An organization representing Iowa’s Hispanic population has filed a lawsuit to challenge a new Iowa voting measure a day after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed it into law. The League of United Latin American Citizens is represented by Washington-based voting rights lawyer Marc Elias in the lawsuit filed in state court in Des Moines. The law shortens time for voters to cast mail ballots, reduces days voters can request a ballot and shortens the time polls are open on Election Day. The lawsuit claims it creates an undue burden on the fundamental right to vote and claims numerous violations of voters’ constitutional rights.
A Waterloo woman was sent to the hospital Tuesday morning after losing control of her car and rolling into a ditch in Linn County. Officials say 18-year-old Natalie Joyce drove off the road as she was traveling north on Lewis Bottoms Road near McClintock Road just before 8 a.m. Investigators say her car rolled over completely and came to a stop on its wheels. Joyce was taken to the hospital and is expected to be fine. She was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. The sheriff’s office says Joyce was cited for failure to maintain control of her vehicle and no insurance.
On a bipartisan vote, the Iowa Senate passed legislation that bans “race and sex stereotyping” training at public schools and universities. Senate File 478 would prohibit the training of “diverse concepts” such as “one race or sex is inherently superior…” or “That the State of Iowa is fundamentally racist or sexist.” Supporters say the bill is to protect First Amendment rights. Four Democrats voted in favor of the legislation, which would also require first amendment training for university staff and student government.
The City of Cedar Rapids has launched a new online reporting tool that allows residents and visitors to request services, ask questions, and report non-emergency issues. “My CR” can be accessed from the city’s website or the City’s new mobile CR smart phone app. Using “My CR”, residents can easily report issues such as potholes, malfunctioning streetlights, overgrown grass, and more. Once submitted, the issue is automatically directed to the appropriate department. Residents can submit issues anonymously or create an account within the system.
We missed a number of events last year due to COVID…but organizers say RAGBRAI 2021 is “a go”. Ride organizers said on Facebook Tuesday that the 48th ride will happen between July 25 through the 31, including an overnight stay in Waterloo and one in Anamosa. The 2021 route will be very similar to the one scheduled in 2020. The ride starts in Le Mars with other overnight stops in Sac City, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, and DeWitt before ending in Clinton. RAGBRAI says it will release a comprehensive COVID-19 mitigation strategy at a later time.
The Marion Independent School District’s Board of Education debated Monday whether or not to keep or ditch Mavericks, the new mascot they selected two weeks ago…ultimately voting 6-1 to table the discussion until their April 12 meeting. Some board members pushed back against the notion that there was an issue with the name Mavericks, which was selected to replace Indians. Last week, administrators said they were reopening the debate due to concerns over the origin of the term Maverick. It was originally selected due to the definition of an independent thinker, which is directly derived from rancher Samuel Maverick, who refused to brand his cattle. However, Maverick was also an early 1800s Texas slave owner.
School buildings in the Norwalk Community Schools were in lockdown after police received a “threat of violence against” against the high school…that was the word from the district in a notice to parents Tuesday morning. However, that threat of violence was determined to be not credible, and all school district buildings returned to normal operations by afternoon.
Waterloo Police are investigating a robbery that left a man with minor injuries. Just before 7 o’clock Monday night, officers were sent to the 800 block of Beech Street regarding a robbery. A male homeowner told police he was struck in the face with a handgun inside his home. He said a woman and a man stole his security camera, which was still in a box; the suspects then ran away. Investigation continues, and no arrests have been made.
