IOWA – Through the Safe Haven Law, two infants, a baby girl, born May 15, and a baby boy, born May 26, are now in the care and custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services  and will be placed with a foster family until permanent placement is determined. This brings the overall total to 70 infants since the law went into effect more than two decades ago. Iowa’s Safe Haven Act is as an option for parents in crisis to who determine they cannot care for an infant up to 90 days old. Designated locations like hospitals, fire stations, etc. HHS then works to place infants in in approved foster homes while awaiting permanent adoption. This is the third case so far in 2024. In 2023, ten infants were relinquished to HHS custody under the Safe Haven Act. DES MOINES – The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a body found at Easter Lake Park Thursday afternoon. WHO-13 reports that emergency crews responded to calls and recovered an adult male. Police believe there are no obvious signs of criminal activity, and an autopsy will be completed to determine the possible cause of death. The beach was closed for the remainder of Thursday. CEDAR RAPIDS – The family of the man who was killed outside of a Monticello Fareway last November believes their loved one would still be alive if the killer wasn’t released from prison early. KCRG-TV reports that Nathan Russell had been sentenced to two years of prison in September of 2022 — 14 months before he murdered Aaron McAtee. Russell was found guilty on drug and weapons charges for an incident in Galena. The county’s State Attorney Chris Allendorf is supposed to receive 30 days notice if a prisoner is released early from the Illinois Department of Corrections. Those released early in the state are supposed to be under supervised release. MT. VERNON – One of four Cornell College professors attacked in China is now home. KCCI-TV reports David Zabner was stabbed in the arm by a 55-year-old overseas earlier this week, but has since arrived stateside. The U.S. State Department is working on bringing the other three individuals home, all of whom are expected to survive their injuries.

DES MOINES – Police have released the names of two Des Moines teenagers, one who died and the other they are accusing of murder. WHO-13 reports 19-year-old Abdelmagid Elzubeir was stabbed on Tuesday morning and died from his injuries. His younger brother, 16-year-old Mohamed Elzubeir, has been charged with first degree murder — which will be tried in adult court since it’s a forcible felony. Police say the two were embroiled in a dispute, and that Mohamed’s alleged actions were premeditated. DAVENPORT – A Riverside woman was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for two counts of Production of Child Pornography, following a plea of guilty on an earlier date. According to public court documents, 36-year-old Abigail Margarete Knight produced child sexual assault material of two minor victims between July 2020 and May 2023. Knight used photos and videos of minors and sent the child sexual assault material to two men, one in Texas and the other in Missouri, through the use of cellular phones and internet chats. After completing her term of imprisonment, Knight will be required to serve five years of supervised release. LUCAS – A single crash in Ringgold County resulted in the death of a Lucas man Wednesday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports that 34-year-old James Cody Sage was traveling eastbound on Highway 2 near Kellerton in a Chevy passenger van, before he left the roadway and struck a tree. He was pronounced dead on scene. NEWTON – A triple header of stock car racing is on its way to Iowa Speedway for the first ever NASCAR Cup Series race in Newton. The three-day NASCAR weekend starts on Friday and continues through the Iowa Corn 350 Sunday. The weekend includes concerts, autograph sessions, and other fan experiences.  

IOWA CITY – A teenager was found safe less than an hour after an Amber Alert was issued Tuesday. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation reports that 15-year-old Ophelia Anne Barton was found safe after being reported as possibly abducted. The Iowa City Police Department has accused 42-year-old Lindsey Anne White of abducting the teenager. No further details were released Tuesday evening. GREENFIELD – Organizers with RAGBRAI announced Tuesday that the annual showcase event is playing to make Greenfield a day three stop, despite the extensive damage from the May 21st EF-4 tornado. The Des Moines Register reports the community will still serve as a meeting town, with volunteers from nearby communities stepping up to assist with organizing efforts for the annual bike ride across the state. City leaders have heard from RAGBRAI participants, many of whom intend to fundraise and volunteer to support storm recovery. DES MOINES – One person has died following a stabbing in Des Moines Tuesday. KCCI-TV reports police were called to an apartment and found a 19-year-old man suffering from critical injuries. The individual later died at a nearby hospital. Des Moines police say there was no ongoing danger to the public related to the incident. CHINA – Police have arrested the suspect accused of stabbing four Cornell College instructors during a visit to China. WHO-13 reports a 55-year-old man surnamed Cui bumped into one of the four visitors on Monday, and subsequently attacked the group, including a Chinese citizen who attempted to intervene near Beihua University. The State Department is monitoring the situation, according to a statement, and the four injured were not in critical condition, according to Chinese officials.  

