PELLA, Iowa – After a seven-month long investigation, authorities have charged a day care provider with Involuntary Manslaughter in connection with the death of a 17-month old girl, in June 2015. 32-year old Valerie Wackerly, of Pella, plead guilty to the charge Thursday, and faces up to five-years in prison and fines amounting to as much as $7,500. The child in her care died two-days after she was improperly placed in a car seat and allowed to nap in a darkened room, unsupervised. The cause of death was determined to be mechanical/positional asphyxia.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad and House Republican leaders have different views this session on the impact of a tax bill that would cut available state revenue by more than $95 million. The House overwhelmingly voted 82-14 Thursday for legislation that would make retroactive tax changes to better mirror federal guidelines. The non-partisan Legislative Services Agency projects the bill would reduce available state revenue by more than $95 million. Branstad didn’t support the measure in his budget recommendations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of people calling for a higher minimum wage marched several blocks through downtown Des Moines and gathered near the venue of a Republican presidential debate. At least 500 people joined Thursday night at a downtown square and then walked to an area to rally about a block from the Iowa Events Center, the site of the GOP debate. The march and rally were the latest actions taken by a group that earlier in the day included workers at fast food restaurants who walked off their jobs to demand $15-an-hour wages.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With just days to go until the Iowa caucuses, the state’s longtime Republican governor says that the federal government has failed to assure the American people that they are safe. Governor Terry Branstad, who is likely serving out his last term in office, is declining to publicly endorse anyone in this year’s crowded Republican field, but he applauds those who have made national security a central theme in their campaign platforms — anyone, that is, except Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Iowans are gearing up for the country’s leadoff vote on February 1st.