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Prosecutor Doubts New Testimony In Mollie Tibbetts' Case

071521 404

A prosecutor today has rejected claims that the killing of  a University of Iowa student could be connected to sex trafficking and other abductions.  Mollie Tibbetts disappeared and was found murdered in rural eastern Iowa in 2018.  Cristhian Bahena Rivera was convicted for the murder earlier this year. The 27-year-old dairy farm worker testified that two masked men killed Tibbetts but forced him to dispose of her body.

Assistant attorney general Scott Brown says a man’s alleged confession that he helped kill Tibbetts after she was kidnapped and held at a house used for sex trafficking isn't credible, and there is no evidence to support the confession. 

Iowans will have a new option for preschool at no cost beginning this August. the nonprofit organization running the program is focusing on underserved populations in the state.

The early education program is run by the nonprofit Waterford-dot-org. For the first time, it’s free Waterford Upstart will be offered to 200 children in need in Iowa. Kim Fischer is the national spokesperson. She says the program focuses on Iowans who don’t have access to brick and mortar schools, and on those who don’t speak English fluently.

 “Those are the children we want to reach. So truly, it is about finding the children that don't have access and giving them this access to early education.”

Previous CDC research found Hispanic students have the lowest rates of access to in-person schools. Applications are open now for families of all backgrounds, but the spots are limited. The program will run from August through May.