The Iowa Department of Corrections will make statewide changes to how inmates are tested and disciplined for drug use following a legal settlement approved Tuesday involving three women incarcerated at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women.

The settlement was approved by the Iowa State Appeal Board and resolves claims brought by inmates Amanda Wright, Monica Fagan, and Cheyanne Harris, who argued they were wrongly punished after receiving false-positive drug test results. The women were represented by the ACLU of Iowa.

According to the settlement, the Department of Corrections had relied on rapid immunoassay field tests without laboratory confirmation, despite concerns that certain prescription medications could trigger false positives for illegal drug use.

The three inmates were originally found guilty of disciplinary violations by prison administrative law judges. Those penalties can carry serious consequences, including loss of earned time that may reduce a sentence, longer incarceration, solitary confinement, and the loss of work, educational opportunities, and other privileges. Appeals to the prison warden were denied before the women filed post-conviction relief applications in Polk County District Court last spring.

Under the agreement, the Department of Corrections will remove the disciplinary records from the women’s files and implement two major policy changes across Iowa prisons.

The department will now use a “greater weight of evidence” standard for major disciplinary violations rather than the previous “some evidence” standard. The DOC also agreed to adopt more accurate drug testing methods and move away from rapid field kits that have produced high rates of false positives.

As part of the settlement, Wright will receive just over $92, Harris will receive more than $1,400, and Fagan will receive nearly $20.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced Tuesday that the state has shared voter registration data — including sensitive personal information — with the U.S. Department of Justice following a federal request.

Pate said Iowa was legally required to comply with the request under federal law, but acknowledged concerns about turning over the information.

In a statement, Pate said the state does not take the obligation lightly and noted the Department of Justice has assured Iowa the data will be protected under federal law.

The information provided includes Iowa voters’ driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. Public voter registration records in Iowa typically include a voter’s name, address, date of birth, and party affiliation, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

The request comes as the Justice Department under President Donald Trump has sought voter registration data from states across the country. Federal officials say the information will be used to identify deceased or noncitizen voters, although states already conduct those types of checks independently.

In a March letter to the DOJ, Pate said Iowa would not agree to automatically cancel voter registrations flagged by federal officials, citing possible conflicts with the National Voter Registration Act. He emphasized that Iowa will continue following both federal and state law when handling any voter eligibility concerns.

Pate also stated that election oversight and voter list maintenance remain the responsibility of the states. He added that Iowa has already expanded its use of third-party verification systems, including the federal SAVE database, to help confirm voter eligibility.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, at least 13 states have agreed to provide full voter registration data to the DOJ, while the federal government has sued 30 states that declined to comply.

The Mediapolis Community School District says law enforcement is investigating after a student reportedly made statements Wednesday evening that were interpreted as a possible threat toward other students.

In a message sent to families, Superintendent Adam Magliari said the matter was handled quickly with assistance from the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.

District officials say the student accused of making the threat will not be allowed at school while the investigation remains ongoing and until appropriate action has been taken.

School leaders say additional safety measures are being implemented, including increased oversight and visibility within school buildings. The district’s School Resource Officer has also been notified and involved in the response.

In the statement, Magliari emphasized that the district takes all threats seriously and is continuing to work closely with law enforcement to maintain a safe learning environment.

Families are also being encouraged to remind students to report any concerning comments or behavior to a trusted adult or school official.

The investigation remains active.

A Lee County jury has convicted an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in connection with a violent January attack on two prison counselors.

Twenty-three-year-old Anthony Sebastian Bauer was found guilty Wednesday on two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of contraband stemming from the January 21st assault inside the Fort Madison maximum-security prison.

According to the Lee County Attorney’s Office, Bauer and fellow inmate Dennis Lane Lawson allegedly carried out a coordinated attack on Corrections Counselors Nicky Clark and Zebulon Butler while the counselors were conducting classroom instruction in the penitentiary’s Long Term Restricted Program.

Investigators say Clark was handing out homework assignments around 9:37 that morning when Bauer and Lawson simultaneously attacked, each armed with homemade shiv-style weapons. Court records state the inmates repeatedly struck both counselors in vital areas, including the neck, throat, head, back, and sides.

Authorities say Butler intervened to help Clark but was also assaulted before responding correctional officers forcefully stopped the attack and restrained both inmates. Clark and Butler were transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center for treatment of multiple injuries.

Following Wednesday’s guilty verdict, Bauer was immediately sentenced to 50 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 35 years served before parole eligibility. Attempted murder is a Class B felony in Iowa, carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years per count. The contraband charge carries a maximum 10-year sentence.

Bauer is already serving a sentence for second-degree murder and will remain in the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections.

The second inmate charged in the case, Dennis Lane Lawson, is scheduled to stand trial July 7th.

The Fort Madison Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Department of Corrections assisted in the investigation and response to the incident.

Fire crews from across Southeast Iowa responded Wednesday afternoon to a large warehouse fire at Alter Metal Recycling – Burlington.

The Burlington Fire Department says crews were dispatched just before noon on May 6th for a fully involved fire at the nearly 20,000 square foot recycling warehouse on West Burlington Avenue.

Firefighters arrived within 7 minutes and found heavy flames and smoke coming from the single-story commercial structure. The building was occupied at the time, but all occupants were able to escape safely. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

Due to concerns about structural instability, crews transitioned to defensive firefighting operations while working to contain the blaze. The fire was brought under control around 1:30 p.m.

Damage estimates are still being assessed. Following an investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire was determined to be accidental in nature.

A total of 29 fire personnel responded to the incident. Assisting agencies included the West Burlington Fire Department, Burlington Police Department, West Burlington Police Department, Mediapolis Fire Department, Danville Fire Department, Des Moines County Emergency Management, Henry County Emergency Management, Alliant Energy and Gas, Burlington Waterworks, the Iowa DNR, DESCOM, and UNIVAR.

Additional updates will be released by the Fire Marshal’s Office if more information becomes available.