WRIGHT COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A hunter was shot by a dog in Wright County yesterday. The DNR reports 36-year-old William Rancourt of Lebanon, New Hampshire was pheasant hunting on the Boone River Greenbelt Conservation Public Hunting Area with three other hunters when he was hit in the back by birdshot pellets from another hunter’s 12-gauge shotgun. The shotgun was lying on the ground when a hunting dog stepped on the trigger guard, causing it to discharge. Rancourt suffered non-life threatening injuries. No charges were filed against the dog.

CLINTON, IA (IRN) – A Clinton man is dead after his home caught fire Monday evening, according to WQAD-TV. Firefighters were unable to enter the home immediately, having to get the flames under control first. Once firefighters knocked the flames down enough they were able to enter the home, they found a body, later identified as 50-year-old Donald D. Loechel. An investigation is underway.

INDEPENDENCE, IA (IRN) – A 32-year-old woman accused of killing her ex-husband has pled not guilty, according to KGAN-TV. Prosecutors say Hillary Hunziker stabbed Jason Hunziker to death at his home northwest of Independence. Police say a child called 911 early on Nov. 6 and said, “My mom just stabbed my dad.” Deputies found Jason Hunziker dead in the home.

HARLAN, IA (IRN) – A body has been found in the burned-out wreckage of a vehicle in western Iowa. The Daily Nonpareil reports that first responders were called to a report of an explosion in Harlan. They found a vehicle next to a shed in a backyard, and both were engulfed in flames. The body was found inside the vehicle once the flames were extinguished. Investigators say the vehicle had left the roadway and hit several trees before coming to rest by the shed.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – It’s probably not the Grinch, but someone is stealing important parts of Christmas decorations in Cedar Rapids, according to KCRG-TV. Several homeowners have reported that the thieves have been stealing light projectors that range in price from $20 to $100. One homeowner says “it’s like the thieves are stealing Christmas.”

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A new after school program at Urbandale High School is taking class lessons and using them in the community. WHO-TV reports “Hope in Action” started this fall when Senior Maya Sims wanted to make a difference in her community, and the group has been working with the Iowa Youth Homeless Center. Sophomore Cassidy Killam said since the group started, she has a different perspective on life, “it really just makes me more understanding of people, and what they are going through.”

DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man faces charges after allegedly assaulting his friend with golf club over stolen cigarettes. KWWL-TV reports 21-year-old Robert Robey and three friends were at a house late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning drinking, smoking and using meth. Robey first punched one of the men, then later, attacked another friend with a golf club after he admitted to taking two cigarettes. Robey also forced two men into the basement of the home threatened to shoot one of the men’s mother, and threatened to cut off another one of the men’s fingers.

PIERRE, S.D. (IRN) – A Minnesota woman has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for an identity theft and bank fraud scheme. KCRG-TV reports 27-year-old Angelica Hatch-Pequin and co-conspirator Jason Fagin would steal mail from mailboxes in Minneapolis to obtain personal banking information. They would use the information to create counterfeit checks they would cash at stores and casinos in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa.

FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A Fort Madison man serving a 5-year sentence for theft has died in prison. The Iowa Department of Corrections says 30-year-old Adam Nolz had an “unexpected medical emergency,” and was pronounced dead Monday. No cause of death has been released. Nolz was in prison serving a sentence for a burglary in which a safe was stolen and later recovered in the Mississippi River.

