Stories

On Wednesday afternoon a small but mighty group gathered in Marion to begin statewide discussions on the plight of women, the challenges facing organizations that serve women and the legislative targets and goals that will soon be developed by the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women.

The meeting, organized and hosted by the state agency, marked the first time in roughly 30 years that public hearings were held outside of the state’s centralized metro area. Next week the Commission will continue public hearings in the cities of Urbandale and Storm Lake.

“We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby…”

It was nine words in a two paragraph press release announcing that the 17-year-old daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was pregnant, but it should tell American women all they need to know. Implicit in Monday’s statement from Sarah and Todd Palin was that their young daughter had a choice — the same choice Palin has said she’d deny women including her own offspring.

Stating that a major violation of trust had occurred, District Court Judge Don Courtney sentenced Iowa blogger and self-proclaimed male feminist Kyle Payne to serve time in the Buena Vista County Jail for invasion of privacy.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver today voiced his displeasure with President George W. Bush’s proposed rule change that would redefine birth control as abortion.

A motion by the attorney of a 22-year-old Iowa blogger and self-proclaimed male feminist to postpone sentencing has been partially approved by Iowa District Judge Don E. Courtney.
Courtney ruled yesterday that the sentencing of Ida Grove native Kyle Payne, charged with secretly photographing and filming the breast of a college student, could be postponed to [...]

When political newcomer Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks squeaked out a victory in Iowa’s 2nd District congressional primary, a few Republican eyebrows raised. None of those eyebrows, however, were attached to the people who met the Ottumwa ophthalmologist and learned her story. When considered in context with the rest of her life, the primary was just one more challenge she met with planted feet.

Perhaps it is my personal experience of growing up in a family of veterans that grieved for the loss of a son in Vietnam that pushes me to believe that every war-time generation has secrets it does not wish to pass on to the next generation. I know first hand how graphic descriptions can take up residence in your mind, nearly forgotten until they are triggered back to the forefront to blaze a new trail of horror and sorrow.

By that same token, I also believe that when veterans or the families of veterans choose to speak of their experiences, the nation should stop and listen with grave intent.

A 22-year-old Iowa blogger is speaking out today and providing his personal reflections as to why he, a volunteer who had worked with rape and sexual assault victims, chose to photograph another woman’s body without her consent.
Kyle Payne, who is awaiting criminal sentencing in connection with the January 2007 incident, says that he wrote today’s [...]

Kyle D. Payne, a 22-year-old Iowa blogger and self-proclaimed male feminist, would like more time to undergo counseling and gather letters of support before appearing in court, according to a motion filed by his attorney this morning.

The Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault has received $400,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to provide structure for the Justice for Deaf Victims National Coalition (JDVNC), an organization that has been in existence in an informal way since 2000.