Many Iowans will be traveling across the state or across the country for Thanksgiving, but a few will be making international trips in the next week. The U-S State Department is issuing a rare global travel alert due to increased terrorist threats. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says America’s intelligence community is keeping closely attuned to any rumblings that may indicate trouble. “CIA, FBI use the word chatter,” Grassley says. “There’s a lot of chatter out there coming from all of the terrorist organizations that you can name, Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, ISIS, probably a dozen more you could name, seems to be a lotta’ chatter.”

There are reportedly no specific threats directed at the United States, but officials are warning Americans to be more vigilant after recent multiple attacks around the world. “I think it’s reasonable to take it very serious,” Grassley says. “I hope nothing comes of it. We had the same thing July the 4th, not too much came out of it. That’s because the FBI was on top of things and arrested several people before they had an opportunity to do any damage.”

The alert from the State Department says travelers abroad should avoid large crowds and crowded places, and exercise particular caution during the holiday season and at holiday festivals or events. Grassley says, “We saw what happened in Paris so I think we ought to listen to what the State Department says.”

The November 13th attacks on the French capitol for which ISIS claimed responsibility claimed 130 lives and injured hundreds. Other recent attacks struck in Denmark, Mali, Nigeria and Turkey. The travel alert will remain in place into late February.

(Radio Iowa)

A woman from Madison County was arrested Saturday at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Sheriff’s officials say 39-year old Jaqueliene Juatriene Clabaugh,  of Winterset, was arrested on a Union County Warrant for probation violation. Clabaugh was being held for Union County in the Ringgold County Jail, on $2000 bond.

The Internal Revenue Service is launching a new campaign with the Iowa Department of Revenue and the state’s private sector tax industry to nudge Iowans into taking more precautions with their sensitive financial information. Christopher Miller, a spokesman for the I-R-S in Iowa, says identity thieves are becoming more sophisticated all the time and taxpayers need to keep up or they may become victims.

“We want to encourage people when they file their taxes at home and whenever they’re working with personal information at home, to use security software to protect their computers,” Miller says. “That includes firewalls and anti-virus protection.” Authorities say I-D thieves are using personal data from real taxpayers to create fake state and federal tax returns to claim real refunds. Miller says Iowans have to be on guard for crooks who are trolling to rip you off using telephone and email “phishing” cons.

“If you get a call from someone posing as an IRS agent and they threaten you with jail or lawsuits, it’s a scam, hang up,” Miller says. “We also want to encourage people to protect their personal information. Do not routinely carry your Social Security number.” Also, oversharing on social media gives identity thieves even more personal details. The new I-R-S campaign is called “Taxes. Security. Together.” and it aims to raise public awareness that even routine actions on the Internet and with personal electronic devices can affect the safety of financial and tax data.

“Your tax returns are sensitive data so you have to treat that information just like you would cash, don’t leave it laying around,” Miller says. “Properly dispose of old tax returns and other sensitive documents by shredding them before you put them in the trash.” The campaign includes several components, including YouTube videos, consumer-friendly Tax Tips each week and local events. Several IRS publications are being added or updated to help taxpayers and tax professionals at IRS.gov, state web sites and platforms used by the tax preparation community.

The campaign will continue through the April tax deadline. Learn more on the web at https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Taxes-Security-Together

(Radio Iowa)