(Radio Iowa) – Officials in Iowa’s most populous county are urging residents to take more precautions in locking up their firearms, as gun-related incidents are the second-leading cause of death among youth. Between 2016 and 2020, gun injuries accounted for more than one-fifth of the deaths in Polk County residents between the ages of one and 24. Eric Haugen is a medical director of pediatrics at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. “There’s a higher incidence of depression, anxiety in our children today,” Haugen says, “and the medical health resources are simply not there. We have long waits when it comes to trying to get help for the children in our community now.”

Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly says youth suicide by firearms is a growing concern. “The mental health status of our youth, as everyone knows, have declined,” Connolly says. “Our youth are suffering from anxiety and depression more than ever before, which puts them at risk of suicide.”

A report finds 41-percent of all youth suicides were gun-related. According to the Centers for Disease Control, firearms overtook car accidents last year as the leading cause of death for children nationally.

(Washington, D-C/National News) – The FBI, working with its state and local partners, identified and located 200 victims of sex trafficking during a nationwide enforcement campaign called Operation Cross Country. The operation also led to identification or arrest of 126 suspects of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking offenses and 68 suspects of trafficking were identified or arrested.

Through targeted operations and collaborative efforts, Operation Cross Country achieved significant milestones in recovering victims, apprehending offenders, and raising public awareness about these heinous crimes. The FBI and its partners located 59 minor victims of child sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation offenses and located 59 actively missing children during its 2-week operation in July.

“Sex traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims unimaginable harm,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This operation, which located 59 actively missing children, builds on the tremendous work the FBI has undertaken over many years to rescue minor victims and arrest those responsible for these unspeakable crimes. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners across the country to prevent human trafficking; increase detection, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking crimes; and expand support and services to protect and empower survivors.”

The FBI-led nationwide initiative, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), focused on identifying and locating victims of sex trafficking and investigating and arresting individuals and criminal enterprises involved in both child sex and human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies conducted targeted operations to identify and apprehend offenders, dismantling criminal networks, and preventing further harm to victims. Those suspects identified will be subject to additional investigation for potential charges.

“Human traffickers’ prey on the most vulnerable members of our society, and their crimes scar victims – many of them children – for life. The FBI’s commitment to combating this threat will never waver, and we will continue to send our message that these atrocities will not be tolerated,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This operation would not be possible without the commitment and collaboration from our state and local law enforcement partners, and it demonstrates our continued focus on actively pursuing the criminals responsible for these heinous violations and connecting those impacted with dedicated victim services and resources.”

A multidisciplinary team (MDT), to include victim specialists, child/adolescent forensic interviewers, and other victim service personnel, in addition to special agents, ensures a victim-centered, culturally responsive, trauma-informed investigative response. The FBI MDT works with state and local partners to make resources available to meet the unique needs of trafficking victims.

Victim specialists provide services based on the individual needs of human trafficking victims, to include crisis intervention, emergency food and clothing, transportation to receive emergency services, and locating shelter or housing. The victim specialists also serve as conduit between the victims and the investigative team to help ensure they are receiving case updates, as appropriate.

“Behind every statistic, there is a person with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from child sex trafficking and exploitation. As a society we must work together to ensure the protection, support, and empowerment of those impacted by this heinous crime.” said NCMEC President & CEO Michelle DeLaune. “We applaud the FBI and their partner law enforcement agencies for their unwavering dedication to protecting children. Their tireless efforts in combating crimes against children sends a powerful message that child sexual exploitation will not be tolerated.”

The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to combating child exploitation and human trafficking. Operation Cross Country is just one facet of the Bureau’s ongoing efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of society and hold offenders accountable. The FBI encourages continued vigilance, cooperation, and reporting from the public to help identify and recover victims and bring perpetrators to justice.

(Creston, Iowa) — Students at Southwestern Community College (SWCC) held a memorial vigil Tuesday night, to honor the life of Madalynn Stewart, of Maloy. The community gathered at the gymnasium in the student center to share memories of Stewart. The 19-year-old was on the school’s women’s basketball and dance teams.

Stewart died Sunday from injuries she suffered July 21st in a Union County crash. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a car driven by Stewart, failed to stop at a stop sign when it entered Highway 34 from 190th Street in Afton around 10:30 that night. The car was struck by a pickup truck, and both vehicles went into a ditch.

Stewart is the third 19-year-old to die as a result of the crash. Halsie Lynn Barnes and Ella Jo Leonard died as a result of the crash. People gathered on July 25 to honor their lives during a candlelight service. Clergy and counselors were also on-hand.

Open visitation for Madalynn Mae Stewart will be held at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, on Sunday, Aug. 6, from 1-8 p.m., with family present from 5-8 p.m. Her funeral will be on Monday, Aug. 7, at 2 p.m., at the Mount Ayr High School gymnasium.

SWCC will be closed Monday so employees may attend the funeral.

(Radio Iowa) – The Dallas County Sheriff reports a teenager has died after being pulled from Moffit Lake Monday. The Sheriff says they received a 9-1-1 call just before 7 p-m that three people who were fishing at the lake were in the water and struggling to stay afloat. A passerby pulled all three out of the water.

A 14-year-old girl who was under the water the longest was given C-P-R and taken to the hospital where she later died. No names have been released.

(Radio Iowa) – The monthly survey of supply managers in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states shows both the state and regional economies took big falls during July. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says it’s a warning sign for the economy in the months ahead, as the overall Business Conditions Index indicates a significant slowdown is looming in the Midwestern manufacturing sector.

Despite some recent optimism about the U-S economy’s overall performance, the survey shows the region’s supply managers estimate there’s almost a 50-50 chance of a recession in the second half of this year. Goss expects what he’s calling “a rolling recession” to impact certain sectors of the economy, especially commercial real estate and manufacturing.

(Omaha, NE) – Twenty-eight organizations, three business leaders and 12 high school seniors across Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota were recently selected by an independent panel of business and community leaders as 2023 Better Business Bureau (BBB) award and scholarship recipients.

The BBB Students of Integrity Scholarship program recognizes high school seniors who personify values, leadership and integrity. Annually, 12 seniors are awarded $2,000 scholarships to further their education. The 2023 Students of Integrity Scholarship recipients from the Omaha and Southwest Iowa areas include:

• Megan Wells — East Mills High School, Malvern, Iowa
• Nina Marie Kudlacz — Ralston High School, Ralston, Nebraska
• Trista Swain — Griswold High School, Griswold, Iowa

“These students, leaders and companies exemplify the highest standards of ethics,” said BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty. “These awards embody BBB’s mission of advancing marketplace trust. Join us in celebrating these incredible award winners at our upcoming luncheon. Our communities can be proud to have such strong leaders that put integrity into action.”