CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa —A Waterloo man has pled guilty to second degree-murder in his girlfriend’s death in Linn County. KCCI-TV reports thirty-eight-year-old Shawn Hogan admitted Tuesday to beating 28-year-old Crystal Gaffney with a wrench and stabbing her in the head with a screwdriver. Authorities found Gaffney’s body on a road near Walker in July 2014.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A 17-year-old Davenport girl is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries after suffering a gunshot wound on Monday. WQAD-TV reports police responded to an intersection where they found her lying in the street. A 15-year-old male from Rock Island has been charged with Attempted Murder in relation to the shooting.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Waterloo man is in the hospital recovering from stab wounds received Tuesday, according to KWWL-TV. Waterloo police say the man had to be taken to the hospital but is expected to survive. Police took a woman into custody, and charges are pending. Police say it was a domestic situation but did not elaborate on what happened.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Blank Park Zoo is expanding its facilities in hopes of an expanding giraffe family in Des Moines. WHO-TV reports the zoo is planning to build a $1.8 million expansion to its giraffe barn. The new facility would be open to visitors so they can still see the giraffes on cold and rainy days. It would also provide more space for what the zoo hopes will be a growing giraffe family.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Falls Fire and Rescue is crediting a cat with alerting a resident to an apartment fire. KCRG-TV reports Fire Chief John Schilling said the resident told him a pet cat kept meowing at the ceiling Monday night. The resident investigated, found he could feel heat on the ceiling and heard crackling sounds. Firefighters found a fire in the building’s attic that caused significant damage. Crews put the fire out quickly, and no one was injured, thanks to the cat.