The newsroom
Investigations, records reporting, and explanatory journalism sourced to the documents behind the story.
Investigation
Flock later obtained an Iowa contractor registration. But the records gathered by the Sentinel do not document a penalty for the earlier work, an electrical exemption determination or local enforcement.
Investigation
Emails show the surveillance vendor soliciting a pre-approval signature and discussing installation plans around the council vote. The available records do not establish that city officials signed early.
Records Watch
A 2023 police assessment names the facial-recognition company among department technologies. At publication, the records obtained by the Sentinel did not establish its cost, procurement path, use, or current status.
Data Investigation
Eight overlapping audit exports show whole rows turning over in a pattern consistent with a rolling window. The evidence does not show intentional alteration—but it exposes a serious obstacle to public oversight.