IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The group that runs the Powerball lottery game approved, then abandoned, changes that would have given ticket buyers more bang for their two bucks than the redesign implemented last year. Powerball managers changed the game’s odds in October to build bigger jackpots and revive lagging player interest. The strategy quickly paid dividends for state lotteries, causing soaring ticket sales as a jackpot grew to a record $1.6 billion last month.

Internal documents obtained by The Associated Press show a different Powerball overhaul was initially planned to increase jackpots while providing more value for players. The “Power Play” that multiplies cash prizes for an extra $1 would have been embedded in the base $2 ticket. A new $1 add-on would have entered players into a second jackpot drawing for $10 million.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker has announced the placement of a permanent Medication Drop box (Iowa Take Back drop box) located in the Jail lobby of the Sheriff’s Office located at 1400 Big Lake Road. Sheriff Danker said the drop box is made possible through a small grant from the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy to address the increasing problem of prescription drug abuse. The drop box will be accessible to the public during normal business hours or Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Citizens wishing to utilize the medication drop box are asked to place all medications in sealed nonbreakable containers and are requested to not include any “sharps” (syringes or lancets) or any other item that could cause injury to the Sheriff’s Office staff servicing the drop box. Remove all personal identification from your unneeded “controlled prescription drugs,” seal the medicines in vials and/or bags, take them to your nearest Iowa Take Back drop box site, and anonymously place your medicines in the secure drop box.

Find additional Iowa Take Back sites at: http://www.iowa.gov/odcp/drug_information/takebacks.html. Most prescription drug drop boxes are located a short distance inside the main public entrance of local law enforcement centers. If you have questions, call ahead to the law enforcement agency.

A semi truck driver in Iowa who suffered a medical condition might not be alive today if not for the fact that an ambulance happened to pass by shortly after the driver left a highway. It happened Sunday evening, not far from the Des Moines airport. Bob Soukup, spokesperson for the Indianola Fire Department, says two medics from Indianola were returning home from a Des Moines hospital following an EMS call when they came upon the semi truck in the median of Highway 5. They stopped and found the driver was unresponsive and without a pulse.

“They pulled the driver onto the ground and began CPR,” Soukup said. “They retrieved equipment from the ambulance and started rescue breathing and chest compressions, with the aid of bystanders.” The victim was in cardiac arrest and paramedic Jason Kling and EMT Kayla Schark used a defibrillator. “They were able to resuscitate the patient successfully and as they were preparing to transport him in the ambulance, he was regaining consciousness and speaking to them,” Soukup said.

Information about the semi truck driver, such as his name and age, were not released. But, Soukup said it’s expected the man will make a full recovery.

(Radio Iowa)

Two people were injured when a car collided with a pickup truck Monday afternoon, in Union County. The Sheriff’s Office says the driver of a VW Jetta, 16-year old Christian Oscar Ramirez, of Afton, and his 18-year old passenger, Juanita Ramirez, of Afton, suffered possible/non-incapacitating injuries and were transported by Medic 1 ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. The driver of the pickup, 23-year old Roberto Hernandez Cruz, of Afton, was not injured. All three individuals were wearing their seat belts.

Officials say Cruz was traveling west on 167th Street at around 4:25-p.m., Monday, and stopped at the intersection with Highway 169. He didn’t see the approaching car, and proceeded into the intersection. The VW struck the pickup on the right side, causing $10,000 damage, altogether.

Cruz was cited for Driving with a Suspended license, Failure to Yield, and No Insurance-Accident related. Ramirez was also cited for Failure to have Insurance-Accident related.

An investigation into an incident that allegedly occurred Feb. 18th, in Exira, has resulted in the arrest of a woman on Child Endangerment charges. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 35-year old Tammy Lynn Holloway, of Exira, was charged with two counts of Child Endangerment. Holloway was arrested at around 4:30-p.m. Monday and transported to the Audubon County Jail. She later posted bond and was released.

Also arrested in connection with the incident, was 36-year old Erik James Goldberg, of Exira. He was taken into custody last Thursday night (Feb. 18th). Goldberg posted a $2,000 Recognizance bond and was released on Friday.

Members of the Adair, and Cass County Boards of Supervisors will hold their regular, weekly meetings Wednesday morning. In Adair County, the Board will gather in the Boardroom at the courthouse in Greenfield, beginning at 9-a.m. During the meeting, the Board will discuss, and/or act on: Township Clerk wages; A Union Township Grant Application; Taxable Meals; and, a Child Abuse Prevention Grant. They’ll also receive a Manure Management Plan (MMP) update, and an IMWCA Workers’ Compensation Coverage Salary Worksheet.

At around 9:10-a.m., Wednesday, Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater will discuss a new hire and deputy probation. And, at around 9:20-a.m., County Engineer Nick Kaufman will present his regular report, which includes discussion with regard to the purchase of a snow plow truck for Fiscal Year 2017, and the awarding of contracts for rural county bridge projects.

In Atlantic, the Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet in their Boardroom at the Courthouse, beginning at 8:30-a.m. On their agenda is action on a Resolution setting the number of assistants in the County Attorney’s Office, the acceptance of bids and contract(s) for stock pipe and project pipe, and, a review of the Cass County/ISAC health insurance renewal with a representative from Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield.