(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has passed a bill to give Iowa law enforcement, including prison guards and others in the judicial system, “qualified immunity” from most lawsuits. Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs, a special agent for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, says it’s important to place this legal concept in state law, as congress considers changes at the federal level. “We’re trying to conserve the current law of the land right now,” Dawson says, “because there’s a slew of political actors out there that have decided to make kicking law enforcement in their teeth a hobby every day.”

Senator Chris Cournoyer, a Republican from LeClaire, says the bill protects law enforcement acting in good faith in difficult situations. “A responding officer in a high pressure situation cannot hesitate or deliberate the intentions of the law for fear of a frivolous lawsuit,” Cournoyer said. “To be clear, this bill does not protect negligence, incompetence or officers that knowingly violate the law.”

The bill passed with the votes of all Republicans and a few Democrats. Senator Rob Hogg (HOHG, rhymes with “vogue”) of Cedar Rapids was among the dozen Democrats who opposed the bill. “I don’t want to have a system that says we’re going to insulate people from liability when they have violated a constitutional right,” Hogg says. The bill now goes to the Iowa House for consideration.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A police officer testified that he arrested a journalist at an unruly Black Lives Matter protest last year in Iowa after he repeatedly shot clouds of pepper spray to disperse a crowd and she did not leave. Officer Luke Wilson said he wasn’t aware Andrea Sahouri was a Des Moines Register reporter when he responded to a chaotic scene where protesters were breaking store windows and throwing rocks and water bottles at police outside Merle Hay mall on May 31. Wilson said he sprayed the chemical irritant to clear a commercial parking lot and that it worked in scattering the rest of the group, including Sahouri’s then-boyfriend Spenser Robnett. Wilson testified on the first day of trial for Sahouri and Robnett, who face misdemeanor charges.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a Republican-backed bill that makes it harder to vote early, potentially eroding a key aspect of Democratic campaigns. Republicans in the House and Senate quickly approved the changes Monday over the opposition of all Democratic legislators. Republicans say the rules are needed to guard against voting fraud, though they noted Iowa has no history of election irregularities and that November’s election saw record turnout with no hint of problems in the state. In the last election, more than 70% of Democrats voted early.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police have arrested a brother and sister in the shooting death earlier this month of a man whose body was found inside a Lincoln home. Lincoln police said in a news release Monday that officers on Thursday arrested 31-year-old Marques Moten, of Omaha, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in connection with the March 1 death of 33-year-old James Shekieand. Also arrested Thursday in Lincoln was Moten’s 17-year-old sister. Both have been charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. An arrest warrant also has been issued for 25-year-old Deontae Rush of Omaha charging him with first-degree murder in Shekie’s death. Court documents say the three drove to Shekie’s trailer home to steal marijuana and that Rush shot Shekie.

The driver of a semi tractor-trailer is dead, and while another driver was injured, during a fiery crash on Interstate 80 early Monday afternoon, near the Highway 6 interchange, northeast of Council Bluffs. The Iowa State Patrol says 51-year old Daniel L. Owens, of Omaha, died in the crash that happened at around 12:45-p.m.

Twittter image from ISP Trooper Ryan Devault

Owens was operating a 2012 Freightliner Cascadia semi westbound on I-80, when he struck a 2013 International 7300, driven by 39-year old Daniel W. Huneke, of Neola. Hueneke was stopped in the outside lane with his Iowa DOT vehicle’s emergency warning light activated and arrow board directing traffic to the inside lane, when his truck was struck from behind.

Following the impact, the International came to rest blocking both westbound lanes of I-80, facing southeast. The semi caught fire upon impact, and came to rest partially in the outside lane, across the outside shoulder and into the west ditch. Owens was found lying in the outside lane He died at the scene. Huneke was transported by Treynor Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The crash caused the interstate to be blocked for several hours. An Iowa DOT Highway Helper, Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officer, and others assisted at the scene.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a Republican-backed bill (S.F.413) that makes it harder to vote early, potentially eroding a key aspect of Democratic campaigns. Republicans in the House and Senate quickly approved the changes Monday over the opposition of all Democratic legislators.

Republicans say the rules are needed to guard against voting fraud, though they noted Iowa has no history of election irregularities and that November’s election saw record turnout with no hint of problems in the state. In the last election, more than 70% of Democrats voted early.

Gov. Reynolds released the following statement on S.F. 413:  

“It’s our duty and responsibility to protect the integrity of every election. This legislation strengthens uniformity by providing Iowa’s election officials with consistent parameters for Election Day, absentee voting, database maintenance, as well as a clear appeals process for local county auditors. All of these additional steps promote more transparency and accountability, giving Iowans even greater confidence to cast their ballot.” 

SF413: An act relating to the conduct of elections, including absentee ballots and voter list maintenance activities, making penalties applicative, including effective date and applicability provisions.

Gov. Reynolds also signed the following bills into law:

HF200: An act relating to the military code and duty performed by a member of the United States Coast Guard.

HF235: An act relating to service charges on consumer credit transactions.

HF232: An act relating to the crime of disorderly conduct and making penalties applicable.

SF240: An act relating to the creation, administration, and termination of custodial trusts.

SF239: An act relating to proper parties in causes of actions following the death of persons entitled or liable to such causes of actions and including applicability provisions.

SF231: An act regarding driving privileges of persons issued a special minor’s driver’s license, and making penalties applicable.

SF173:  An act relating to trusts, including requirements for certifications of trust and the general order of abatement.

SF343: An act relating to authorized access to certain confidential records by employees of the Department of Corrections, a judicial district Department of Correctional Services, and the Board of Parole.

SF285: An act relating to suspension of a student’s participation in the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship program.

SF130: An act relating to a temporary exception to a limitation compensation for a member of a board of directors of a school corporation, and including effective date provisions.

HF386: An act striking certain reporting requirements related to non profit school organizations established by school districts.

HF308: An act relating to eligibility requirements for students under the senior year plus program and including effective date and applicability provisions.

HF283: An act creating the criminal offense of defrauding a drug or alcohol test and providing penalties.

HF231: An act relating to a special sentence for sexual abuse committed during a burglary.

SF314: An act relating to approval of executive branch employee travel claims.

HF418: An act relating to property tax levies, exemptions, classifications, assessment limitations, and administration, and including effective date and applicability provisions.