Four southwest Iowa airports are receiving a total of $306, 300 from the Iowa Transportation Commission, as part of $5.3-million approved for the 2012 State Aviation Program. The ITC says among them, is the Atlantic Municipal Airport, which will receive $29,750 to Rehabilitate a shop hangar.

Also, the Corning Municipal Airport will receive $48,000 to replace runway lights.  The Creston Municipal Airport is set to  receive $199,750 for Phase Two of their plans to improve the fuel system, and, the Shenandoah Municipal Airport is the recipient of $28,800 for constructing an access taxiway for the four unit T-hangar, as well as $150,000 for the construction of a four-unit T-hangar.

A total of nearly 3 million dollars will be used for aviation safety programs and planning a development program, while the remaining  2.3 million is being devoted to the aviation vertical infrastructure programs. The State’s Aviation Program supplements local, and federal funding sources.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Business leaders say it’s time to overhaul the way teachers are paid in Iowa. They told Gov. Terry Branstad on Wednesday that teachers need to be paid like their workers – based on performance, not just on how long they’ve been on the job. Branstad says he’s open to the idea, noting he pushed the issue during his initial tenure as governor.

Business leaders joined Branstad during an education roundtable in Des Moines. The governor is holding a series of meetings to build toward an education summit later this month that includes U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The Iowa State Patrol reports a Glenwood man was seriously injured during a motorcycle crash Tuesday evening in Mills County. 51-year old Eric Harris, of Glenwood, was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, following the crash which occurred on the on-ramp to Interstate 29 northbound, off of Highway 34.

The Patrol says Harris was traveling to fast too make the curve. The 2007 Harley Davidson he was riding went out of control and entered the west ditch, where it fell onto its right side and slid into some fence posts before entering standing water in the ditch.

The accident happened at around 6:30-p.m., Tuesday.

DETROIT (AP) – Chrysler is recalling more than 242,000 Ram pickup trucks because of a problem in the steering system. The recall affects certain Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups from the 2008 to 2011 model years. The Ram is Chrysler’s best-selling vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that a part near the left wheel can fracture and cause loss of steering control, leading to crashes. The problem happens mainly at low speeds when drivers are making tight turns. Chrysler says only a few minor crashes and one minor injury have been reported.

The problem also can affect 2003 to 2008 Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty models in which the same part was replaced by mechanics. Chrysler dealers will inspect the trucks and fix the defect for free if necessary.

The American Red Cross is asking you to roll-up your sleeve and give blood…the gift of life. Midwest Region Red Cross spokesperson April Oppliger, says blood donations were way down in May and June not only locally, but across the country. She says during those months, the American Red Cross saw 6 percent fewer donors than during the same period in past years.

April donations in the Midwest Region of the American Red Cross weren’t down as far as in other parts of the country, and the area is a little better off, because there is a dedicated corps of donors. She says the thing to remember is that the blood inventory is a national issue. The Midwest Region serves more than 80 hospitals in Nebraska, southwest Iowa and parts of Kansas and Colorado.

Oppliger says blood-donation numbers typically dip everywhere in the summer, because schools are out, and people are on vacation or enjoying other activities. This summer’s Missouri River flooding also has caused some complications for the Red Cross, because their blood mobiles couldn’t get to some of the places where they would normally would hold blood drives.

She says the need for blood knows no end. Every two seconds, someone in America needs a blood transfusion. That adds up to 5 million patients every year. The Red Cross must recruit enough donors each day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, people undergoing surgery, children with blood disorders and others. That amounts to more than 22,000 blood donations each weekday and about 15,000 each weekend. Yet less than 38 percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood.

Oppliger said that if the downward trend in donor numbers continues, they‘re going to be in a bad situation.” Eligible blood donors are asked to call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit www.redcrossblood.org to find a blood drive and make an appointment.

The Red Cross Blood Mobile will be: in Atlantic Thursday, July 21^st, from Noon until 6-p.m., at the Catholic Parish Center; in Avoca on July 30^th, from 8:30-a.m. to 1:30-p.m. at the American Legion Building; On August 10th, at Mahle components in Atlantic, from Noon to 4-p.m.; and in Harlan on August 11^th, from 8am-2pm, at Myrtue Medical Center.

A Council Bluffs man is expected to appear in court later this month for sentencing, in connection with the alcohol-related death of a Harlan teen. 27-year old Dustin Thomas pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of supplying alcohol to an underage person.

Thomas had been accused of supplying booze to minors at a party in Harlan last October, that lead to the death of 17-year old Julio Caceres. Caceres died at an Omaha hospital on October 11^th, after he was found unconscious at a home in Harlan. Thomas admitted to investigators he brought a bottle of whiskey Caceres consumed, to the party.

He was arrested in February, following an investigation conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and faces up to 5 years in prison. He remains free on $5000 bond until he‘s sentenced in Shelby County District Court, on July 29^th.