DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Planned Parenthood says it’s closing four of its 12 clinics in Iowa after the Republican-led Legislature cut its state funding. Local affiliate Planned Parenthood of the Heartland said Thursday the closings will reduce its facilities in the state that provide abortions from eight to five. More than 30 employees will be laid off.

Republican lawmakers agreed last session to give up millions in federal Medicaid money to create a state-run family planning program that excludes organizations that provide abortions.

The health centers slated for closing are in Sioux City, Bettendorf, Burlington and Keokuk. Planned Parenthood says more than 14,600 people visited the four closing clinics in the past three years.

The Police chief in Perry says the parents of a 16-year-old girl found dead last Friday are each facing multiple counts of child endangerment. Chief Eric Vaughn says they found Sabrina Ray dead at her home after getting a 9-1-1 call about an unresponsive person. “Although final autopsy results are not expected for a few weeks pending further laboratory testing — sever malnutrition was noticed by the medical examiner. At the time of her death, Sabrina’s weight was 56 pounds,” Vaughn says.

Vaughn says 41-year-old Marc Ray and 40-year-old Misty Ray were arrested and each face four counts of child endangerment causing serious injuries, three counts of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, and one count of child endangerment resulting in death. He says four of the charges are related to Sabrina’s death and the others are related to two young girls who were removed from the home on the day they found Sabrina dead. Those two children are 12 and 10 years old. Both are being held on a one million dollar bond.

A third child was also removed from the home and Vaughn was asked if there may be additional charges in connection with the treatment of the children.He says the case is still under investigation and he can’t comment on any pending or future charges. Vaughn also could not say what condition the other two children are in. “I really can’t comment on their conditions at this time, other than they are being treated by a physician,” Vaughn says. The Rays operated a daycare center and had reportedly adopted the children.

D-C-I Special Agent Rick Mortvedt says they are working with the Department of Human Services, but he says they can’t say much about the other investigations associated with Sabrina’s death. “A lot of this is an ongoing investigation, obviously the priority is dealing with the death investigation first,” Mortvedt says. “And there’s going to be a lot of follow up investigations that all the agencies involved is going to have to take place,” Mortvedt says.

He says those other investigations will answer a lot of the other questions about the case. Sabrina’s death is the second of a teen girl in a home which had been flagged over child welfare concerns, and the is says it is hiring “an outside expert” to examine how the Iowa Department of Human Services handles such cases. An adopted 16-year-old starved to death in her West Des Moines home last fall, even though neighbors and school officials had reported the girl was malnourished.

(Radio Iowa)

A man from Pottawattamie County was sentenced Wednesday to spend 15-years in prison following his convictions on receipt and possession of child pornography. U-S Attorney Kevin Vanderschel says 60-year old Kevin Timothy Morrissey, of Oakland, was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release following his imprisonment and to pay a $15,000 fine.

On December 21st, 2016, a jury convicted Morrissey on both counts of receipt and possession of child pornography. In January of 2016, law enforcement discovered, during a routine home visit, Morrissey was accessing the internet in violation of his parole supervision conditions. Subsequent examination of electronic devices seized from Morrissey’s Oakland residence revealed numerous images and one video of child pornography.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation – Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Iowa Probation and Parole Office for the 4th Judicial District, and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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The Atlantic Police Department is warning the public about a phone scam. Police Chief Dave Erickson said today (Thursday), the some people are receiving calls from a man from Peoria, IL, who asks to sell advertisements for the “Atlantic Community Magazine.” Erickson says the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce is the only entity who will call for the magazine.

He advises that if anyone else calls for the magazine, do not give out any personal or bank information. If you have elderly family members, please advise them not to give out and bank or personal information, as well, to persons who call.