Iowa News

LIBERAL LAW SCHOOL?        Scholar embroiled in U. Iowa lawsuit arrested        IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A scholar embroiled in a lawsuit with the University of Iowa has been arrested for drunken driving.        The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports Teresa Wagner was arrested Monday night after authorities found her inside a parked vehicle. She told police she had driven a short distance.        Police say Wagner failed field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test showed her blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit. She faces a drunken driving charge.        Wagner filed a lawsuit against the University of Iowa in 2009, claiming she was passed up for jobs because of her conservative views.        Wagner is seeking another trial after a federal jury found the university did not discriminate against her. The jury declared a mistrial on the second count after failing to reach a verdict.

COUNTY RECORDER-CHARGES        Iowa county recorder accused of stealing money        WAVERLY, Iowa (AP) – A county recorder in northeast Iowa has been accused of stealing office funds.        The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation arrested Bremer County Recorder Donna Ellison on Tuesday. She has been charged with a felony count of misconduct in office and third-degree theft.        Authorities say Ellison took more than $500 from office funds between May and February. Investigators also say she altered records to disguise her activity.        The 59-year-old Ellison has been Bremer County’s recorder since 1995. The office retains files on deeds, mortgages, contracts and other miscellaneous documents.        Court records to not list an attorney for Ellison.

SIOUX CITY-FIREFIGHTERS        Sioux City OKs 3-year contract with firefighters        SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City has approved a three-year contract with its firefighters.        The Sioux City Journal reports the City Council unanimously approved on Monday the contract with Sioux City Firefighters Association Local 7.        Under the agreement, firefighters will receive a 1.25 percent raise the first year, a 1.75 percent raise the second year and a 2.25 percent raise the third year. That’s lower increases than the current agreement.        Firefighters have agreed to the contract, which requires them to pay more for health insurance and maximum out-of-pocket medical costs. Firefighters also would fund a post-employment health plan.        The council has ratified contracts with two American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees unions. The city is still in contract negotiations with police, library and transit unions.

OTTUMWA-TRANSIT AUDIT        Trial delayed for former leader of Ottumwa transit        OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) – A trial for the former director of the Ottumwa Transit Authority has been delayed.        The Ottumwa Courier reports Pam Ward’s trial has been rescheduled to start in June instead of March. Her attorneys say they need more time to review documents related to the case.        Ward faces four counts of making false statement to the federal government. She is accused of making false statements on grant applications while leading the department. A state audit says the agency inflated passenger numbers by an estimated 50 percent.        Ward was fired from her job in May 2011.        Her attorney did not immediately return a call Tuesday.

IOWA VOTING RULES        Iowa House committee takes up voter ID bill        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Speakers at a legislative hearing criticized a bill backed by Secretary of State Matt Schultz that would require voters to show photo identification at polling places.        Schultz has filed identical bills in the House and Senate, and Tuesday’s House hearing was the first time this session lawmakers have taken testimony on the proposal.        Members of the Iowa League of Women Voters told lawmakers a photo ID requirement would disenfranchise voters who don’t have required documents. They also say the rules could slow vote-counting.        Schultz, a Republican, has made voter ID one of his key issues. GOP lawmakers largely support him, saying identification is needed to prevent fraud. Democrats say there is little fraud and claim Republicans want to discourage voting by minorities and the elderly, who tend to favor Democrats.

IMMIGRANT DRIVER LICENSES        100 licenses granted in wake of immigrant policy        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Within a week of Iowa officials declaring in January that driver’s licenses would be granted to young illegal immigrants granted temporary residency, about 100 new licenses and identification cards had been issued.        The state Department of Transportation says that those licenses and cards were granted between Jan. 23 and Jan. 31. Another 40 licenses issued to these temporary residents before the ban was announced in December were not revoked.        After the federal government announced last month that those who qualify for President Barack Obama’s deferred-action program should be considered legal residents, state officials reversed course and decided to issue licenses to those young people.        Immigration activists say more licenses will likely be issued as people are accepted into the deferred-action program, a process that can take months.

GUN PRIVACY-IOWA        Iowa lawmaker wants gun permit info to be private        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The names of Iowans with permits to acquire or carry guns would become private information under legislation proposed by a Republican lawmaker.        Rep. Matt Windschitl, of Missouri Valley, sponsored the bill, which was debated by a House subcommittee Tuesday. Currently the names of permit holders are a public record.        Windschitl says he was concerned that public permit information could put Iowans in danger by leading criminals to guns or giving them information to target homes without guns.        The state Department of Public Safety says about 144,000 Iowans have permits to carry a firearm. Statewide data was not available on the number of permits issued annually to allow people to buy handguns.        A lobbyist for the Iowa Newspaper Association argued against the measure, saying that government actions should be publicized.

 

Admin Log In