WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) – Civil rights groups filed an appeal Friday after their lawsuit against the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office was dismissed. In May 2024, the ACLU of Iowa and Public Justice filed a lawsuit against the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department for wrongfully collecting fees from individuals serving time. The sheriff’s office claims the money collected covers fees for jail room and board. The civil rights groups argue this is not true, claiming the money collected by the sheriff’s office has been used to “fund a shooting range for the enjoyment of department employees and families, outfitted with laser tag, and ice cream and cotton candy machines”. No one is able to contest the fees being collected because the sheriff’s office requires that people sign a “confession of judgment” before they leave jail. The ACLU of Iowa says that all counties must give an individual being released from jail an opportunity to appear in court when the county attempts to collect fees. However, Black Hawk County has bypassed that legal process. Despite the dismissal of the case, Public Justice and the ACLU of Iowa remain concerned about the office’s practice, leading to their decision to file an appeal.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Three individuals have been identified in a double homicide and suicide in northeast Cedar Rapids. Police responded to an incident in the 4900 block of Council Street NE following a report of a dead individual Thursday afternoon. Police said the man died of self-inflicted wounds and has been identified as Lynn Martin, 54, of Cedar Rapids. Another crime scene was reported in the 4400 block of Regal Avenue NE Thursday afternoon. Upon arrival, police located two dead individuals, who are now being identified as Rita Martin, 87, of Cedar Rapids, and Alan Martin, 57, of Cedar Rapids. Police say Rita Martin was the mother of Lynn and Alan Martin.
DALLAS COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture reported a new case of bird flu in a mixed species backyard flock in Dallas County, Iowa. This is Iowa’s fifth detection of the virus in domestic birds in 2025. The Department said it is still safe to enjoy eggs and poultry products.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – If you walk into Unity Point Health St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, you might notice a different kind of security officer. Kyah the German Shepherd is just over a year old and is part of the hospital’s first K9 program. Security manager Andrew Novotny said the hospital added her to its ranks in hopes of driving down threats. He said K9s like Kyah are becoming more common as hospitals work to combat rising violence within healthcare centers. He said the number of workplace violence incidents where a security officer had to step in increased by more than 30% between 2023 and 2024. Kyah’s handler, Officer Jim Flint, helped start the K9 program. Kyah is trained to sniff out narcotics, deter violence and respond if necessary. Novotny said the hospital also increased surveillance and its number of officers on site to help curb violence. He said it’s too early to tell the impact Kyah’s having yet since she arrived last month. He said the hospital is looking to add more K9s in the future.
