The onset of the novel COVID-19 pandemic forced a halt to the right to a speedy trial as well as several cases being heard throughout the county, creating a backlog of hearings for attorneys. Continue reading “IA courts working through backlog caused by COVID-19”
A black person in Iowa is seven times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than a white person, according to a new national report from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Continue reading “IA ranks 5th worst in racial disparities for arrests for marijuana possession”
The Iowa Supreme Court approved an electronic warrant pilot program in the 4th Judicial District — Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Page and Shelby counties — to develop procedures for the use of electronic search warrants. Continue reading “Iowa Approves Electronic Warrant Pilot”
As residents of in the Corridor have shifted their routines in response to social distancing guidelines and closure orders from Gov. Kim Reynolds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, area law enforcement agencies are adapting, too. Continue reading “Iowa law enforcement shifting priorities during pandemic”
As an increasing number of states have passed marijuana legalization and decriminalization laws, the American Civil Liberties Union says one thing hasn’t changed with the times: the racial disparities of marijuana arrests. Continue reading “IA ranks 5th worst state in racial disparities for marijuana arrests”
The Iowa Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would toughen penalties for animal abuse, neglect and torture in an effort to strengthen Iowa’s animal welfare laws that are weaker than other states.
Continue reading “IA passes bill increasing penalties for animal abuse”
Des Moines (KWWL) — An Iowa State Senator and State Representative have introduced bills to stop the practice of suspending driver’s licenses or traveling privileges for unpaid child support. Continue reading “IA proposes bills to stop suspending licenses for unpaid child support”
The Iowa legislature has introduced a bill, SF 459, to allow employees and volunteers who have carry permits, to keep firearms in their locked vehicle, in parking lots, even if the employer forbids firearms on their property. The bill passed out of the Senate subcommittee on 23 January 2020. Continue reading “Iowa Bill to Keep Guns in Locked Vehicles Advances”
With the first nominating contest of the 2020 election a day away, Democratic voters here are voicing frustration that their first-in-the-nation caucus state is the only one that still outright bans former felons from voting without prior approval from the governor. Continue reading “Iowa still bars felons and ex-felons from voting”
In 2016, the Iowa Legislature unanimously passed an invasion of privacy bill that protected victims of peeping toms. However, their work is far from done, because this bill only provided changes to the Iowa law on trespassing. But a great deal of peeping-tom cases don’t involve trespass and are instead prosecuted under the law for invasion of privacy. Continue reading “Change to ‘invasion of privacy’ law is needed to protect victims”