Again question whether he actually committed. The popularity of making a murderer and the recent podcast series serial highlight questions about the accuracy of criminal convictions. Brianfarrell both of those have been so important in helping people see the complexities of the criminal Justice System. University of iowa law professor rian farrell is the head of the Innocence Project of iowa, a group of about 20 volunteers from around iowa examines cases of prisoners who claim they are innocent. Brian farrell i think that awareness of these issues is probably going to lead to an increase in people seeking assistance. To date the Innocence Project lf iowa hasnt exonerateteanyone. In fact, over the past 25 years there have only been 12 exonerations in iowa for crimes committed in these 7 counties. But state public defender adam gregg says exonerations could soon increase in iowa partly because of the fascination around documentarie s like making a murderer. And perhaps more importrttly, bbause the fbi recently admitted microscopic hair analysis used decades wasnt exact. Adamgregg theres no way you can say theres. Theres a oneinamillion chance that this hair came from comebody else, yet that was the type of testimony thatatas given by fbi agents throughout the country. Adam gregg it presents an issue for iowa because those same fbi agents who testified erroneously inhose cases trained iowas dci agents in the same type of procedures. The revelation led governor branstad to create the states Wrongful Convictions Division late last year, led by audrey mcginn. Audreymcginn i think there is a very very good chance this is going to exonerate some people. In just a few months, mcginn already has nearly 100 questionable cases on her desk, most of them with links to old hair analysis thniques. Audreymcginn the more the inmatesearn about what were doing, and learn that there are people dedicated specifically to these kinds of issues, i think the cases will be coming in more frequently over the next few years. Mcginn will work with groups like the innocense project of iowa to review the expected influx of cases drummed up from all the recent publicity surrounding brianfarrell weve gone from what i would view as a vvy modest volunteer e eort doing what we can to a point of now having fulltime resources in iowa focused on wrongful convictions issues. Mcginn previously worked with the california Innocence Project and had a hand in at least seven exonerations there, including the highprofile case of brian banks, a rising football star who spent 5 years in prison after being falsely accused of rape. After his exoneration banks played briefly for the atlanta falcons. Here iowa, mcginn is looking to keep that momentum going. Audreymcginn i get to watch them have babies on facebook and get to be in relationships and get to have real jobs and live their life and that would have never happened if we wouldnt have been able to prove that their innocent and thats the coooost thing. Whether the case of banks or steven avery mcginn, farrell and gregg . All agree attention on these issues could change the criminal Justice System. And perhaps lead the fbi to take a closer look at the types of evidence they entrust. And thats one of the things averys former Attorney Says he wants to see come from all of his newfound making a murderer publicity. Deanstrang id much rather see us look forward and ask what should we be doing to strengthen our criminal Justice System and to improve the reliability of its outcomes. Historically iowa has hardly compensated the wrongfully convicted. Des moines attorney George Lamarca won the highest amount ever for a person wrongfully convicted in iowa,nearly 200thousand dollars. Larmarca says the state needs to be ready to start paying up if the wrongfully convicted start getting out. Mark carlson, kcrg tv nine news. Turning now to weather and meteorologis t joe winters. Joe, light snow could an area of low pressure pushes across eastern iowa tonight bringing the chances for a wiry mix. The precipitation looks light in naturerend will change to light snow before ending. Lingering flurries could be with us into the afternoon with all accumulation s generally under 1 inch. You may get a touch of spring fever later this week as a warmup commences. Highs by thursday climb into the 40s with 50s ahead for the end of the week. Have a great night tonight m cloudy, mix late low 2430 winds s 510tomorrow w hance ofofsnow, mainly early high 3238 winds nw 515 back to you. In a kcrg tv nine follow up. Authorities are investigating a house fire in North English where firefighters found a mans body. Firefighters arrived at 208 South Highland street around 8 30 last night. But they didnt find the body of 25 year old Austin Watson until the fire was out. The state medical examiners perform an autopsy on his body. One person is dead and another in the hospital after a mobile home fire in cedar rapids this morning. The fire destroyed the home at 3701 16th avenue southwest. 