AMES, IA (IRN) – An Ames man in his 20’s is dead after two masked men entered his apartment and shot him. KCCI-TV reports when officers arrived they found the victim with a single gunshot wound to his upper chest. Several other people were inside the apartment at the time of the murder. Witnesses told police two suspects entered the apartment wearing masks in what seemed like a robbery.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A federal judge sentenced an Urbandale man to life in prison for sex trafficking of children. WHO-TV reports Clark Betts was convicted of sex trafficking and drug charges in June. Prosecutors say he provided two minors to a drug dealer, exchanging sex with the victims for crack cocaine.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Polk County health officials are warning Iowans of a new synthetic opioid that is 10,000 times more potent than morphine. KCCI-TV reports a drop of carfentanil, a synthetic variation of the opioid fentanyl, is lethal. It’s considered to be an elephant tranquilizer. KCCI-TV reports there have been six deaths from carfentanil in the past year in Polk County.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City Police are trying to find out who’s been slashing tires on vehicles. KCRG-TV reports since Tuesday night, police have responded to more than 20 incidents.

AMES, IA (IRN) – An Ames-based company is marketing one of agriculture’s first driverless systems for tractors. Smart Ag has software that automates its machinery. Farmers can operate the tractor from a tablet.