1. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: Pronounced as ‘Core da lane’, this city offers a wonderful ski environment, stunning scenery and a flourishing golf culture. The city is picking up in the tourism sector. The median home price is $311,700 and the population is 38,246.

2. Charlottesville, Virginia: The Blue Ridge Mountains, University of Virginia, and variety of entertainment and recreation, makes Charlottesville an attractive option to retire in. This is also a city with a strong historical background. All these positive features offset the slightly high median home price of $398,400. The population of Charlottesville is 41,425.

3. Logan, Utah: Home to the Utah State University, Logan is a popular city that offers various recreational activities including plenty of water sports at Bear Lake. Logan has a historic downtown and the scenic Logan Canyon Scenic Byway is a great attraction. The city has a median home price of $205,400 and population of 44,599.

4. Blacksburg, Virginia: A town that has been growing steadily over the last 4 decades, Blacksburg is home to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute also known as Virginia Tech, a very vibrant college community and lots of scenic beauty. The median home price is $233,400 and the town has a population of 39,915 residents.

5. Burlington, Vermont: A college town through and through, Burlington boasts of being home to four colleges – the University of Vermont, Burlington College, Champlain College and a Community College of Vermont campus. The median home price is $378,000 and the town has 37,884 residents.

6. Anacortes, Washington: An awesome place if you want to enjoy your retirement with a lot of fun and entertainment. The jewel of Fidalgo Island, Anacortes is favorably located near British Columbia. There is no limit to the water sports that the sea offers or to other outdoor activities such as golfing, bird watching, camping etc. The median home price is $347,600 and the town has a population of just 15,514 with a 15-year growth rate of 24.5 %.

7. Sarasota, Florida: You would love this spot for its exquisite architecture, pure white sands and wonderful beach sports. You can have a big house warming party, south florida party rentals are always on hand. The medium home price is a little expensive at $423,400 and the population is at 53,477. Being the hub of architectural marvel Sarasota in the State of Florida might not offer much for the home buyer in terms of housing bargains. Make sure to check out the local south florida event rentals.

8. Hanover, New Hampshire: Also known as the “Upper Valley”, Hanover in New Hampshire is a peaceful place to settle in, for its wonderful valley setting. Located at driving distance from Boston, Montreal and New York City, Hanover also offers great skiing activity. The median home price is at $297,400 and the population is 8,305 with a 15-year growth rate of 13.2 %.

9. Manhattan, Kansas: If one wishes to settle in a city that offers year-round entertainment, Manhattan in the State of Kansas would be the perfect choice. The city offers golf, art, shopping and some of the country’s best music festivals during the month of June. The median home price is $188,600 and the population is 44,630.

10. Ames, Iowa: This can be the perfect choice for the one who wants a laid back lifestyle and a quiet life. The city offers some of the most affordable housing options and the crime rate is also quite low here. The city also is home to the Iowa State University. The Median home price is at $176,700 and the population is 54,817.

Show your support! Get your Iowa Hawkeyes gear here!

Day Date Opponent Location
Sat 09/03/05 vs. Ball State at Iowa City, IA (Varsity Club Day)
Sat 09/10/05 vs. Iowa State at Ames, IA (Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series)
Sat 09/17/05 vs. Northern Iowa at Iowa City, IA
Sat 09/24/05 vs. Ohio State at Columbus, OH
Sat 10/01/05 vs. Illinois at Iowa City, IA (Homecoming)
Sat 10/08/05 vs. Purdue at West Lafayette, IN
Sat 10/15/05 vs. Indiana at Iowa City, IA (Family Weekend)
Sat 10/22/05 vs. Michigan at Iowa City, IA
Sat 11/05/05 vs. Northwestern at Evanston, IL
Sat 11/12/05 vs. Wisconsin at Madison, WI
Sat 11/19/05 vs. Minnesota at Iowa City, IA

Result: Iowa State 23, Iowa 3

Read the game recap here

The following is from HawkeyeFootball.com

“Iowa won the toss and elected to receive. The Hawkeyes have started on offense in 65 of their last 69 games. Iowa has started on offense in 67-of-75 contests under Kirk Ferentz.

