Detention officer Mario Rocha pleaded guilty to passing an envelope containing synthetic drug K2 to a Polk County detainee.

Juliann Van Liew, currently a director with the Iowa Department of Human Services, has been named Polk County Health Department’s director. Van Liew, who will be paid $150,260 annually, begins her new position on Dec.

The new director will begin her role on Dec. 18, training with Director Helen Eddy until Eddy's retirement in January.