Safe Haven Baby
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say another newborn has been turned over to state custody under Iowa’s safe haven law.
The Iowa Human Services Department said in a news release Friday the infant was born April 10 and released to state custody the next day. The department didn’t say where the birth took place.
It’s the 27th time the law has been used to protect the welfare of an infant since the law was approved following a 2001 case, in which a teenage mother in eastern Iowa killed her home-delivered newborn.
The law lets parents hand over custody of babies up to 14 days old without fear of prosecution.
Des Moines Development Group To Restore Train Depot
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A group is scrambling to raise money to buy and restore a historic train depot in a quickly developing area of Des Moines with hopes of turning the 108-year-old structure into event space and a local museum.
The Des Moines Register reports the group, called the Des Moines Heritage Trust, must raise $500,000 by the end of June to purchase the building.
The city of Des Moines has agreed to give a $250,000 grant, and Polk County has pledged a $150,000 grant. The group is planning to seek private donations for the remaining $100,000.
The property’s renovation is expected to cost $3.5 million. The group’s vice chairman, Tim Waddell, says he plans to spend 2017 raising money for the project and hopes to begin construction in 2018.
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Sioux City School Board Investigates Superintendent
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Sioux City school board is investigating allegations against the district superintendent that were raised by the district budget director before he was ousted.
Board President Mike Krysl told the Sioux City Journal earlier this week that the board “is undertaking an investigation that we think is an appropriate follow-up to the allegations that were raised.”
The board approved a resignation package April 10 for budget director John Chalstrom, who’d been placed on leave Feb. 13. Chalstrom had accused Superintendent Paul Gausman of being a bully and creating a hostile workplace and threatening Chalstrom’s job if he shared alternative budget options with school board members outside regular board meetings.
Gausman has denied Chalstrom’s assertions.
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Fire Claims Life Of Chelsea Woman
CHELSEA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a woman has died after a fire at her home in central Iowa.
Poweshiek (pow-eh-SHEEK’) County officials say 56-year-old Catherine Foster died after firefighters found her inside the residence a little more than 2 miles (3 kilometers) south of Haven. They’d been dispatched around 11:15 a.m. Thursday.
The fire cause is being investigated.