QB Drew Tate was 5-11 for 57 yards in the first half before leaving the game, leaving his career total at 2,997 passing yards.

Albert Young’s 36-yard run on his first carry of the game is a career best. Young had a 31-yard run in the opening win over Ball State. Young had 18 carries for 140 yards for the best rushing total of his career. Young’s previous best game was 87 yards in the 2004 season opener vs. Kent State.

PK Kyle Schlicher was successful on his first field goal attempt of the season, a 44-yarder in the third quarter. Schlicher scored eight points in Iowa’s opening win, making all of his PAT attempts. Schlicher is now 22-27 in career field goals, including 4-8 from outside 40 yards.

Starting for the first time in their careers today were redshirt freshman Seth Olsen (OL) and sophomore Albert Young (RB).

Iowa lost its third fumble of the season on its first possession and its fourth later in the period on a bad snap from shot gun formation. The Hawkeyes lost a third fumble in the fourth quarter, giving them five lost fumbles in two games. Last season Iowa lost just five fumbles in 12 games.

Iowa suffered two interceptions in the second period, with one of those being returned for a touchdown. That return marked the first time an opponent returned an interception for a score since the loss at Michigan in 2004.

The five turnovers by the Hawkeyes mark the highest in one game since they had five turnovers (two interceptions, three lost fumbles) in a loss at Michigan in 2004.

All 23 Iowa State points came following Iowa turnovers, including an interception for a score, a 12-yard touchdown drive following a fumble and a 42-yard field goal drive following an interception.

Sophomore CB Adam Shada had his first career interception in the first period, picking off a pass that was deflected by Charles Godfrey.

When Iowa State scored first in the game, it marked the first time Iowa has trailed in the series since the third quarter of the 2002 contest in Iowa City.

Iowa failed to score a point in the first half for the first time since the third game of the 2004 season, a loss at Arizona State. Today marks the first time Iowa did not score a touchdown in a game since a 6-4 win at Penn State in 2004.

Today’s game marks the first time Iowa has not scored a touchdown in the series against Iowa State since 1978 when ISU scored a 31-0 decision.

Iowa’s defense was led by its senior linebackers Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge, along with senior DE Mike Follett. Greenway and Hodge each totaled 13 tackles, while Follett collected two of Iowa’s three sacks in his five tackles.

DB Marcus Paschal recorded 10 tackles, marking the third time in his career he has reached double figures in tackles. His career-high is 12 tackles (at Minnesota, 2004).

Iowa had its nine-game winning streak snapped with the loss at Iowa State. The winning streak ranked fourth in the nation coming into the game.

WR Ed Hinkel had a 28-yard reception in the fourth quarter, which was career catch No. 100.

TE Scott Chandler had a career-high seven receptions (72 yards). His previous career best was four receptions last season vs. Purdue, with those catches good for 122 yards. “

Visit the Iowa Hawkeye Football site for more Hawkeye news and stats!

Department of Revenue Income Tax Division Hoover State Office Bldg. P.O. Box 10457 Des Moines, IA 50306-0457 (515) 281-3114 (800) 367-3388 (in state) www.state.ia.us/tax

Iowa requires that you use Iowa form “IA W-4, Centralized Employee Registry Reporting Form/Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate” instead of a Federal W-4 Form for Iowa State Income Tax Withholding.

Not all states allow salary reductions made under Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows. In Iowa cafeteria plans are not taxable for income tax calculation; taxable for unemployment insurance purposes. 401(k) plan deferrals are not taxable for income taxes; taxable for unemployment purposes.

In Iowa supplemental wages are taxed at a 6% flat rate.

State W-2s are not applicable in the state of Iowa.

