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CTV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Satanic Temple accuses Iowa officials of religious discrimination
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Satanic Temple Iowa on Tuesday filed a complaint accusing state officials of discriminating against the group because of its members' religion, having denied them access to the state Capitol building for a December holiday display and event. The group's holiday observances garnered national attention in 2023 after a Mississippi man destroyed their Iowa Statehouse display depicting the horned deity Baphomet, which was permitted in the rotunda along with a Christmas tree and other religious holiday installations. The Satanic Temple Iowa's application for a display and event in December 2024 was denied, a decision that the organization says violated its members' constitutional rights and Iowa civil rights law. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement that state Capitol policies reflect the potential impact on children and families, given that they routinely visit the public building and spaces around it. 'This satanic event, which specifically targeted children, would have been harmful to minors and so it was denied,' Reynolds said. A message seeking comment was left with the state's Department of Administrative Services, which oversees the use of public space in the Iowa Capitol, and whose director, Adam Steen, is named on the complaint. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed the complaint with Iowa's civil rights office Tuesday on behalf of Mortimer Adramelech, minister of Satan for the Iowa Satanic Temple congregation. Rita Bettis Austen, ACLU Iowa's legal director, said the complaint with the civil rights office is the first step required before a legal claim of discrimination under Iowa civil rights law can be filed in court. The state's ACLU chapter hopes the complaint will be enough for state officials to reverse course. The ACLU of Iowa also filed a lawsuit in April after Reynolds' office withheld or redacted requested records related to the Satanic Temple's display and event, citing executive privilege. Founded in 2013, the Salem, Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple says it doesn't believe in Satan but describes itself as a 'non-theistic religious organization' that advocates for secularism. It is separate from the Church of Satan, which was founded in the 1960s. The complaint references a decision by Steen to deny the group's application because obscene materials and gratuitous violence are not permitted in the building that regularly hosts children of all ages. Steen told the group the costumes they proposed for the event included sticks that could be 'used as weapons on children' and 'positions the event to be harmful to minors.' The Satanic Temple alleges that was an 'absurd, unfounded concern' used to justify the denial and that their application specified the event would be family friendly. The complaint cites open records that the organization says make it clear the governor's office and Steen were meeting at the time to prepare a response. 'The simple truth is the State of Iowa does not want to allow Satanists to enjoy the same access to the Iowa State Capitol as other 'mainstream' religions, in particular Christianity, and in particular during the Christmas holiday season,' the complaint reads. Hannah Fingerhut, The Associated Press
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Iowa peregrine falcons saw ‘above average' reproduction in 2024
Peregrine falcon nests are monitored in Iowa. A peregrine falcon rests on its eggs in a nest on the Dubuque County Courthouse in 2017, which can be seen on livestream. (Photo courtesy of Dubuque County falcon camera) Peregrine falcons, once nonexistent in Iowa, hatched and raised at least 36 young falcons in 2024 out of the 17 nests monitored in the state. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources relies on Iowa volunteers, and some power plant employees, to monitor the nests to ensure the species, which was reintroduced in 1989, continues to take refuge in the Hawkeye State. The 2024 nesting report for the birds of prey show the highest number of young falcons fledged, or survived long enough to fly, since 2016. Although only 17 nests were observed in 2024, down from 19 nests in 2023, an average of 2.77 young falcons were observed per nest, which is up from 1.9 last year. The department considers a nest successful if it is able to raise its young to the fledgling age. This year 73% of observed nests, or 11 out of the 17, were successful with two observed nests having no peregrine falcon activity, two failing and two with an unknown outcome. This makes 2024 'an above average year for peregrine reproduction' according to the report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Peregrine falcons in Iowa have nested in a number of unique places, including on the golden dome of the Iowa Capitol and on the fifth floor ledge of the