The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) is developing a website that will list available rental properties throughout the state. It’s free for landlords to post a listing and a dedicated call center makes sure that available listings are kept current. IFA spokesperson Ashley Jared says they expect ‘Iowa Housing Search dot org’ (www.iowahousingsearch.org) to go live in mid-January. She believes it will fill a need in the state.
“There is not one current listing of rentals in the state of Iowa. Our office gets calls daily from renters and people who would like to rent, asking what’s available,” Jared says.

The IFA can direct people to some listings, according to Jared, but they often are not updated to show which properties are actually available. “This website is going to be different…it tracks units that are actually vacant and we have a call center that’s dedicated to following up with landlords on an every two-week basis to make sure the information is up to date and accurate,” Jared says. In the coming weeks, Jared says the IFA will be reaching out to landlords to post available properties on the website.

Statewide, she estimates over 13-thousand (13,000) units have already been listed. Thirty-four other states have similar websites, including Colorado, which has used their site to help flood victims find affordable housing quickly.

(Radio Iowa)

A man from central Minnesota was struck and killed by a car late Wednesday night on Interstate 35 in south central Iowa. The State Patrol reports 74-year old Lawrence Anderson, of Marine on St. Croix, MN, was chasing a dog that had gotten away from a stranded vehicle on the shoulder of I-35 in Warren County, when he was hit in the left lane of the interstate by a southbound SUV. Anderson died at the scene. The driver of the SUV was not injured.

Officials say the accident happened near the St. Charles Exit (Mile marker 52) at around 10:30-p.m., Wednesday. The driver of the 1997 Chevy Suburban that struck Anderson was identified as 34-year old Shelton Short, of Osceola. The Patrol says Short did not see Anderson on the road and was unable to avoid the collision.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

ST. CHARLES, Iowa — A man from central Minnesota was struck and killed by a car late Wednesday night on Interstate 35 in south central Iowa. The State Patrol reports 74-year old Lawrence Andserson, of Marine on St. Croix, MN, was chasing a dog that had gotten away from a stranded vehicle on the shoulder of I-35, when he was hit in the left lane of the interstate by a southbound SUV. Anderson died at the scene. The driver of the SUV was not injured.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines-area police want people to know that leaving your car out in a snowstorm can cost you. The Register reports that police in Des Moines and the surrounding communities issued more than 1,400 citations to people who didn’t follow snow removal ordinances over the weekend. Under those rules, drivers typically can’t leave vehicles on the street after an inch of snow has fallen. These rules make it easier to clear the streets.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman with an ongoing feud over a doormat has been accused of attacking her neighbor on Christmas Eve. Des Moines police say 40-year-old Dana Allen was arrested Tuesday night following an incident at an apartment complex on the city’s east side. The Register says Allen is charged with assault.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police have identified a woman killed in a Christmas Eve shooting. Police said yesterday that 34-year-old Johnita Clemons of Des Moines was found Tuesday night inside a home on the city’s north side. Gunshots had been reported earlier in the area. Police say four witnesses were taken in for questioning. Additional information about them has not been released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has begun its late muzzleloader deer season. The state Department of Natural Resources says the season began Monday. Hunters are required to wear blaze orange, and party hunting is prohibited. The late muzzleloader deer season runs through January 10th.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa-based whiskey company has shot to success since becoming a licensed brand eight years ago.  Sioux City television station KTIV reports that Templeton Rye whiskey became an officially licensed brand on Christmas Eve of 2005. The company, based in the small town of Templeton, has gained national recognition since then and is now shipping bottles to 40 states.

Templeton Rye whiskey was first made during prohibition in the 1920s and has been produced since then, but was never a legal brand. Company president Scott Bush is a great-nephew of some of the original producers of the whiskey. He says he wanted to preserve a piece of history.