Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says a deadline is approaching for anyone who may have been a victim of fraud involving a Western Union money transfer. “Two federal agencies found massive fraud being implemented through Western Union,” Miller says. He says the company “sort of looked the other way” as the fraud happened. The Federal Trade Commission and U-S Department of Justice reached a 586 million dollar settlement where the company will pay back those who were victims of fraud. “The federal government has contracted with a and outside agency — a third party– to implement the settlement, ” Miller says. “They have or are in the process of sending letters to various people who have complained about these types of problems kinds of problems.”

You have until February 12th to make a claim. Miller says his office got information from Western Union on money transfers by Iowans of 500 dollars or more to what are called “suspect countries,” and mailed letters to them. Miller says some 18-thousand Iowans were on the list. “The majority of the transfers were legitimate for one reason or another. But there’s a significant number that weren’t legitimate and we are working through the process of people making their claims,” Miller says.

He says Western Union is asking people for a wire transfer number, but says some people may not have that number. Miller says they are asking federal officials and the company to change their procedure so if a person gives their name, amount and date of transfer and it matches their records that they get a refund.

The refunds cover the time period between January 1st, 2004 and January 19, 2017.

(Radio Iowa)

A Guthrie County farmer, who’s resisted using synthetic chemicals for nearly two decades, is this year’s recipient of the Practical Farmers of Iowa Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award. Earl Hafner of Panora was honored by the group Friday night at its annual meeting in Ames. Hafner recalled his decision to abandon chemicals in the late 1990s, saying the label “certified organic” quickly paid off. “People start calling you because the demand is so high…marketing is not hard because people, once they find out you have organic crops, we get all kinds of brokers calling,” Hafner said.

Jeff-and-Earl-Hafner-in-aquaponics-greenhouse

The demand for organic food continues to rise, which is good for Hafner’s bottom line. And while the 71-year-old Hafner likes making DOLLARS, he says going chemical-free just made SENSE. “I just remember when I was a kid in the 1940s and 50s very few, if any, chemicals were used. We would walk the beans and we didn’t have near the weeds in the beans that we do know,” Hafner said. Hafner farms with his son, Jeff. Their operation, called Early Morning Harvest, covers 2,000 acres and includes certified organic row crops, grass-fed cattle, hogs, and pastured poultry for egg production. The father and son also run a grain mill and an aquaponics greenhouse that includes tilapia (teh-LAH-pee-uh) — fish raised for food.

“The grain mill was my hobby and the greenhouse with tilapia was Jeff’s hobby and, you know, those hobbies just kind of went wild,” Hafner said with a laugh. “We just kept growing and expanding. “You wouldn’t think that tilapia would be in such demand, people know exactly where they’ve come from and what they’ve been fed, so there’s no river contamination or anything like that.”

The Hafner’s diversified farm also produces honey and vegetables.

(Radio Iowa)

The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested at around 7:30-p.m. Friday, on assault charges. 46-year old Michael Williams, and 38-year old Christina Williams, both of Creston, were arrested at their home for Simple Domestic Assault. The pair was later released on $300 bond, each. And, Sunday night, 50-year old Edith Davis, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Davis was later released on a $3,000 bond.

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

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AMES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa lawmaker says he’s taking full responsibility for his decision to drive drunk. State Rep. Francis “Chip” Baltimore, a Republican from Boone, was arrested Friday morning in Ames near Interstate 35. His blood alcohol tested out at nearly twice the legal limit, and a pistol was found under the driver’s seat.

Baltimore told station WOI that he “made a very, very bad decision to get behind the wheel.” Baltimore, an attorney, is serving his fourth term as a state representative. He is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, a legislative body that has advanced legislation in recent years to add more penalties for individuals arrested for drunken driving.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — An Ames company where a worker was fatally injured says a safety device fell on him. Danfoss Power Solutions said in a news release Sunday that a preliminary investigation determined that a safety hood on a motor testing operation struck 45-year-old John Lavery. The Ames resident died about 4 p.m. Thursday at the hydraulic motors plant.

The company says it is replacing all the other safety hoods with a new design that the company says will prevent similar accidents. Federal officials have joined the accident investigation.

A single-vehicle accident in Shenandoah, Sunday afternoon, left one person dead and a 15-year old injured. Both were from Shenandoah. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 24-year old Tyler L. Gobert was driving a 2005 Honda Element eastbound on Nishna Avenue, when for reasons unknown, Gobert lost control of the vehicle.

The vehicle drove through a yard and crossed south Elm Street before hitting a tree and sustaining severe damage. The accident happened at around 3:10-p.m. Gobert, who was not wearing a seat belt, and his unidentified teen passenger who was properly secured in the vehicle, were transported by Shenandoah Rescue to the Shenandoah Hospital, where Gobert was pronounced dead.

The accident remains under investigation. Authorities say the State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Page County Sheriff’s Office, Shenandoah Fire, Police and EMS.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:15 a.m. CST

SHENANDOAH, Iowa (KJAN) – One person died and a teen was injured Sunday afternoon, during a single-vehicle accident in Shenandoah. The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of a 2005 Honda Element, 24-year old Tyler L. Gobert died, and his 15-year old passenger was injured in the crash. Both are from Shenandoah. The accident remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republicans are wading through the realities of mid-year budget cuts, and some have reservations about a proposal from Gov. Kim Reynolds to reduce $10 million from the state’s Medicaid program. Reynolds’ staff claims the cut won’t impact the health care program’s services for the poor and disabled, but the governor must convince members of her party. Many Republicans already appear wary of removing money from a program under scrutiny for reports of reduced services under privatization.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Forecasters expect a major winter storm to dump snow on most of Nebraska and parts of Iowa and Kansas, and the storm could make travel difficult. The National Weather Service says the storm is already moving across Nebraska, and blizzard conditions are expected at times.

NASHUA, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials have identified a man shot by police earlier this week in northeast Iowa as a Minneapolis resident. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said late Friday that 29-year-old Jihad Merrick died after being shot on Highway 218 in Bremer County in a standoff with police and after he had hit an officer with his car. The names of the officers involved haven’t been released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A commission has told lawmakers that repeated cuts to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources threatened its ability to protect the state’s air and water as the reductions have forced the agency to leave more than 100 positions vacant. The Des Moines Register reports an Environmental Protection Commission report noted the Iowa DNR’s budget had been cut from $22 million in 2009 to $11.17 million in the current budget year. The cuts have come amid rising concerns about Iowa’s polluted waterways.

Iowa Third District Republican Congressman David Young took to social media sites Sunday afternoon to announce “Due to the federal government shutdown, upcoming Coffee With My Congressman town halls may be postponed.” Young said “As long as the federal government is shutdown, I will remain in Washington, D.C. working with my colleagues to reopen the federal government.”

Locally, Town Hall meetings were set to take place this week: Monday morning, in Underwood, and Monday afternoon in Henderson; and, Wednesday afternoon, in Griswold. Those meetings will be rescheduled.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republicans are wading through the hard realities of mid-year budget cuts, and some are expressing reservations about a proposal from Gov. Kim Reynolds to reduce $10 million from the state’s Medicaid program.

Reynolds’ staff claims the cut won’t impact the health care program’s services for the poor and disabled, but the governor still must convince members of her party. Many Republicans already appear weary of removing money from a program under scrutiny for reports of reduced services under privatization.

The Iowa Department of Human Services says a decline in Medicaid enrollment means less financial need. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency says while enrollment is down, it’s too early to know the implications of a reduction.

Iowa’s roughly $4 billion Medicaid program is funded through the federal government and the state. Iowa’s share is expected to be about $1.6 billion.