There are just two days left before the deadline to file your Iowa tax returns. Iowa Department of Revenue spokesperson, Renee Mulvey, says for most people it’s not a worry. She says the vast majority of Iowans have filed their returns, as she says most file along with their federal returns on April 15th even though they have until April 30th. Mulvey says the Iowa tax rules are different from the federal rules. Mulvey says some people are not required to file a federal return, but are still required to file an Iowa return. And she says if you’ve filed for a federal earned income credit, but you have never filed and Iowa return, you may want to file and Iowa return to get a state earned income credit. Mulvey advises e-filing to get things processed quickly. Mulvey says it is always better to e-file if you have a refund coming, as you will get your refund in 10 days or less and it can be directly deposited to your bank. Mulvey says some people still use paper returns, and they should be careful. Mulvey says the simple mistakes — like forgetting to sign your return — will slow down the process. So Mulvey says,"Do the math and sign you return." Mulvey says some one-point-two million people have already filed their taxes electronically, and some 137,000 have filed paper returns. For more information on you state taxes, check the Department Revenue’s website ..
State tax filing deadline looming
Group rehabilitates homes
Rebuilding Together is tackling major projects in and around Davenport, Muscatine, Des Moines and Omaha/Council Bluffs. Lori McCombs is executive director of the Greater Des Moines chapter, which is sprucing up 50 homes with the help of a thousand volunteers. McCombs says, "We’re going to do everything from installing new flooring to doing some siding to repairing holes in roofs, to painting to making handicapped ramps and making homes handicapped accessible." She says there is no cost to the homeowners, who are typically low-income elderly, disabled or are families with dependent children. "They actually just go through an application process and then a lot depends on their needs and our skills," McCombs says. "We are an all-volunteer organization so we have to match projects with the level of the skills that we have." She says they’re still looking for volunteers who may offer a few skills in particular, like electricians, carpenters, roofers and other construction professionals. "People who volunteer for Rebuilding Together come back year after year," McCombs says. "We’re in an area of the country where volunteerism is high and people do give back to their community, so it’s businesses and organizations that sponsor houses and bring volunteers with them." For more information, visit the agency’s website . 
Between last weekend and next weekend, dozens of Iowa homes are being rehabilitated by an all-volunteer group.
Clergy talk about both sides of same-sex marriage
The reverend who officiated Iowa’s first gay marriage says he is scheduled to officiate another 15 to 20 same-sex ceremonies through July.
Mark Stringer of Des Moines helped marry two college students from Ames during a brief window opened by a lower court ruling in August of 2007.
An Iowa Supreme Court ruling earlier this month cleared the way for gay couples to begin receiving marriage licenses today. Stringer says his church was one of the first Unitarian churches in the country to support gay rights. "For me, it was part of my core beliefs to want to see couples have the same benefits for their commitment that my wife and I enjoy," Stringer said.
Most of the ceremonies Stringer has scheduled will be short affairs where he will say a few words and then sign the marriage license.
He says most of the couples he’s scheduled to marry have been together for 10, 20 or 30 years. "They’ve made their relationship formal in their own minds, even if the state didn’t recognize it," Stringer said. "So, for them, it’s kind of a formality. It’s simply the legal action of signing the paper that, in my opinion, they should have been able to sign years ago."
Stringer says his phone has been ringing ever since the Supreme Court’s ruling on April 3rd. "To be honest, it’s complicating my life," Stringer said with a laugh. "But, I feel so strongly about it and I know that I’m one of a handful of people who will do (same-sex marriage ceremonies). I’m kind of seeing it as mostly a benefit to my own spirit to be able to be the person that helps these couples achieve the legal status that I think they’ve always deserved."
Catholic leaders in Iowa have said they feel the gay marriage ruling will harm families and children. Monsignor Frank Bognanno of Christ the King Catholic Church in Des Moines says he addressed the issue in a sermon the Sunday after the court decision. He feels it could open the door to legalized polygamy.
"That is, if I fall in love with someone of the same sex and have the right to marry – why don’t I have a right to marry two or three people of the opposite sex," Bognanno said. Stringer and Bognanno obviously have a different interpretation of what’s presented in the Bible.
Bognanno says, according to the Catholic religion, God clearly stated that marriage should be between one man and one woman. But, Bognanno says gay marriage is not just a religious issue. He notes that atheistic cultures are also opposed to same-sex marriage. "They do not believe in God, but they do believe that the one man, one woman marriage is the best (way) to raise children as a strong foundation for their society," Bagnanno said.
While homosexuality in itself is not considered a sin in the Catholic religion, Bagnanno says homosexual acts are considered a sin. "So, for example, it would be a sin for me not to hire someone for a position in our parish simply on the one issue that they happen to be same-sex oriented," Bagnanno said.
