Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird touts her support for law enforcement and former President Trump, while Democrat Nate Willems says the office should focus less on political lawsuits and more on wage theft, consumer protection and ordinary Iowans.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Iowa U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks for re-election in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, praising her as a “strong advocate” for Iowa and giving her his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” The backing bolsters Miller-Meeks as she faces a potential GOP primary challenge and another tough general election in one of the nation’s most competitive House races.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is calling for a federal investigation into refineries she says may be exploiting renewable fuel exemptions, while thousands of Iowa seniors are being urged to review their Medicare coverage amid plan cancellations and new drug pricing rules taking effect next year.
The law, which remains blocked, would make it a state crime for an individual to enter or be found in Iowa if that individual has previously been denied admission to or been deported from the United States.
A new legal challenge in Iowa argues that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and a meatpacking company coordinated behind the scenes to keep details of a “sweetheart deal” settlement from the public. The settlement between the state and meatpacker Agri Star Meat and Poultry LLC included an agreement by the company to pay a $50,000 fine for around 60 water pollution violations — an amount equivalent to one day of intentional Clean Water Act violations.
The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case to determine whether state courts can bill low-income Iowans for the cost of their court-appointed defense attorney when criminal charges against the person have been dismissed.
Also, Iowa auditor’s office earns top rating in external review
“Senator Claire Celsi, our beloved wife, sister, mom, and grandma, has entered hospice care. Our family asks that you please respect our privacy during this difficult time,” Celsi’s family said in a statement issued through the Iowa Senate Democrats’ caucus spokesman.
The DNA tissue sample taken from a baby left in an Iowa City landfill in 1992 was so “degraded and contaminated” that traditional DNA testing couldn’t help investigators identify the infant or his mother. Advanced testing developed by a Texas lab in 2018 helped investigators identify the mother, who was arrested last week.
Also, State Treasurer Roby Smith says state’s Pooled Money Fund has surpassed $1 billion in total earnings since he took office.
State and tribal law enforcement officers will be able to cross jurisdictional boundaries while pursuing fleeing suspects under a new legal agreement between the Iowa Attorney General’s Office and the Meskwaki Nation.
Also, Iowa judge fines Pennsylvania insurer $481,500 for misleading seniors.
Also in the notebook, a union group endorses Democratic Iowa attorney general candidate Nate Willems
Also in today’s Capitol Notebook, Iowa AG Brenna Bird joins a bipartisan coalition urging artificial intelligence firms to protect children from harmful chatbots.
Also in the notebook, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office is supporting legal coalitions addressing Instagram users’ privacy and safety, and a ‘designer Xanax’
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