DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau/KCRG) – The Iowa House of Representatives passed a property tax reform bill Wednesday, but its fate in the Senate remains uncertain. The legislation, which passed 64-23, would limit local communities to collecting no more than 2% in additional property tax revenues each year. Homeowners would not pay property taxes on the first $15,000 of their home’s assessed valuation. The House plan does not raise the gas tax like a previous Senate proposal, provide specific relief for seniors or change rates on multi-residential buildings. House Republicans spent the day in meetings to reach a compromise within their party before the vote. The bill now faces negotiations with the Senate and Gov. Kim Reynolds. House Democrats that would have given homeowners a $1,000 rebate and renters $500 this year. That amendment would have also capped increases to property tax rates at 4%. House Republicans did not include those provisions in the legislation. Senate Republicans previously proposed an increase to the state gas tax to provide revenue to local governments for roads and bridges. That provision is not in the House bill. Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh said in a statement after the vote that he is optimistic lawmakers can work on a compromise to pass property tax reform.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa City Police Department is searching for a Cedar Rapids teenager charged in connection with a shooting on the Ped Mall that injured five people. During a news conference Wednesday, Iowa City Police announced a warrant is out for Damarian Jones, 17, of Cedar Rapids. He faces several charges including five counts of attempted murder, three counts of willful injury causing serious injury, two counts of willful injury causing bodily injury, and one count of going armed with intent. Iowa City Police said Jones was involved in a fight on the Ped Mall involving up to 40 people at 1:45 Sunday morning. In a lull in the fight, police said Jones retrieved a gun from another person and then fired six shots into the crowd, hitting five people. Police said there is no evidence Jones targeted any of the victims and none were involved in the fight.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) – A man was charged with arson following a house fire last month in Cedar Falls. Christopher Western is charged with second-degree arson following a house fire on March 3. Crews were called to the 1400 block of West 18th Street on March 3. The fire started on the couch in the living room and spread quickly. Upon arrival, crews found fire coming out of the front door and window. The only person in the home escaped. Firefighters quickly put out the fire. The home sustained fire, smoke, and water damage.
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – A motorcyclist died after a crash with a West Des Moines school bus Tuesday afternoon. Police said the crash occurred in the 300 block of EP True Parkway around 4:30 p.m. Emergency responders treated 51-year-old Brian Franklin, of West Des Moines, at the scene. He died from his injuries at the hospital. One of the six people on the bus was also injured, according to authorities. The crash is still under investigation.
