Category: Government

Healthcare, Iowa, Justice2 Comments

State-certified caregiver charged with sexual exploitation of a minor

Gary Dickson

A state-certified caregiver has been arrested and charged with sexually exploiting a minor while employed by an Iowa nursing home.

The most recent case, and the only one in which criminal charges have been filed, involves Guider’s employment at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona.

Over the past 12 months, Martell Guider, a 36-year-old male certified nursing assistant, has been the subject of complaints regarding a series of alleged incidents involving sexual impropriety at three Iowa nursing homes located in Audubon, Correctionville and Kalona. Continue reading State-certified caregiver charged with sexual exploitation of a minor

Crime, Government, Justice, South Dakota1 Comment

Union County Court: 3/11 – 3/22/24

Gary Dickson

Following are two weeks worth of cases that have been disposed in the Union County courts. They include everything from traffic to trucking/transportation to criminal cases.

Included is a guide to one case that looks on the surface as if it has a high number of charges. But everything is not always as it appears at first glance.

There are also a couple of high fine amounts for truckers in this round of court activities. How high can they go? Continue reading Union County Court: 3/11 – 3/22/24

Government, JusticeLeave a comment

State Supreme Court considers whether local boards have to explain their decisions

Gary Dickson

When Turner County commissioners refused to allow a developer to rezone land from ag to lakefront residential in the summer of 2022, they did so without saying why.

There was no recording of the meetings at which two separate votes took place, and commissioners later told the developer they needn’t say why.

When Circuit Judge David Knoff overturned that decision the following year, he also did so without considering the why.

Instead, he ruled, the commission was wrong because it shouldn’t have been debating the question anyway. The land is on a lake, Knoff said, so under his reading of county zoning rules, the commission didn’t have the discretion to say no – an argument the developer hadn’t made in open court or legal briefs.

That sequence of events led the justices to grapple on Tuesday with this question: Is a county zoning board – or any local board that makes a call someone might not like – required to explain itself? Continue reading State Supreme Court considers whether local boards have to explain their decisions

Government, North Sioux CityLeave a comment

The Saga of the North Sioux City Council – 1.0

Gary Dickson

It was a chilly no, make that cold evening on Tuesday, March 18 and I was pulling into the driveway to North Sioux City’s City Hall. I directed my car down the drive and surveyed the parking lot. Not too bad, I thought, in terms of parked car congestion.

t was time to get the show rolling. I took a seat in the second row on the far left side. I was about six chairs to the left of Bob Davis, where he could issue a well-formed scowl in my direction. The meeting was called to order by her honor, da mayor. The roll was called. We all stood, and the loyalty oath was pledged.

Continue reading The Saga of the North Sioux City Council – 1.0

Government, Politics, South DakotaLeave a comment

Who leads South Dakota if Noem runs for vice president? ‘I still get to be governor’ she says.

Gary Dickson

Standing next to a row of bookcases in the Mitchell High School library, South Dakota’s lieutenant governor was asked about taking the reins of state government.

It’s a sensitive subject for Larry Rhoden, who has embraced his supporting role as Gov. Kristi Noem’s second-in-command since entering office in 2019 following 16 years in the state Legislature.

“I try not to bring it up,” said the Union Center rancher when asked by News Watch about how his duties might change if Noem is chosen as Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee on the Republican ticket. “I don’t want to make it look like I’m thinking about it.”

Despite that political prudence, the subject is hard to avoid.

Continue reading Who leads South Dakota if Noem runs for vice president? ‘I still get to be governor’ she says.

Government, Politics, South Dakota2 Comments

Noem slings accusations about tribes while signing education bills

Gary Dickson

Gov. Kristi Noem leveled accusations against Native American parents and political leaders Wednesday while saying she wants to help Native American students succeed.

She made the comments during a town hall meeting in Mitchell, where she signed two education bills into law, and at a later town hall in Winner.

“We’ve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefitting from the cartels being here, and that’s why they attack me every day,” she said. Continue reading Noem slings accusations about tribes while signing education bills

Crime, GovernmentLeave a comment

Union County Court: March 4-8, 2024

Gary Dickson

You may have noticed we’ve been neglecting to post the Union County Court Report on this site. I’m sorry for the lack of courtroom activity news on my part.

It could have been because I’ve been serving time in jail and haven’t had access to a computer in the hoosgow . . . but it’s not.

I just haven’t taken the time to transfer the information that Shannon Steckelberg, the Union County Deputy Clerk Magistrate works so hard to compile and send to me each week. My gosh, I’m having a shame attack just thinking about my lack of follow-through.

There. It’s over now. Whew! Continue reading Union County Court: March 4-8, 2024

Commentary, GovernmentLeave a comment

Sunshine Week: Support local journalism

Gary Dickson

Sunshine Week is March 10-16, and this year, there’s an even greater need for you to get involved.

Sunshine Week annually celebrates freedom of information laws in every state. It also salutes efforts by good government advocates and journalists to use and ensure the effectiveness of those laws to get the information we need as self-governing citizens.

The name is a play on the commonsense words spoken more than a century ago by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, that “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” Continue reading Sunshine Week: Support local journalism

Government, PoliticsLeave a comment

Hand counting vs. voting machines: Debate rages in South Dakota

Gary Dickson

Most of the county officials who administer elections in South Dakota don’t consider hand counting to be an effective or efficient method of tabulating votes.

That’s the result of a South Dakota News Watch survey that saw input from 49 of the state’s 66 county auditors. Auditors are elected officials who supervise county, state and federal elections as well as maintain financial records and other duties.

The hand count debate comes as South Dakota is viewed as a proving ground by election reformists who claim that recent elections across the county were marred by hacking or fraud, allegations repeatedly rejected by courts of law as well as Democratic and Republican election leaders. Continue reading Hand counting vs. voting machines: Debate rages in South Dakota

Government, Nebraska, PoliticsLeave a comment

Deadline passes for reconsideration of Fortenberry ruling; case could be retried

Gary Dickson

A deadline came and went Monday to request a reconsideration of the appeals court ruling that tossed out the felony convictions of former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry.

That doesn’t mean the case is over, however.

Prosecutors still need to decide whether to seek a second trial of the former congressman in either Nebraska or Washington, D.C., where it was alleged that Fortenberry lied and misled federal agents probing illegal, foreign campaign contributions. Continue reading Deadline passes for reconsideration of Fortenberry ruling; case could be retried