The American Red Cross is holding blood drives today (Tuesday) in Council Bluffs and Omaha in honor of a southwest Iowa man. Fred Wilson is one of the people who was shot — and survived — after a gunman opened fire in December of 2007 in a department store at Westroads Mall in Omaha. Wilson says he underwent several surgeries and a blood transfusion. “I’m an example of someone who needed blood, who needed help,” Wilson says. “(The Red Cross) made it possible for me to live to tell the tale today.”

Wilson is a retired Council Bluffs teacher and he was working at the Von Maur customer service counter when he was critically wounded by the shots. The teenage gunman killed eight people, then took his own life. Wilson hopes today’s blood drive is successful as there’s always a demand.  “The need for blood is great and one never knows when one will need blood,” Wilson says. “It impacts all of us.”

Wilson recognizes he owes his life to the fast-thinking first responders, the doctors at the hospital and to the Red Cross.  “They’re there to help people who are in need,” Wilson says. “I, of course, was made more aware of this as a result of 2007.”

An Iowan was also among the eight people killed by the gunman: 65-year-old John McDonald of Council Bluffs. Today’s blood drive runs until 6:30 PM at the Loess Hills Blood Donation Center in Council Bluffs and at the Omaha Red Cross chapter on South 80th Avenue.

(Radio Iowa)

(Updated 11:12-a.m.) —

The state teacher’s union filed a lawsuit today (Tuesday), challenging the new state law that restricts contracts talks for most public sector workers to a single subject: their base salary. “Our goal is that this bad legislation is set aside and that the common sense law that was in place is back in place.”

That’s Iowa State Education Association president Tammy Wawro. She says the law is unconstitutional because there are now TWO classes of government workers in Iowa since “public safety employees” were allowed to continue negotiating over a wide range of issues, including their insurance benefits. “A dispatcher in some locals is able to bargain his or her health insurance, including family coverage, but members of our unit are no longer able to do that,” Wawro says. “Why are the dispatcher’s children more important than ours?”

The union’s lawsuit also challenges the new requirements for the voting that determines whether teachers and other public sector workers want to have union representation in the workplace.  “If a person is unable to vote, doesn’t wish to vote or is physically not available to vote, the law automatically counts their absence vote as a ‘no,'” Wawro says.

If these new rules were required for politicians, Wawro says 51 percent of the state’s entire population — not just the people who vote in the election — would have to vote for the same person to become governor. “No election in the United States is based on this formula,” Wawro says, “and if it were, no candidate would ever be elected to office.”

No other state has such requirements for union organizing among government workers, according to Wawro. “No social studies or government teacher in any public school in Iowa would tell you that this is what democracy looks like,” Wawro says.

The local union that represents teachers in the Davenport School District has joined the I-S-E-A’s lawsuit. More than 34-thousand Iowa teachers are members of the Iowa State Education Association. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s new collective bargaining law in February, right after Governor Branstad approved the changes.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A rare case of leprosy has been reported in northwest Iowa’s Woodbury County. Doctors say leprosy, also called Hansen’s disease, causes red skin sores and, if not treated, can cause hand and foot paralysis and blindness.

Tyler Brock of the Siouxland District Health Department says only a couple cases have been recorded in Woodbury County during his 19 years with the department. The Iowa Department of Public Health says nine cases of leprosy were identified in the state from 1994 through 2015.

Brock would not provide details of the case, including whether it was related to immigration or travel. The disease is common in some countries. Mercy Medical Center disease specialist Daniel Lamptey says leprosy isn’t highly contagious and is curable if caught early enough.

The Glenwood Police Department reports one recent arrest. On Monday, 32-year old Robyn Salmons, of Glenwood, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Violation of a Protection Order. Salmons was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, pending a court appearance.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a Creston man was arrested Monday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for OWI/2nd offense. 26-year old Alex Richard Cunningham was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting an appearance before the Magistrate.