72 year old Ronald Jacobs didi at the scene. First responders took his wife, 72 year old karen jacobs, to Mercy Medical center, which then transferred her to another hospital. We dont know her condition. Investigators believe a fatal fire in waterloo last friday night was not suspicious. Firefighters pulled 53 year old Ray Anthony Reed from his burning apartment at 16164 mount carmel drive. He died later in the hospital. Two Dubuque City Council members want to reconsider a wage hike for about 500 city employees. Luis del l ro and David Resnick say they want to council to reconsider a proposed 2point5 percent Salary Increase. They say eliminating the increase, or even reducing it, would help balance nene year. Not be come to an agreement to would be one mean that would allow us to reduce our expenses by 400,000 the two Council Members say eliminating or reducing the planned Salary Increase taxpayers in the city. Right now, city officials percent property tax increase for next year. The Cedar Rapids School district is considering next steps after terminating its contract with its equity consultant. The move came after allegations the consultant had misrepresented his credentials to other districts in the past. Edwin javius is the ceo of a Consulting Company called, ed equity, out of san jose, california. The School District hired him in 2014 to help close the student achievement gap in schools. But it terminated its threeyear contract with javius last week. The district says it paid out dollars, including travel expenses. Kcrg tv nines Jill Kasparie joins us in the studio tonight. Jill, where does the School District go from here . District leaders say they are going to keep moving forward with the districts plan. A Diversity Committee worked with javius to create whats called the equity action plan. It was adopted about a year ago. Some events like this communitit forum in january are part of it. The plan works to monitor the progress of targeted student groups including african american, latino, and special education students. It also includessirection for the district to promote diversity in the workforce and decrease suspension rates for the student groups. Director of learning supports, paul hayes, says the districttad done a lot of work with javius , and hes confident the district will continue making progress. I think for the district, for the most part, people will not see much of a change in what we are going to be doing despite the consultant now not being with the district. The work is going to continue and will move planned. Hayes says javius also played the role of mentor to ken morris junior, who is the districts manager of student equity. Morris was supposed to eventually take the reins but now hell take charge earlier than planned. He says hes ready to move forward. We have to. We have to. The challenge is going to be, it cant just be me. Thats the real challenge. We all have to own the work of equity. It just cant be the face of one person or the responsibility of one person. Thats going to be the real challenge. Were told the plan is still in the early stages, so theres not much data a track equity improvements so far. But hayes says they are seeing differences in how district Staff Members are dealing with suspensions. The district says it will look at school needs to determine if another consultant is needed in the considering hiring another one. Bruce and beth . Thdnks, jill. Some people say its too soon for the state to switch to a privatized Medicaid Program. Today, they spoke to lawmakers about the change that will take effect march 1st. Stay with your 2 2hour news next month, the state will Medicaid Program that three companies will manage. But some people say the state is still not ready to make the switch. Today, they shared their concerns with lawmakers in des moines. One retired doctor said changing an entire Healthcare System could set people back years and compromise health. Hen you have to lose your provider, or case manager, or change the medical system you dont understand how devastating it is the demococtic led Senate Passed a bill earlier this month to stop the privatization. Representative art staed a democrat out of cedar rapids has proposed a similar bill in the republicanled house. But that likely wont make it to the floor for debate. A District Court judge has sided with the states decision to terminate its contract with wellcare of iowa for mamaging medicaid. The department of Human Services threw out the contract with the Health Care Company in december. It said wellcare had not disclosed some information bidding process. Wellcare had filed a lawsuit in response totohe decision. Another former president is campaigning for a white house hopeful. George w bush joined his brother jeb ahead of the South Carolina primary. An area of low pressure pushes a wintry mix. The precipitation looks light in nature and ending. Lingering flurries could be with us intoo the afternoon with all accumulation s generally under 1 inch. U may get a touch of spring fever later this highs by thursday climb into the 40s with 50s ahead for the end of the weekhave a great night lowow2430 winds s 510tomorrow chance of snow, mainly early high 3238 winds nw 515tomorrow night mostly cloudy low 1723 cloudy 23 high 53 low 43 saturday partly cloudy high 52 low 37 sunday partly cloudy high 49 