From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Iowa teachers could soon get a sizeable pay increase. Lawmakers in the Iowa House passed a bill Thursday to raise the minimum teacher salary to $47,500…a nearly 50 percent increase for starting teachers. The bill passed the House in a 92 to 1 vote.
Witnesses took the stand in the trial of a man charged in a fatal shooting outside a Marion bar a year ago. Prosecutors argued Duval Walker deliberately shot and killed 32-year-old Cameron Barnes last St. Patrick’s Day. According to surveillance video, Walker approached Barnes and struck him after an argument, before Barnes and other patrons started hitting him back. Shortly after they were pulled a part by security, Walker shot Barnes. The defense argues Walker only shot as an act of self-defense, and it’s not possible to prove Walker brought the gun to the bar. Walker is facing a potential sentence of life in prison.
The new Cedar Rapids Police Chief celebrated his pinning ceremony at city hall. Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell and City Manager Jeff Pomeranz offered their congratulations, and Chief David Dostal expressed his gratitude for being selected for the position. Dostal took over the position at the end of last month, making him Cedar Rapids’ 28th police chief.
A bill in the Iowa legislature would allow murder charges to be filed for those who provide fentanyl to someone which results in the person’s death. A bill signed into state law last year creates harsher penalties for delivering or possessing fentanyl. It also increased prison sentences resulting from death of the drug. A House subcommittee advanced the new bill yesterday. It now heads to a Senate committee for consideration.
The Hawkeye women’s basketball team hits the court this afternoon for the Big 10 championship tournament. Iowa faces Penn State, which knocked off Wisconsin last night. Tonight’s game starts tonight at 5:30 and airs on the Big 10 Network.
The National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships begin today. The tournament returns for the second straight year at the Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids and runs through Saturday. It will be the first time the University of Iowa will be competing at the event. The team will look to knock off defending champions, North Central College.
