Two bills that would change Iowa guns laws are headed to the governor’s desk. The first would let Iowans buy and sell “suppressors”or “silencers” that greatly reduce the sound of a gunshot. Target shooters say the devices helps preserve their hearing. Representative Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, is a gunsmith, which means he’s been trained to repair, modify and build guns.

“This has been a long-time coming,” Windschitl says. “What we have before us now is a bill that’s going to expand Iowa’s freedoms.” Suppressors are legal in 40 other states. The second gun-related bill that has cleared both the House and Senate this week would let landowners carry a loaded gun while driving an all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile on their property. Anyone else on an A-T-V or snowmobile could carry a gun, but it would have to be unloaded and in a case or holster.

Senator Dick Dearden of Des Moines, an avid hunter who worked on the bill. He says “Also, you must get off the vehicle to shoot unless you’re wheel-chair bound, basically.” Bill backers say it’s dangerous to encounter some wild animals while riding A-T-Vs or snowmobiles in rural areas and this bill will let people shoot rabid or charging animals.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say heavy snow is hampering travel in parts of Iowa, particularly near Sioux City. National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Heitkamp said Thursday morning that the powerful winter storm that struck Wednesday left 12 to 14 inches of snow in and northeast of Sioux City.

The snowfall has ended, and Heitkamp says he doesn’t expect many problems from drifting or blowing snow because it fell wet and heavy – typical of wintry storms in the spring. The Iowa Transportation Department advises against travel in northwest Iowa because many roadways north and east of Sioux City are covered with snow or are blocked by disabled vehicles.  The department also says snow is covering some stretches of Interstate 35 north of Ames.

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)