The Iowa State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:

Department of Workforce Development 1000 E. Grand Ave. Des Moines, IA 50319-0209 (515) 281-5387 http://www.iowaworkforce.org/wc/index.html

The State of Iowa taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $19,700.00.

Iowa has optional reporting of quarterly wages on magnetic media.

Unemployment records must be retained in Iowa for a minimum period of five years. This information generally includes: name; social security number; dates of hire, rehire and termination; wages by period; payroll pay periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.

The Iowa State Agency charged with enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:

Iowa Workforce Development Labor Services Division 1000 East Grand Ave. Des Moines, IA 50319-0209 (515) 281-5387 www.iowaworkforce.org//labor/index.html

The minimum wage in Iowa is $5.15 per hour.

There is also no general provision in Iowa State Law covering paying overtime in a non-FLSA covered employer. Iowa State new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehire; independent contractors over $600. The employer must report the federally required elements of:

Employee’s name Employee’s date of birth. Employee’s health insurance. Employee’s address Start date of contract.

Employee’s social security number Employer’s name Employers address Employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)

This information must be reported within 15 days of the hiring or rehiring. The information can be sent as a W4 or equivalent by mail, fax or electronically. There is a penalty contempt of court for a late report in Iowa.

The Iowa new hire-reporting agency can be reached at 515-281-533 or on the web at http://icer.dhs.state.ia.us/.

Iowa does not allow compulsory direct deposit.

Iowa requires the following information on an employee’s pay stub:

Gross and Net Earnings straight time and overtime pay hours worked itemized deductions

The State Wage and Hour Law provisions concerning pay stub information in Iowa is that it must be provided within 10 days of employee’s request, only once a year unless earnings, hours, or deductions are changed.

Iowa requires that employee be paid no less often than monthly, semimonthly, or biweekly.

Iowa requires that the lag time between the end of the pay period and the payment of wages to the employee not exceed twelve days after pay period; excluding Sundays and holidays.

Iowa payroll law requires that involuntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by their next regular payday; 30 days for commissions and that voluntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by the next regular payday; 30 days for commissions or by mail if employee requests it.

There is no provision in Iowa law concerning paying deceased employees.

Escheat laws in Iowa require that unclaimed wages be paid over to the state after one year.

The employer is further required in Iowa to keep a record of the wages abandoned and turned over to the state for a period of 4 years.

Iowa payroll law mandates no more than 40% of minimum wage may be used as a tip credit.

In the Iowa payroll law there is no provision covering required rest or meal periods.

There is no provision in Iowa law concerning record retention of wage and hour records therefor it is probably wise to follow FLSA guidelines.

The Iowa agency charged with enforcing Child Support Orders and laws is: Child Support Recovery Unit Department of Human Services Hoover Bldg., 5th Fl. Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 242-3237 (888) 229-9223 http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/dhs2005/dhs_homepage/financial_support/child_support/index.html

Iowa has the following provisions for child support deductions:

When to start Withholding? 10 days after receipt of order. When to send Payment? Within 7 days of Payday. When to send Termination Notice? “Promptly.” Maximum Administrative Fee? $2 per payment. Withholding Limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.

Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will happen from time to time.

Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll, accounting and tax business for 30 years, the last fifteen in private practice. Mr. Read is the author of “How to Start a New Business.”

To find professional payroll service at a budget price go to www.PayrollonaBudget.com a paperless payroll company.

For a full service payroll bureau with CPA’s on staff visit www.CustomPayroll.com .

See an excerpt of Mr. Read’s interviews from William Shatners “Heartbeat of America” television show on the web sites linked above.

About the Author

Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll, accounting and tax business for 30 years, the last fifteen in private practice. Mr. Read is the author of “How to Start a New Business.”

To find professional payroll service at a budget price go to www.PayrollonaBudget.com a paperless payroll company.

For a full service payroll bureau with CPA’s on staff visit www.CustomPayroll.com .

