – as there are around other parts of the state – to make sure people are getting their pets spayed or neutered. There are a number of programs that make that very affordable and in some instances even free.”

Many shelters around the state also have foster programs. “So, if you can even temporarily have a pet in your home, they can just kind of hang out at your place and they’ll still be available for adoption. That’s a huge way they can help,” Colvin says.

The ARL and many other shelters also offer free cat and dog behavior counseling as a way to encourage owners to keep their pet rather than give it up.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa – It’s looking to be a better year financially for those in Iowa and across the country as a recent analysis shows that Americans are making progress in paying down their credit card debt.  According to the study by CardHub – a card comparison website – almost $35 billion in credit card debt was paid off in the first quarter alone.

Still, that’s considerably less than the roughly $46 billion in debt that was accrued in the quarter previous, says Jill Gonzalez, a CardHub spokeswoman. “We’re getting farther from the recession,” she states. “A lot of people say we’re not all the way out of it yet, but I think consumers are now willing and wanting to spend more. Unfortunately they’re still spending money that they don’t necessarily have.”

The credit card debt for the average household is now about $7,000, according to the report. To reduce that quickly, Gonzalez recommends paying off cards with the highest interest first, or transferring that debt to cards with lower rates. Gonzalez says also key is having a budget.

“Making a budget, sticking to it,” she stresses. “That’s kind of the age-old advice, but really just spending less than you have to begin with and then the money that you are spending, make sure you’re setting it aside to pay off your debt.” In addition to paying off debt, financial advisers recommend building an emergency fund in case of job loss or an unexpected illness.

(Iowa News Service)

Friends and family members of a western Iowa man who suffered traumatic brain and other injuries during a motorcycle accident last month, have organized a means to raise funds to help pay his medical bills. 22-year old Jacob Braunersrither, of Council Bluffs, lost control of his motorcycle on June 22nd, and was thrown about 50-feet. In addition to his brain injuries, the man suffered from a broken femur and fractured hip.

Braunersrither has spent the past three weeks in the ICU at Creighton Hospital. He was recently transferred to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital for extensive therapy with brain injury specialists. To help pay for his mounting medical bills, friends and family of Braunersrither are running an online fundraising campaign through Red Basket, a nonprofit crowdfunding website based in Omaha.

All funds donated will go directly to him to help pay for medical bills and his car payment. No fees are charged to donors with giving through Red Basket. To support Braunersrither with your tax deductible donation, visit RedBasket.org/580. The fundraising campaign is titled “Fighting for Jacob.”

Red Basket is fully supported by WoodmenLife which covers Red Basket’s administrative costs in their entirety so 100% of donations are directly passed thru to the individual or cause.

Police in Creston say a woman was arrested on drug and other charges over the weekend. 38-year old Sara Exline, of Afton, was taken into custody at around 1:10-a.m. Saturday on charges that include Driving While Revoked, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and on two Union County warrants for Failure to Appear in court. Exline was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $14,000 cash bond.

Also arrested Saturday, was 22-year old Kevin Davis, of Creston. Davis was taken into custody at around 7-p.m. on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear in court. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $200 cash bond.

And, 29-year old John Vanscoy, of Creston, was arrested at around 1:30-a.m. Sunday, for Driving While Suspended. He was later released on a $300 bond.

Authorities in Montgomery County arrested a Red Oak man late Sunday evening. Red Oak Police say 53-year old David Lawrence Howe was taken into custody at N. 1st and E. Elm Streets, on an OWI charge. He was also cited for Driving While Suspended. Howe was arrested at around 8:10-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $1,000 bond.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two people participating in an annual bike ride across Iowa were struck and injured by an intoxicated driver. According to police, Bruce and Barbara Blair of Hudson, Wisconsin, were riding a tandem bike early Sunday morning as part of The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa – or RAGBRAI- when they were struck by 36-year-old Charryse Chavez of Sioux City.

Police say Chavez ignored an officer controlling traffic at an intersection and drove through. Sioux City Police Sgt. Jim Cunningham said Chavez was arrested about block away. The victims were transported to a hospital, where Bruce Blair remains in stable condition. Barbara Blair was treated and released.

Chavez has been charged with a second offense of operating while intoxicated, failure to obey a police officer and having no insurance.