Iowa

Iowa Advocates Rally to Enforce Hands-Free Driving Legislation, Prioritizing Road Safety

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DES MOINES, Iowa – Advocates in Iowa are persisting in their efforts to establish a hands-free driving law in the state. The proposed law seeks to require drivers to use hands-free devices or voice-activated technology while using their phones on the road. Supporters argue that this legislation would enhance road safety by reducing distractions caused by phone usage. Numerous states across the United States have already implemented similar laws, with success in curbing distracted driving. Iowa advocates are therefore advocating for the adoption of this legislation to align with neighboring states and promote safer driving … Read more

Iowa Teacher Fights Back Against Controversial Book Ban Law, Seeks Guidance for Inclusive Education

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Des Moines, Iowa – A special education teacher in Des Moines Public Schools has expressed concerns over the removal of books from his classroom due to a new state education law. Dan Gutmann, along with several other plaintiffs, has filed a lawsuit against the state over the law, which restricts instruction and curriculum relating to gender identity and sexual orientation for students up to sixth grade. The law also bans books that depict sex acts. While a federal judge has temporarily blocked the enforcement of major portions of the law, Gutmann and other educators still … Read more

Lawsuit Claims Insurance Company Orchestrated Record Medical Malpractice Judgment to Influence Iowa Tort Reform

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – An insurance company is facing a lawsuit alleging that it orchestrated a record medical malpractice judgment in Iowa to influence state legislators to pass tort-reform legislation. In March 2022, a jury in Johnson County awarded over $97.4 million to the family of a boy who suffered severe brain damage during birth at an Iowa City hospital. Although the judgment was later reduced to $75.6 million, it is believed to be the largest medical malpractice verdict in Iowa’s history. The lawsuit was filed by the boy’s parents, Kathleen and Andrew Kromphardt, against … Read more

Iowa Attorney General Appeals Federal Court Decision on Law Banning Explicit Books from School Libraries

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DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird has filed an appeal against a federal district court’s decision to halt the implementation of a law that bans certain books from school libraries. The law, signed last year, prohibits books with depictions or descriptions of a list of sex acts from being accessible to students. Bird expressed her commitment to protecting the innocence of children and maintaining safe learning environments in schools. The appeal aims to uphold Iowa’s law and defend the interests of Iowa families in court. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) … Read more