Justice
Judge allows governor’s order delaying ‘nonessential’ abortions
A district court judge on Wednesday let stand the governor’s emergency proclamation halting surgical abortions after the state clarified its intention is to delay only “nonessential” abortions. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued an order March 26 that temporarily suspended “nonessential” surgeries and procedures “that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health […]
PR firm sued for defamation in long-running court fight
An eight-year, million-dollar legal battle involving stolen seed corn, fraud and claims of racketeering and bribery has resulted in a new round of litigation in Polk County District Court. Just six weeks ago, a series of long-running court battles involving one of Iowa’s largest farm cooperatives appeared to have finally drawn to a close. Since […]
Iowa youth in group homes face high risk of infection, advocates say
The state of Iowa isn’t doing enough to protect children in the juvenile-justice and child-welfare systems from COVID-19, advocacy groups say. Disability Rights Iowa and Drake University’s Center for Children’s Rights have written to Gov. Kim Reynolds and other state officials to share their concerns about the safety of Iowa youth now living in detention […]
Federal judge says state ‘tortures’ children at Eldora home
A federal judge issued a strongly worded rebuke to Iowa state officials Tuesday, saying they were “torturing” the youth housed at the Boys State Training School in Eldora. In a 116-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose held the state liable for violating the constitutional rights of children at the school, which houses troubled youth […]
Governor’s temporary abortion ban triggers lawsuit
The ACLU of Iowa, along with Planned Parenthood and the Emma Goldman Clinic, are suing Gov. Kim Reynolds and other state officials for blocking access to surgical abortion services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit alleges Reynolds’ action “flagrantly defies clear and binding constitutional precedent recognizing that patients have a protected liberty interest in terminating […]
Iowa attorney general urges online retailers to curb price-gouging
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is urging Amazon, Facebook, Ebay, Walmart and Craiglist to improve their monitoring of online sellers who may be gouging prices during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Iowans struggle to find household goods like toilet paper, cleaning products and hand sanitizer in stores, some online sellers are taking advantage of the scarcities […]
Lawsuit: Iowa’s biggest credit union is charging improper fees
Iowa’s largest credit union is facing a potential class-action lawsuit alleging it has collected millions of dollars in improper overdraft fees. The lawsuit, filed in Johnson County District Court, seeks class-action status and unspecified damages from GreenState Credit Union, which has more than $5 billion in assets and branches throughout Iowa. The credit union has […]
Iowa’s prisons will accelerate release of approved inmates to mitigate COVID-19
From school districts to workplaces to restaurants, Iowans across the state are shutting their doors and keeping to themselves to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. But for inmates in Iowa’s jail and prisons, social distancing is not an option. The close quarters and transient influx of new people behind bars creates a precarious situation where […]
GOP ‘tough on crime’ messaging misses the point of voting restoration
“If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” Republicans in the Iowa Statehouse have been channeling Robert Blake of the 1970s TV cop show, “Baretta,” every time a Democrat raises concerns about the inequities in their approach to voting-rights restoration for people who have served their sentences for felony charges. “Behind every felony, […]
Iowa Judicial Branch sets rules for coronavirus response
Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen has issued an order governing how the courts will operate amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus that’s currently spreading in the United States and in many countries around the world. “Preparation is key to minimizing coronavirus/COVID-19 impact on the services the judicial branch provides Iowans,” […]
Coronavirus in Iowa: News roundup
Governor’s office reports 14th Iowa coronavirus case Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office on Wedneday reported a 14th case of coronavirus in the state, just one more than was reported on Tuesday. An additional 21 tests were negative. The newest case is an adult between 61 and 80 years old from Johnson County, who was part of […]
Which felons get to vote? Republicans and Democrats argue exemptions
To ultimately pass a constitutional amendment granting felons the automatic right to vote, Republican legislators argue lawmakers must first pass a bill that continues to exempt some felons from voting restoration. But it’s a measure that will continue to unequally disenfranchise felons who have served their time, Democrats and religious organizations argued during a House […]