William Morris

1 week ago | desmoinesregister.com | William Morris

More than a year after Kathleen Galloway-Menke's death, her daughters aren't sure what justice for her killing should look like. Galloway-Menke died May 14, 2024, six days after she was assaulted by a juvenile at the youth shelter where she worked. Police said that Jovahn Mathis, then 15, shoved Galloway-Menke as he was attempting to abscond from the facility, causing her to fall and fatally strike her head on concrete.

1 week ago | desmoinesregister.com | William Morris

The Des Moines Register is countersuing Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, alleging she illegally withheld emails requested under the state's open records law. The Register requested emails between Reynolds' senior advisors discussing her response to allegations against Lutheran Family Services. Reynolds' office claims the emails are protected by "executive privilege," but the Register argues Iowa law doesn't recognize this exemption.

1 week ago | desmoinesregister.com | William Morris

Danielle Yonemura is suing Des Moines Public Schools following the suicide of her 13-year-old daughter, Leilani Gonzalez. The lawsuit alleges that Harding Middle School staff bullied Gonzalez due to her sexual orientation and gender identity, and that excessive suspensions contributed to her declining mental health. Yonemura claims the school failed to provide support and that officials displayed hostility towards Gonzalez's identity. This article includes discussion of teen suicide.

1 week ago | desmoinesregister.com | William Morris

Five former Glenwood Resource Center employees lost their appeals claiming wrongful termination after objecting to misconduct by the head of the state care facility. The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decision, stating the cited laws lacked specificity for a wrongful discharge claim. The court ruled their claims fall under the state's whistleblower protection statute, which was not appealed.

1 week ago | desmoinesregister.com | William Morris

A federal judge has ruled that U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and former Iowa state Sen. Brad Zaun were improperly added to a lawsuit President Donald Trump filed against the Des Moines Register and ordered them dismissed from the case. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger in a Friday, May 23, ruling also denied a motion by Trump's lawyers to return the case to Iowa state court, where it initially was filed before the Register exercised its right to move it to federal court.