In the past week, three more skimming devices were found on gas pumps in Omaha-Council Bluffs, gadgets identity thieves use to gather data from credit cards customers swipe at the pump. Back in October, skimmers were found on pumps in Davenport and Omaha. Ron Murtaugh, police chief in the Omaha suburb of Ralston, says these devices are more sophisticated, utilizing advanced technology to steal data. “Now, they’re Bluetooth-enabled,” Chief Murtaugh says. “Somebody can pull up within relatively close proximity and download it into either a cell phone or similar device.”

The chief recommends gas station owners everywhere have their equipment checked regularly as these crooks are wily, sometime installing redundant skimmers. “One of the business owners was proactive and contacted their maintenance folks who came out and located an additional skimming device in one of their pumps,” he says. The experts say it’s impossible for consumers to know if a skimming device is on the pump or even -inside- the pump. You may not know your card has been compromised until strange charges start to appear on your bill.

“The skimming device captures the information as it gets transmitted to inside the building to their credit card processing,” Murtaugh says. “They then take that data and generate new credit cards off the data that’s captured or they’ll take that data and purchase things online where you don’t have to have a physical card.” If you use a credit card, authorities recommend you closely review every line of your bill every month.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic Public Library Director Natalie Struecker updated the City Council Wednesday night on activities at the library over the next couple of months. Many of the activities, she said focus on things for kids to do. Including special program from Iowa Public Television [IPTV] at 2:15-p.m., on Jan. 20th.

Struecker says they’ll also be celebrating “Winnie the Pooh Day” for Pre-K through 3rd graders on Jan. 25th, at 3:30-p.m., and making Valentines Feb. 9th at 3:30-p.m. for grades K-through 3. Later on in February (the 22nd, at 3:30-p.m.), the Atlantic Public Library will host “Fairytale Day.” There are activities designed for those in their “Tween” years, as well, including Harry Potter Trivia and Coding.

Adults have no shortage of activities at the library. Struecker says a new group “Coloring and Conversation” has formed. They meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, from 9:30-until 11-a.m, on the 1st Thursday, and from 5:30-until 7:30-p.m. on the third Thursday. Supplies will be provided. There are also Technology classes, including one for those who want to learn about their Iphone and Ipad. Those sessions are set for today (Thursday, 1/7), at 2-p.m., and Monday, Feb. 15th, at 6-p.m.

Android Smartphone and Tablet users can learn more about those devices 2-p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14th and on Monday, Feb. 29th, at 6-p.m. Adults can also learn how to download books. The next session is Feb. 18th at 4-p.m. Representatives with the Alzheimer’s Association will be at the Atlantic Public Library Jan. 12th, beginning at 2-p.m. to talk about the 10 warning signs of memory loss.

Struecker also spoke about their online tutoring service called “HelpNow.” She said students grade K-through those in their second year of college can connect with a live tutor from 2-pm until 11-pm every day of the week. All you need to use the service is your library card number.

For more information on programs and activities at the Atlantic Public Library, go to www.atlantic.lib.ia.us , or call 243-5466.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold a Special Session Friday morning at the courthouse in Greenfield. During their meeting, which begins at 9-a.m., the Board will hear Fiscal Year 2017 funding requests from: The local Department of Veteran’s Affairs; The county libraries; County Attorney, and County Fair Board. The Board will also hear from the County Engineer, with regard to various departmental matters. They’ll conclude with a Budget Work Session.

During their meeting held Wednesday, the Adair County Board of Supervisors received FY 2017 funding requests from various organizations, including: Home Care; R-C & D; the Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG); Midwest Partnership, and the Adair County Board of Health. Afterward, they held a Budget Work Session.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Sheriff’s officials in Union County said today (Thursday), a woman from Adair County was arrested late Wednesday night. 34-year old Cynthia Ann McIntosh, of Orient, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for probation violation. McIntosh was being held without bond, in the Ringgold County Jail.

(8-a.m. News)

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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AREA COUNTIES: CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD–
646 AM CST THU JAN 7 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A DENSE FOG ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY.

* VISIBILITY…ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS.

* IMPACTS…TRAVELING WILL BE DIFFICULT DUE TO THE RESTRICTIVE
VISIBILITY…ESPECIALLY PRIOR TO SUNRISE.

POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-FREMONT COUNTIES: DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 9-A.M.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE
REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING…SLOW DOWN…
USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS…AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.

Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Wednesday, announced the first baby born at the facility in 2016 was to Dillon and Tymbre Karwal. The couple welcomed their son Liam Roy to the world. Cass County Health System staff provided the couple and their son with a special certificate, blanket, and a year’s supply of diapers to celebrate the birth of the New Year’s baby.

Left to right: Lisa Burmeister, RN; Dr. James Brown, MD; Dillon Karwal; Tymbre Karwal holding Liam; aunt MiKayla Dorscher; and big sister Elizabeth Karwal.

State tax receipts over the past six months are up just two percent compared to the same period last year. Jeff Robinson, the senior fiscal analyst for the Legislative Services Agency, calls that “modest” growth. “As we head into the second half of the fiscal year, growth will need to accelerate,” he says.

That’s because a three-person panel of financial experts is predicting state tax collections will grow almost twice as much, by three-point-eight percent. That estimate is what the state budget plan for the next fiscal year is to be based upon. The data on state tax collections for just the month of December is a bit muddled because the Thanksgiving holiday was so late in November. While the state treasury’s actual cash receipts show a dip of nearly 26 million last month compared to December of 2014, Robinson says that’s off by about 42 million.

“In reality, December 2015 was a mildly positive General Fund Revenue month,” Robinson says. The 2016 Iowa Legislature convenes on Monday and legislators from both parties acknowledge coming up with a state budget plan will be difficult.

(Radio Iowa)

Republican candidate Ted Cruz supports a five-year phase-out of the so-called “Renewable Fuels Standard” that sets annual ethanol production levels for the country, but Cruz says Iowans are being “snookered” about the R-F-S. “You know, a lot of corn farmers, a lot of people in Iowa have been led to believe by the lobbyists that the RFS is the ‘holy grail’, but the RFS ensures that Washington remains front and center,” Cruz said Tuesday in Sioux Center.

“It ensures that corn farmers have to go on bended knees to politicians in Washington, seeking their regular support and mandates.” Under current federal law, the Renewable Fuels Standard will end in 2022. Cruz co-sponsored a senate bill in 2013 that would have triggered a five-year phrase out of the R-F-S. Cruz says a better answer is improving market access and he promises as president he would end federal regulations that effectively prevent refineries from making higher blends of ethanol, like E-15 and E-30.

Cruz has been trailed this week in Iowa by America’s Renewable Future, a pro-ethanol group that’s headed by Eric Branstad, the oldest son of Republican Governor Terry Branstad, and Cruz is taking issue with their efforts. “Now I recognize, particularly as our campaign has gained more and more support, as we’ve seen conservatives uniting behind our campaign, that a coalition of lobbyists and Democrats have gotten together and are spending an awful lot of money trying to convince you that somehow Ted Cruz opposes corn farmers,” Cruz said in Sioux Center. “I’ll tell you the straight truth: it is utter nonsense.”

Eric Branstad says Cruz “started the Caucus process” by calling for an “immediate” repeal and has been swayed by Iowa farmers, but a spokeswoman for Cruz says the senator first called for a gradual phase out of the R-F-S nearly three years ago.

(Radio Iowa)