low 32 monday partly cloudy bush is out campaigning for his brother, jeb. Today, the 43rd president spoke to supporters at a rally in South Carolina, a state where hes widely popular. George w bush criticized the namecalling that has taking place in the election. He passed on a joke from his father, former president george hwush, that labels are for soup cans. He also shared what he says it takes to be president. The presidency is a serious job that requires sound judgment and good ideas, and theres no doubt in my mind that jeb bush has the experience and the president today, donald trump doubled down on his attack on george w bush, pointing out again that the World Trade Center came down during his presidency. He also attacked ted cruz, threatening to sue him over cruzs eligibility to be president. Theres a growing call amonon republicans to not fill justice antonin scalias seat until a new president takes office. Republicans already pledged to delay a vote, while democrats say lawmakers need to fulfill their constitutiona l duties. In the past, the senate has never taken more than 125 days, or around 4 months, to confirm or reject a nominee. While politicians go back and forth, the high court will continue to hear cases. 316 either they will do whats called affirm by a higher court. Wherere the lower courts decision stands or they will reargue the case after a new one of the potential nominees for Justice Scalias seat is jane kelly. She is a judge in the eighth Us Circuit Court of appeals and works out of cedar rapids. Well be right back. Really needed a win tonight at minnesota. Lets cut to the chase. The iowa defense with a big play late forcing the turnover and davis finishes but the hawks did not have answer for Rachel Banham for two of her game high 35 to give the gophers a one point lead. But the hawks regain the lead. Chase coley off the inbounds with two of her team high 21. And back and for they went jessie edwdwd goes back door and the gophers led 7574. But lisa draws up a play for ally disterhoft who takes the baseline to give iowa a one point lead with 8 seconds to play. Minnesota one last chance and banham for 3 beats gophers win what a hertbreaker for the hatkeyes who lose their fourth straight. 2a district play 5th ranked anamosa hosted north cedar. And the raiders with a lot of steals tonight this one turns into a layupp on the other end. And anamosa with a great Football Team too and d they thru a lototf touchdown passes tonight. Tyler zumbach for the six. And then one of the top scorers in the downtown and the raiders led 15nothing. North cedar finally stops the bleeding on the logan minar bucket in the paint. But the anamosa press was just too quick. Kyle shepanski with the steal and bucket and the raiders advance with the win. Down in iowa city tonight regina hosted west liberty. Regals leading midway through the second quarter. Nat han stenger with the putback. Regina up 2816. On the other end, freshman seth feldman with a nifty layup but the comets still trailed by 14. 5 seconds play in the quarter. Regals inbound it to stenger and he launches one from 30 feet away to beat the buzzer nothing but net. Regina led by 15 at the half and the regals win it 6533. And finally its monday time to get stupid and obnoxious with the golden klutz awards. Hit it andrea lets start off with the worst dunk of the week nothing more embarrassing than get stuffed by the rim. Worst air ball of the week missed by about 3 feet. Most painfull pass of the week lebron james hits Deangelo Russell right were it counts. Another look i hope he wasnt aiming their. I cant breath. Russells teammate kobe bryant seemed to be enjoying it. It could be worse you get hit right in the face checkout the guy warming just left of the broadcaster. Biggest klutz of the week goes out this fan dances with the girl decides to pick her up and runs down the stairs and down goes frazier. Another look what was he thinking. Luckely the girl was alright. Biggest nightmare for a goalie whiffing behind the net goal. Worst golf shot of the week. Just thomas wraps his club around the tree and i dont think he will be using that the rest of the round. And took on n w sam uthoff of prairie in toe wrestling good night one last look at the forecast, joe. An area of low pressure pushes across eastern iowa tonight bringing the chances for a wintry mix. The precipitation looks light in nature and will change to light snow before ending. Lingering flurries could be with us into the afternoon with all accumulation s generally under 1 inch. Fever later this dicky from hollywood, its Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight david spade derek hough sic from panic at the sisqo with cleto and the cletones. And now, youve got it heres jimmy kimmel [ cheers and applause ] jimmy very nice. Im jimmy, im the host. Thanks for watching. Thanks to all of you for coming. Very nice. Hope you had a good valentines day yesterday. Theres only so much good that can come out of valentines day. Kind of like a blood test in that either nothing happens or the result is something horrible. So last night my wife and i went
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