From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
A judge ordered the bond significantly lowered for Kristin Ramsey, the woman accused of murdering realtor Ashley Okland in central Iowa nearly 15 years ago. Her attorneys pushed for a lower bond, noting her ties to the community and lack of a criminal record. A judge agreed and lowered her bond from $2 million $500,000. She bonded out yesterday afternoon. Okland was shot during a real estate open house in West Des Moines in 2011. Police arrested Ramsey in March.
Iowa House Republicans have released a new plan on property tax reform. It creates a 2 percent overall cap on property tax increases for local governments, excluding new construction. But seniors would not see their property taxes frozen like they could in other proposals. The proposal also changes the Homestead tax credit to a tax exemption. But the tax credit for seniors, veterans, and the disabled would remain. This compromise will need to go through the Iowa House and the Senate before it makes it to the Governor’s desk.
The Fairfax City Administrator has resigned after just 8 months in the position. Chris Philipp agreed to resign after a closed session at Tuesday’s city council meeting. In city council documents shared ahead of the meeting, Philipp claimed the city’s mayor, Jo Ann Beer, created a hostile work environment. Beer said she will be taking on some of the city administrator duties in the interim and declined to comment further.
A large portion of the southeast quadrant of Cedar Rapids is under a boil advisory because of a water main break. Hundreds of homes and businesses are affected. The affected area stretches from Brucemore all the way toward Indian Creek Nature Center. For hours yesterday, crews were working in the area of the water main break in an effort to fix it. City leaders say once repairs are done, they’ll flush the system and run tests before that boil advisory is lifted.
And starting this afternoon, Cedar Rapids commuters can start using the E and F Avenue bridges near downtown Cedar Rapids. The bridges beneath I-380 are set to open at noon. They have been closed for months as the City continues its Cedar River flood mitigation project.












