The Iowa Department of Transportation’s 511ia.org website is reporting two accidents have occurred on Interstate 80, between Adair and Casey. In one of the crashes, a straight truck was in the ditch between Exit 76: County Road N54 and Exit 75: County Road G30 (Adair).

Another accident was reported between Exit 86: IA 25 and Exit 83: Antique Country Drive (near Casey). A 5th Wheel was reported to be on its side. No other details are currently available.

The DOT says also, between Exit 57: County Road N16 (4 miles west of the Brayton area) and Exit 97: County Road P48 (Stuart), the roadway is completely covered with ice. Look out for icy bridges.

Officials with the American Red Cross’ Midwest Blood Services Region in Omaha, say there is a significant need for residents in the area to donate type O negative blood. Type O negative blood can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is often used in emergency situations. While less than 7 percent of the U.S. population has type O negative blood, hospitals depend on frequent O negative donations to ensure it’s always available for patients in need.

Eligible donors with type O negative blood are encouraged to make a whole blood or double red cell donation, where available, through the Red Cross. During a double red cell donation, two units of red blood cells are collected while most of the plasma and platelets are returned to the donor.

Blood donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Those who come to donate now through May 15, 2016, will be entered to win four single-day tickets to any of 10 Cedar Fair theme parks in the U.S, including Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. For a full list of participating parks, visit redcross.cedarfair.com

The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. Blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.

Blood donation opportunities March 24-31:

Audubon County: Exira, March 28: noon to 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N. Jefferson

Cass County: Atlantic, March 24: noon to 6 p.m., Atlantic Catholic Parish Center, 105  W. 5th St.; March 31: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Atlantic High School, 1201 E. 14th St.

Harrison County: Dunlap, March 30: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Boyer Valley High School, 1102 Iowa Ave.; Logan, March 29: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Logan Magnolia High School, 1200 N. 2nd Ave.

Mills County: Glenwood, March 30: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Glenwood High School, 504 E. Sharp St.

Page County: Shenandoah, March 25: noon to 6 p.m., Special blood drive in memory of Issac at Shenandoah Assembly of God, 705 6th Ave.

How to donate blood All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), 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 have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

 Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

Police in Creston report two people have been arrested on drug charges. Early this (Thursday) morning, police arrested 20-year old Jacob Davis, of Creston, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and for Driving While Suspended. He later posted a $1,000 bond.

Wednesday morning, 18-year old Dakota Williams, of Creston, was arrested on an Adams County warrant for Possession of Marijuana. He was later released to the custody of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

(7-a.m. News)

An event at the Vietnam War Memorial at the Iowa State Capitol, Wednesday, marked the first “Veterans Black Arm Band Day for P-T-S-D” in remembrance of an Iowa veteran who died in a Des Moines park. Senator Mark Segebart, a Republican from Vail, talked about the issue on the Senate floor. He read from the program for the event:”Nothing has changed since P-T-S-D combat veteran Richard Miles was laid to rest on March 23 — one year ago today. Today, the date of his birthday he would have been 42 years old,” Segebart read. “He froze to death in a public park as his P-T-S-D terror worsened. Six years ago there were 90 psychiatric beds dedicated to veteran mental health in Iowa. Today there are just 10.”

Segebart says Miles joined the military after the September 11th attacks. “He served proudly and with distinction for four years, earning the Army Commendation Medal for Leadership and Duty During Combat Operations, the Army Commendation Medal for Leadership at Fort Riley, and a U-S Army Good Conduct Medal for service from 2002-2005. And the Combat Action Badge from Operation Iraqi Freedom Two.”

Segebart said also “This ceremony today is to mourn those who have been left on the battlefield missing and unaccounted for in the eyes of their countrymen,” Segebart says, “those who will always see what we never see. Those with P-T-S-D, T-B-I and M-S-T. Richard Miles should not have died in vain.”

He said 22 veterans take their own life every day in the United States. “That’s on every 65 minutes, which is very alarming statistics.”  Segebart says the problem involves more than the veterans who most recently returned home. “The other part that I found interesting was that it spikes at age 60. What does that mean? It means that Vietnam veterans are the bulk of the suicides that are still going on. So, you see how long P-T-S-D can last in a veteran.”

