MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement have arrested 26 people in Minnesota, marking the largest ICE operation in the state since the Trump administration vowed to increase immigration enforcement. The arrests are part of a broader operation that also resulted in 32 arrests in Nebraska, 23 in Iowa, four in North Dakota and one in South Dakota.

ICE says the operation was routine and targeted those with criminal convictions. It also targeted immigrants who illegally re-entered the U.S. after prior deportations and immigrants with orders for removal — both low priorities under the Obama administration.

Brad Capoch works at Incarnation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, which caters to the Latino community. He tells the Star Tribune that aside from the shift in priorities, the operation appeared similar to those under Obama’s administration.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Newly unsealed court documents in the case of a 16-year-old girl who was starved to death say medics discovered her in an adult diaper lying on a bare floor. A police affidavit says it appeared Natalie Finn had been on the floor of her mother’s home “in her own waste for some time.”

The girl’s parents, 46-year-old Joseph Finn and 42-year-old Nicole Finn, are facing charges of kidnapping, neglect or abandonment and child endangerment in her death and the suspected abuse of two of Natalie’s siblings. Nicole Finn is also charged with first-degree murder.

A medical examiner found that the girl died from denial of critical care. Prosecutors say she was starved and tortured by her parents.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — Lottery officials in Iowa say a Powerball ticket worth $2 million was sold this week at a North Liberty tobacco shop — the second big-winning ticket sold in the eastern Iowa city in the last six months.

Officials say the winning ticket matched the first five numbers drawn in the Powerball game Wednesday night, which carries a $1 million prize. The ticket holder had also added an option to the ticket purchase that doubled the prize.

Had the ticket also matched the sixth, or Powerball number, the prize would have been a $123.4 million jackpot. In October, a Coralville man won a $1 million Powerball prize with a ticket he purchased at a North Liberty convenience store.

Bailey Smith

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the hiring of a new Executive Director. The Board of Directors offered the position to current Programs Director, Bailey Smith and she has accepted the position, which begins immediately.

In a press release, Chamber Board President Rob Clausen said “We are very happy to have Bailey on board as the new Executive Director.” Clausen said also, “We are confident that under her direction the Chamber will continue to thrive and serve its members.”

Smith started working at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce two years ago beginning as the Marketing and Public Relations Associate and moving up to the Programs Director a year ago. Smith says she “Spent the last two years learning from an exceptional Director who taught [her] a lot about the organization, our membership and the community.”

Bailey said she’s “Eager to dive in and continue to implement the programs and events we have in store for our membership,” and that she’s “loved working closely with our members and the community and I’m looking forward to continuing that to keep moving the organization in a positive, forward-thinking way.”

An investigation into an incident at a residence in Brayton, late Tuesday night, resulted in two arrests. 47-year old Jeffrey Allen White, Sr. and 53-year old Virginia Katherine Raysbrook, both of Brayton, were taken into custody at around 11:30-p.m., after a 9-1-1 call was received whereby a woman said she was being attacked in her home located in the 700 block of County T, in Brayton.

White was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, while Raysbrook was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were transported to the Audubon County Jail and later released, after making an appearance before a magistrate. The incident remains under investigation.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department said today (Thursday), that Detectives with the Council Bluffs Police Department have completed the investigation into a carjacking incident that allegedly occurred on March 7th, 2017.

Investigators have determined the alleged victim, 26-year old Brittnie Holz, of Council Bluffs, provided several false statements to police during interviews after the incident. The investigation further revealed that Holz knew the identity of the male party involved and that no robbery had taken place.

On Tuesday, March 14th, Holz voluntarily came to the Police Station and was issued a criminal citation for reporting false information to police. The investigation into this incident is now closed as an unfounded report.

Brittnie Holz

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club is appealing to the Iowa Supreme Court its lawsuit challenging the Dakota Access Pipeline. In documents filed Thursday, the environmental group says the Iowa Utilities Board refused to consider whether the crude oil pipeline will promote public convenience and necessity, a requirement in Iowa law.

Sierra Club attorney Wallace Taylor says the utilities board did not discuss the need for, or benefits from, the service alleged to be provided Iowans by the oil pipeline which originates in the Bakken oil fields in northwest North Dakota and carries oil underground through South Dakota, Iowa and into southern Illinois.

The Supreme Court will be asked to review the public benefits of the pipeline to Iowans. A district court judge rejected the argument in February.