The 2017 session of the Iowa Legislature has been focused more on government secrecy than any session in many years. Lawmakers have been moving to make Iowa’s casinos subject to less public scrutiny. Lawmakers are moving to cut off public access to … Continue Reading
By Jason Clayworth Des Moines Register Iowa would make the names of public volunteers confidential under a fast-moving bill that critics warn could protect pedophiles and other criminals who are found working for government and public institutions in nonpaying positions, … Continue Reading
Reporters who cover Iowa courts have a new resource that will help them access electronic court records. The new resource is a guide for using the Iowa Court Information System (ICIS), a computer program created when the Iowa Judicial Branch … Continue Reading
By Rox Laird On Brief: Iowa’s Appellate Blog In December the Iowa Court of Appeals ruled that the Harrison County Board of Supervisors violated the Iowa open meetings law. Last week, the Iowa Supreme Court declined to review the lower court’s … Continue Reading
By Carol Hunter Des Moines Register executive editor Casino gambling is not just any business. Last year, gamblers plunked $13.7 billion into slot machines in Iowa, and casinos kept $1.3 billion of that. Iowans know that because the Iowa Racing and … Continue Reading
By Kim Norvell Des Moines Register West Des Moines’ city manager circumvented the “intent of the open meetings law” when he called City Council members to gauge where they stand on a controversial Statehouse bill that would dismantle water utility boards, according to … Continue Reading
The most popular guide to Iowa’s public meetings and public records law has been updated for 2017 and is now available for purchase. The Iowa Open Meetings, Open Records Handbook is published by the Iowa Freedom of Information Council and … Continue Reading
District Judge Steven J. Adreasen issued an order on Friday, Feb. 24, directing the county hospital in Denison to release the settlement agreement that ended a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital. The order came after a court hearing requested … Continue Reading
Lynn Hicks, the opinion editor of The Des Moines Register, will become president of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council for 2017. He replaces Dave Busiek, news director of KCCI-TV in Des Moines. Zack Kucharski, executive editor of the Cedar … Continue Reading
By BRET HAYWORTH Sioux City Journal A state trooper used the barrel of his rifle to poke a suspect in the shoulder blade to subdue him at the end of a police chase in rural Plymouth County 18 months ago, … Continue Reading