The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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American Red Cross blood and platelet donors can now help save lives in less time by using the new Red Cross RapidPass online health history system. Officials say RapidPass streamlines the donation experience by allowing donors to complete pre-donation reading and health history questions online from the convenience of a computer at home or work. It became available to donors locally on Oct. 26 and is expected to reduce the time donors with a RapidPass spend at blood drives by up to 15 minutes.

Katie Marshall, External Communications Manager for the Midwest Blood Services Region, says “When people come to donate, they are giving more than blood or platelets – they are also generously giving their time. RapidPass is a simple, convenient way for Red Cross donors to make the most of their time while helping save lives.”

To get a RapidPass on the day of a blood donation, donors should visit redcrossblood.org/rapidpass, complete all of the questions, then print their RapidPass or show it on a mobile device when they come to donate. Though an appointment isn’t needed to use RapidPass, donors are encouraged to make an appointment by using the Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS to further expedite their donation.

Police in Red Oak say no injuries were reported following a collision Tuesday afternoon, at the intersection of 3rd and Corning Streets. Officials say a 1990 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by 65-year old Francis Nicholson, of Red Oak, stopped at the controlled intersection heading south on 3rd Street at around 3:35-p.m., but left too soon to turn east. The front end of his car sideswiped a 2005 Nissan sedan driven by 25-year old Maricela Ramos De Vera, of Red Oak, causing about $2,000 damage to her vehicle. Nicholson’s car sustained about $300 damage. There were no citations issued.

Iowa, compared to other states, has a high percentage of old homes that were painted with lead-based paint. That puts children in Iowa at a much greater risk for lead poisoning and a variety of health problems. There are programs around the state to help homeowners reduce lead hazards. Jennifer and Bryan Minney, of Cedar Rapids, learned their home, built in the 1950s, had lead paint. Their own children and some foster children were put at risk.

“Most kids, you know, they like to be out playing in the grass with their shoes off. They could get really sick just by having the paint chips touching their feet,” Jennifer said. The Minney’s learned about a local “Hazard Hunters” grant program and had the lead paint removed from the exterior of their home. “They covered the whole cost and because the window wells had lead paint as well, they replaced our windows that were affected by lead paint too,” Jennifer said.

The Linn County Hazard Hunters program is federally funded. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports the prevalence of lead poisoning among children in Iowa under the age of six is seven-percent. That’s more than four times the national average. Lead poisoning is usually caused by lead-based paint found in homes built before 1960. About 45-percent of the homes in Iowa were built before 1960.

This week is designated as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she isn’t too swayed by a report from the World Health Organization (W-H-O) that claims people raise their risk of getting colorectal cancer by eating processed meats, such as hot dogs, ham. “There are a number of other products too — they have said that bacon is a cancer-causing agent, baby powder is a cancer-causing agent. If you are a carpenter or if you a barber, evidently according to the same organization, it causes cancer,” Ernst says. Ernst says she still loves bacon.

“I had it this morning for breakfast and probably will continue to eat bacon,” Ernst says. Ernst is a Republican from Red Oak.

(Radio Iowa)

Twenty weeks of Produce in the Park came to an end, October 15th, in Atlantic. A follow-up meeting designed to summarize the season and make plans for next year, will be held 4-p.m. October 29th, at the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce’ meeting room. Vendors, volunteers and anyone interested in Produce in the Park are invited to attend.

Hundreds of shoppers enjoyed fresh local produce, homemade baked goods, crafts and personal care products. There were 12 vendors on opening day June 4. The number increased to 21.

Produce in the Park is made possible by support and work by many individuals, businesses and organizations. Food demonstrations, activities for kids, education spaces and entertainment were provided each of the 20 weeks which equals 80 activities.

Shoppers were asked to complete a simple survey. They reported that they attended Produce in the Park for the obvious reasons of buying produce, baked goods, crafts and other products. They also came to eat their evening meals. They liked the atmosphere, the music and the opportunity to spend time with family members.

Produce in the Park vendors, producers from other farmers markets and homemade craftsmen will be offering their products at Harvest Market. It is scheduled for Monday, November 23, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cass County Community Center. It was a big success last year when it was held for the first time.

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in solving a case of arson. Authorities say just before 9-p.m. Tuesday, police were called to 1902 Ave B to assist the fire department for a house and garage fire. Upon arrival, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and determine no one was injured.

Based on the initial investigation, officials said the fire appears to have been intentionally set, however there is no suspect information available. At this time, the investigation is ongoing.

If you have any information regarding this incident or any other criminal activity, please contact Crime Stoppers at (712)328-STOP (7867).

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of students, parents and other concerned Sioux City residents have protested Donald Trump’s appearance at a northwestern Iowa high school. Organizer Ismael Valadez says Trump’s harsh statements on immigration and characterization of Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals in his June announcement speech should have led school officials to bar him from speaking at West High School. Sioux City Schools officials say the event is not school-sponsored.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A kinder, humbler Donald Trump has emerged at a rally in Sioux City. Unseated as the front-runner in Iowa polls, the billionaire businessman and Republican presidential contender took a less brash approach to Tuesday evening’s event. He urged those gathered to get his poll numbers up ahead of February’s caucuses.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man who killed himself after firing shots at two locations in eastern Iowa was involved in a domestic dispute with his estranged wife. Bettendorf police spokeswoman Lauran Haldeman said Tuesday that 40-year-old Robert Mayes the Second of Coal Valley, Illinois was looking for his wife when he fired shots Monday inside a Davenport building that houses a law firm.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa lawmaker has announced a hearing to investigate allegations of inappropriate content at a conference earlier this year on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. Representative Bobby Kaufmann said Tuesday that members of the House Government Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on November 18th.

The Cass County Memorial Hospital Diabetes Center invites everyone to participate in “Smash Diabetes” on Sunday, November 1st at 1 p.m. at McCurdy’s Pumpkin Patch, in Atlantic. Aubrey Molgaard, RN, CDE, says “November is American Diabetes Month, and this event helps kick-off the month as part of a social media campaign to raise awareness about the disease.”

Smash Diabetes (#smashdiabetes) began several years ago as a social media campaign for people with Type 1 Diabetes to share their frustration about living with the disease by smashing pumpkins. The event has grown over the years to include Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, and many people join in the fun to support loved ones with diabetes.

Participants can bring their own jack-o-lantern, or they can pick out a pumpkin at the patch to smash. The entire group will be filmed together smashing pumpkins, and will be featured on the Cass County Health System’s social media accounts.

For more information, or to ask any questions about the event, please call the CCMH Diabetes Center at 712-243-7833 or 712-243-7834.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) – A federal safety agency has proposed fining the Ottumwa post office $46,600, saying postal officials had exposed mail carriers to excessive heat on at least two occasions. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a news release Tuesday that on June 10 a carrier reported heat illness symptoms and requested relief but was told to complete the route. The heat index that afternoon was 100 degrees. OSHA also says a different Ottumwa mail carrier was hospitalized for heat illness on July13. The carrier also had asked for relief due to feeling ill but was told to complete the route.