Stories

An independent audit of Iowa’s film tax credit program has found numerous problems, and Iowa’s Attorney General is launching a criminal investigation.

“We are not permitted by ethical rules to discuss the possible subjects, focus or other details of the investigation,” said Attorney General Tom Miller in a statement.

Gov. Chet Culver has fired the manager of the Iowa Film Office following allegations of misconduct surrounding a state tax credit program he administered.
Tom Wheeler, who was put on paid administrative leave on Friday after problems were discovered in the Film, Television and Video Promotion Program, has been dismissed effective Monday afternoon, the governor said [...]

Criminal charges surrounding the investigation into alleged misconduct in the state’s film tax credit program are certainly possible, but are not likely, Chief Deputy Auditor Warren Jenkins said.
The Des Moines Register reported Monday afternoon that “criminal charges could be forthcoming” in the investigation, citing comments from Jenkins. However, in an interview with the Iowa Independent, [...]

Gov. Chet Culver has asked Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Iowa Auditor David Vaudt to assist in a probe of a state tax credit program designed to assist the movie industry that has come under scrutiny in recent days.

Minority homeowners in Des Moines were three times as likely to receive high-cost subprime mortgage loans from Wells Fargo & Co. as white homeowners, according to research assembled by two watchdog organizations.

Iowa has joined every other state in allowing consumers to sue companies for fraud under the state consumer protection law thanks to a bill signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Chet Culver.
State Attorney General Tom Miller has pushed for passage of the legislation for nearly a decade. The bill, House File 712, passed 95-1 in [...]

A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Iowa’s Smokefree Air Act has been dismissed after coalition of Iowa bar owners decided to drop their court challenge.
The lawsuit was filed last year by Choose Freedom Iowa, the Iowa Bar Owners Coalition, Clinton’s Organized Bar & Restaurant Owners and Froehlich Properties Inc. just as the state’s smoking ban [...]

An Arizona-based Christian nonprofit is offering free legal defense to any of Iowa’s 99 county recorders who refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

County recorders do not have the authority to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, according to Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.

The Iowa Supreme Court’s decision to void the state’s ban on same-sex marriage will go into effect Monday, April 27, three days later than previously anticipated.