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Freedom of Information Council wins fight to intervene in Davenport case • Iowa Capital Dispatch

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Freedom of Information Council wins fight to intervene in Davenport case • Iowa Capital Dispatch


A judge has allowed the Iowa Freedom of Information Council to intervene in a case that pits the City of Davenport against a resident who is seeking access to municipal records.

The ruling marks a setback for the City of Davenport, with the judge basing his decision on arguments articulated by the city’s own lawyers. A hearing on the larger issue of whether the sought-after records should be disclosed to the public is scheduled for May 14.

The dispute has its origins in a September 2023 letter that Davenport’s then-city administrator, Corri Spiegel, sent to the city’s lawyers. In her letter, Spiegel demanded financial compensation for alleged workplace discrimination, harassment, bias, intimidation and retaliation.

The city ultimately agreed to pay Spiegel $1.6 million, but that agreement was not made public until after the city’s November 2023 elections – and the letter from Spiegel has yet to be made public.

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After the settlement was made public, city resident David Ezra Sidran filed a formal Open Records Law request to gain access to Spiegel’s letter. The city then filed a civil action against Sidran, claiming his request for access had put the city in the “impossible position” of either turning over the document and facing litigation for disclosing a confidential record, or denying access and being sued for violating the Open Records Law.

Through the civil action, the city is seeking a determination from the court as to whether the document is public or confidential.

The Iowa Freedom of Information Council filed a motion to intervene in the case, arguing that it has a direct interest in access to public records, particularly in matters that affect the operation of government and the expenditure of taxpayer funds.

The city, however, resisted the council’s efforts to intervene, claiming the council had no direct interest in the case that would allow it to become a party to the proceedings. In response, the council said the city was simply attempting to have the court “bless its refusal to release the letter” and effectively immunize it from liability for keeping the document secret. The council also noted that its members, including the Quad-City Times, were also seeking access to the letter.

Lawyers for the city were dismissive of that argument, telling the court, “So, the argument goes, because its members have an interest in securing the release of the letter, presto, FOIC now has an interest and, FOIC magically becomes a ‘real party in interest in this ligation and has a clear and direct interest in the subject matter of this litigation and outcome.’ ”

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“Correct,” District Court Judge Henry W. Latham II stated in his written order on Wednesday, replying directly to the city attorneys’ argument. “It is important to remember that the city’s requested relief does not apply only to Sidran. The city wants the court to determine whether the letter is confidential and whether the city has a right to release the letter. As the FOIC indicated, at least one of its members has already requested a copy of the Letter. The outcome of this case will affect the interests of the FOIC. Accordingly, the Iowa FOIC has a right to intervene.”

Latham also ruled on a motion to intervene in the case by Tiffany Thorndike and Samantha Torres, two former city employees who also collected settlements from the city around the time of Spiegel’s payout.

Thorndike and Torres had written similar letters to the city, and those letters were made public – although city officials later claimed they released them accidentally after determining it was going to keep them confidential.

Latham denied the motion by Thorndike and Torres, finding that whether the city had negligently released their letters was a separate issue from whether the city was legally obligated to turn over Spiegel’s letter.

The City of Davenport has also been fighting a subpoena from Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand for records related to the settlements.

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That subpoena calls for the city to produce closed-session minutes and recordings of five city council or committee-of-the-whole meetings, as well as copies of all emails and memos discussing the settlements.

In March, Iowa Freedom of Information Council Executive Director Randy Evans spoke to a legislative committee about the city’s action.

“I can’t recall a more egregious example of blatant disregard for the requirements of the public-meetings law as that which has occurred in the City of Davenport starting last fall and continuing to the present,” Evans said. “It should trouble every taxpaying citizen of Iowa, and the members of this General Assembly, that the city council and top administrators in Davenport worked out (an arrangement) to pay nearly $2 million in taxpayer money to three high-ranking city employees prior to the city election last November and yet never thought to bring those settlement agreements before the city council for a public vote.”



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Iowa

Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw expected to begin rehab assignment with Iowa

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Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw expected to begin rehab assignment with Iowa


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When the Iowa Cubs return to Principal Park in Des Moines on June 2, the Triple-A team will likely be bringing back a familiar face.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsel told reporters in St. Louis, Mo., on May 29 that super utilityman Matt Shaw would likely join Iowa when the team opens a six-game series against Toledo that Tuesday.

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“Matts doing super well,” Counsell said during a pregame meeting with scribes. “The plan kind of remains intact that we think he’s going to be able to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday in Iowa. So, assuming everything progresses like it progresses, he’s going to have basically a full weekend of kind of normal pregame stuff. He should be good to go on Tuesday in Iowa.”

Shaw was placed on the injured list back on May 22 with mild back tightness, retroactive to May 20. He was replaced on the big-league roster by prized Cubs prospect Pedro Ramrirez, who tore apart opposing pitching during his first stint in Triple-A in 2026.

Shaw, 24, was hitting .242 (23-for-95) with six doubles, three home runs, three stolen bases and a .291 on base percentage to go along with a .400 slugging percentage in 42 games with Chicago this season. He’s bounced around the field this season and provided an important option off the bench for the Cubs.

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Shaw remains one of the organization’s top young players. The Cubs selected in the first round of the 2023 draft. Shaw rapidly rose through the minor leagues and made his big-league debut with Chicago in 2025. After some early-season struggles, Shaw was briefly demoted to Iowa in 2024 before eventually making a return to the big leagues.

While the hitting wasn’t great, the defense was exceptional. Shaw found a home at third base and played so well he became a Gold Glove finalist in 2025.

Iowa starts the series on Tuesday at 6:38 p.m.

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.

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Iowa Supreme court affirms eviction order for Short’s Burger & Shine

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Iowa Supreme court affirms eviction order for Short’s Burger & Shine


Following a years-long legal saga, the Iowa Supreme Court recently upheld a decision to evict Short’s Burger and Shine from its South Clinton Street building.

The May 22 decision, delivered by Chief Justice Susan Christensen, agreed with the Johnson County District Court’s decision to evict the downtown burger restaurant after finding that it did not notify the building’s owner — a trust operated by Midwest One Bank — of its intent to extend the lease.

The decision concludes one part of the Short’s legal saga. The now-closed restaurant is also in litigation for a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit Short’s owner, Kevin Perez filed in 2024 against Midwest One Bank, the trust of late building owner Haywood Belle, Belle’s widow, a bank employee, and the City of Iowa City

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Iowa City’s Short’s Burgers and Shine closed in 2024

Short’s closed in early 2024 after the court determined Perez hadn’t renewed the business’s lease on time.

Short’s opened at 18 S. Clinton Street in 2008 with the goal of honoring the legacy and story of former building owner H.D. Short, who shined shoes for 50 years, beginning in 1920. The original ownership group included Perez, Dan Ouverson, and former Hawkeye and NFL player Nate Kaeding, who now runs the Gold Cap Hospitality ownership group.

Eviction proceedings started when Short’s temporarily closed in April 2022 “to fix poor building conditions” without notifying Midwest One Bank, the executor of Belle’s trust.

The closure breached a part of the lease agreement that said the restaurant would default on its lease if it “failed to engage” in normal business for more than 15 consecutive business days, the court found. The renovations also violated a provision that forbade structural changes or improvements without prior written approval.

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Midwest One Bank sent notice on May 10, 2022, that Short’s would default on its lease if it did not reopen for regular business and cease renovations within 10 days, according to court documents. Shorts responded, claiming it could not reopen for business until renovations were complete because the gas could not be turned back on until repairs were finished.

Midwest One Bank “terminated” the lease and started eviction proceedings in May 2022. Shorts was allowed to continue operating and occupying the building while the case was litigated.

