FREMONT-MILLS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is accusing an Iowa school teacher of violating students’ freedom of speech. A Fremont-Mills School District teacher posted a list of almost 30 banned words and phrases in the classroom, including seemingly ordinary words like “Ohio” and “chat.” Students are also not allowed to make any references to drugs or the holocaust. FIRE claims the district is violating students’ first amendment rights, and called the list obnoxious. The Fremont-Mills Community School District said some language can disrupt the classroom or negatively affect other students. It says students created the list, and it was a lesson in civic responsibility. The poster has since been taken down.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has set the date for a special election in Iowa Senate District 35 to fill the vacancy left by former Senator Chris Cournoyer. It comes after Cournoyer, who was in her second term in the Iowa Senate, was appointed Lieutenant Governor last week. The special election will be held on Jan. 28, 2025. Senate District 35 is in Clinton County, but also covers parts of Jackson and Scott Counties. Cournoyer replaces former Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, who announced in September he was leaving to pursue a career opportunity with the Iowa Bankers Association that will allow him to spend more time with his family.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Chabad N.E. Iowa will hold a public menorah lighting in Cedar Rapids. On Dec. 30, the sixth night of Chanukah, at 6 p.m., a 10-foot menorah will be lit in front of Siegel’s Jewelry, 3525 1st Avenue SE. The event will include music, dancing Rabbis, traditional Hanukkah foods and a five feet tall, four feet wide inflatable Dreidel. “At this fraught time for the Jewish community, with war in Israel and American Jews facing a major rise in antisemitism, this year we are doing more to celebrate Hanukkah with joy and Jewish pride,” Rabbi Schimmel said. “The Menorah and Hanukkah represent freedom of the human spirit, freedom from tyranny and oppression, and of the victory of good over evil.” The Cedar Rapids menorah is one of more than 15,000 large public menorahs across the world. “Celebrating Hanukkah is a potent point of light, Jewish pride and confidence for American Jews in the fight against darkness and antisemitism,” Rabbi Schimmel said. “The celebration of Hanukkah underscores the G-d endowed liberty that is at the heart of what America represents.” This year, Hanukkah begins on Dec. 25, 2024 and concludes on Jan. 2, 2025.
DECORAH, Iowa (KCRG) – A Decorah woman is facing charges after police say she physically assaulted two police officers while they were trying to arrest her. It happened in Decorah just before 6 p.m. on Sunday. Officers were called to a domestic disturbance on East Main Street, where the caller said his girlfriend had assaulted him. Dispatch also reported that 41-year-old Lauren Poye was repeatedly calling 911 but wasn’t saying there was an emergency. When police tried to get into the apartment, they say Poye barricaded herself inside. Police eventually got inside and arrested her. While being arrested, Poye is accused of assaulted two officers, causing minor injuries. Poye was taken to the Winneshiek County Jail. She faces charges of domestic abuse, harassment, criminal mischief, removing a radio device from an officer, assault on a peace officer–no injury, assault on a peace officer–resulting in injury, and misuse of 911 communications.
