x
Breaking News
More () »

Iowa governor unveils public records process after lawsuit

Gov. Reynolds’ spokesman Alex Murphy says in an email Friday that the coronavirus pandemic created increased records requests and they are still being processed.
Credit: AP
FILE- In this Nov. 19, 2020, file photo, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds appears during a news conference in Johnston, Iowa. A new disclosure report shows an owner of a large pork production company that disproportionately benefited from an Iowa coronavirus aid program recently donated $25,000 to Reynolds' campaign last month. Mary Ann Christensen, board member of Christensen Farms and part of the family that owns the company, made the donation Dec. 29, according to the filing made public Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office has announced a new system for handling open record requests, a day after three media organizations sued her, alleging she has repeatedly violated the state’s open records laws by ignoring requests for government records. 

Reynolds’ spokesman Alex Murphy says in an email Friday that the coronavirus pandemic created increased records requests and they are still being processed.

He says reporters with outstanding requests will be notified of their status. 

The change comes after the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed a lawsuit claiming groups they represent have not received requested documents months after requests and in some cases after more than a year.

RELATED: Lawsuit against Gov. Reynolds says she violated open records law

RELATED: 2 lawsuits claim Iowa governor's office violating open records law

Watch more Iowa politics on Local 5's YouTube channel

► Download the We Are Iowa app 
► Sign up for Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter 
 
Subscribe to Local 5 News on YouTube

Before You Leave, Check This Out