Author

Clark Kauffman

Clark Kauffman

Deputy Editor Clark Kauffman has worked during the past 30 years as both an investigative reporter and editorial writer at two of Iowa’s largest newspapers, the Des Moines Register and the Quad-City Times. He has won numerous state and national awards for reporting and editorial writing.

Evel Knievel display triggers lawsuit against Iowa museum

By: - April 19, 2023

Iowa’s National Motorcycle Museum is being sued over its display and sale of Evel Knievel memorabilia. K&K Promotions, a Las Vegas, Nevada, company that owns the rights to the likeness, brand and intellectual property of the late motorcycle daredevil and stunt driver, Evel Knievel, is suing the Anamosa-based National Motorcycle Museum in U.S. District Court […]

Doctor sues hospital, accusing executives of discrimination and pushing employees to vote for Trump

By: - April 19, 2023

An Iowa physician claims in a lawsuit that she was fired from a public hospital by administrators who encouraged employees to vote for Donald Trump and discriminated against those who didn’t share their religious beliefs. Dr. Amanda Moreno alleges in her lawsuit that while working for Mahaska County’s public hospital in Oskaloosa, she was “harassed, […]

Prison nurse accused of giving drugs to an inmate she romanced

By: - April 18, 2023

A former prison nurse accused of supplying drugs to an inmate with whom she had a romantic relationship has agreed to surrender her license. Dori Dreckmeier of West Burlington was a licensed practical nurse who worked last year at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, according to state records. In January, the Iowa Board […]

Intruder found partially undressed in bed with nursing home resident, police allege

By: - April 17, 2023

Police say an intruder entered an eastern Iowa nursing home two weeks ago and was later found partially undressed and in bed with a female resident of the home. According to West Branch police, officers were summoned to Crestview Specialty Care shortly before 3 p.m. on April 5 about the possible abuse of a resident. […]

Animal-welfare group calls for criminal charges against Lee County puppy mill

By: - April 17, 2023

Animal welfare advocates are asking Lee County officials to consider filing criminal charges against one of Iowa’s largest dog breeders. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended the breeder’s license of Steve Kruse, whose Stonehenge Kennels is located at 2345 Highway 16 in West Point. In its notice to Kruse, the USDA said […]

Restaurant inspection update: Dead rodents, yellow slime and dodgy hotdogs

By: - April 14, 2023

State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past four weeks, including dead rodents, moldy cheese, and six-week-old hotdogs. The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. Listed below are some of the […]

Abuse findings in Iowa care facilities result in fines of $325 to $500

By: - April 13, 2023

Iowa nursing homes and care centers are routinely fined as little as $325 for regulatory violations related to the physical and verbal abuse of residents. While many other types of nursing home violations trigger federal fines that can lead to penalties of up to $10,000, resident abuse violations are often subject to a state fine […]

Reynolds was in Supreme Court’s secure office area prior to oral arguments on abortion case

By: - April 12, 2023

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, the lead plaintiff in an abortion case now before the Iowa Supreme Court, attended Tuesday’s oral arguments after bypassing the public entrance to the Judicial Branch Building and entering the secure area where the justices maintain their private offices. On Wednesday, Molly Kettmeyer, the counsel to Iowa Supreme Court’s chief justice, […]

USDA suspends license of major Iowa dog breeder with a history of violations

By: - April 12, 2023

Federal officials have suspended the license of a major Iowa dog breeder with a long history of regulatory violations. Steve Kruse, whose Stonehenge Kennels is located at 2345 Highway 16 in West Point, was notified March 30 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture was suspending his license for 21 days. In its notice to Kruse, […]

Justices hear arguments in long-running whistleblower case

By: - April 11, 2023

The Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in the long-running case involving a former Division of Criminal Investigation agent who allegedly blew the whistle on a speeding SUV that was carrying then-Gov. Terry Branstad. On April 26, 2013, DCI Agent Larry Hedlund was headed west on U.S 20 when he called a law enforcement dispatcher […]

Iowa Supreme Courts hears latest arguments over 2018 ‘fetal heartbeat’ bill

By: - April 11, 2023

The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday as to whether the court should continue to prevent the state from enforcing the so-called “fetal heartbeat” abortion ban. Five years ago, Iowa lawmakers approved a bill that seeks to ban most abortions after cardiac impulses can be detected in an embryo, which typically occurs about six […]

Iowa women sue airline over lost and damaged wheelchairs

By: - April 10, 2023

Two Iowa women who say their wheelchairs were temporarily lost and damaged by American Airlines on a trip to Texas last year are suing the airline. Court records indicate Harlee Drury, 29, of Marshalltown, and Heather Reimers, 29, of Des Moines, flew from Des Moines to Houston, Texas, last September with a friend, Brianna Boner. […]