Iowans could be paying less than three dollars a gallon for gasoline before the end of the year, according to a report from Triple-A-Iowa. Spokeswoman Gail Weinholzer says crude oil prices are falling, stockpiles are rising and refineries have already made the change from summer to winter fuel blends.  “Everything is boding well as far as the switchover having been completed,” Weinholzer says, “demand being reasonably met by supply, the hurricane season is over in the Gulf (of Mexico).”

Iowa’s current statewide average is three-11 a gallon. Prices may fall between ten and 15-cents a gallon before December is out, she says, and prices may remain at the lower level for much of the winter. Weinholzer says, “Certainly, there’s no reason to expect prices to do any sort of significant increases between now and the early part of spring.” This isn’t anything out of the ordinary, she says, as gas prices typically reach a low for the year in mid-December.

“I would expect prices to remain relatively low, depending of course on the wild cards that we always talk about: the political situation in the Middle East and the overall world economy as far as the recovery from the recession.” While Iowa is averaging three-11 a gallon, that’s 14-cents cheaper than the national average. Prices in Davenport are the lowest in the state, averaging $2.94, while Waterloo has the highest prices at $3.15.

(Radio Iowa)

Governor Terry Branstad says he and his staff are still evaluating the numbers, but he may propose that legislators make a major change in the state’s income tax in 2014.  “We have toyed with the idea of looking at some changes in the income tax,” Branstad says. Branstad wants to wait until a panel of financial experts sets its estimate of overall state tax collections later this month and then start drawing up state budget plans that outline alternatives.

“We need to make sure that we have the resources to meet the obligations that we’ve made,” Branstad says. “The property tax relief and the education reform — those are phased in over the next several years and it’s going to require state resources in order to replace property tax and state resources for the teacher leadership legislation that we passed last year.” Branstad envisions a two-track state income tax system that would set up a new “flat or flatter” state income tax or let Iowans file their income taxes under the current system.

“But we have not got a specific proposal developed yet and hopefully by the time we unveil the budget in January we’ll be in a position to make a recommendation,” Branstad says. Iowa’s current income tax system has nine rates, with a top rate of nearly nine percent. “For people that are not familiar with the Iowa tax structure, that just look at some chart and then they see, well, gosh, Iowa is way up there. You know, California, Hawaii and they see Iowa like third or fourth,” Branstad says. “They’re not really looking at the effective rate.”

Iowa’s income tax rates higher when compared to most other states because Iowa offers a deduction that’s offered in only five other states. That deduction allows Iowans to subtract their federal income tax liability from their income before calculating their state income taxes.  “We don’t want to erode federal deductability,” Branstad says, “and that’s why we’re saying: ‘Give ’em the option.'” By giving taxpayers the option to file their income taxes under the current system with that major deduction or under a new system with lower and flatter rates, Branstad might avoid the firestorm he faced from his fellow Republicans in the late 1980s when he proposed doing away with that deduction.

Iowans for Tax Relief, founded and financed by a former Republican legislator, has long opposed getting rid of that deduction.  “Our overall goal is to reduce the tax burden and make Iowa more competitive and we want to look at the best way to do that,” Branstad says. “And we want to do that respecting how strongly Iowans feel about having a tax on a tax.” Branstad briefly talked about a “flat or flatter” state income tax during an appearance at the Westside Conservative Breakfast Club in Urbandale, then expanded on the subject during an interview with Radio Iowa and The Des Moines Register.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

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714 AM CST WED DEC 4 2013

…FROZEN MIX FOR SEVERAL HOURS THIS MORNING….A TRANSITION FROM LIGHT DRIZZLE AND LIGHT FREEZING RAIN WILL OCCUR OVER PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTHWEST IOWA THIS MORNING. THIS SHOULD LAST UNTIL LATE MORNING OVER THE ADVISORY AREA.

COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-CASS-

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CST THIS MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LIGHT FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CST THIS MORNING.

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…LIGHT FREEZING RAIN IS DEVELOPING OVER WESTERN IOWA THIS MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO LIGHT SNOW THIS AFTERNOON.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW/ICE ACCUMULATIONS…A LIGHT GLAZING OF ICE IS EXPECTED AND OVER NORTHWEST IOWA UP TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW EXPECTED.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…VISIBILITY WILL REMAIN BELOW 2 MILES FOR SEVERAL HOURS. AS WINDS INCREASE TO 10 TO 20 MPH LATER THIS MORNING THE VISIBILITY WILL IMPROVE.

* IMPACTS…ROADS MAY BECOME SLICK WITH TRAVEL DIFFICULT FOR SEVERAL HOURS THIS MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW…SLEET…OR FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

A podcast of the 7:07-a.m. news with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson…

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Two separate public hearings will be held in two weeks with regard to a proposed Whole Grade Sharing agreement between the AHST and Walnut Community School Districts. The first hearing takes place 6:30-p.m. Dec. 16th in Walnut, with the second meeting to be held Dec. 17th at 7-p.m., in Avoca. Persons unable to attend either of the public hearings may contact one of the school district’s secretaries and leave a comment with them to be presented during the hearing.

