FEDERAL INFORMATION, STATS
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
» Main Web site: www.irs.gov
» What if there is a federal tax lien on my home? www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=201881,00.html
» The 'What ifs' of an economic downturn: www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=201853,00.html with information on job-, debt- and tax-related issues such as how a job loss, closing of a business, the loss of a home through foreclosure or a drop in the value of you 401k
» News release (January 2009): National Taxpayer Advocate urges tax simplification and compassionate treatment of taxpayers hit by recession - www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=202260,00.html?portlet=6

Unemployment, labor stats
» U.S. Department of Labor's news release with links to supporting data
» Labor Department info on Iowa's economic condition

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EVERYDAY INFORMATION
Weather
» www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winter/index.shtml for winter 2008-2009 temperature and precipitation outlook. The site also has more information about snow, ice, cold, strong winds and wind chill.
» www.weather.gov/safety.php for weather safety tips including StormReady cities and counties, NOAA weather radio, winter weather.
» www.nws.noaa.gov/ for nationwide weather info from the National Weather Service
» www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/, Des Moines area forecasts and information, alerts, radar views, satellite images of the area.

Traveling: Fuel and roads
» Find the best gas prices in the Ames area, then expand your search to other travel destinations.
» www.iowadot.gov winter safety info and tips.
» http://511ia.org/ lists up-to-the-minute road conditions throughout Iowa. - Nearby states with similar 511 sites are Illinois at www.dmv.org/il-illinois/news-alerts/511.php, a private, non-governmental site; Minnesota at www.511mn.org/; Missouri at www.dmv.org/mo-missouri/news-alerts/511.php, a private, non-governmental site; Nebraska at www.nebraskatransportation.org/511/; South Dakota at www.sddot.com/511.asp; and Wisconsin at www.511wi.gov/. In many states freeway signs will tell you that dialing 511 on your cell phone as you travel also will connect you to current road conditions.
» www.highwayconditions.com/ia.htm gives you Iowa highway conditions as part of its Midwest site.

Traveling by air
» Check out Des Moines International Airport information at http://www.dsmairport.com/, including flight data, parking and weather conditions.
» For air flight conditions in the Midwest visit the Federal Aviation Administration's site for the northcentral part of the U.S. at www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/ncmap.jsp. From here you can select another region and/or a specific airport.

Gas prices
» www.iowastategasprices.com
» www.gasbuddy.com for Iowa
» www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprices/states/IA.shtml
» www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/padd_2_mini_report.html -- U.S. Department of Energy report on Midwest gas prices
» www.motortrend.com/gas_prices/33/wyoming/natrona/midwest/index.html -- Motor Trend report on Midwest gas prices

Law enforcement
» Iowa Sex Offender Registry

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IOWA LAWS & POLICIES
Voter registration, election info
» The National Association of Secretaries of State answers questions about voting, registering, absentee ballots and more at www.canivote.org. Type in your name to find out if and where you are registered, use your ZIP code to find out the voting rules in your area.

Iowa's non-smoking law, July 1, 2008
» The Iowa Department of Public Health provides a copy of the Smoke Free Air Act, a copy of the administrative rules and an explanation of the rules at www.iowasmokefreeair.gov. Also available are downloadable signage and information on smoking cessation programs.
» The Smokefree Air Act Helpline is (888) 944-2247 for information or reporting complaints.

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WEATHER, FLOOD INFORMATION
» Mid-Iowa weather info from the National Weather Service
» Skunk River and Squaw Creek stages, updated hourly
» Skunk River Basin measurements, part of the www.rivergages.com site maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Click on the Rock Island District, then choose a stream and/or watershed within the district
» U.S. Geological Survey monitors river and stream levels in cooperation with ISU, and lists changes on an hourly basis
» City of Ames listing of street closings, who to call if power goes out, learn about flood cleanup
» Flood safety tips and other helpful information for travelers are available online at http://iowadot.gov/floods/index.html
» After the flood: disaster recovery info from Iowa State University Extension covers food safety, household cleanup; what to do about tree damage -- even how to preserve important papers and books!

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EDUCATION & RELATED LINKS
» Iowa State University
» Reiman Gardens
» Iowa State Center
» Ames School District
» Campus Book Store
» ISU Foundation
» Ames Lab
» ISU Phone Directory

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Government, services
» Rebuild Iowa report to the governor, 9/2/2008
» City of Ames
» Ames Public Library
» Story County
» City of Huxley
» City of Nevada
» Boone County
» City of Boone
» Iowa Department of Transportation road conditions in real time
» Local legislators & government directory

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AREA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
» Ames Chamber of Commerce
» Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau
» Ames Economic Development Commission
» Nevada Chamber of Commerce
» Ames Main Street

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SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
» Iowa Games
» National Centers for Animal Health
» Lincoln Way Red Cross
» Volunteer Center of Story County

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HOSPITAL, MEDICAL & HEALTH TOPICS
» Track the flu at www.google.org/flutrends/
» Mary Greeley Medical Center
» McFarland Clinic

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MEDIA
» 1430 KASI
» Iowa State Daily
» Des Moines Register
» KCCI - Channel 8

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HOLIDAY LINKS
Tracking Santa
» Go online to the NORAD tracking site to follow Santa's progress, play games and more. Just follow the links: www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html

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