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Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Feb. 18th 2015

News

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A plan to hike the state’s fuel tax by ten cents is quickly moving through the Iowa Legislature. The legislation would raise the state fuel tax by 10 cents. That would provide about $215 million annually for the state’s network of bridges and roads, many of which are in disrepair. Iowa’s fuel tax is now 22 cents per gallon for gasoline, including fees. The tax hasn’t been raised since 1989.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines city councilman says he was not trying to get a speeding ticket waived when he contacted the interim police chief. Joe Gatto was given a ticket for driving 10 miles over the speed limit during a traffic enforcement event on Dec 3. After the traffic stop, the councilman contacted the Interim Police Chief Doug Harvey. His speeding ticket was voided 27 minutes after being downloaded onto the police department’s server. Gatto says that he did not contact the police chief to have the ticket waived, but to express concern about how the traffic stop was handled.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 24-year-old man has been gunned down on a street in southeast Iowa. The shooting occurred around 2:45 p.m. Monday near South Hill Park in Burlington. Police and medics found the man lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. He was taken to Great River Medical Center in West Burlington, where he died around 3:30 p.m. The man has been identified as Deonte Raynell Carter, of Burlington. No arrests have been made.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The defense is getting its turn after prosecutors rested their case at Theresa Supino’s murder trial in Waterloo. The woman is accused of killing her husband and his girlfriend more than 30 years ago. Prosecutors called more than 40 witnesses over nine days.