DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Office of Ombudsman released a report today saying another tragedy like the death of teenager Natalie Finn could happen again unless the state’s child-protection workers are given the resources and support they need. The 16-year-old girl was emaciated when emergency responders were called to her adoptive family’s West Des Moines home in October 2016. She died hours later at a local hospital. The report shows 14 child abuse reports had been made to DHS on behalf of the Finn children. The first three were made between 2005 and 2009.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines man has been charged with sex abuse, according to KCCI-TV. Gregory Hettmann, 22, was arrested Friday by West Des Moines police after officials say he sexually abused a woman while she was intoxicated and incapacitated in an Ankeny residence during December 2018.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Trees prevented a car from plunging into the frigid Cedar River early Saturday morning. KGAN-TV reports Cedar Rapids police officers broke a window in the car to get the driver out to safety. That driver, Eduardo Gonzalez-Castaneda, 22, is now facing OWI charges.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A bill in the Iowa legislature would protect children from undergoing conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is a method used to try and change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual. It’s a scientifically discredited practice. A bill introduced Thursday would prohibit counselors, psychologists and health care professionals from performing conversion therapy on children.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines community of students and parents is asking for the return of a high school theater director after he lost his job. Des Moines Public Schools said it’s not eliminating the role completely but it’s going to be half time. Theater director Michael Davenport says, “I can choose to remain at Roosevelt for half the pay and no benefits but just as much of the work.” He has been the theater director at Roosevelt High School for three years.