The AHST and Walnut Districts have been gathering input over the past month, and negotiating key portions of the agreement. School officials say if approved in late January, the 4-year sharing agreement would begin in the fall of 2014.

Police in Glenwood say a man was arrested earlier this week at the Glenwood Middle School, after they received a report of a person with a gun. Officers were called to the Glenwood Middle School at around 12:30 p.m., Monday. Following an investigation, 66-year-old Lyle Hillhouse, of Glenwood, was arrested for allegedly carrying a weapon on school grounds. Hillhouse was being held in the Mills County Jail on $5,000 bond.

The Glenwood P-D also reports two Omaha residents were arrested Tuesday, following an investigation into a call about a suspicious vehicle at the B-P Station on Sharp Street, in Glenwood.  When officers responded at around 10-a.m., 24-year-old Colton Garvin took off on foot, but was apprehended at the corner of Coolidge and Vine Street. He faces Possession of Stolen Property, unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs and Interference with Official Acts charges. Another suspect, 32-year-old Niccole Rohde, was arrested at the scene and charged with Possession of Stolen Property. The pair was booked into the Mills County Jail.

The vehicle in question had been reported stolen out of Omaha.

A petition seeking the removal from office of the Monona County Auditor alleges she ran up nearly $8,000 in unpaid personal charges and late fees on her county credit card. According to the Omaha World-Herald, 28-year old Auditor Brooke Kuhlmann allegedly used the credit card for a concert and casino charges, expenditures at convenience stores, iTunes, Walmart, McDonald’s and Dairy Queen. The charges were racked-up between June 26, 2012, and July 25, 2013.

The allegations against Brooke Kuhlmann are among several in a document, recently filed by the Monona County Attorney’s Office, that requests a judge to remove her from office. Kuhlmann also faces drug-related charges after getting arrested July 29th. The arrest took place after she allegedly contacted a drug dealer’s cellphone in an attempt to make a buy. She didn’t realize that the person with whom she was speaking was a state trooper — the phone had been seized in a traffic stop. Methamphetamine was left for her in an arranged location. According to authorities, law enforcement officers watched her pick it up, and then Onawa police pulled her over.

Kuhlmann has pleaded not guilty to charges of methamphetamine possession, a serious misdemeanor, and possessing drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor. Hertrial is set to take place in February. The World-Herald says the petition claims Kuhlmann has not appeared for a full day’s work since then. Kuhlmann previously told paper that she is working from home.

State law does not dictate how often a county auditor should be at work. Following the petition, a district court hearing will need to be held, with a judge having the final say if Kuhlmann can be removed from office.

The parents of two boys who died this weekend after falling through ice on a pond in rural Adams County say the proceeds of a calf sale being held today in Creston will benefit a scholarship established in the names of their sons.

According to the Omaha World-Herald, Tom and Leisa Frey, of Prescott, thanked the public for the outpouring of support they have received, and the couple announced a calf sale for the scholarship fund will be held at Creston Livestock Auction, 201 N. Cherry St. in Creston, beginning at Noon. The family operates the Creston Livestock Auction, and Tom Frey is a well-known area auctioneer.

The couples’ adopted sons, 11-year old T-J and 9-year old Nate Frey, died after falling through the ice Saturday on a pond near their home in rural Adams County. Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston. Visitation is Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home in Creston.

The family asks that memorials be sent the TJ and Nathan Frey Fund at St. Malachy School, 403 W. Clark St., Creston, IA 50801. Persons with questions about today’s benefit sale can be addressed by calling Corey Schultz at 816-645-9357.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents plan to meet by conference call Wednesday to discuss plans to freeze tuition rates for undergraduates while cutting them for out-of-state law students. After months of discussion, they’re expected to formally approve the plan. The freeze is contingent on the schools receiving a 4 percent general funding increase from lawmakers next year. Without it, the regents warn they may have to approve an increase later.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former prosecutor says her problems in the U.S. Attorney’s Office began when she raised the possibility of age discrimination with her new boss. Martha Fagg testified Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City, where a jury and judge will consider her claims of disability and age discrimination by then U.S. Attorney Stephanie Rose. Rose is now a federal judge. The trial continues Wednesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State University-based Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture says it tracked 103 farmers who reported more than $10 million in local food sales in 2012. Most of the food was purchased by grocery stores, restaurants, schools, colleges, hospitals, nursing homes and nonprofit organizations. The organizations reported they spent just less than 9 percent of their total food budget on food grown by local farmers.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Nigerian Ambassador Geoffrey Teneilabe will address an audience Dec. 12 at the Dubuque Multicultural Family Center as it celebrates the history and culture of Africa. The reception and program, titled “All Africa” will include opening remarks by Dubuque Mayor Roy Buol. Abeni El-Amin, the center’s executive director, says the effort behind the event will encourage African-Americans and Africans to celebrate shared elements of culture.