Iowa’s Republican governor and Republican legislators announced a tax agreement on Friday evening, but the legislation to implement the plan was still being written this past weekend. Senator Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says for tax year 2019, the cuts will be solely on individual income taxes. “At the very minimum, each individual will see a seven percent reduction,” Feenstra says. “On average, it will be around 10 percent.” Corporate tax cuts will take effect a couple of years from now. “It hasn’t been since 1951 that we lowered corporate income tax,” Feenstra says. “We actually increased it in 1987 from 10 to 12 (percent), so this is a very significant step for Iowa to start lowering both individual and corporate taxes.”

Republicans promise to get rid of a STATE deduction for federal taxes that makes Iowa’s income tax rates look higher than they are, when compared to other states, but Feentra says it won’t happen immediately — and it won’t happen unless state tax revenue grows by at least three-and-a-half or four percent annually. “When you get rid of federal deductability, people do get hurt if you don’t have rates low enough,” Feenstra says, “so what the plan is is to lower the rates significantly and then remove federal deductability.”

Governor Kim Reynolds unveiled a framework for tax cuts in February, but it took a couple of months for Republicans in the House and Senate weeks to hammer out a deal all in the G-O-P could live with. “It will be fully implemented based on how our economy grows and when the targets are met,” Feenstra says. “We wanted to created some responsibility in lowering taxes and make sure that we could fund all the things the government needs to fund like education, public health and so forth, so I’m really thrilled about how this came together and how all sides worked together on the goals that needed to be met.”

Feenstra is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means tax-writing Committee. The leader of the Iowa Democratic Party says Republicans are giving tax cuts to the wealthy and special interests in the midst of a state budget crisis. Troy Price, the Iowa Democratic Party’s chairman, says Governor Reynolds and her fellow Republicans are engaged in a “budget-busting free-for-all” for corporate donors.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Serious questions linger about the fate of medical marijuana in Iowa as lawmakers find themselves considering an eleventh-hour deal that would expand the program to more patients. MedPharm Iowa, the state’s sole manufacturer of medical cannabis oil, says it worries many patients will find treatment to be unaffordable, impractical or obtainable due to restrictions placed on the fledgling industry.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Department of Education audit has found the Davenport school district’s special education programs include a disproportionate number of minority students and that many of them are subjected to disciplinary actions. The Quad-City Times reports that the audit found the district was in “systemic non-compliance” with parts of the federal law that oversees the education of students with disabilities. The department ordered the district work with a state-selected adviser to address the issues.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating what led to a fatal exchange of gunfire between an Iowa State Trooper and a man along a rural road west of Fort Dodge. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says a state trooper found a man and woman arguing near a vehicle near Moorland, Iowa, on Sunday.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — One of two men charged in connection with a fatal shooting in Davenport last year has agreed to testify against everyone involved. The Quad-City Times reports 21-year-old Nakita Ronschel Wiseman Jr., of Bettendorf, pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and second-degree robbery as part of a deal with prosecutors.

A rural Cumberland family lost most of their possessions during a fire Sunday afternoon, that destroyed their home. Friends of Peg and Daryl Schrier, say the couple was left with the clothes on their back. If you are able to contribute good, used clothing, contact the Cumberland Fire Department of Cass County Emergency Management Agency. They should be able to direct you to where a drop-off location is.

Courtesy Cass County Sheriff’s Office

Peg Schrier wears size 10 jeans and medium shirts. Daryl wears 40 pants and X large button up shirts. Preferably long sleeve. The fire at their home located at 67746 Quincy Road, was first observed at around 3:08-p.m., Sunday.

Firefighters from Cumberland, Massena, Wiota, Atlantic and Griswold responded. By the time the first crews and law enforcement were on the scene, the home was fully engulfed in flames. The 1920’s home, which had been remodeled and added onto over the years, was unoccupied, while the couple were out planting in their field.

An initial investigation determined the fire appeared to be electrical in nature, but the State Fire Marshal’s Office was called-in to assist in the investigation, and an official cause was not available Sunday evening. The couple was sleeping in a camper on their property, Sunday night.

Red Oak Police, early Sunday afternoon, arrested 30-year old Bradley Brent Perdue, of Red Oak, for OWI/2nd offense. Perdue was allegedly driving a 2004 Dodge RAM 1600 westbound on  Reed Street near the intersection of 4th Street in Red Oak, when his truck struck a 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup that was legally parked in front of the Red Oak Tap at 409 E. Reed Street. Authorities say Perdue fled from the scene, but was arrested a couple of minutes after 12-p.m. at the north Casey’s Store in Red Oak. His bond was set at $2,000. No Injuries were reported. Damage from the collision amounted to $9,000 altogether.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety report an Iowa State (ISP) Trooper responded to a motorist assist call Sunday, in the 2300 block of Carter Avenue, in rural Moorland, Iowa, just west of Fort Dodge, Iowa.  Upon arrival, the Trooper encountered a male and female involved in a dispute and the male subject pointed and fired a handgun at the Trooper.   The male subject and the ISP Trooper exchanged several rounds at each other and the male subject was subsequently shot and killed.  The Trooper was not injured.  An initial investigation revealed the male suspect had fired several shots into his own vehicle prior to the Trooper arriving.

The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of relatives and the name of the Trooper is being withheld at his time.  The Webster County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are investigating this incident and results of the investigation will be forwarded to the Webster County Attorney’s Office for review.