DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Senate Democrats are proposing a plan for reducing commercial property taxes that they say would help small businesses more than Governor Terry Branstad’s tax proposal. Under the legislation unveiled yesterday, commercial property owners would gradually get a tax credit that’s the equivalent of a 40 percent tax cut on their first $324,000 in assessed property value.

DECORAH, Iowa (AP) — An attorney for a northern Iowa man accused of shooting at several people plans to say his client was intoxicated by drugs. Mark Anderson filed notice in Winneshiek County District Court of his intentions to rely on an “intoxication by drugs” defense for his 23-year-old client, Daniel Wildman. A trial is scheduled to begin February 27th.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an unloaded handgun and ammunition were found in a carry-on bag at an airport in Des Moines. The Transportation Security Administration says the gun was detected at a screening checkpoint Wednesday at Des Moines International Airport. Thirty-three-year-old Army Captain John Thompson told authorities he didn’t know the items were in his bag.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — For three hectic days in Des Moines, Iowans will too busy celebrating their love of wrestling to worry much about its Olympic future. Roughly 10,000 fans packed Wells Fargo Arena yesterday morning for the opening session of the Iowa individual wrestling tournament — a 72-hour spectacle that will pack local freeways, restaurants and hotels and draw as many as 80,000 fans to the state capital.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Council Bluffs man has committed suicide in his county jail cell. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says Shawnessey McKnight cut his neck with a razor Wednesday night at the county jail. Danker says McKnight also did pushups before and after in an effort to pump his blood out faster. The staff had given the 43-year-old McKnight a razor for shaving. Inmates have the razors for 15 minutes before guards collect them.

Another inmate in the cell noticed McKnight’s condition and alerted staff. Danker says McKnight fought off staff who tried to treat him, and he had to be handcuffed and shackled before being sent to a nearby hospital where he later died. McKnight was being held on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and counterfeiting.

BOONE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in central Iowa are investigating a series of fires they say could be arson. Television station KCCI reports the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and Story County Sheriff’s Office are investigating between 20 and 30 recent fires.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Council Bluffs man has committed suicide in his county jail cell. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says Shawnessey McKnight cut his neck with a razor last night at the county jail. Danker says McKnight also did pushups before and after slashing himself in an effort to bleed out faster. The staff had given the 43-year-old McKnight a razor for shaving.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A registered nurse and former congressional candidate from northeastern Kansas has been chosen to head a four-state region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Department Secretary and former Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced the appointment of Stephene (STEH’-fa-nee) Moore as director of HHS Region 7 today. The region covers Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has hired former Colorado assistant Bobby Kennedy as its wide receivers coach, added Jim Reid as a defensive assistant. The Hawkeyes also announced the departure of running backs coach Lester Erb today. No specific reason was given for Erb’s departure.