Capitol Notebook: 2 infants surrendered under Iowa Safe Haven Law in May

Two infants born in May in Iowa are now in the state’s custody through the Safe Haven Law, the state reported this week.

A baby girl born May 15 and a baby boy born May 26 are in the care and custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and will be placed with a foster family until a permanent placement is determined, the state said.

More than 70 infants have been taken in by the state and placed in permanent homes since the Iowa’s Safe Haven Law went into effect more than two decades ago, according to the Health and Human Services Department.

The law provides an option for parents in crisis who determine they cannot care for an infant up to 90 days old to surrender the child at designated locations like hospitals and fire stations.

There have been three uses of the Safe Haven Law this year; there were 10 infants relinquished to the state in 2023, according to the department.

2 more dairy herds hit by bird flu

The avian influenza has been detected in two dairy herds in Northwest Iowa, agricultural officials announced.

One herd each were infected in Plymouth and Sioux counties.

The latest bird flu outbreak has now infected five dairy cattle herds in Iowa, according to tracking information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Animal food products — like poultry, eggs and pasteurized milk — remain safe to eat and drink, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Meat products from infected cattle herds also are safe, provided they are properly cooked, officials say.

Disaster declarations expanded

Northwestern Iowa’s Monona and Woodbury counties have been added to disaster declarations from Gov. Kim Reynolds in response to severe weather on June 12 and June 13, Reynolds’ office announced.

The proclamation allows residents in the two counties to access state resources for response and recovery efforts.

Iowa insurance agent sentenced

An insurance agent from Clive was sentenced to 18.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, the Iowa Insurance Division announced.

Zachary Flaherty, 48, was charged by a federal grand jury with using his position as an insurance agent to defraud seniors’ retirement savings and other finances, according to the division. The state division’s Fraud Bureau joined with the FBI on the investigation.

The division revoked Flaherty’s license in March 2023.

Flaherty was ordered to pay more than $44,500 in restitution, which the division distributed to two Iowa consumers impacted by Flaherty’s misconduct, according to the division.

District associated judge appointed

Susan Cole, of Moravia, was appointed as a district associate judge in Southern Iowa by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the governor’s office announced.

Cole will serve in Iowa Judicial District 8A, which covers Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek, Van Buren, Wapello and Washington counties.

Cole is the Appanoose County attorney. She received her undergraduate and law degrees from Drake University.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

Get the latest Iowa politics and government coverage each morning in the On Iowa Politics newsletter.