DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Human Services says it’s seeking help from a nonprofit group to review the state’s child welfare system following the death of two teenage girls. The announcement today (Monday) that the Montgomery, Alabama-based Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group would evaluate the department was released shortly after a joint legislative committee began meeting at the Capitol to discuss the agency’s procedures.

The bipartisan committee has questioned the state’s process for removing foster children from homes and the workload of social workers who handle such cases.

The review will follow to the October death of Natalie Finn of West Des Moines and the May death of Sabrina Ray of Perry. The 16-year-old girls, who were both adopted from state care, were found dead in their homes.

A traffic stop at around 12:45-a.m. Sunday in Pottawattamie County, resulted in the arrest of a man who is prohibited from carrying weapons. A pickup driven by 50-year old Richard J. Zadina, Jr., of Council Bluffs, was pulled over on I-80 westbound near Council Bluffs, for improper use of lanes. During a search of the vehicle, a Taser, 2 shotgun shells, and 22 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition were found. Zadina was placed under arrest for Carrying a Concealed weapon without a permit.

PEOSTA, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa woman and her brother, who are accused of padlocking a weighted chain around her 14-year-old son’s waist, are facing trials next month. Court records say Jeffrey Merfeld is set for trial beginning July 18 and that a July 25 trial start is set for his sister, Cynthia Kobusch. The records don’t list a trial date for her husband, Michael Kobusch, who’s also pleaded not guilty.

All three live in Peosta, and are charged with child endangerment. Court documents say Cynthia Kobusch told an investigator that she wanted to attach a GPS tracker to her son – a frequent runaway – and had asked her brother to “make a chain” and fashion it so the boy couldn’t cut it off.

The Atlantic Police Department reports one person was arrested and two accidents were investigated over the weekend. 18-year old Dawson Walter, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday for OWI/1st offense. Walter was taken to the Cass County Jail and also cited for Minor in Possession/1st offense.

No injuries were reported following an accident Sunday in the Burger King parking lot, in Atlantic. Officials say vehicles driven by Dustin Holtz, of Atlantic, and Sandra Van Aernam, of Wiota, were in the drive-through for the restaurant, when Van Aernam looked down for a second. Her vehicle struck the rear of Holtz’ vehicle, causing a total of $400 damage.  No citations were issued.

The second accident happened at around 10–p.m. Saturday, at 8th and Linn Streets, when a semi driven by Sabhah Hossman, struck and snapped a power line pole. The incident caused a total of $4,000 damage. No one was hurt and no citations were issued.

An investigation early Sunday morning in Pottawattamie County resulted in several individuals from Cass County and one from Montgomery County being arrested but then released at the scene on citations, for Possession or Purchase of Alcohol by a person under the legal age. They received their citations after a Deputy came upon a car in the 22,500 block of 420th Street, occupied by multiple individuals who were all allegedly intoxicated and under the legal age.

Citations were issued at around 2:20-a.m. Sunday to: 18-year old’s Ethan Stoural, John King, Dominick Gene Gramkow, Spenser Denison, and Austin Mwalla, all of Atlantic; 19-year old Jerry Carr, of Anita, and 18-year old Brandon Flathers, of Red Oak.

The Harlan Police Department reports 29-year old Theodore James Behrens, of Harlan, was arrested on numerous charges, Saturday, following an investigation into an alleged domestic abuse incident.

Behrens was being held in the Shelby County Jail on $100,000 bond, on the following charges: Felony Domestic Abuse Assault; felony charges of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree and 1st Degree Kidnapping, as well as a Simple Misdemeanor charge for Violation of a No Contact Order. The victim in the incident was transported to the hospital for treatment.

No other details were released.

A warrant was issued Friday for a man from Pottawattamie County, following the pursuit by Sheriff’s Deputies of a subject on a dirt bike. Authorities say 19-year old Austin Shelton Lee Denisse, of Neola, is wanted for Eluding. The Sheriff’s report says a Deputy tried to stop a 2009 Honda CRF-450R off-road motorcycle at around  2:55-p.m. Friday at Magnolia Road and Highway 191. The operator of the cycle – identified as Denisse – failed to yield and ended-up crashing the bike in field.

Denisse was transported to a hospital for evaluation.

A Nebraska man was arrested Thursday morning after a pursuit and crash in Pottawattamie County. The chase occurred on Interstate 680 at around 9:15-a.m. after a stolen 2006 Chevy Cobalt crossed over from Nebraska into Iowa. The pursuit ended on the eastbound off ramp at Exit 1 in Council Bluffs, when the car crashed into a culvert. The suspected driver, 38-year old Jeremy Dale Robinson, of Omaha, was apprehended by a K9 unit south of the vehicle.

Robinson faces numerous charges, including: Theft in the 2nd Degree/Motor vehicle theft; Theft in the 5th Degree/Theft of License plates; and Interference with Official Acts. The vehicle, belonging to a woman from Bellevue, NE, was recovered at the scene.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – City officials in Le Mars are moving forward with a proposed trail connecting the community with Sioux City after the $10 million project was delayed amid liability and maintenance concerns. The Sioux City Journal reports the Le Mars City Council voted to serve as the contracting authority for developing and constructing the 16-mile trail.

Plans for the project hit a roadblock over which entity would own the segment in unincorporated areas of Plymouth County. The City Council will work with two smaller towns along the route – Merrill and Hinton – to create an agreement over ownership and maintenance of the trail.

The PlyWood trail will run within Plymouth County and Woodbury County. Construction could begin in late 2018, after financing is finalized and easements settled.

Officials with the Audubon Chamber of Commerce have released the results of the Flight Breakfast held Sunday morning at the Audubon Airport. The Chamber-sponsored event drew 673 people, who enjoyed a meal of ham & cheese omelets, pancakes, coffee, milk & juice from 6:30-until 10:30-a.m.   58 aircraft arrived at the airport for the event.

Pilots and their guests flew-in from 38 different communities in Nebraska, eastern and central Iowa and many locations in western, northwest, north central and southern Iowa.