(Radio Iowa) Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg says his party must quit giving President Trump the power to change the subject with a tweet. “At every turn, he’s got us talking about him more and talking about us less,” Buttigieg said. Buttigieg made his comments about 12 hours before President Trump’s tweets attacking a black congressman from Baltimore for not doing enough to improve what Trump described as a “dangerous and filthy place.” According to Buttigieg, Trump’s Twitter attacks on a group of House Democrats earlier last week diverted attention from the push to raise the minimum wage, which Buttigieg supports. Buttigieg says Democrats have to respond to Trump’s “wrong doing” and promote the party’s agenda at the same time.

“We’re the ones trying to get you a raise. We’re the ones trying to protect you in the workplace We’re the ones trying to make sure that your health care is not taken away. We’re the ones who are going to actually deliver things like paid family leave,” Buttigieg said. “If you look at this from the perspective of how your life will change, there is no question that the Democratic agenda is the better one. It’s exactly why he needs us talking about his latest offensive tweet, so that we’re not talking about that.”

Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro also campaigned in the state this past weekend. He accused Trump of stoking “division, fear and bigotry” with tweets Castro described as “disgusting.”  “This is more of the race-baiting and racial-priming that this president loves to do,” Castro told reporters, “and that is wrong for this country.” Castro spoke Saturday morning to the Iowa Latino and Asian Coalition. “The question that we face in this election is whether we’re going to continue to be a country that expands opportunity for everybody no matter what you look like or how much money you have or don’t have or where you live in our country — in a big city or a small town — or whether we’re going to give in to a dark call from this Administration,” Castro said.

Castro visited the Meskwaki Settlement near Tama Friday, promising to address housing, policing and economic issues in tribal communities. Buttigieg spoke to a crowd of about 900 in Ankeny Friday afternoon, outling ideas for expanding union bargaining rights. He also says Americans in the so-called “gig economy” who work as a freelancer or contractor rather than a full-time employee should get benefits like sick leave. “It comes down to this basic idea that a contractor is a worker and a gig is a job,” Buttigieg said.

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet campaigned in the state Saturday, emphasizing his call to keep private insurance, but add a “public option” to the Affordable Care Act so Americans could buy into the Medicare system.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans who are fascinated by footwear will want to direct their feet to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art for an exhibit called “Kick Up Your Heels: The Fine Art of Shoes.” Museum curator Kate Kunau says high-heeled shoes were originally created in ancient Egypt to denote higher social class, but they’re everywhere in today’s society. “The exhibition focuses mainly on contemporary shoe design,” Kunau says. “So, it’s Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, lots of fun people like that.”

Ever since the Persians introduced the high-heeled shoe to Europe in the 17th century, high heels have been both a fashion statement and status symbol. Kunau calls herself an “avowed flats-wearer” and says the display features some high-heels that are truly a step above. “Some of the shoes in the exhibition,” Kunau says, laughing, “There’s a whole class of shoe that I didn’t know existed, it’s kind of like a heel-less high heel. You’re just completely balancing on the balls of your feet. Some people think that totally looks feasible and is something they could wear, which is deeply impressive to me.”

The exhibition highlights the unique design elements that make each shoe a distinct work of art, including: unusual heels, delicate cut-outs, intricate leatherwork, flashy color or material combinations, and more. “People have a real response to it and it’s really fun to watch people in the exhibition,” Kunau says. “It’s so natural to want to pick out your favorite pair or the pair you think you would wear that you never could have imagined, so it’s really fun to watch people interact with the shoes.”

The museum is celebrating its tenth year of free summer admission. The exhibition is on display through September 1st.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports four arrests took place over the past two weeks. On July 17th, as a result of a search warrant, 30-year old Mark Thomas Holland, of Audubon, was arrested on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Holland was transported to the Audubon County Jail to appear before a magistrate. On July 20th, 40-year old Joshua Robert Saunders, of Audubon, was arrested on charges of Burglary in the 2nd degree, and Violation of No Contact Order.  Saunders was transported to the Audubon County Jail to appear before a magistrate.

July 24th, Audubon Police arrested 63-year old Ronald Allen Siedelmann, of Audubon.  Siedelmann was taken into custody on a Harrison County arrest warrant and transferred to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. And, last Friday (July 26th), 71-year old Ruby Louise Donahue, of Audubon, was arrested for allow a Dog to run at Large.  Donahue was issued a citation on scene, and subsequently released on promise to appear in court.

The Creston Police Department reports a Ringgold County woman was arrested Friday afternoon. 34-year old Tashina Martwick, of Redding, was arrested at the Union County Courthouse on a Union County Warrant for the charge of Controlled Substance Violation. Martwick was additionally charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense. She was being held in the Adams County Jail, on a $27,000 cash-only bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (July 29, 2019) — To help address the current emergency blood shortage, all who come to give blood or platelets with the American Red Cross July 29 through Aug. 29 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. Currently, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types available and less than a two-day supply of type O blood. Individuals can schedule an appointment to give now by activating Amazon’s Alexa Red Cross Blood Skill by saying, “Alexa, find a blood drive,” or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 

With the help of a generous $1 million donation from Amazon, the Red Cross hopes to motivate donors to roll up a sleeve and alleviate the blood shortage across the country. Amazon’s partnership with the Red Cross is part of their commitment to “Right Now Needs” to help increase blood donations to ensure patient needs are met.

The Red Cross urges individuals across the country to roll up a sleeve today to ensure blood is available for patients across the country. A blood donation takes about an hour from start to finish, but the actual donation itself only takes about 8-10 minutes. Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Some area upcoming blood donation opportunities July 29-Aug. 15:

Adair County: Greenfield, 8/14/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Methodist Church, 108  SW 5th Street

Adams County: Corning, 8/8/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Community Center, 601 6th Street

Audubon County: Audubon, 8/7/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Patrick’s Parish Center, 2050 Hwy 71 N

Cass County: Anita, 8/7/2019: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Community Center, 805 Main Street; Atlantic: 7/31/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cass County Memorial Hospital, 1501 E. 10th Street; 8/2/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Walmart Supercenter, 1905 E. 7th Street

Montgomery County: Stanton, 8/11/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Viking Center, 501 Elliot

Page County: Clarinda, 8/2/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Lied Center, 1140 E Main

Pottawattamie County: Council Bluffs, 8/9/2019: 6 a.m. – 12 p.m., Ameristar, 2200 River Road, and from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ameristar, 2200 River Road; Crescent, 8/10/2019: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Fire Station, 102 West Florence.

Shelby County: 8/3/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Shelby Community Building, 500 East Street; Elk Horn, 7/30/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Elk Horn Lutheran Church, 4313 Main Street; Harlan, 8/13/2019: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., CDS, 3107 Shelby Street; Irwin, 7/31/2019: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Irwin Community Building, 504  Ann Street.

Union County: Creston, 8/6/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Homestead of Creston, 1709 W. Prairie St

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say firefighters rescued a 4-year-old girl from a Waterloo apartment fire. Firefighters who responded to a report around 7:50 p.m. Saturday found the girl inside the smoke-filled apartment. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that she was taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. Her name hasn’t been released. Fire officials say the blaze started after food was left unattended while being cooked.