Des Moines also serves as the seat of Polk County, and is the center of a growing metropolitan area. With an estimated 196,857 residents in 2006, Des Moines has experienced marginal growth since 1990. The core population peaked at 208,982 in 1960. Since then, outlying suburbs have boosted the overall metro population to over 534,230. While Des Moines has successfully annexed bordering areas, a plan to merge governments with Polk County was soundly rejected by voters. The median age of city residents was 35.6 years in 2006 with 76% of the population being White non-Hispanic. Another 8% were African American, 10% Hispanic and 4% Asian. The African American and Hispanic populations are significantly higher than the Iowa average. About 10% of residents were foreign born, significantly higher than the state average. Over 25% of residents claimed German ancestry. Families made up 62% of Des Moines households. The 2006 median income for households in Des Moines was $41,651, slightly under the state average. It was somewhat below the national average of $46,242. Unemployment in 2006, at 6.8% among the civilian workforce, was greater than the national trend. About 15% of the population lived in poverty, equal in percentage to the number of dropouts in Des Moines.

In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked the Des Moines metropolitan area 4th on its list of “Best Places For Business And Careers.” They based it on factors such as the cost of doing business, cost of living, educational attainment and crime rate. The city has been nicknamed “The Hartford of the West”, as the economy relies heavily on financial service and insurance industries. Des Moines’ largest employer with 7,900 jobs is Principal Financial Group, the only Fortune 500 Company to have its headquarters in Iowa. The insurance industry brings over 150 company headquarters and regional offices to the metro area. Anchored by a strong health care sector, about one fourth of all jobs in Des Moines are attributed to the service industry. Some of the area’s best-known manufacturers are Pella Windows, Maytag, Amana, and Rockwell Collins Avionics. Fiber optics is also an emerging industry. If you are moving to Des Moines, it boasts a well-educated workforce. However, wages are somewhat lower than average. The most popular jobs for men was in construction at 12% of the workforce, followed by finance and insurance at 7%. For women, finance and insurance accounted for 16% of their jobs, followed by health care at 14%.

Des Moines and surrounding areas are attractive for housing values and a favorable cost of living. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners in 2006 was $1,114, while renters were paying $631 monthly. About 54% of renters reported spending 30% of their income on housing, only 32% for mortgaged homeowners. Estimated median home value in 2005 was $106,300, on par with the state average. The housing market in Des Moines is incredibly affordable when compared with a national figure of $167,500. Even state and local taxes are lower than the U.S. average. In the third quarter of 2004, the ACCRA Cost of Living Index was just 94.9, about five points under average. While experiencing suburban growth, Des Moines has eye-catching upscale buildings and a rising skyline. Some of the tallest buildings are 30-45 stories high. Skyscrapers took over downtown during the 1970s and 1980s. Life in Des Moines was brought to a halt in 1993 when the city was declared a national disaster area. Flooding of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers caused over $250 million in damages. The resulting construction projects helped renovate and update the city, bringing it into the 21st century by changing the downtown appearance. Several existing downtown buildings are being converted to loft apartments and condominiums. By retaining its small-town atmosphere with big-city amenities that lend to its quality of life, Des Moines was renamed an All-America City in 2003. Hoping to increase tourism and conventions, the area has undergone $1.5 billion in development projects. Among these is a shopping complex, IMAX theater, state science center, riverfront amphitheater, and central library.

If you are moving to Des Moines, there many colleges in its midst. The most significant is Iowa State University, about 33 miles away, with its full-time enrollment of over 24,000 students. Crime in Des Moines took a sharp turn upward in 2005, rising 200 points above the national crime index of 325.2. However, serious offenses like murder have steadily declined in recent years to 2.6 murders per 100,000 residents in 2005, making it one of the safest big cities. On the banks of the Des Moines River, farmers in the Des Moines area enjoy fertile farmland. During the heart of the growing season (early May to early October), about 60% of the 33 inches of annual rainfall is recorded. Harvest time is met with conditions favorable for drying and harvesting crops. However, the weather can become harsh and drastically change. Summer heat peaks at highs averaging 86 degrees in July and plummet to about 12 for the low in January. During winter, subzero temperatures and drifting snow can impede transportation with over 30 inches of snowfall annually. The area is a tornado zone with a 118% higher risk of a twister than the rest of the country. The city has notable natives like actress Cloris Leachman, members of the rock group Slipknot, famed fashion designer Halston, a female NASCAR driver, an NFL quarterback, a PGA Masters Champion and a former U.S. President, who was a local radio personality, Ronald Reagan.

