DES MOINES – An education law banning books from school libraries and teachers from discussing gender identity has been placed under an injunction by a federal judge. Senate File 496 was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds this past spring as part of a series of education related bills targeting topics that have been adopted by Republicans across the country. The law was set to go into effect on January 1st, but is now on hold until a formal decision can be made in federal court. The judge in the case cited the broad scope of the bill and it’s adverse impact on the first amendment rights of teachers and students.

WINTERSET – The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Winterset police officer accused of reckless behavior in a 2018 incident. KCCI-TV reports Christian Dekker was responding to an emergency on Highway 92 when he hit James Penny five years ago. The court ruled that Dekker had lights and sirens on and appropriately slowed down near the intersection.

MEMPHIS – The hometown offense was too much to handle for the Iowa State Cyclones in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Friday. The Cyclones fell to Memphis 36 to 26 in the final game of 2023. Iowa State finishes the fall at 7-6. Next up for football fans is the Iowa Hawkeyes taking on Tennessee in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at noon on New Year’s Day. The Hawkeyes will aim to win 11 games in a season for the third time in school history.