Resident robbed on way home Saturday by acquaintances

Lawrence Police are investigating a robbery that occurred Saturday night as a group of friends walked home from a Lawrence bar.

Shortly after 8 p.m., a 35-year-old Lawrence man left a bar at the northeast corner of 23rd and Iowa streets and walked to a liquor store with two men and a woman, Sgt. Paul Fellers said. After leaving the liquor store and on the way to the 35-year-old man’s house for a party, his two male acquaintances took him to the ground, punched him in the side, took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot to the northwest, Fellers said.

Police later found one of the male suspects hiding in a Dumpster in the 1000 block of West 24th Street, Fellers said. Officers had not located the other two suspects late Saturday.

The victim told police his side hurt, Fellers said, but he did not request medical treatment.

Red Cross schedules blood drive Wednesday

Donors can get a free T-shirt for giving blood at an American Red Cross blood drive this week at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

Appointments for the drive, which will be from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 1234 Ky., can be made by calling (800) GIVE-LIFE (448-3543). Walk-in donors are also welcome.

Type-O positive is the most common blood type and, therefore, the type in greatest demand. Type O-negative, called the universal blood type because it can be transfused to almost any patient regardless of blood type, is very rare and in short supply. Only about 7 percent of the U.S. population has O-negative blood.

According to the Red Cross, at least 2,250 pints of blood are needed each week for hospital patients throughout the region. Blood donors must be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.

Multiple sclerosis program to focus on treatments

Only three drugs are available that may produce or reduce disability in people with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, the most common form of multiple sclerosis.

A program for individuals who are interested in learning more about the three treatments Avonex, Betaseron and Copaxone will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in meeting room 2 at St. Francis Hospital, Topeka. The event is sponsored by the Eastern Kansas Branch of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

A neurologist and a panel of individuals currently taking one of the three drugs will be available to answer questions about prescriptions. The program will feature Dr. Avertano Noronha, associate professor of neurology at the University of Chicago. Dr. Noronha has more than 26 years of experience in the field of neurology and associated diseases.

For additional information, call the Eastern Kansas branch office in Topeka at (800) 745-7148 or (785) 272-5292.