Current:Home > ScamsLiberal blogger granted press credentials in Iowa House days after filing lawsuit-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Liberal blogger granted press credentials in Iowa House days after filing lawsuit
View Date:2024-12-24 08:06:53
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A liberal journalist who blogs about Iowa politics was granted press credentials for the Iowa House of Representatives Wednesday, days after she filed a lawsuit alleging the Republican-controlled House was denying her her First Amendment rights.
The result brings an end to a yearslong fight by Laura Belin, who operates the Bleeding Heartland blog, to gain access to the House floor as a member of the press. Belin called it a “victory for press freedom” and said she hoped it would make public officials “reluctant” to deny access to reporters.
The lawsuit was brought Friday in federal court by the Institute for Free Speech on her behalf against House Chief Clerk Meghan Nelson, though the rejection dates back to 2019 and Nelson’s predecessor, Carmine Boal.
Nelson declined to comment.
Belin has covered Iowa’s state government on the blog for more than a decade and now works as a reporter for a radio station based in Ames, about 35 miles (60 kilometers) north of the state capital Des Moines. She is open with her liberal views, often posting opinionated critiques that target Republican lawmakers and policies.
“This case underscores the First Amendment principle that public officials cannot manipulate press credential policies to play favorites or suppress critical coverage,” Courtney Corbello, an attorney with the Institute for Free Speech, said in a statement.
In 2019, the Iowa House and Senate adopted policies related to press access after scrutiny over the handling of Belin’s case. Those policies have been revised year after year, and the Senate has since reduced press access by denying reporters work space on the chamber floor in 2022 for the first time in a century.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Is the stock market open on Veterans Day? What to know ahead of the federal holiday
- First edible mascot in sports history stars in the Pop-Tarts Bowl
- SoundHound AI Stock has plunged. But could it be on the upswing next year?
- Bollywood celebrates rocking year, riding high on action flicks, unbridled masculinity and misogyny
- FanDuel Sports Network regional channels will be available as add-on subscription on Prime Video
- Why do we sing 'Auld Lang Syne' at the stroke of midnight? The New Year's song explained
- Ice-fishing 'bus' crashes through ice on Minnesota lake, killing 1 man
- Pete Davidson and Madelyn Cline Prove They're Going Strong With New York Outing
- Bill on school bathroom use by transgender students clears Ohio Legislature, heads to governor
- Feds to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on his new immigration law: Enforce it and we'll sue
Ranking
- Mega Millions winning numbers for November 12 drawing: Jackpot rises to $361 million
- Powerful Pacific swell brings threat of more dangerous surf to California
- NYE 2023 is on a unique date that occurs once every 100 years: Here's what 12/31/23 means.
- U.S. population grew to more than 335 million in 2023. Here's the prediction for 2024.
- Elton John Details Strict Diet in His 70s
- Iowa man claims $250,000 from scratch-off lottery win just ahead of Christmas holiday
- Gunmen kill 6 people, wound 26 others in attack on party in northern Mexico border state
- Prosecutors urge appeals court to reject Trump’s immunity claims in election subversion case
Recommendation
-
Nevada Democrats keep legislative control but fall short of veto-proof supermajority
-
Flash floods kill 21 people in South Africa’s coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, police say
-
Shopping on New Year’s Day 2024? From Costco to Walmart, see what stores are open and closed
-
Cargo ship carrying lithium ion batteries ordered to continue to Alaska despite a fire in cargo hold
-
Video ‘bares’ all: Insurers say bear that damaged luxury cars was actually a person in a costume
-
Shirley Bassey and Ridley Scott are among hundreds awarded in UK’s New Year Honors list
-
Magnetic balls sold at Walmart recalled: Feds say they're too strong, pose ingestion hazards
-
Prosecutors say there’s no need for a second trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried