(Updated by Dar Danielson, Radio Iowa) The Iowa Supreme Court has ordered a review for a possible new trial in a Cass County case.  The ruling says the district court applied too strict a standard in determining whether 29-year-old Patrick Barrett Junior should get a new trial after being convicted of second-degree sexual abuse. Barrett had appealed his conviction, saying he should have been allowed to use the victim’s mental-health and counseling records in his defense. The Supreme Court reversed the district court’s denial – and ordered the lower court to review the use of the mental health evidence based on standards the Supreme Court says are appropriate.

(read the full court decision here)

(Radio Iowa) – Leaders in Sioux City have passed the first reading of an ordinance that will increase fines for fireworks violations. Under the new ordinance, property owners would be held responsible and fined for the illegal use of fireworks at their home or property. The city council voted 4-1 Monday for the measure — with Pete Groetken, a retired police captain, voting no. He questioned how the ordinance could be enforced. “I am not sure what this ordinance is doing except raising fines. I don’t know how we enforce it. I guess it can be done or we wouldn’t have recommended it,” Groetken said. “We are increasing the fine — but it’s not really solving the problem.”

Groetken says many people have told him the city should just ban fireworks.He says nine of out ten calls he gets from the public say they should get rid of fireworks. Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr says she has more people tell her they want to be able to celebrate the New Year and 4th of July with fireworks. And she thinks they need to continue with the education campaign.”I haven’t heard as many negative to turn them off and to make them illegal as I have the other way around. So, I want to continue and I want to really, really hit the P-S-A’s after the first of the year,” Schoener said.

The proposal would fine property owners 250 dollars for a first offense violation of the fireworks ordinance, 500 dollars for a second offense, and one thousand dollars for third or more violations. The proposal must pass two more times before being enacted. Fireworks may be legally used from 1:00 P-M December 31st until 12:30 A-M. on January 1st, and July 3rd through July 4th from the hours of 1:00 P-M until 11:00 P-M.

(Radio Iowa) – A study being released by the United Ways of Iowa shows how the pandemic is impacting the state’s households and finds low-income families are suffering disproportionately in trying to pay for essentials. Deann Cook, the agency’s executive director, says the report finds more than half of Iowa households are reporting a loss of income or increased expenses due to COVID-19. “Iowans who are still in a position to give have been very, very generous, particularly with disaster funds. That has been really heartwarming to see,” Cook says. “But there’s just simply more need out there than the non-profit sector is able to provide.”

Charities of all sorts are being stretched to the limit, especially food banks and agencies that help Iowans in need to pay their utilities or rent. “Probably the biggest resource that United Ways have is the Iowa 211 Hotline,” Cook says. “When residents of Iowa find themselves with a challenge that they need help navigating, pick up the phone, call 211 and those call agents can walk you through and help direct you to the best resources.”

Before the pandemic, Cook says 37-percent of Iowans were having a difficult time paying all of their bills. Those are people who are living above the federal poverty level who are working, but simply don’t make enough to pay for the basics. The report shows even more Iowans are now financially fragile. “Eighteen percent of Iowans told us they couldn’t cover one month’s bills prior to the pandemic. That is now well into 30-percent,” Cook says. “We have a third of Iowans, at least, who are now struggling to even come up with one month’s reserve should they have a problem, should they lose income, that kind of thing.”

Beyond money worries, the three primary concerns Iowans expressed are: a second wave of virus activity and closures, a household member contracting COVID-19, and mental health issues. Cook says families with household incomes below $50,000 reported significantly higher concerns about paying for food, utilities and rent.”Going back to what it was like before the pandemic is not exactly going back to a great place,” Cook says. “There were Iowans struggling going into this and this has only exacerbated all of those problems.”

For Iowans who want to help, Cook says there are United Way chapters across the state, in addition to food pantries and local community disaster funds, all of which would welcome donations. (On the web at https://www.uwiowa.org/)