The verdict in the Nebraska civil trial determining the legality of two ballot initiatives to legalize medical cannabis was decided Wednesday, so they are poised to become law.
Lancaster County District County Judge Susan Strong dismissed the major legal challenges against Nebraska’s two medical cannabis petitions. Therefore the measures will go into effect on Dec. 12, pending any further action by the Nebraska Secretary of State.
Strong ruled that the number of valid signatures was over the 86,500 baseline, and are "thus legally sufficient."
Voters strongly supported both measures in the general election, passing both with around 70% of voters in favor.
*The 22nd annual Memorial March to Honor Lost Children was held in downtown Sioux City on Wednesday morning.
Many people participated in the event, which was created in 2003 to remember Native American children who died while in foster care.
It was first organized by the late Frank LaMere and other Native people.
The march was themed “Together We Stand, Building A Strong Community.” It began at War Eagle Park, included a prayer stop, then ended with a meal at the Sioux City Convention Center.
*People who will drive for the Thanksgiving holiday will have a stronger chance of seeing traffic patrols, as law enforcement is ramping up.
The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is once again teaming up with other law enforcement agencies to promote safety with the theme “buckle up, every trip, every time.”
During the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday week, 34 Iowans were injured or died in crashes on the state’s roads.
*In other news, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says she wants to restrict cell phone use in Iowa schools to ensure kids aren’t distracted from learning and are connecting with their classmates.
Reynolds says she’s still working on her proposal, and she hasn’t provided details about how she would restrict cell phone use in schools.
She also wants to respect the work that’s already been done by some school districts in Iowa to restrict cell phone use in different ways. Those steps have been taken in such Northwest Iowa schools as Sheldon and River Valley.
“So I want to supplement that and enhance that. I don’t want to really step on anything that they’ve done. So it’ll probably be more of a floor, is what we’re looking at, but just to encourage people to really move in that direction,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds said the stories she’s heard from districts that have restricted phone use are very encouraging. Iowa’s legislative session begins January 13.
*Additionally, Reynolds on Tuesday announced her appointment of Kristi Busse as a district associate judge in Judicial District 3A.
Busse, of Spencer, Iowa, is an Assistant County Attorney for Clay County. She received her undergraduate degree from Buena Vista University and law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
Busse fills a vacancy created following the district judge appointment of Andrew J. Smith. Judicial District 3A includes Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, and Palo Alto counties.
