WATERLOO – The Waterloo Police Department has requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Waterloo. One Monday afternoon, employees at Victory Motors called 911 to report that a neighbor, later identified as 41-year-old John Piazza put a gun to an employee’s face and fired a round at the property. Employees stated Piazza told them he would return with a rifle. Police claim they observed a male fitting the description near the windows of the residence with a long gun. A Waterloo police officer observed Piazza point a long gun out of a window towards officers. The officer fired at Piazza, striking him. Officers entered the residence and found Piazza deceased.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds is going to sign a bill highlighting a pre-session priority that garnered bipartisan opposition across the state. House File 2612 will become law as it overhauls Area Education Agencies in Iowa. A few Republicans in both the house and senate joined in Democratic opposition as the vast majority of educators in Iowa also were against major changes to AEAs and how they operate. The director of the Heartland AEA in Central Iowa expects they will have to cut close to $18 million in their operations, knowing some school districts will leave their umbrella. The measure redirects all funding outside of special education back to school districts, who can now hire private firms for media and professional services.

HILLS – The Iowa City School Board voted unanimously to close Hills Elementary Tuesday. KCRG-TV reports the move was made to try and preserve jobs in the district after the system faced millions in budget cuts. Local residents pleaded with the board to save the small school, worried about the impact it would have on the small town just outside of Iowa City’s limits. The board says they’ve had to reduce their budget for nearly two years as state aid has fallen well short of inflation and due to declining enrollment.