Some Iowans who bought discount travel vouchers for far-away vacations this spring won’t be flying anywhere. A wedding and event planner based in Omaha-Council Bluffs was selling the vouchers for thousands of dollars less than the retail price of airfares but now airlines are refusing to honor them. Jim Hegerty, with the Better Business Bureau, says people are understandably very upset with Creative Creations.

“It’s a pretty unprecedented event for the BBB,” Hegerty says. “In the last 10 days, we received more complaints on this company alone than we received on all companies combined last month. We’re up around 900 complaints from consumers all over the United States.” Hegerty says the company is now under investigation to determine if there was any fraud or criminal intent.

Hegerty says, “So many people purchased these vouchers that they were unable to manage them and ultimately, the people that purchased them were unable to redeem them for the travel that they’d all planned to do this spring.” Hegerty says it’s still not clear just how many people bought the travel vouchers, but there are likely many hundreds more who have yet to come forward.

“The company reached a tipping point at which it became very, very problematic,” Hegerty says. “Clearly, we’ve had 900 complaints in 10 days. The dollar value associated with those complaints is probably north of $600,000 and rising every day.” An attorney for Creative Creations says it is not likely there will be any refunds. He says, simply, the company’s business model failed.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Investor Warren Buffett says the economy continues to grow steadily, but too many people continue to miss out on the American dream. Buffett told CNN Thursday that he doesn’t see any real sign of weakness in the economy. Buffett looks at reports from the more than 80 businesses his Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate owns for insight.

But Buffett reiterated his concerns about income inequality in this country while the super-rich continue to thrive. He said that America should be able to do more to help people who are struggling do better. Buffett is always looking for potential investments for his company. He says that these days he doesn’t see many stocks he’d consider cheap, but he doesn’t believe there is a bubble in stock prices either.

BOONE, Iowa (AP) – A Georgia man accused in his former roommate’s 2009 slaying has testified in his own defense, repeating that he killed the man in order to protect himself. The defense rested its case Thursday in the trial of 55-year-old John Green, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 58-year-old Mark Koster, of Sac City. The case now goes to jurors for deliberation.

Previous testimony and a videotaped police interview aired in court revealed that Green admitted to killing Koster. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports that as Green explained what happened prior to Koster’s death, he maintained that he killed Koster out of self-defense. Koster was declared missing in 2010, and his remains were later found buried in his Sac City home after new owners began renovations.

Shelby County Emergency Manager Bob Seivert reports a section of Yellowwood Road just south of 600th Street is closed due to a bridge being out. Emergency responders and residents in the area should adjust their travel and response plans accordingly. (click on the image below to enlarge)

Several events are scheduled across Iowa this April as part of “National Donate Life Month.” Iowa Donor Network spokesman, Tony Hakes, says the events will focus on everyone involved in organ donation and transplants.  “The entire month is set aside for everyone in America really to reflect about donation, to honor donors and donor families, a change for recipients to thank their families. And we just do that by partnering with hospitals, medical examiners, E-M-S services, law enforcement, pretty much all these professional partners throughout the state,” Hakes says. He says the publicity about the need for donors has helped them make progress.

“At the end of last year we reached a five-year low on the number of people waiting for a transplant in Iowa. And it looks like we’ve got more people signing up, registering as donors each month, each year,” Hakes says. “So, it’s definitely helped, it’s definitely saved lives, impacted lives, enhanced lives.” While more people are signing up to donate, there’s still a waiting list for those needing a transplant.

“Well in Iowa it’s anywhere from 550 to 600, and of course, one is too many. But Iowa is a pretty good place to have transplants and get listed,”according to Hakes. “Nationally, there’s anywhere from 120 to 125-thousand waiting at any given time.” He says they’d like to continue improving on the progress made in getting more people to donate. “We really feel that this is a solvable problem and we just need everyone to register as a donor — make sure their family knows and understands their wishes — and we think that we can take that wait list down to zero,” Hakes says. Hakes says it doesn’t take long for you to sign up.

“Registering as a donor in Iowa is incredibly easy. Pretty much you can mark yes on your driver’s license and just make sure your family knows and understands your wishes. You doe those two things and you are all set,” Hakes explains. “If someone doesn’t want to wait until they renew their license — or they maybe don’t have a license or I-D — they can go to Iowa Donor Network o-r-g (www.ioadonornetwork.org) and register on-line. Again, once you register on-line, you are good and you don’t have to do anything else other than let your family know your wishes.” Hake says being an organ donor can allow you to have a big impact on a lot of people.

“One person can save up to eight people’s lives through organ donations, and enhance up to 50 to maybe even 100 through tissue donation, when you start talking about donating skin, bones, ligaments veins, tendons, those types of things,” Hakes says. The Iowa Donor Network helped transplant 216 life-saving organs in 2014, and recovered tissue from 982 donors.

(Radio Iowa)

Severe winds Wednesday blew a motorcycle off the road, injured the driver. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says David Barrett, of Glenwood,was transported by LifeNet helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Authorities say Barrett was traveling north on 195th Street, north of Paddock Avenue, when his 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle was hit by a strong southerly gust of wind as Barrett was trying to round a curve, causing the cycle to leave the road. The accident happened at around 4-p.m.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Creston man reported Tuesday, someone had taken numerous items from his shed located off of Redwood Avenue. The theft occurred sometime over the past weekend, and included: Gas cans and chain oil, chain saw, and several miscellaneous tools. The loss was estimated at $1,672.