(Des Moines, IA) – Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) officials today (Wednesday) said they have used the state’s safe haven procedure for the 44th time since the law went into effect. A baby boy, born June 5, was released to the custody of DHS. Specific details are withheld in order to protect the identity of the parents and the children. Through Iowa’s Safe Haven law, parents, or their authorized representative, can leave infants age 30 days or younger at a hospital or health care facility without fear of prosecution for abandonment.

“The purpose of this law is to protect the lives of newborns who are in danger of abandonment,” said Janee Harvey, DHS Division Administrator of Adult, Children and Family Services. “We want to ensure Iowans know that Safe Haven is an available option if they cannot care for their newborn safely. We recognize that these decisions are often made in the midst of crisis and the protocols are built accordingly.” Safe Haven prioritizes the health and physical safety of the infant(s), as well as the anonymity of the parent or authorized individual who relinquishes custody of the child.

The Safe Haven law was approved in the wake of a high-profile case in 2001 involving a teen mother in eastern Iowa who killed her home-delivered newborn. Infants who are safe haven babies are placed with currently-approved foster or adoptive families. All states have Safe Haven laws, although provisions differ.

If you are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please visit www.iowafosterandadoption.org.

For more information on the Safe Haven procedure: http://dhs.iowa.gov/safe-haven

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Senate Democrats are calling for Gov. Kim Reynolds to quickly sign an executive order allowing felons to vote once they have completed their sentences. But voting right experts say the details of her directive are just as important as the timing of her action. In a letter sent Wednesday, the 18 Democratic senators asked Reynolds to sign an order without exceptions or limitations by Independence Day.

That would end Iowa’s status as the only state that disenfranchises all felons. Experts on voting rights and racial disparities said the way she frames the order will significantly impact the number of felons who will register and vote.

The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee (CPC) met Tuesday evening (June23rd), to discuss the City’s Code of Ordinances with regard to: Truck and Large Vehicle Parking; Parking for Personal Vehicles, and, the Zoning Code pertaining to the location of boats, boat trailers, campers and travel trailers. City/Zoning Administrator John Lund told KJAN News their recommendation to the full City Council during their next regular meeting, will be to allow parking of boats, boat trailers, campers, RV’s, etc. on a property owner’s front yard, but with some stipulations.

An “improved surface” includes grass, all gravel or limestone. Owners of corner lots will need to check with the Atlantic Police Department to make sure your camper, etc., isn’t creating a visual hazard for motorists. The CPC voted to repeal a redundant section of the Zoning Ordinance that addresses those issues.

Lund says the CPC discussed requiring property owners to park their vehicles and other such large items on a concrete, asphalt or limestone, but there wasn’t a lot of support for that.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $809,000 in restitution for Medicare fraud he conducted in 16 states. Federal prosecutors say Nereus Sutko visited assisted-living facilities, retirement centers and low-income housing complexes in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and 12 other states. Prosecutors say he held pizza and ice cream parties at the facilities and convinced elderly people to sign up for Medicare-funded products he never delivered. Prosecutors say Sutko was paid more than $1.8 million by Medicare, Nebraska Medicaid and Iowa Medicaid, much of it based on fraudulent claims. Sutko pleaded guilty in December to health care fraud.

In an update to our report last week about a winning Lucky for Life ticket sold in Atlantic, officials with the Heritage House in Atlantic announced on their social media page one of their team members, Delbert Littleton, of Atlantic, was the person holding the lucky ticket. He purchased his winning ticket at the Casey’s central store in Atlantic on June 12th for the June 15th drawing, and won a prize of $25,000 per year for life. He elected to take the cash payout option for $390,000 before taxes, or about $277,000 after taxes.

Delbert Littleton (Heritage House Facebook photo)

He’s indicated he and wife will split the prize money. He says they will purchase a new car, sell their old house and buy a new one, and invest whatever is left over. Littleton works as a housekeeper at Heritage House.