Des Moines Register Charlie Smithson, the director of the Iowa Public Information Board, has resigned to become secretary of the Iowa Senate. Smithson announced his resignation, effective Dec. 1, in an email to the board’s nine members last week. The … Continue Reading
This editorial appeared in The Des Moines Register on Dec. 2, 2016: Shaun LaDue is no longer West Des Moines’ police chief. He has resigned in the wake of three former employees accusing him of sexual discrimination — claims … Continue Reading
Emily Boster, a reporter for KIMT-TV in Mason City, has been appointed by the Iowa Supreme Court to serve as the Region 3 media coordinator for Iowa’s Expanded News Media Coverage program, which allows journalists to use cameras, audio recorders, computers … Continue Reading
Associated Press An auditor has examined Iowa State University President Steven Leath’s log book detailing when and where he has flown planes in recent years. The Iowa Board of Regents is auditing flights taken by Leath, following a damaging hard … Continue Reading
The Iowa Department of Public Health is ending its efforts to stop newspapers from publishing information contained in vital records — birth certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees and marriage licenses — that are filed with Iowa’s county recorders. The unprecedented … Continue Reading
By Jason Clayworth Des Moines Register Doug Krejci’s effort to use the University of Iowa’s 2008 flood footage for an upcoming documentary is being blocked by state officials who say copyright overrides public records. The rare argument, if successful, could … Continue Reading
The Iowa Freedom of Information Council believes that law enforcement agencies in Iowa are undermining public respect and confidence in the agencies by prohibiting people from obtaining police video of encounters with the public. This Des Moines Register article involves one such … Continue Reading
By Kathy A. Bolten Des Moines Register Iowa State University campus police began wearing body cameras this summer, the last of the state’s three public universities to use the devices. The public, though, is not privy to rules that govern how those body … Continue Reading
Des Moines Register An Iowa lawmaker is questioning the legality of $1 million in confidential settlements paid to former directors of the Iowa State Foundation. “Here we go again,” said Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, who is drafting legislation to require greater … Continue Reading
The Iowa Freedom of Information Council recently honored two Iowa newspaper editors with the council’s Harrison “Skip” Weber Friend of the First Amendment award. Steve Delaney of the Burlington Hawk Eye and Art Cullen of the Storm Lake Times were … Continue Reading