Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is suing the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office over an alleged violation of the state’s sanctuary county laws.
Sheriff Dan Marx wrote in a February Facebook post that some Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention efforts were unconstitutional. That prompted an investigation and subsequent lawsuit from the A-G’s office.
Bird gave the sheriff a chance to take the post down by and issue a clarifying statement by Wednesday, which did not happen.
Bird filed the lawsuit Thursday in Polk County District Court.
The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment, but has claimed it has complied with all 21 ICE detainers it has received going back to 2018.
*Related to that issue, a law enforcement officer who intentionally ignores a detainer request from federal immigration officials could be investigated, under a bill advanced by the Iowa House on Wednesday.
That bill passed on a 61-35 vote, and moved to the Iowa Senate for possible action.
An officer who is investigated would be given a chance to comply with state law. If they decline to do that, then the case would transfer to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council with a recommendation their certification be revoked.
*In other legislative news, handling a cell phone while driving could soon be illegal in Iowa, under a bill that’s on its way to the governor’s desk.
The Iowa House voted 84 to 11 Wednesday to ban the use of electronic devices while driving, unless it’s in a hands-free mode. After many years of law enforcement, cyclists, and others calling on lawmakers to crack down on distracted driving, it is the first time the House has passed the measure.
Republican Representative Ann Meyer managed the bill’s passage. Meyer thanked the family members of people who were killed by distracted drivers for their advocacy.
Governor Kim Reynolds asked lawmakers to pass it in her Condition of the State address in January, so she is expected to sign it. The hands-free mobile device law would take effect on July 1.
*The Iowa House has passed a bill that would prohibit the use of eminent domain for the construction of pipelines to carry carbon dioxide.
It would only apply to new projects that would launch if the bill becomes law, so it would not apply to the Summit Carbon Solutions proposed pipeline. That project would collect CO2 from ethanol plants in Iowa and other states to store the emissions underground in North Dakota.
Plans for the pipeline to route through South Dakota are uncertain, after a law was added there earlier in March, banning the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines.
Summit’s pipeline was approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission last June but it can only be built after it’s approved by other states on the route.
*Additionally, the Missouri River Historical Development group gave a combined $50,000 to 13 events in Woodbury County on Thursday.
The largest MRHD grants in the Community Events Grants category was $5,000.
That list included Sioux City events of the Saturday In The Park free outdoor concert, the June Jam event by Downtown Partners, and the Downtown Live music series. Also getting $5,000 was the city of Lawton street dance and the July 3 celebration in Anthon.
Later this year, a second group of larger MRHD grants will be announced. The Economic Development Match Grant provides awards ranging from $250,000 up to $1 million for projects within Woodbury County that show high levels of collaboration.
MRHD is the non-profit organization that holds the license for gaming in Woodbury County with Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