Students take part in National History Day
Hundreds of Iowa high school students are looking back at major events as part of National History Day in Iowa. Competitions are underway all day at the State Historical Building in Des Moines. Jeff Morgan, spokesman for the State Historical Society of Iowa, says the kids are working to make history come alive. "They are competing in a wide range of categories about historical issues, ideas, peoples and events that took place in the past," Morgan says. "The theme for this year’s National History Day in Iowa is: ‘The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies.’" He says this is a year-long academic adventure that aims to generate enthusiasm for learning and encourages students to draw on an array of resources. "They put together different kinds of packages," Morgan says. "They put together research papers, websites, individual and group exhibits, documentaries and performances." Students competing today are in grades nine-through-12 in the senior division while next Monday, May 4th, it’ll be the junior division for grades six-through-eight. He says today’s competitors are putting their all into the presentations. "Iowa traditionally has been very strong with National History Day," Morgan says. "We have had a Grand Champion in the past couple of years and typically every year, we see them coming home with national honors and recognition so we’re very excited to see how this group of students does." Last year, three Iowa students won their respective categories and 25 others earned honors at nationals. Over the two days of the competition in Iowa (today and next Monday), about 700 Iowa students will take part. Of those, about 50 will be chosen to attend the national event in June at the University of Maryland. For more information, visit " www.iowahistory.org ".
Change cuts the time limits on Jumpstart loans
A change signed into law by the governor will cut the time limit on forgivable loans given to Iowans through the Jumpstart disaster recovery program. Rebuild Iowa Office spokesperson Tina Potthoff says it’s a big benefit for those trying to recover. Potthoff says instead of requiring homeowners to stay in their homes for 10 years the loan forgiven at a rate of 10% per year, it is not being forgiven in five years at a rate of 20% per year. Pothoff says nearly 2,500 Iowans were given the loans from Jumpstart, with the average award of just over $17,000. She says the Jumpstart money can be used for things like downpayment assistance, interim mortgage assistance, and repair and rehab assistance for homeowners. Potthoff says those who received the Jumpstart money will be getting a notice of the change. She says there will be some paperwork involved and the respective cities and councils of governments that are administering the money will contact the homeowners to take care of things. Pothoff says the change doesn’t just impact state money. Pothoff says they will also implement the five-year forgivable loan change for federal money given out through Jumpstart. The state put nearly $43-million into the Jumpstart program.
"Not a time for alarm" but swine flu cases expected in Iowa
State health officials say there are no confirmed cases of swine flu in Iowa, but Iowa Department of Public Health director Tom Newton says "there’s a pretty good potential" cases will be found here.
Governor Chet Culver held a news conference in his statehouse office this afternoon to discuss the situation.
"This is not a time for alarm," Culver said as he read from a prepared statement, "rather, this is a time for prevention and for caution."
The strain of "swine influenza A" has sickened nearly 2000 people in Mexico and about 100 people are believed to have died from the virus. Cases of swine flu have been confirmed in five of the 50 states, but no one in the U.S. has died from swine flu.
Iowa Department of Public Health director Tom Newton is urging Iowans who believe they have the symptoms of swine flu to call their doctor.
"We don’t want you just showing up in an emergency room, or just showing up at your a doctor’s waiting room," Newton said. "We want to make sure that people are calling ahead, touching base with their health care providers, consulting with them about what their symptoms are. If they have recently traveled from one of the locations that has confirmed cases, they may work out a deal with their health care provider which wouldn’t expose them to everyone sitting in the waiting room."
The main symptoms include a fever of more than 100 degrees, cold sweats and severe coughing.
"We’re not just talking about a running nose. There are a lot of allergies going around right now, but we’re not talking about that," Newton said. "People would be feeling fairly sick."
Newton indicates it’s not a question of if but when cases are confirmed in Iowa.
"I think there’s pretty good potential that we will have cases in Iowa based on the information that we’re getting," Newton said. "…The (Centers for Disease Control) has indicated to us that there are ongoing investigations all across the country and they anticipate there will be more states that have confirmed cases in the near future."
The State of Iowa currently has enough doses of an anti-viral medication called TAMIFLU to treat over 400,000 Iowans. "And TAMIFLU has shown some effectiveness (in treating) the swine flu that is circulating," Newton said.
There is no vaccine for swine flu, so getting a flu shot won’t protect you according health officials.
Kansas is the closest of the five states where swine flu cases have been confirmed, and Newton points out the two cases there can be traced to Mexico.
"From what we understann…from the information the C.D.C. has shared with us it was an individual who made a three-day trip to Cancun, spent some time in the…Mexico City airport…and then his wife, consequently, also came down with swine flu," Newton said.
The governor made a point of repeating that one gets swine flu from coming in contact with someone who has the virus; you cannot get it by eating pork. Deputy State Ag Secretary Karey Cleghorn was at today’s news conference.
"The swine herd in the state of Iowa is healthy," Cleghorn said. "We haven’t had any (cases) of this particular strain reported (on Iowa farms)."
Lieutenant Governor Patt Judge spoke briefly at today’s news conference, but had to step away from the microphone because of a coughing fit.
"I do not have it," Judge told reorters as she gasped for breath. After the news conference, Judge said she was suffering from springtime allergies.
Click on the audio link below to listen to the entire news conference.
Iowa Hawkeyes taken in second day of NFL draft
Two Iowa Hawkeyes did not have to wait long to see if they were taken during the second day of the NFL draft. The New York Jets opened the third round by taking running back Shonn Greene, who rushed for more than 1,800 yards this past season in being named the Doak walker award winner.
With the very next pick the St. Louis Rams landed defensive back Bradley Fletcher, whose stock has been rising since the end of the season.
Iowa offensive lineman Seth Olsen was drafted in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos. Tight end Brandon Myers was taken by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round.
