A Republican candidate for U-S Senate from Red Oak got some airtime on N-B-C’s “Tonight Show” last night (Tuesday) and also received something of an endorsement from host Jimmy Fallon. “I saw this on YouTube today,” Fallon said. “It’s a commercial from a woman from Iowa named Joni Ernst who is running for the Senate, I think. Today, she released a campaign ad. Take a look at this.”

The ad plays, and Ernst is heard saying: “I’m Joni Ernst and I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm…” The ad is cut short as the audience howls and applauds, while Fallon — back on camera — cries: “Stop, stop, stop!” As the laughter continues, he adds, “I don’t know what she’s running for but just give her the job.”

Later in the commercial, Ernst said she knows “how to cut pork” and promises to make big spenders in Washington “squeal.”

(Radio Iowa)

Two western Iowa restaurants are among the top 10 finalists in the Iowa’s Best Burger Contest sponsored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. Those organizations counted the nominations which were received online, via text and paper ballots. Nominations were accepted between Feb. 12th and March 17th. Among those getting the most votes, was the Elm’s Club, in Creston, and Sam’s Sodas and Sandwiches, in Carroll.

Officials say Iowans submitted more than 9,600 nominating votes. Now in its fifth year, Iowa’s Best Burger contest received nominations for 456 Iowa restaurants. All Top Ten restaurants will be visited by judges who will evaluate the hamburgers based on taste, appearance, and proper serving temperature (160 degrees).

Last year, the 61 Chop House Grille in Mediapolis took home the grand prize. Previous winners include the Coon Bowl III (2012); the Rusty Duck in Dexter (2011) and the Sac County Cattle Company in Sac City (2010).

Giving Iowans a state tax credit for their student loan debt if they earned a degree from a non-profit university, college or community college in Iowa has been discussed at the statehouse, but the scope of the tax break might make it too pricey for legislators to even consider. Representative Greg Forristall (FOR-ih-stall), a Republican from Macedonia, isn’t ready to sign off on the concept yet. “When we get that fiscal note and we decide who qualifies for this, we may need to trim this back a little bit in terms of the portion that qualifies for the tax credit,” Forristall says.

And legislators are under pressure to expand the pool of people who could take the credit, if it is created. For-profit universities argue their students should get the tax break, too. Mike Heller is a lobbyist for Kaplan University.  “We have a concern with the definition of eligible institution,” Heller said. “We think it should be expanded to include students who graduate from for-profit institutions. The debt loan concerns are the same for the student.”

Paula Dierenfeld, a lobbyist for the University of Phoenix, says the bill as currently written would deny the credit to Iowans who earn a degree on-line from the University of Phoenix — or the University of Wisconsin. “It’s kind of a new era of learning in Iowa with these on-line courses…and we believe that those students because they’re residents in Iowa, taxpayers in Iowa, receiving their degrees here in Iowa and working in Iowa should be as eligible for these tax credits as other students,” Dierenfeld says.

Trade schools are clamoring to get their students signed up for the potential tax credit, too. Kent Hartwig is a lobbyist for the Iowa Cosmetology School Association. “We have numerous cosmetology schools in the state and we would like our students to benefit from this as well,” Hartwig said.

An official from the Iowa Department of Revenue also points out there would be “double-dipping” if Iowans could get a tax credit that’s worth to up to half of the student loan payments they make in a year. That’s because there’s already a tax break on the interest paid on student loans. Income taxpayers can claim up to 25-hundred dollars in student loan interest on both their state and federal tax returns today.

(Radio Iowa)

Residents of northwest Iowa are being warned about bogus text messages that claim to be from Wells Fargo Bank, directing people to go to a phony website and enter their account information. Angie Kaipust, spokeswoman for the bank in Sioux City, says it’s a “phishing” scam.
Kaipust says, “What these fraudsters do is they send a message to a wide audience, including customers and non-customers, and they’re hoping someone’s going to click on the link and give their personal financial information.”