IDA GROVE, Iowa (AP) – A former substitute teacher and coach has pleaded guilty to having sexual relationships with students at two northwest Iowa high schools. Online court records say 33-year-old John Tietsort, of Battle Creek, entered the pleas Monday in Ida County District Court to two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. His sentencing is scheduled for May 15.

Prosecutors say Tietsort had a sexual relationship October 2015 through June 2016 with an 18-year-old female student at Odebolt-Arthur and Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School, where Tietsort was a substitute teacher and assistant football coach. Prosecutors also say Tietsort had a sexual relationship last year with a 17-year-old female student from Maple Valley-Anthon Oto High School, where Tietsort also was a substitute teacher.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today (Tuesday), U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) announced the formation of the first-ever Motorcycle Caucus in the United States Senate. The life-long motorcycle riding senators will serve as co-chairs of the caucus, and will advocate for a multitude of issues on behalf of both motorcycle riders and manufacturers.

“Some of my most cherished memories include motorcycles, from delivering messages as a young girl to my dad while he was working out in the fields, to riding through the rolling hills of Northeast Iowa with family and friends,” said Senator Ernst. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to encourage thoughtful discussion and solutions on behalf of motorcycle riders and manufacturers through my new role as co-chair of the Motorcycle Caucus. Throughout my 99 county tour of Iowa, I have heard from many of these folks about some of their priorities, including improving safety, infrastructure, and energy efficiency. These concerns are shared by folks across our great state and country, and I look forward to working with Senator Peters toward solutions.”

Senator Ernst and her ride

“I’ve loved motorcycles since I was a kid, and I started a newspaper route to buy my first motorcycle at age 11. To this day, I believe there is no better way to see Michigan’s beautiful scenery than by bike, whether I’m riding to meet with constituents and small businesses or taking my bike out on the weekend,” said Senator Peters. “Motorcyclists come from all walks of life, and I can’t think of a better way to bring together a diverse and dedicated group of advocates to discuss everything from safety concerns to manufacturing. I’m looking forward to working with Senator Ernst as co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Motorcycle Caucus to foster these important discussions and find common ground with motorcycle lovers across the country.”

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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• 1 lb. fresh Mexican chorizo, casings removed (3 links)
• 1/2 cup chopped white onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lb. ground chuck
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 ripe avocado, chopped
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Crumble chorizo in a large skillet and cook over medium-high, stirring occasionally, five minutes.  Stir in onion and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender, about five minutes.  Add ground chuck, chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt; cook, stirring often, until beef is browned and done, about ten minutes.  Remove from heat, and stir in cilantro.

Using a slotted spoon, divide chorizo-beef mixture evenly among tortillas (about 1/4 cup per tortilla), placing mixture just below center of each tortilla.  Roll tortilla over filling, leaving about one inch of tortilla exposed.  Brush exposed edge with a small amount of beaten egg; press gently to seal roll.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium; fry flautas, in batches, until crispy, 3 to 4 minutes per side.  Drain on paper towels.

Process avocado, sour cream, buttermilk, lime juice and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor until smooth.  Serve flautas with crema.

This is Donate Life Month in Iowa as people are encouraged to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. It’s also a time to celebrate those who saved lives through the gift of donation. Deb Thielen, with Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City, says a new person is added to the national waiting list for organs every ten minutes.
“An average of 22 people die every day while waiting for organs,” Thielen says. “On average, 81 transplants take place every day in the United States and in the year 2014, the lives of almost 30,000 Americans were saved through organ donation.”

More than one-point-six million Iowans have registered as organ, tissue and eye donors. Thielen says we can all qualify. “Anyone,” she says. “It doesn’t make any difference if they have any existing health conditions at the time of death. There is an extensive screening process that is completed through the Iowa Donor Network and they will determine what organs, tissues, what can be recovered.”

A number of Donate Life events are planned this month statewide, such as flag-raising ceremonies, run and walk events and more. Learn more at: www.iowadonornetwork.org

(Radio Iowa)