Tirrell: A divorce, a lawsuit — and another bankruptcy?

Marty Tirrell update: 1. A $350,000 suit against him has been reinstituted in Houston, Texas. 2. His wife was granted a divorce on March 24. He did not show up in court. 3. And, according to the divorce papers, he plans to file bankruptcy again. First, the suit. Gow Broadcasting

Klinefeldt for Congress? Byers’ and Meyer’s salaries.

Nick Klinefeldt for Congress? The U.S. Attorney is the guy that the Democratic Party in Washington wants to run against first-term Republican Congressman David Young. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee thinks Klinefeldt could win — he’s young and smart and solid and has no known political baggage — and the

Feds sent in big gun to prosecute abusive ex-cop.

The government wasn’t taking any chances in the second — and successful — trial of former Des Moines cop Colin Boone last week. The feds sent in Barbara (Bobbi) Bernstein to argue the case in senior judge Robert Pratt’s courtroom. She’s the deputy chief of the criminal section of the

Judge list is cut to 11; Eric Branstad buys a house.

Eleven people apparently have made the cut for second interviews with the Grassley pals who are screening applicants to advise him on whom to back for two open federal judgeships in Iowa. Yes, Chuck Grassley is a Republican and Barack Obama is a Democrat, but Grassley isn’t just any Republican;

Civic Skinny has taken a much needed vacation and will be back next week.

Some questions and some answers about AIB deal. State stops some refunds. Channel 8 deserves credit.

Some questions: Who owns AIB? Every Iowan. What if the AIB-University of Iowa deal falls through? Who knows. Does the AIB board have to keep the school alive? No. Can the trustees decide to sell the site to a developer? Under some circumstances. What circumstances? If they use the proceeds

Bob Mahaffey won’t seek re-election to the city council.

Bob Mahaffey is not going to seek re-election this fall to the Des Moines City Council. His decision — which had not been made public until now — could set off a scramble for the northeast seat that the long-time Anderson-Erickson executive has filled for the past 12 years. “I

41 apply to Grassley for Iowa federal judgeships.

A screening committee set up by Sen. Charles Grassley has received 41 applications from Iowans hoping for one of the two federal judgeships that soon will open in Iowa. It’s an odd situation: A Republican Senator seemingly taking charge of sending names to a Democratic president for judicial openings in

Rastetter and Fred Hubbell led political givers of 2014.

Gleanings from the final round of campaign reports from state and local candidates: Bruce Rastetter appears to have given more money to state and local candidates last year than any other Iowan.  All told, he gave $104,846.19, according to reports on file at the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

Gortz Haus settles complaints, now welcomes gays

The couple who own the Gortz Haus Gallery have agreed that gay people now can rent the facility for weddings. The couple has dropped its lawsuit against the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and made a financial settlement with the two men who wanted to get married there but were turned