Justice
Former Trump chief of staff: Feds beefing up security at statehouses, U.S. Capitol
Former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly on Tuesday said federal officials are amassing the kind of “just in case” police force they needed when riots broke out Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol, but still are concerned about the safety of the nation’s statehouses. “You can tell they’re very concerned about Inauguration Day,” […]
Zoo owner lashes out in court at ‘animal rights terrorist group’
The operator of eastern Iowa’s shuttered Cricket Hollow Zoo, facing a charge of contempt of court, lashed out Tuesday at what she has called an “animal rights terrorist group” that successfully fought to close the zoo in 2019. The testimony of Pamela Sellner of Manchester came in the fourth and final day of Sellner’s contempt-of-court […]
Far-right activists on social media telegraphed violence weeks in advance of the attack on the U.S. Capitol
The attack on the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6 was shocking, but no one following right-wing activity on social media should have been surprised. The attempt by President Donald Trump’s far-right supporters to violently stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote and formalizing Joe Biden’s election victory was consistent with their openly expressed […]
Judge: State must pay $4.9 million in legal fees tied to Eldora ‘torture’ case
Iowa taxpayers will have to pay almost $5 million in legal expenses tied to the “torture” and abuse of children housed at the state-run Boys State Training School in Eldora. U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Rose has ruled that the various advocacy groups that sued the state over conditions in the home are entitled to […]
Multiple investigations opened into the death of U.S. Capitol Police officer in pro-Trump riots
WASHINGTON — A Capitol Police officer died late Thursday from injuries he sustained while a violent mob breached the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers were set to vote to certify the presidential election results. The officer, Brian Sicknick, died at 9:30 p.m. at a local hospital, according to U.S. Capitol Police. His death is being investigated […]
Evidence of animals ‘starved to death’ presented in Cricket Hollow case
Investigators tasked with rescuing animals from eastern Iowa’s Cricket Hollow Zoo testified Thursday there was evidence of animals being starved to death or sold online in the weeks leading up to the zoo’s closure in December 2019. The testimony came in the second day of a contempt-of-court trial of the zoo’s owners, Thomas and Pamela […]
National Guard sent to D.C. as police defend response to mob takeover at Capitol
WASHINGTON — A day after a violent mob seeking to overturn the election forced its way into the U.S. Capitol, the chief of the law enforcement officers tasked with protecting that building and those who work inside said Thursday that “a thorough review” is underway of the incident and the security procedures that fell short. […]
Piles of dead animals were found at Iowa zoo, according to court testimony
An investigator tasked with rescuing animals from the shuttered Cricket Hollow Zoo in Manchester testified Wednesday that she stumbled upon “piles” of dead animals when she launched an investigation there 13 months ago. The testimony came in the first day of a contempt-of-court trial of the zoo’s owners, Thomas and Pamela Sellner of Manchester. The […]
We’re not ready to pardon mass murder, are we?
Through history, the decisions by our presidents to issue pardons and commutations have always been topics of controversy. President Gerald Ford probably torpedoed his election chances when he pardoned Richard Nixon for Nixon’s Watergate offenses. President Bill Clinton, a master of the tarnished reputation, pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton, for cocaine distribution crimes. President Jimmy […]
Judge: Trump’s order doesn’t shield Tyson from state-court claims of wrongful death
A federal judge has ruled that President Trump’s designation of meatpacking plants as “critical infrastructure” does not insulate Tyson Foods from state-court claims of wrongful death tied to the pandemic. The food giant is facing several lawsuits filed by the estates of deceased workers. Generally, those lawsuits allege fraudulent misrepresentation and gross negligence, claiming the […]
Sioux City charity fires two school-program officials, alleging misuse of taxpayer dollars
Two administrators at a Sioux City charity were fired earlier this year after being accused of misspending federal grant money. State unemployment records indicate that in May, the Siouxland Human Investment Partnership, a tax-exempt charity that provides health and education services to citizens of Woodbury County, fired two of the organization’s directors in its Beyond […]
Five things that didn’t totally suck in 2020
During a New Year’s Eve gathering last year, my friends and I merrily shredded a 2019 calendar and said good riddance. We had every reason to expect that 2020 would be a time of renewal for ourselves and our country. This year, if we get together for New Year’s, it will likely be via a […]