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Judge: Sheriff’s secretary violated citizens’ privacy for her own entertainment

A secretary for the Linn County Sheriff’s Department violated the privacy of “innumerable” citizens while searching for entertainment in the trauma of others, an Iowa judge has ruled. The decision comes in the unemployment-benefits case of Shelby Burns, who was […]

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Election 2022: Public Measure 1 would eliminate ‘current and future common-sense gun laws’

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks was blunt in his assessment of Public Measure 1, which would amend the Iowa Constitution in a way that would stop most attempts to regulate guns in the state. “This amendment is a wolf in […]

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Drop off old or unwanted prescription drugs as part of Take Back Day on Saturday

Law enforcement agencies in Johnson and Linn counties are again partnering with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for this year’s nationwide Take Back Day. Individuals with expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs can use the agency’s online search tool to […]

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Amid protests and change, Iowa police training on implicit bias varies

By Danielle Gehr, IowaWatch In 2015, the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy lacked training on implicit bias. As a cadet there then, Natasha Greene sought discussions on her own about some of the mistaken beliefs officers might hold of others, such […]

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COVID-19: Another 667 cases in Iowa as public health experts call for statewide mask mandate

During the 24-hour period that ended at 10 a.m. on Saturday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 667 confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing to the total number of Iowans who have tested positive for the virus to 41,627. […]

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First inmate at Linn County jail tests positive for COVID-19 (Updated)

A person being held in the Linn County Correctional Center has tested positive for COVID-19, the Sheriff’s Department announced on Thursday. The individual has been in custody at the jail since July 15 on a hold order from U.S. Immigration […]

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‘How we treat the formerly incarcerated doesn’t rank very high in the minds of most folks’: With COVID-19, the fight against recidivism in Iowa is even more urgent

Eddie Walker was released from prison last June after being incarcerated for 18 years for a robbery charge. Now living in Iowa City, Walker recalled the arduous process of finding an apartment after his release; in one instance, he was […]

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‘I need him alive’: Eastern Iowa advocates, families call for the release of men detained by ICE in Linn County jail over concerns of COVID-19

Immigrant rights advocates in eastern Iowa are calling for the release of three Guatemalan men who were detained by immigration officials on March 4 in Cedar Rapids and Marion. During a press conference in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday afternoon, members […]

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Deputy sheriff assigned to Linn County jail has tested positive for COVID-19

A deputy sheriff assigned to the Linn County Correctional Center has tested positive for COVID-19. The deputy sheriff last worked the evening shift on Thursday, April 16, and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office learned of the positive test on Sunday, […]

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Linn County Sheriff’s Office collected 42 pounds of prescription drugs during Take Back Day

This past Saturday, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office collected 42 pounds of prescription drugs as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Take Back Day. The sheriff’s office had three collection sites where people could anonymously drop off expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs. People were also able to drop off e-cigarettes and vaping devices. […]

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Investigation finds deputy was harassed by coworkers at the Linn County Jail over parental leave

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner announced on Wednesday he is taking disciplinary actions against a group of sheriff’s office employees for harassing a deputy. The actions are the result of a two-month-long investigation into behavior at the Linn County Correctional Center. […]

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