DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say they have taken custody of a newborn baby under the state’s safe haven law. The state Department of Human Services said in a news release Friday that the baby boy was born at a hospital on June 14. The child’s mother immediately asked that the child be declared a safe haven baby. A court hearing to terminate parental rights will be held soon.

It is the 19th time the state has taken a child under the safe haven law, which allows parents to give up custody of babies age 14 days and younger with no questions asked. The law was approved in 2001 after an eastern Iowa teenager killed her home-delivered newborn. Officials say all previous safe haven babies have been successful adopted.

MANSON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a bicyclist has been killed in northern Iowa following a collision with a vehicle that also injured another bicyclist. The Iowa State Patrol says 47-year-old Shawn Gosch, of Onawa, was riding a bicycle Friday morning near Manson when he was hit from behind by a vehicle driven by 30-year-old Eric Meyer, of Lake View.

The collision caused the bicycle of 49-year-old Jeffrey Gray, also of Onawa, to be hit. He was thrown into a ditch. Gosch was pronounced dead at a hospital. Gray was taken to another hospital with non-life threatening injuries. It’s unclear if Meyer was hurt.

Interstate 29, is now open to traffic in southeastern South Dakota, state officials say. The interstate was closed at noon on Thursday so a levee could be constructed at Exit 4. The levee was a protective measure against rising waters of the Big Sioux River. The river crested early Friday morning below the level forecast earlier, and water didn’t reach the I-29 roadway.

Motorists are reminded there is still flooding on some state and local roads and should not drive through rushing or standing water as the roadway may be washed out underneath. Travelers are urged to visit www.safetravelusa.com/sd or call 511 to check the latest road conditions in their area

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republicans are gathering Saturday to pick a candidate to run in November for the seat of retiring Rep. Tom Latham in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. More than 500 delegates will meet at Des Moines Christian School in Urbandale to choose from the six candidates who ran in the June 3 primary but failed to reach the required 35-percent threshold.

State Sen. Brad Zaun received the most votes, ahead of businessman Robert Cramer, GOP activist Joe Granadette, Secretary of State Matt Schultz, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Director Monte Shaw and former U.S. Senate aide David Young. It’s the first congressional nominating convention in Iowa since 2002. The winner faces Democrat Staci Appel of Ackworth in the general election.

The district includes 16 counties, stretching from Des Moines to Council Bluffs.

A Shelby County Parish Picnic will be held over the next two days. The St. Mary’s Parish Picnic in Panama begins this (Friday) evening with bingo in the Panama Hall at 6pm along with the kid’s games, food stands and the beer garden opening. The big event for tonight is the live auction starting at 7pm with over 200 items up for bidding.

On Saturday, a breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 11am at the Panama Fire Hall. The always exciting creeper races begin competing at noon Saturday. Mass will be held at 4pm followed by the opening of the midway games and the food stands. A chicken supper will be served as well from 4:30 to 7pm in the Panama hall with tickets costing $12. The main attraction for the evening is live entertainment provided by Taxi Driver in the beer garden from 9pm to 1am.

Mary Ann Wingert, member of the St. Mary’s Parish Picnic Committee, says the admission gives you a chance to win money all night long, “The ticket in the drawing all you have to do is get into the gate. Pay $5 and you are automatically in the drawing. If you are there the whole evening, you could win up to $1,000 because your name stays in the basket.”

Names will be drawn every hour with the prize of $200 awarded.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)