AUDUBON COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Two hunters were injured while hunting in Audubon County Saturday. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports 56-year-old Arthur Goupille of Michigan was hunting pheasants when his gun discharged, hitting two members of his hunting party. The group was taking a break when Goupille’s gun fell over, discharged, and struck the nearby hunters. They suffered non-life threatening injuries.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s three state university presidents on Tuesday asked the governor for $12 million in additional state funding, all of which would be used for financial aid for resident undergraduate students. In addition, the presidents requested nearly $40 million that would pay for part of three major building construction projects. Overall, they are asking for a 2.5 percent increase in state appropriations.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Public Health on Tuesday named the first company it plans to license to make the active elements in medical marijuana, commonly referred to as CBD. MedPharm Iowa will obtain intellectual property from MedPharm Colorado to manufacture CBD. The medical marijuana extract will be grown and manufactured on the Kemin Industries campus in Des Moines.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – More information has become available on what led to a fatal shooting in Cedar Rapids earlier this month, according to KGAN-TV. 33-year-old Heidi Stephens was shot in the back of the neck. She was declared brain dead on Wednesday and has since been taken off life support. Stephens apparently got into an argument with 24-year-old Zackary Ildefonso on Nov. 20 after he allegedly stole her purse the previous day. Ildefonso then shot at Stephens and another man and fled. Ildefonso says he shot at them because he feared the man had a knife.

FOREST CITY, IA (IRN) – Two teenagers are facing drug charges in Winnebago County. KIMT-TV reports Forest City police officers investigated a report of suspicious drug activity in the parking lot of Forest City High School. A 17-year-old male from Fertile and a 16-year-old female from Forest City were charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – One person was injured during a police chase in Des Moines Monday that ended in a crash. KCCI-TV reports police were chasing a stolen vehicle when it crashed into a Honda sedan. A man was inside the Honda when the crash occurred. The victim’s condition is unknown, and the suspect remains at-large.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – A forklift caught fire and ignited a liquid propane tank inside an empty section of the HON Oak Steel factory near downtown Muscatine Monday, according to WQAD-TV. The building was briefly evacuated, and no one was injured.

ELDORA, IA (IRN) – The state of Iowa is facing a lawsuit over the treatment of juveniles at a state-run home. The suit alleges dozens have been mistreated at the Iowa State Training School for Boys in Eldora. The Des Moines Register reports the suit was filed by Disability Rights Iowa and a New York nonprofit. They cite the use of isolation rooms at the school as one of many problems. Officials at the school defend the practices, saying they are necessary due to the history of violence for some of the boys.

AMES, IA (IRN) – Iowa State football head coach Matt Campbell is staying in Ames. The Cyclones announced it reached a deal with Campbell on a 6-year extension. It raises his pay from $2.1 million a year to $3.5 million, plus $1 million in increases for his coaching staff. The move follows a surprising season for the Cyclones. Iowa State finished 7-5, including two wins against top 5 opponents, spent time in the top 25 rankings and will likely head to their first bowl game since 2012.

GRUNDY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A body was found after firemen put out a garage fire Sunday in Reinbeck in Grundy County. KGAN-TV reports the identity of the body and cause of death are pending an autopsy.

HANCOCK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A Hancock County man is facing six felony drug charges, including having meth, marijuana and controlled prescription drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, and having drugs with children in the residence. KIMT-TV reports 37-year-old Brian Kronemann was found with meth in the living room where it was accessible to a child.

APPANOOSE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The body of a Cedar Falls man who had gone hunting has been found in rural Appanoose County. The body of 31-year-old Curtis Ross was recovered Sunday. The Division of Criminal Investigations says they are considering the death a homicide, and that the public should consider the unnamed suspect armed and dangerous.

MARENGO, IA (IRN) – Vandals have defaced the elementary and junior-senior high school at Iowa Valley Community School District in Marengo with graffiti, according to KCRG-TV. Police say the graffiti does not appear to represent a safety concern to the district. An investigation is underway.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Meredith in Des Moines has announced a deal to purchase Time Inc. The media company will buy the publisher of Time, Sports Illustrated, and Fortune magazines for $2.8 billion. The all-cash deal is being backed by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch. The pair are considered conservative political powerhouses, but Meredith says they won’t have a role in editorial or management.

POLK CITY, IA (IRN) – High school students from Polk City are turning simple construction materials into Christmas ornaments. Christmas music plays in Noah Willie’s workshop, where a team of four North Polk High School students are busy turning paint stirrers into ornaments. They are then selling the ornaments to help the homeless with care packages including razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks and more. The students hope to make 500 care packages. Noah says, “ we really just want to help as many people as possible.