116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401

Trish Mehaffey
Reporter covering state and federal courts, and whatever legal issues come my way. I also provide live coverage of criminal trials on Twitter @tmehaffey and welcome comments and questions from readers during the trials. Outside of work I love movies, tennis and my Kansas State Wildcats! Go Cats! Stay informed with the Public Safety newsletter.
Latest Articles by Trish Mehaffey
Crime and Courts Aug. 14, 2022 6:00 am
An Oelwein man who testified against a meth dealer was brutally beaten in the Linn County Jail 12 days before the trial by convicted murderer Drew Blahnik and another cellmate. Federal and state authorities are investigating
Crime and Courts Aug. 11, 2022 3:46 pm
Police previously said they had surveillance video of the area where demonstrators gathered about 7:17 p.m. to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling against abortion rights earlier that day.
Crime and Courts Aug. 7, 2022 8:19 am
Timothy Rush, who is already charged with killing his girlfriend at a club in April, will face more charges because a man seriously injured that night died in July from his injuries.
Crime and Courts Aug. 5, 2022 2:11 pm
A Marion man being retried for killing his ex-girlfriend in 2017 asks the judge to recuse himself, questioning his impartiality
Crime and Courts Aug. 5, 2022 11:19 am
Property Holders rental permit for northeast house deemed nuisance is suspended for one year. The city made that decision following an administrative hearing officer’s ruling which upheld the city’s nuisance designation.
Crime and Courts Aug. 4, 2022 4:26 pm
A state medical examiner ruled the death of three Cedar Falls family last month at Maquoketa Caves State Park were homicides and the suspect died by suicide. "As far as what we think happened, Anthony Sherwin entered the Schmidt family’s tent and there was an immediate attack and struggle that resulted in the three members of the Schmidt family dying as a result of the attack," Mitch Mortvedt said.
Crime and Courts Aug. 4, 2022 10:00 am
A parents group is suing the Linn-Mar school district, superintendant and board members for policies that protect transgender students from discrimination. The petition claims the policies violate parents’ right to consent and students’ rights to express a different opinion.
Crime and Courts Aug. 1, 2022 3:14 pm
A Cedar Rapids man accused in the Capitol attack Jan. 6 will be tried in a Washington D.C. court Jan. 16.
Crime and Courts Jul. 30, 2022 4:17 pm
A federal class-action suit brought by youth basketball players who were potential sex abuse victims of former Barnstormers coach Greg Stephen reached a settlement Friday to set up over $1 million fund to benefit the victims. The organization also agreed to set up youth protection protocols and policies to keep players safe.
Crime and Courts Jul. 29, 2022 4:48 pm
A judge gave an Iowa City teen a deferred judgment and three years probation in an armed robbery last year. The conviction could be expunged if the 18-year-old if he doesn’t have serious violations in the future.
Crime and Courts Jul. 31, 2022 7:54 am
A Cedar Rapids man charged with killing one woman at Taboo Nightclub in April will now face more charges because the other victim shot has died.
Crime and Courts Jul. 29, 2022 2:05 pm
He admitted he and others distributed 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine
Crime and Courts Jul. 29, 2022 2:09 pm
A Pottawattamie County man was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for illegally selling performance-enhancing drugs for racing dogs. He also had to forfeit over $500,000 in drug proceeds.
Crime and Courts Jul. 29, 2022 3:05 pm
Judge resets trial for Jeremy Goodale to Dec. 5 in Scott County. Goodale is one of the Fairfield teens accused of killing his Spanish teacher with a baseball bat last year.
Crime and Courts Jul. 28, 2022 4:06 pm
A former Tama County jailer has been charged with having sex with an inmate. A complaint states the deputy and offender had sex in a utility closet and the recreation yard.