Memorial Blood Centers has issued an urgent call for type O+ and O- blood donations. A shortage has been affecting local hospitals, according to officials, with type O blood shortages being reported across the nation. Currently, inventory of type O blood is the lowest it’s been since the COVID-19 pandemic.

There also has been a recent surge in blood usage. In the past several days, seven massive transfusion protocols — which include administering 10 or more units of blood to a patient within 24 hours — have occurred across the region. The local Memorial Blood Centers serve Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

Nearly 40% of the U.S. population has Type O+ blood — the most common blood type. Type O- is a universal blood type and is commonly used in emergency situations.

During the summer months, more blood supply is needed due to seasonal travel, school breaks and a general rise in traumatic accidents.

To view donation eligibility or to make an appointment, visit mbc.org or call 1-888-448-3253.

— Samantha Wurm

Info meeting set

on new PFAS limits

Lake Elmo residents are invited to a public information meeting regarding the new PFAS limits for drinking water in private wells and water-related city projects at 6 p.m. July 25 at Oak-Land Middle School in Lake Elmo.

The open house will start at 6 p.m., with presentations from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Health and the city to follow.

There also will be an opportunity for residents to ask questions, said Nicole Miller, city administrator.

“We wanted long-term residents and newer residents to have an opportunity to learn more about the new limits for drinking water that were put in place this spring by the EPA,” she said. “This will give residents a chance to hear from the experts.”

The Environmental Protection Agency on April 10 finalized standards of no more than 4 parts per trillion for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — sometimes also called “forever chemicals” — in drinking water.

The meeting will be videotaped and available to view later on the city’s website, Miller said. Notices about the meeting will be mailed to each resident in the city this week.

For more information, go to lakeelmo.gov or call 651-747-3900.

— Mary Divine

‘Stuff the Bus’ collecting supplies

Officials collecting school supplies for this year’s “Stuff the Bus” campaign for students who live in the Stillwater Area School District want to pack 600 backpacks in the next few weeks.

“Every child in our community — from our kindergarteners to our seniors — deserves to walk into school on the first day with the tools they need to succeed,” said Kristin Kroll, executive director of United Way of Washington County-East. “Through Stuff the Bus, we ensure that local families are supported, and all kids feel prepared and confident. A backpack full of supplies is a small thing, but it can have significant and long-term impact.”

Supplies most needed include three-ring binders, black Expo markers and Crayola markers.

Families in need can register online through Aug. 5. The registration form will request the name of the school that each child will attend and the grade they are entering; families will be given options for a curbside pickup date and time Aug. 14-16 at Community Thread.

Donations can be dropped through Aug. 5 at different sites throughout the district. Volunteers are needed to help sort the supplies and assemble backpacks at Community Thread from Aug. 7-13.

For information on grade-specific school supplies that are needed and see a map of the local collection sites, go to www.uwwce.org/stuff-the-bus. To volunteer or for more information, contact Erin McQuay at erin.mcquay@uwwce.org.

— Mary Divine

Chauvin attorney to represent trooper

The defense attorney who represented former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, the officer convicted in the murder of George Floyd, is representing the Minnesota state trooper involved in the Rochester fatal crash that killed 18-year-old Olivia Flores.

Eric Nelson of Halberg Criminal Defense submitted a certificate of representation for Shane Elroy Roper on July 10. According to court records, Nelson was the lead defense attorney representing Chauvin.

Roper, 32, of Hayfield, Minnesota, is facing nine criminal charges in Olmsted County District Court, including felony counts of second-degree manslaughter, criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation.

The crash happened on May 18 at the intersection of Memorial Parkway and 12th Street Southwest, near the Apache Mall.

Before the crash, Roper was traveling 83 mph in a 40-mph zone, the complaint says.

Due to the speed, Roper was unable to brake or maneuver his squad car to avoid the collision, the investigation found. The impact sent both cars eastbound through the intersection to collide with a Toyota Rav4. A search warrant in the case said Roper’s vehicle was traveling 70 mph when his squad car struck the Ford Focus that Flores was a passenger in.

Flores, of Owatonna, died as a result of the crash days away from her high school graduation. Five others were injured.

— Forum news service