(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) reports officials have used the state’s safe haven procedures for the 36th and 37th time since the law went into effect. A girl was born May 24, 2019, and a boy was born May 27, 2019. Both infants were released to the custody of DHS.

A court hearing to terminate parental rights is held within a month. Specific details are withheld in order to protect the identity of the parents and the children.

Through Iowa’s safe haven law, parents have the option to safely hand over custody of babies age 30 days or younger without fear of prosecution for abandonment. The
parent, or their authorized representative, can leave the newborn at a hospital or health care facility, and can remain anonymous.

The safe haven law was approved in the wake of a high-profile case in 2001 involving a teen mother in eastern Iowa who killed her home-delivered newborn. Infants who are safe haven babies are placed with currently-approved foster or adoptive families.

If you are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please visit
https://iowafosterandadoption.org/.   For more information on the safe haven procedure: http://dhs.iowa.gov/safe-haven

Page County Sheriff’s deputies, Thursday, arrested a Clarinda man on Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s warrants for Distributing drugs to a minor and gathering where controlled substances are used. 32-year old Frank B. Cates, of Clarinda, was being held in the Page County Jail on a $30,000 cash-only bond.

Frank Cates

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Kamala Harris is facing doubts among Iowa political activists about her commitment to the state and its coveted caucuses. The California senator is falling behind other top-tier candidates in visits to Iowa and staff on the ground. Harris returns to Iowa this weekend promising renewed focus on the state.

But her relatively small staff and frequent travel to other places suggests Iowa isn’t the linchpin in her strategy to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Harris is expected to ramp up her visits to the state, and the campaign plans a major hiring spree, adding to its staff of 15.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker already have more than 50 staffers fanned out across Iowa. Bernie Sanders and Beto O’Rourke have more than 40.

The Atlantic Police Department reports two Atlantic men were arrested on Burglary and Theft charges late last month. On May 25th, 29-year old Justin Jacobs, of Atlantic, was arrested Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Theft in the 3rd Degree, and Interference with Official Acts. On May 28th, 38-year old Michael Parrott, of Atlantic, was arrested for Burglary in the 2nd and Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree.

On May 30th, 32-year old Aaron Ihnken, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree, 1st offense Trespassing, Disorderly Conduct, Simple Assault and Criminal Transmission of an Infectious Disease to another.

On June 1st, 37-year old Donald Kadereit, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI and Interference with Official Acts. June 4th, 28-year old Jade Nicolson, of Atlantic, was arrested for carrying a weapon. The following day, 39-year old Mark Kantaou, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox. and Disorderly Conduct.

On Thursday (June. 6), 37-year old Chad Wilcox, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for OWI. And, 39-year old Mark Kantaou, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox. and Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense.

Each of those subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

SCOOBA, Miss. (AP) — A woman from Iowa was among three people killed in a four-vehicle crash this week in eastern Mississippi. The Mississippi Highway Patrol identified those killed Wednesday as 67-year-old Kathleen Estling of Altoona, Iowa; and 56-year-old Kimberly S. Holliday and 12-year-old Bailey Southerlen, both of Southaven, Mississippi. Five other people were injured.

Investigators said a southbound pickup crossed the median of U.S. Highway 45 and hit three northbound vehicles — one carrying Estling and another carrying Holliday and Southerlen. The other vehicle hit was a Meridian school bus with a driver but no passengers.

It was the second fatal wreck within three days near the small town of Scooba in Kemper County. Eight people were killed Monday when a box truck and a passenger van collided on Mississippi Highway 16.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman accused of helping a man choke a woman to death and dispose of her body has taken a plea deal. Webster County District Court records say 27-year-old Mackenzie Knigge pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted murder and two other crimes. Prosecutors say Knigge and Phillip Williams, of Lafayette, Indiana, killed 26-year-old Jessica Gomez in Knigge’s Clare apartment in August 2017. Her body was found in a field near Clare.

Williams was sentenced in April to 30 years in an Iowa prison. Both Knigge and Williams had been charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors lowered the charges in return for their guilty pleas. Knigge’s trial had been scheduled to begin Monday.

Knigge’s sentencing is set for July 8.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court says the second-degree murder conviction of a northwest Iowa man will stand concluding the jury that convicted him wasn’t overwhelmingly influenced by Facebook rumors of a town riot if he wasn’t convicted. The case involved two young men from Estherville, Iowa interested in the same woman.

Lee Christensen, now 22 and serving sentence of up to 50 years, was convicted of shooting Thomas Bortvit, who was 19 when he died in 2015. Christensen appealed the conviction claiming jurors heard of the social media postings during deliberation.

The Iowa Court of Appeals last year ordered a new trial. The Supreme Court on Friday reversed that ruling concluding Christensen failed to show the verdict would have been different if jurors hadn’t been aware of the social media posts.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — One of the men accused in the robbery slaying of a Davenport man has pleaded not guilty. Scott County District Court records show 19-year-old Darrell Williams Jr., of East Moline, Illinois, entered written pleas Thursday to charges of first-degree murder, burglary and conspiracy. His trial is scheduled to begin July 8.

Prosecutors say Williams participated in the killing of 20-year-old Brady Tumlinson and the wounding of his girlfriend at Tumlinson’s home on Sept. 22, 2017.