Midwest One Bank filed two eviction claims and delivered notice that Short’s needed to vacate the building by the end of the lease on April 30. Short’s did not vacate, and Midwest One Bank pursued a third eviction claim, accusing the owners of failing to provide notice of renewal.

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Short’s argued that because they continued renovations, disputed eviction, and secured insurance, it was evidence of their intent to renew.

The restaurant owners also argued that pending eviction proceedings prevented them from renewal. The court argued that Short’s simply did not declare intent to renew for “whatever reason.”

“Mere forgetfulness does not entitle a party to equitable relief,” the decision reads.

Liam Halawith covers Johnson County local government and public safety for the Press-Citizen. Reach him by email at lhalawith@registermedia.com. Follow him on X at @liam_halawith.   

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Fired Iowa nurse aide wins jobless benefits after numerous resident-care complaints

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Fired Iowa nurse aide wins jobless benefits after numerous resident-care complaints


WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – An Iowa nursing home worker fired after being accused of repeatedly neglecting residents’ needs is entitled to unemployment benefits, a judge has ruled.

State records indicate certified nurse aide Abigail Kromah worked for Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center in West Des Moines from May 2024 through December 2025, when she was fired. She subsequently applied for unemployment benefits, which led to a recent hearing before an administrative law judge.

The hearing records indicate Kromah testified that when she was fired on Dec. 19, 2025, the employer informed her that the discharge was due to “numerous resident complaints” regarding the care she had been providing.

According to the judge’s findings in the case, Kromah had received multiple disciplinary warnings related to resident care. In August 2024, she allegedly received verbal and written warnings for failing to answer residents’ call-lights in a timely manner, failing to properly assist residents with their personal care, and for complaining about the residents in common areas of the workplace.

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Her employer testified Kromah was also given warnings for refusing work instructions from the nursing staff, and for telling a resident who needed to be toileted to go the bathroom in their briefs.

In August 2025, it was alleged that Kromah failed to check on a resident throughout the entire night. During that shift, a nurse had neglected to unclamp a feeding tube, which caused the tube to leak. When another nurse checked on the resident at 5 a.m., the resident was “drenched in feeding solution from head to toe,” according to the judge’s findings.

‘I can’t live this way… She’s horrible.’

Days later, the home alleged, a resident of the facility entered the hallway in his wheelchair at about 6 a.m., loudly complaining, “I can’t do this anymore,” and, “I can’t live this way.” The man allegedly refused to go back to his room, explaining that Kromah was there and “she’s horrible.”

The man reportedly stated had had switched on his call-light to have his urinal emptied, but Kromah never came to assist him, which meant the urinal overflowed and spilled on him. When Kromah eventually came to the room, the man allegedly said, she changed him into dry clothing but did not clean him.

The home alleged Kromah was given additional warnings in October 2025 for reportedly failing to answer residents’ call lights and failing to complete her rounds every two hours. One resident of the home had allegedly became so frustrated by the lack of response to his call-light that he contacted the police on one occasion, according to the judge’s findings.

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State inspection reports indicate Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center was cited for insufficient staff in January 2026, with one resident complaining the issue with call-lights had been a longstanding problem. According to the inspectors, the man said that on one occasion, he couldn’t get help to clear his airway and was afraid he was going to die unless he managed to clear it himself, which he did.

In ruling that Kromah was entitled to jobless benefits, Administrative Law Judge Michael Lunn noted that while she had clearly been warned about deficiencies in resident care, she appeared to have been fired for a separate issue — attendance — for which she had received no such warnings.

A discharge for misconduct cannot be based on past acts such as the resident-care issues, Lunn ruled, but must instead be based on a current act. With no current act of disqualifying misconduct, Lunn stated, Kromah was entitled to collect unemployment benefits.

Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to locate Kromah to seek comment for this article.

Copyright 2026 IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH. All rights reserved.

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