IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A prominent lottery official was quietly removed from his 28-year post leading the Multi-State Lottery Association after the jackpot-fixing investigation involving his organization widened. A public record obtained by The Associated Press shows the group’s executive director, Charles Strutt, was placed on administrative leave indefinitely in October.

The move by the association’s board came days after Iowa prosecutors said their investigation of jackpot-fixing by the group’s former security director, Eddie Tipton, had expanded nationwide. Investigators say evidence so far suggests Tipton was the only lottery official involved.

Strutt is credited with overseeing Powerball since its 1992 inception, developing other multi-state games such as Hot Lotto, and expanding the association to 37 states and territories. Strutt and Idaho Lottery director Jeff Anderson, chairman of the association’s board, declined comment.

If you haven’t received the influenza vaccine this year, you can still receive either the flu shot or FluMist at the Atlantic Medical Center. Influenza vaccines are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 to 4:30 pm and Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 am. There is no need to make an appointment, and most insurance providers cover the cost of the vaccine.

The two best ways to protect yourself and those around you from influenza are to get vaccinated and to practice good hand washing. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also those around you who may be too young (under 6 months) or have a medical condition that prevents them from being vaccinated.

The seasonal flu (influenza) is a serious disease caused by the Influenza virus. Some common symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, shaking chills, body aches, and extreme weakness. The influenza disease may last for a couple of weeks.

Ways to help protect yourself from Influenza:
 Avoid close contact with sick people.
 Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
 Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) While sick, be sure to practice the three c’s: contain your germs by limiting contact with others as much as possible, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and clean your hands.

For more information, please contact the Atlantic Medical Center Immunization Nurses at 712-243-2850.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders mocked one of Republican Donald Trump’s recent comments about Hillary Clinton during a rally Tuesday night in Council Bluffs. “Donald Trump is very upset. It’s very hard for him to deal with. I don’t know what his relationship with women has been in his life, but he has discovered that women go to the bathroom.”

Earlier this week Trump said it’s “disgusting” that Clinton went to the bathroom during a commercial break in last weekend’s Democratic candidate debate. Sanders jokingly made an admission of his own Tuesday night. “I’ve got to be honest with you. I’ve got to lay it out on the table: I also went to the bathroom,” Sanders said and the crowd cheered as Sanders stuck with his sarcasm. “I know. I have to admit it. I guess I’m a man. Men are allowed to go to the bathroom, but women? What can we say?”

Sanders spoke to nearly 18-hundred people, touting his campaign agenda, including his call for an increase in the minimum wage. Sanders says Trump, who opposes a minimum wage hike, won’t “make American great again” for everyone, just for millionaires like himself. Sanders also points to a recent poll which suggests if the General Election were held today and it was Sanders versus Trump, Sanders would win.

“It would give me nothing but great satisfaction,” Sanders said yesterday. “Boy, would I love that.” Sanders wrapped up a three-day campaign swing through Iowa with a town hall meeting in Red Oak this morning.

(Radio Iowa)