Information from the organizers of Black Arm Band Day shows there are some 500-thousand veterans in the U-S with P-T-S-D, and at least five-thousand living in Iowa. The information also says there should be at least 15-hundred psychiatric beds in a state the size of Iowa, but now there are likely fewer than 600.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Democrats staged a statehouse news conference, Wednesday, to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, which some call “ObamaCare.” Lisa Vetter, of Red Oak, has private insurance through the government exchange that was set up by the law.  “And I don’t call the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ObamaCare,” Vetter says. “And the reason why I don’t is because I like the fact that the first two words are patient protection.”

Vetter is a cancer survivor who saw her previous insurance policy cancelled at the end of 2013. “And the only reason why I was able to purchase insurance was because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” Vetter says. Officials say the law has protected more than one-point-three million Iowans like Vetter from coverage denials due to a pre-existing condition. Iowa Democratic Party chair Andy McGuire, is also a medical doctor. She says getting more Iowans insured means they can avoid the emergency room and, instead, get regular care.

“As a doctor, you see nothing more important than preventive care,” McGuire says. “…If we keep someone healthy, if we catch illness early before it becomes worse or more expensive, that’s really what preventive care does.” The Kaiser Family Foundation has been tracking public opinion of “ObamaCare” and polling earlier this month found 47 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of the law.

Democrats argue the law hasn’t grown more popular because Americans continue to see increases in their health insurance premiums. The Iowa Democratic Party’s chair says since the law passed, premium costs have risen at the slowest rate in 50 years, plus 20 million uninsured Americans have obtained health insurance coverage.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) say the March 29^th session on “Building Strength” is full, but the Women’s Health Services committee at CCHS has added another session, which takes place Tuesday, April 5^th, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Cass County Memorial Hospital (CCMH).  Laura Hickman, DPT, ATC, and Erin Johnson, PTA, will present at the free seminar for women.

Hickman says “Resistance training is really important for women because it can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Whether it’s using resistance bands, free weights, or your own body weight—these exercises can also help women burn more calories and achieve a more toned look.”

Erin Johnson (at left). Laura Hickman (on the right).

The class will be held in CCMH Conference Room 2. The first portion of the class will cover the basics of resistance training—the why and how behind it—and the second portion will be an active session for the participants. Attendees are encouraged to dress comfortably. Laura Hickman says “We’ll be up demonstrating these exercises, but all of our attendees will be actively trying them, too,” said Laura. “We’ll also send everyone home with a resistance band so they can continue these exercises on their own.”

The event is free, but because space is limited, reservations are required and can be made by calling 712-243-7479. Attendees are asked to park in Parking Lot C and enter through Rehabilitation Services. Any questions about the event can be directed to CCHS Public Relations Department at 712-243-7405.

The final Cass County legislative coffee for the current legislative session will be held 10-a.m. Saturday, April 2nd, at the Lewis Community Library (506 West Main Street), in Lewis. The events are organized by P.R.I.D.E., the Progressive Rural Iowa Development Enterprise.

The economic development organization works on behalf of communities, businesses, and citizens for Southwest Iowa development. For additional information, contact Clarke Gerlock, vice-president, at 712-774-5476, or Kenner Baxter, president, at 781-2395.

Rep. Tom Moore and Sen. Tom Shipley meet with constituents at the March Legislative Coffee, in Marne.

Heavy snow overnight in northwest Iowa has made travel conditions difficult and will continue through the morning commute. Travel is not advised on many roadways around and to the north and east of Sioux City, including Interstate 29 north of the city. Some areas are impassible due to disabled vehicles.

Motorists are urged to evaluate the need to travel in extreme conditions. If you must travel, be sure to monitor road conditions and Iowa DOT snow plow locations by using the winter driving resources listed under the travel section of the Iowa DOT website, www.iowadot.gov.

If you must travel to a bordering state you are reminded to check their traveler resources as well. A link to these pages is available at 511ia.org.

CHARTER OAK, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a western Iowa high school student was sent home with his parents after he allegedly threatened his school principal. The incident occurred Wednesday morning at Charter Oak-Ute High School in Charter Oak. Principal Adam Eggeling says no one was hurt and that classes were held without interruption. Eggeling says the student allegedly threatened to shoot him.

Parents were sent a message that the school was in lockdown, but Eggeling says he regretted using that description because the issue had been resolved before the message was sent. He says the student won’t be allowed on campus today (Thursday).

Two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation after fighting a house fire in Council Bluffs, Wednesday afternoon. The Omaha World-Herald reports five pets – three dogs and two cats – died in the blaze, but none of the residents at 2003 5th Avenue, were injured.

The fire was reported just before 3-p.m. Officials say conditions at the scene worsened after they entered the building, and two firefighters were taken to an area hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. The cause of the blaze was under investigation.