The State of Iowa has agreed to delay next month’s planned enforcement of a new law restricting the sale of vaping products. The new law stipulates that electronic nicotine delivery systems — more commonly known as electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vaping products — sold in Iowa must have received marketing authorization from the Food and […]
Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch
Posted inCommunity/News
Sheriff vows to pursue ethics complaint against lieutenant governor
The Scott County sheriff says although an Iowa Senate committee has rejected his ethics complaint against the state’s new lieutenant governor, he intends to pursue the matter. On Dec. 16, Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane filed a sworn ethics complaint against Chris Cournoyer, a former Iowa state senator from LeClaire, with the Iowa Senate Ethics […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Insurer rejects liability claim of man accused of sexual assault at UI frat house
An insurance company is asking a federal judge to weigh in on its refusal to cover the liability claim of a man accused of sexual assault at a University of Iowa fraternity house. Allied Property and Casualty has filed court papers in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, seeking a declaratory judgment […]
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Iowa, 19 other states sue feds to block staffing mandates for nursing homes
The state of Iowa, where nursing homes have compiled one of the nation’s worst records for staffing-level violations, has joined 19 other states in suing the Biden administration to block the implementation of new staffing requirements. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, seeks to overturn the nursing home […]
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Iowa Utilities Commission issues pipeline permit for Summit Carbon Solutions
The Iowa Utilities Commission has issued a construction permit for Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed hazardous liquid pipeline across Iowa. The commission’s decision on Wednesday was not unexpected given a June 25 order in which the panel issued a final decision approving the project while requiring Summit Carbon to submit numerous filings demonstrating compliance with regulatory […]
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Former Iowa City officer alleges discrimination in excessive force cases
A former Iowa City police officer is suing the city, alleging racial discrimination related to excessive-force complaints. Emilio M. Puente is seeking unspecified damages for alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. According to the lawsuit, the Iowa City Police Department hired Puente in April […]
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Iowa’s licensing boards close access to information on misconduct charges against health professionals
The state of Iowa says it will not necessarily disclose to the public the rationale for disciplinary charges against licensed professionals such as physicians, nurses, therapists and nursing home administrators. The determining factor appears to be whether the state’s licensing boards choose to include the allegations within the text of a final order in a […]
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Iowa Utilities Board approves permit for controversial Summit pipeline
The Iowa Utilities Board gave its approval Tuesday for the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, and for the company to use eminent domain to acquire landowners’ property. The company hopes to begin construction next year with the goal of making the pipeline operational in 2026. The pipeline, which would be the largest of its kind […]
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Iowa-based beverage companies sue the state over new THC limits
Two Iowa companies are suing the state over its interpretation of a new law that restricts THC levels in adult beverages. Climbing Kites, a Polk County beverage manufacturer, and Field Day Brewing Co., the Johnson County producer of the Day Dreamer line of cannabis sparkling water, are suing the Iowa Department of Health and Human […]
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Judge holds Iowa DOC in contempt for denying incarcerated plaintiffs access to reading material containing nudity amid lawsuit
Remarking that it’s not feasible to jail the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) for deliberately violating a court order, a Polk County judge has fined the agency $1,500 for contempt of court. The penalty stems from a lawsuit that 13 prison inmates, then housed at Anamosa State Penitentiary, filed against the DOC in 2018. The […]
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Lawmakers express outrage over City of Davenport’s ‘disgraceful’ actions
The Iowa House Committee on Government Oversight held a rare meeting Wednesday to discuss the City of Davenport’s refusal to disclose information tied to $1.9 million in settlements paid to former city employees. The city is opposing a subpoena that Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand has issued for records related to settlements with the […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
Davenport takes state auditor to court over subpoenaed tapes as he investigates taxpayer-funded settlements
The City of Davenport is taking the state auditor to court over an investigation into $1.9 million in settlements paid out to former city employees. The city is opposing a subpoena that Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand has issued for records related to conversations that Davenport city officials had with staff attorneys and contracted […]
