Gazette Daily News Podcast, March 3
Trial reset for one Fairfield teen accused of killing Spanish teacher
Yesterday, a judge agreed to reset the first-degree murder trial for one of the two Fairfield teens accused of killing their Spanish teacher in 2021.
Christine Branstad, the lawyer for Willard Noble Chaiden Miller, now 17, asked that the March 20 trial be continued and the prosecution agreed to the new date of April 21, according to court documents. The new date will allow both sides to address pretrial issues and “allow for a more efficient trial,” Branstad said in her motion.
Eighth Judicial District Judge Shawn Showers ruled jury selection will begin April 21 and testimony will start April 24 in Pottawattamie County District Court in Council Bluffs. The trial was moved from Jefferson County because of pretrial publicity.
Mercy Iowa City retained ‘performance improvement’ consultant
Mercy Iowa City Hospital in recent months had to retain a “strategic and operational performance improvement” consultant after breaching debt coverage obligations, according to a disclosure the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board posted Tuesday.
The 194-bed Iowa City hospital — one of 23 affiliated with the MercyOne network — retained Insight Health Partners to meet a “consultant requirement” because “income available for debt services of the obligated group is less than 110 percent of the maximum annual debt service requirement.”
Mercy Iowa City officials told The Gazette on Wednesday the hospital engaged Insight Health over the summer “to help Mercy Iowa City complete an assessment of financial and strategic operations, and their work was completed months ago.”
Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis planning trips to Iowa this month
The top two leading contenders in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination are headed to Iowa.
Former President Donald Trump will stop in Davenport March 13, a first foray to the leadoff caucus state since announcing his 2024 White House campaign.
Trump will deliver remarks on his “America First” education policy at the Adler Theater.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is flirting with an expected 2024 White House bid, will make his Iowa debut with a pair of events March 10.
DeSantis will be joined by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who will host a discussion with him in both Des Moines and Davenport, an aide familiar with event details confirmed.