MOUNT VERNON – Four Cornell College instructors are recovering after they were stabbed in China. Iowa Public Radio reports that the group were with faculty at Beihua University as part of an international partnership, and individuals from both institutions were victims in the attack. The family of those impacted from Cornell informed IPR that the group is recovering. MUSCATINE – One person died in a three-vehicle crash in Muscatine County Monday evening. The Iowa State Patrol reports a motorcycle was heading southbound and a Nissan Pathfinder attempted to make a left turn on Highway 38, causing a collision. A Jeep Liberty behind the Nissan also hit the motorcycle. One person has died and another was injured, but both identities are being withheld for now. IOWA – Soil moisture remains plentiful despite a below average beginning as it relates to rainfall in June across the state. Ninety-five percent of topsoil was adequate or wetter and 90% of subsoil was in the same category, according to the USDA and Iowa Department of Agriculture condition report. Corn planting is nearly complete, and is nine days behind the 2023 pace and two days behind the five year average. More than 95% of the state’s crop remained in fair or better conditions. IOWA – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is set to tour cities impacted by severe thunderstorms this spring throughout the day today. The governor is slated for participation at disaster recovery meetings in Harlan, Minden, Corning, and Greenfield. All four towns were impacted by one of the most active springs in terms of severe weather in recent memory, which included dozens of tornadoes in April and May.

MARION – The fourth person injured in a brutal attack in Linn County last week has died. The Des Moines Register reports that the Linn County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of 34-year-old Brent Anthony Brown of Marion occurred on Friday. He was flown to a hospital with severe injuries after 34-year-old Luke Truesdell, also of Marion, allegedly attacked him and three others with a metal pipe. Truesdell now faces a fourth count of first degree murder. HUMBOLDT COUNTY – Two people were killed in a crash involving a pickup and utility task vehicle in Humboldt County Saturday evening. The Iowa State Patrol reports a UTV driven by 43-year-old Theodore Joseph Prenger of Dakota City failed to stop at a rural intersection and drove into the passenger side of a Ford F250 driven by 63-year-old Terry Dean George of Hardy. Both Theodore and 56-year-old Teresa Ann Prenger died from their injuries. George was driven by a private vehicle to Clarion Hospital. DES MOINES – A large fire destroyed a salvage yard in Des Moines Saturday evening. KCCI-TV reports a massive blaze consumed dozens of cars closely packed together at Yaw’s Auto Salvage. Smoke from the fire could be seen miles away, including the majority of the Des Moines metro. CEDAR RAPIDS – Police say a high-speed chase in multiple counties lead to a squad car crashing into a Cedar Rapids convenience store Sunday morning. KCRG-TV reports the pursuit that started in Johnson County ended shortly after a Cedar Rapids Police Car collided with the building, damaging both. No injuries were reported. The Cadillac police were chasing crashed nearby, and as of Sunday morning, officers had not found the suspect. IOWA CITY – One of the greatest college basketball players of all-time won’t get to showcase her special abilities on a world stage just yet. ESPN reports the reigning, unanimous two-time college basketball player of the year Caitlin Clark will not be on either the 5-on-5 or 3-on-3 Olympic teams. Clark is breaking several WBNA women’s rookie records with the Indiana Fever.  The superstar remains an enormous draw for large crowds, helping the Fever break several league records for attendance.