DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Leaders in Iowa’s public schools will finally soon know how much money they have with which to operate next year. The Iowa Senate late Monday afternoon passed a compromise agreement to fund schools for next year. This ends a two-month argument over funding between Republicans in the House and Republicans in the Senate. By law, the school funding rate was required to be set two months ago. Senators debated the compromise that Republican leaders worked out in private. House Republicans originally wanted a 2.25% increase per student and more than $20 million in an additional payment to help schools with the costs of inflation. The bill passed Monday sets the school funding increase at 2%. The senate also agreed to a one-time payment of $5 per student instead of the $10 the House wanted. The Senate also refused to agree to the house’s one-time payment of an extra $22.6 million for other costs. The increase of 2% in school funding is less than the most recent national rate of inflation, which is at 2.8%. The Iowa House is expected to take up the compromise plan as soon as Tuesday.
WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) – A 9-year-old was hit and killed in a car crash in Waterloo Friday. At approximately 7:19 p.m., Waterloo law enforcement were dispatched to the intersection of Lafayette Street and E. Mullan Avenue after receiving a report of a car crash involving a pedestrian. Upon arrival, officers found a vehicle had crashed into a concrete wall on the sidewalk behind a home in the 100 block of Lafayette Street. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 71-year-old Allen Green, was passed out in the driver’s seat. Officers also located a 9-year-old boy laying on his back injured in the driveway of the home. The boy, later identified as David Chavez, was tended to by an officer on scene. Officers spoke to witnesses who claimed the car left the street at the corner of the intersection and began driving on the sidewalk, hitting Chavez and eventually stopping after running into the concrete wall. Two ambulances were called. Green was transported to a nearby hospital. He was reportedly confused and had sustained minor injuries. Chavez was also transported to a hospital. He died shortly after his arrival.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa City man is facing charges after police said he stole a vehicle and a cellphone from a 75-year-old victim outside a Walmart in February. In a criminal complaint, police said 68-year-old Keith Bell had the victim drive him to a Walmart at around 4:18 p.m. on February 26. Once at the Walmart, on Highway 1 West, Bell asked the victim to go inside and get him a cell phone charger. Bell also asked the victim to leave the car running, stating that he was cold, and asked to borrow the victim’s phone so he could make a call. Police said after the victim went inside the Walmart, Bell got in the driver’s seat and drove away with the victim’s car and cellphone. The victim’s phone was later found in the median of I-80 near Williamsburg. Bell is charged with Second Degree Theft Against an Older Individual and Fourth Degree Theft Against an Older Individual.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Police in Iowa City say they arrested a man after he was found driving an excavator on a public roadway while intoxicated on Saturday afternoon. Dustin Snyder, 40, is charged with Operating While under the Influence and Driving While License Suspended. Police said Snyder was seen driving the excavator in the 2600 block of Muscatine Avenue at around 3 p.m. Snyder’s driving status has been suspended for non-payment of an Iowa fine since March 4. Police said Snyder appeared to be intoxicated with bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, impaired balance and the smell of alcohol. Police said Snyder admitted to having bought and consumed alcohol, and that he consented to a datamaster, resulting in a .222 BrAC.