She says there’s a course of action you should follow. “If you get a suspicious message, whether it’s a text message, a voice message or email and they’re asking for your personal financial information, delete it and don’t respond to it,” Kaipust says. After you delete the message, she says it’s a good idea to contact your bank and ensure your account hasn’t been compromised.

“Cardholders are protected by our zero liability protection,” she says. “That means you’re not liable for any unauthorized transactions that are made when you promptly report it to us.” The bank already has that information on its customers, she reminds, so they wouldn’t be asking for it.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

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Authorities in Shenandoah report the search for a missing Essex teen is over. Officials say 16-year old Brydget Bird was found Tuesday, with the assistance of Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies. No other details were provided.

Bird had last been seen by her mother Friday night. Shenandoah Police Chief Kris Grebert says the girl was reported missing the next day.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County Wednesday morning, released a report on recent arrests. Authorities say 33-year old Lyda Rachel Wilson, of Glenwood, was arrested at around 9:10-p.m. Tuesday after she left the Adams County Sheriff’s Office driving on a suspended license. Wilson was charged with Driving While Revoked. Her bond was set at just over $1,573.

And, at around 6:30-p.m. Tuesday, deputies in Adams County arrested 27-year old old Crystal Estell, of Corning, for Driving While Barred and Failure to file for SR-22 insurance. Her bond was set at slightly more than $2,573.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in finding who stole an Iowa flag from a pole and left an American flag lying on the ground. The incident happened Friday between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. near Main and E streets in Hamburg. The city of Hamburg is offering a $1,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of those involved. Fremont County Crime Stoppers also will match the $1,000 reward. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (712) 374-2424 or crime stoppers at 1 (800) 432-9240.

In a separate incident, three flags, including from the U-S Post Office, was reported stolen from Macksburg last week.

(Update 6:48-a.m. 3/26/14 – Authorities in Shenandoah say Bird has been found with the assistance of Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies. No other details were provided.)

Authorities in southwest Iowa are asking for the public’s help in finding a teenager who’s been missing for more than four days. The Daily NonPareil reports 16-year old Brydget Bird, of Essex, was last seen by her mother Friday night. Shenandoah Police Chief Kris Grebert says the girl was reported missing the next day.

Brydget Bird

Women in Southwest Iowa are invited to a day of fun, learning and friendship during the annual Boots to Heels Conference on Saturday, April 12th. The conference runs from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic. Organizers say a dynamic lineup of speakers are scheduled for the one-day conference, to focus on the interests of women living and working in rural Iowa.

Kate Olson, program coordinator with Cass County ISU Extensio, says this is an event for any woman who wants to have fun and learn about farm related topics and plenty of other topics for ladies who do not have a farm background. Currently scheduled speakers include Kris Boettger, owner of Barn Happy, a restored old barn near Cedar Falls that features all Iowa made products, as the keynote speaker to start off the conference. Boettger will encourage attendees to know themselves, find balance in their lives and serve out their strengths in a session titled “Living and Giving Your Best.”

Brandi Eckles, owner of Lou Lou’s clothing store in Atlantic, will discuss fashion trends and share tips for mixing and matching the newest trend pieces in her session “3 outfits 9 ways” during the lunch hour. Additional breakout sessions include some favorite speakers and topics from years past. Breakout topics range from fitness to food and wine pairing, and farmland leasing to arm-knitting a scarf! Favorite presenters from previous conferences include Kate Kohorst, Dawn Rice and Aubrey Stuart. A few new speakers also join the lineup to share their expertise with conference attendees.

A full list of breakout sessions and descriptions is available on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu.   Registration for the entire day, which includes all sessions, a continental breakfast, lunch, dessert and materials, is just $30. Registration forms with a full schedule are available at the Cass County Extension office and other local supporting businesses, or can be printed at the Cass County Extension Website www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.