From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Iowa schools would see a 1.75% per-student increase in state education funding if what the Senate just passed becomes law. That increase is lower than Gov. Reynolds’ proposed 2% increase. The Senate bill now goes to the House for consideration. At 1.75%, public school advocates say districts will fall further behind in funding, resulting in more cuts to teachers and programs.
The Marion Fire Department says two people have died after a house fire on Sunday night. It happened in the 200 block of South 11th Street. The fire department identified the victims as 62-year-old Ronald Tow and 71-year-old Richard Kjose. Investigators are still trying to figure out how they died and what started the fire.
The Dubuque County Attorney’s Office cleared a Dubuque police officer in a deadly shooting last month. That shooting happened outside Odd Fellows bar in early January. That’s where Officer Austin Manders says he witnessed Jaiondrick Lovely shoot Corey Wilson Jr. with a handgun. Manders then shot Lovely, and Lovely ran into the bar. Both Lovely and Wilson Jr. were treated at the scene and later died. In his report, Dubuque County Attorney Scott Nelson said video showed a gun was in Lovely’s hand when he was shot by the officer.
The Iowa Dental Board says a Coralville dentist repeatedly diagnosed patients with severe periodontal disease when they were actually healthy. Doctor Jeffrey Rubel is the owner and founder of Coral West Dental in Coralville. In a final order approved last month, the board accused him of over diagnosing at least 11 patients. In a settlement, he agreed to take education and ethics courses, and be on a two-year probation. A monitor will review 25 cases from his practice and report findings to the Dental Board. In a statement, his office noted the settlement agreement did not admit any guilt or wrongdoing.
Valentine’s Day is this Saturday and people are preparing gifts and treats for their significant others. But those presents are going to cost more this year. The owner of Pierson’s Flower Shop in Cedar Rapids says tariffs are leaving an impact on bouquets, with most roses coming from South America. He says the pottery he sells is from Vietnam and faces a 50% tariff. The owner of Simply Divine candy store in downtown Cedar Rapids says tariffs on imported cocoa–the base ingredient in chocolate–has forced prices to increase.
