From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
State lawmakers could start considering a bill next week that would again ban casinos for five years. Representative Bobby Kaufmann says he plans to hold a subcommittee hearing in the next seven days. He said he will file the bill by the end of this week. A moratorium would again hinder efforts to bring a casino to Cedar Rapids.
All four teens charged in the deadly shooting of a 16-year-old boy in northwest Cedar Rapids are now pleading guilty. The shooting killed Michael McCune in February 2023 at the Tan Tara Apartments. All but one teen had pleaded or plans to plead guilty. Tramontez Lockett was 16 at the time of the murder. Lockett, who is now 18, initially faced several charges including first degree murder and was set to go to trial next month. But now court documents say he has a plea hearing set for next Friday, January 24. They do not say to what charges he plans to plead guilty.
The Dubuque County Attorney says two of Dubuque’s officers have been cleared for shooting a 16-year-old on Christmas Eve. Police say Lorenzo Cruz had active warrants out for his arrest when the officers approached him last month. Police say Cruz pulled out a knife and refused to drop it. Officers tried to use a taser but it didn’t work. Police say bodycam video shows Cruz then moving toward the officers with the knife, prompting them to shoot him. He survived and has pleaded not guilty to charges. The officers are now allowed to return to duty.
Nearly 2,000 Iowa National Guard soldiers will soon be deployed to the Middle East. Iowa National Guard Major General Stephen Osborn announced the deployment during his Condition of the Guard address to lawmakers. After annual training in Louisiana this summer, some soldiers will be deployed to Iraq and Syria to fight ISIS.
The future of the Marion airport is up in the air as the city’s contract to operate the airport expires this June. The Marion Airport has existed since the 1950’s. The city bought the airport and runway in 2015, but Luxe Air owns the rest of the property, which limits what the city can do. Marion’s city manager says negotiations are underway and everything is on the table.