Dubuque County Courthouse, which can be seen via livestream. Several nests are on Iowa power plants, and according to the report, are observed and stewarded by some of the employees on site. The majority of nests are on the eastern edge of the state, close to the Mississippi River, but some are in Polk County and Wapello County. Peregrine falcons are crow-sized birds with salmon and black speckled chests, a dark colored cap and slate blue backs. The birds can fly up to 60 mph and reach 260 mph when diving, according to DNR. While the birds are known to migrate great distances, they will often return to the same nesting sites, even as new pairs of birds. Peregrine falcon populations, like many birds of prey including osprey and bald eagles, were affected by DDT and other biocides in the 1950s and remained an endangered species in Iowa until 2010. The state Peregrine Falcon Restoration project started in 1989, but it wasn't until 2002 that Iowa reached its goal of five nesting peregrines. In 2010, the state had 20 successful nests for the first time. Populations have fluctuated since then. The highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has notably affected commercial and backyard poultry flocks around the country, has also impacted peregrine falcons. DNR reported one peregrine falcon in 2022 and another in 2023 that died from the bird flu. DNR said the population in Iowa 'appears to be stable' but that the 'recovering population continues to warrant annual monitoring.' DNR has a number of volunteer monitoring programs including peregrine falcons, osprey, bald eagles, frogs, toads and bats. More information on the programs and volunteer registration links are available online. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Iowa peregrine falcons saw ‘above average' reproduction in 2024
Peregrine falcon nests are monitored in Iowa. A peregrine falcon rests on its eggs in a nest on the Dubuque County Courthouse in 2017, which can be seen on livestream. (Photo courtesy of Dubuque County falcon camera) Peregrine falcons, once nonexistent in Iowa, hatched and raised at least 36 young falcons in 2024 out of the 17 nests monitored in the state. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources relies on Iowa volunteers, and some power plant employees, to monitor the nests to ensure the species, which was reintroduced in 1989, continues to take refuge in the Hawkeye State. The 2024 nesting report for the birds of prey show the highest number of young falcons fledged, or survived long enough to fly, since 2016. Although only 17 nests were observed in 2024, down from 19 nests in 2023, an average of 2.77 young falcons were observed per nest, which is up from 1.9 last year. The department considers a nest successful if it is able to raise its young to the fledgling age. This year 73% of observed nests, or 11 out of the 17, were successful with two observed nests having no peregrine falcon activity, two failing and two with an unknown outcome. This makes 2024 'an above average year for peregrine reproduction' according to the report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Peregrine falcons in Iowa have nested in a number of unique places, including on the golden dome of the Iowa Capitol and on the fifth floor ledge of the Dubuque County Courthouse, which can be seen via livestream. Several nests are on Iowa power plants, and according to the report, are observed and stewarded by some of the employees on site. The majority of nests are on the eastern edge of the state, close to the Mississippi River, but some are in Polk County and Wapello County. Peregrine falcons are crow-sized birds with salmon and black speckled chests, a dark colored cap and slate blue backs. The birds can fly up to 60 mph and reach 260 mph when diving, according to DNR. While the birds are known to migrate great distances, they will often return to the same nesting sites, even as new pairs of birds. Peregrine falcon populations, like many birds of prey including osprey and bald eagles, were affected by DDT and other biocides in the 1950s and remained an endangered species in Iowa until 2010. The state Peregrine Falcon Restoration project started in 1989, but it wasn't until 2002 that Iowa reached its goal of five nesting peregrines. In 2010, the state had 20 successful nests for the first time. Populations have fluctuated since then. The highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has notably affected commercial and backyard poultry flocks around the country, has also impacted peregrine falcons. DNR reported one peregrine falcon in 2022 and another in 2023 that died from the bird flu. DNR said the population in Iowa 'appears to be stable' but that the 'recovering population continues to warrant annual monitoring.' DNR has a number of volunteer monitoring programs including peregrine falcons, osprey, bald eagles, frogs, toads and bats. More information on the programs and volunteer registration links are available online. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