About the Author

Lou Ross writes articles about moving issues and moving companies for http://www.movingcompaniesforyou.com/

Deputy Hynes with the Johnson County Sheriff Department instructs pedestrians to keep clear of a suspected gas leak in the Ped Mall on Thursday night.
Nick Loomis/The Daily Iowan

UI sophomore Justin Welsh takes a picture of his friends Josh Nanman and Nick Meyers with an overturned car near the intersection of Burlington and Clinton Thursday night.
Nick Loomis/The Daily Iowan

Learn how to survive tornados here.

A funnel cloud begins to dissipate after creating damage across Iowa City, doing major damage to downtown and residential neighborhoods, on Thursday night.

Two people clean out belongings in their car which was smashed by a tree on Johnson St. between Iowa Ave. and Washington St.
Beth Skogen/The Daily Iowan

Things are scattered in West Bank on the corner of Dubuque St. and Burlington St.
Beth Skogen/The Daily Iowan

People flock the streets and pass the damaged Sweet Livin’ Antiques after the tornado.
Beth Skogen/The Daily Iowan

Power lines hang in limbo on Governor Street after a violent storm swept through the Iowa City area on Thursday, Apr. 13, 2006.
Ben Roberts/The Daily Iowan

Alpha Chi Omega sorority was gutted by Thursday’s storm at the corner of Washington and Governor streets, Apr. 13, 2006. The Red Cross supplied beds and cover at the IMU for those who lost their homes.
Ben Roberts/The Daily Iowan

Source:
The Daily Iowan

Iowa tornado history
The three deadliest tornadoes in Iowa history all occurred in the 1800s.
“¢ A tornado June 3, 1860, in Camanche, near Clinton, killed 134 people.
“¢ A tornado June 17, 1882, in Grinnell killed 100.
“¢ A tornado July 6, 1882, in Pomeroy, in northwest Iowa, killed 89.
The record for most tornadoes in one year in Iowa is 120 in 2004.
The record for fewest number of tornadoes in a year is 18 in 1996.
The record for a month is 57 in May 2004.
The record for most tornadoes in one day is 28 on April 11, 2001.
Source: Iowa state Climatolgist Harry Hillaker

Other stories regarding the tornado that ripped through Iowa City and the University if Iowa…
Thursday’s tornado may be a ‘record breaker’
Iowa City continues cleaning up storm damage
Debris Clearing Under Way In Iowa City
Damage Assessment Continues In Tornado-Ravaged Iowa City
911 calls relive storm terror
Vilsack To Request Tornado Help During Meeting With Bush
Damage Estimates Run At More Than $10M

Iowa City tornado damage at $3.6M
The cost to repair damages to Iowa City buildings after Thursday’s tornadoes has been estimated at $3.6 million, but city officials said final estimates may be much higher.

“These are just preliminary estimates,” Iowa City manager Steve Atkins said during a council work session Monday. “There is a great deal of damage you can’t see.”

Atkins said the estimates were based on the cost to replace damaged structures to the city’s eight public properties after the two tornadoes that swept through Iowa City. The properties are: Court Street Transportation Center, Iowa City Public Library, Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center, Senior Center, Senior Center pedestrian bridge, Wilson Building U Smash-Em, Old Capitol Towne Center parking ramp and the Sheraton Hotel parking ramp.

The estimates were submitted in an application for financial assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Atkins also said city engineers plan to appraise the damages on the buildings a second time to get a more accurate number.