(Radio Iowa) — State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald says 273 Iowans who are intellectually or physically disabled have accounts in a relatively new state-run, tax-free savings program. Fitzgerald says a disabled person or a relative may contribute to an I-ABLE account. The money may be used a variety of things, like a specially-equipped vehicle or job training.

Many plan for the money to help a disabled adult son or daughter find somewhere to live after their parents pass away. Fitzgerald says nearly one-point-four million dollars has been invested in the program since it was established in early 2017 and a quarter of a million has been withdrawn. A disabled American usually loses their Social Security Disability and Medicaid benefits if they have more than two-thousand dollars in savings, but the I-Able program meets federal guidelines so that doesn’t happen. Iowa is among more than a dozen states with this kind of a savings program. Fitzgerald says I-Able gives those concerned about the well-being of a loved one the opportunity save for future disability-related expenses.

(Radio Iowa) — One of the priorities of the Iowa Association of School Boards in the new year is to get the legislature to pass an extension of the one-cent sales tax for infrastructure. Atlantic School Board vice president Kristy Pellett talked with other board members about how the tax has helped her district.”Mostly capital needs, technology. In our district of Atlantic it’s been an important resource and fund for us,” Pellet says. “We’ve spent over 15 million dollars on projects in Atlantic. Those have included H-V-A-C and L-E-D lighting improvements. The important part of that — that has increased our energy efficiency in the district — which saves dollars in the general fund.”

She says there are other projects where the fund has helped. “We have also utilized that to improve education and safety for our students,” she says. “One of those items was a one-to-one computer initiative. We’ve added elevators to three of our buildings using this fund. And most recently we purchased a building to house our alternative school.”

The penny tax is scheduled to end in 2029 and Pellett says they are pushing for an extension now because the tax helps ensure better bond rates for projects. “By extending that you allow that opportunity for districts to utilize that revenue with today’s expenses and bond against future proceeds,” Pellett explains.

Pellett says board members are aware of the tight funds in the state, but says this would extend a tax that has proven to be successful and is not creating something new. She says the money generated helps the entire community. There is a benefit even if you don’t have students in school right now. Those are public use facilities that are used for many, many activities other than just the education of our kids,” Pellett says.

Pellett encourages parents and community members to talk with their school boards to learn more about how the tax is used in their districts. She is encouraging school board members across the state to talk with local legislators about the importance of extending the tax.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say one person was injured trying to extinguish a house fire in Waterloo. The blaze was reported around 9:25 a.m. Thursday. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that residents tried to put out the blaze, which started in the basement and spread up through a wall to the attic.

Waterloo Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Troy Luck says the resident’s injuries didn’t appear to be life-threatening. The person’s name hasn’t been released. The fire cause is being investigated.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers, Friday (Today), said  “With the chance of an accumulating snowfall to occur in Clarinda Saturday night through Sunday, the Clarinda Police Department would like to remind the citizens of Clarinda about the snow ordinance.

“The ordinance states that; no person shall park any motor vehicle or other apparatus upon any street of the city that will obstruct the removal of snow when there has been an accumulation of two (2) inches or more. Any vehicle left parked on any street in violation of this ordinance may be impounded, and the registered owner of the vehicle will be subject to a $15.00 parking fine, and payment of all applicable towing and storage fees in order for the vehicle to be released.”

The parking ban remains in effect until the snow ceases to fall and the streets have been plowed from curb to curb.

(Radio Iowa) — A Holiday musical born in Ireland, but produced in Iowa, will be making three stops in the state as the show crosses the country in the weeks before Christmas. Author Eoin Colfer, who achieved international acclaim for his “Artemis Fowl” series of children’s books, is the writer of NOËL – The Musical. Colfer says NOËL was inspired by his travels around the world and the growing number of homeless people he saw in major cities. “It occurred to me that even though Christmas is a very happy time, it’s probably not so happy if you’re living in a park,” Colfer said. “So, I wanted to write a story that featured these people in the park but also that was infused with the hope that things could get better, because that’s what Christmas is all about.”

NOËL is set in modern day London and tells the story of a girl (Noël) who befriends a group of homeless people while searching for her mother. Steve Peters, founder and president of Ames-based VenuWorks, is the musical’s co-executive producer. “We mounted the show two years ago at the National Opera House of Ireland as a concert work and we sold-out a week of performances there, so we knew we really had something,” Peters said. Colfer and Irish composer Liam Bates expanded the show for its first-ever North American tour. Michael Londra, an Ireland native who’s lived in Ames for the past 20 years, co-produced NOËL – The Musical. “We thought it was perfect to take the show from Ireland and begin its new life here in the Midwest,” Londra said. “There’s something special about that. It connects the two countries and particularly with this message of just giving a little bit back to the world and thinking about others during Christmas.”

NOËL – The Musical will make stops in Cedar Rapids (Paramount Theatre) on November 25, Ames (Stephen’s Auditorium) on November 29, and Davenport (Adler Theatre) on December 2. A documentary about the making of NOËL aired on Iowa Public Television in early October.

You can watch it here:
http://www.iptv.org/video/story/31669/making-noel-musical

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Two Iowa men who unwittingly sold elephant tranquilizers that looked like prescription painkillers have been imprisoned. Federal prosecutors say 20-year-old Cameron Lensmeyer and 20-year-old Evan Sage were sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. Both live in Waverly. Lensmeyer had pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute carfentanil and marijuana. He was sentenced to four years and four months. Sage pleaded guilty to possession for sale of carfentanil, cocaine and marijuana and to a weapons charge. He was sentenced to seven years and one month.

Prosecutors say the pair sold hundreds of pills they obtained from a darknet connection. The pills looked like those containing the painkiller oxycodone but were really made of the opioid carfentanil — an elephant tranquilizer.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, who won re-election this month over Democratic challenger Deidre DeJear, says he’ll be taking a closer look at Iowa’s nominating petition process for people who are seeking to have their name placed on the ballot. “In regards to being able to track who is processing those or being the promoter of these signatures, so we can take care of the questions that come up,” Pate said. “You know, who are these people? Are they real names? After we went through last cycle, I want to make sure we’ve done a little more work on that front.”

The issue gained attention in the spring when former Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett fell eight signatures short of what he needed on his nominating petitions to have his name on the Republican Primary ballot for governor. While NO requests for recounts were submitted in statewide races in the November 6 election, Pate suggests a review of Iowa’s recount process is needed. “Just because it comes up and it’s not clear,” Pate said. “We do not have an automatic recount process in Iowa. Frankly, it’s one of those things that we don’t want to have to do if you can help it. We want to avoid it if we can, but if we’re going to do it, we want to make sure we have procedures in place. So, I’m sure we’re be talking about it more.”

Aside from those matters, Pate doesn’t plan to pursue many other election-related changes. “We’ve got a pretty full plate with moving to the 17-year-olds being able to register to vote next year if they’re 18 by November and we have the merging of the city and school elections, so those are pretty big lists,” Pate said. “Then, of course, finishing the implementation of voter ID. So, I don’t really think I want to add much more.”

A bill signed into law by former Governor Terry Branstad requires Iowans to show an ID before they vote. Beginning in 2019, voters without the necessary ID will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide identification up until the Monday after election day for Primary and General Elections.