DES MOINES – The Iowa Senate voted to approve a compromise agreement with the Iowa House for a two percent increase in school funding for the next academic year. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Senate File 2201 also includes $7 million for paraeducator and support personnel pay and the implementation of a new system to determine student enrollment, with counts occurring twice per year. An additional $42.2 million was added to fund school districts in the budget guarantee, removing that burden from property tax rolls for one year only.

ORIENT – An Orient man is accused of intentionally setting his own house on fire. WHO-13 reports Adair County dispatch responded to a 911 call of a fire on February 12th. First responders found a home fully engulfed in flames and spreading into the yard, threatening nearby properties. During that response, 33-year-old Ansley Matthew Page arrived at the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and claimed he was responsible for the fire. He allegedly also made social media posts admitting to the act. Three cats were killed in the incident. Page has been charged with reckless use of fire and three counts of animal neglect resulting in death.

DES MOINES – Workers of Whirlpool protested at the Iowa State Capitol on Monday after the company announced more than 300 terminations in Amana. KCCI-TV reports 341 workers will lose their jobs by March 9th, which follows a layoff of 250 employees last year. Several union workers joined the Whirlpool employee protest.