WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Three people were shot early Saturday in West Des Moines and police say the victims are not being cooperative. KCCI-TV reports the shooting happened around 1:40 a.m. after an argument broke out at Vision Night Club before it escalated into gunfire. Occupants of two cars were apparently firing toward each other, leaving shattered windows and bullet holes at a nearby Village Inn.

CEDAR FALLS, IA (IRN) – Police are looking for the two people responsible for cutting someone at the University of Northern Iowa. KWWL-TV reports UNI police were called to the Hillside Apartments Friday night for an aggravated assault. The victim says he was cut by two people with knives during a fight. He knew the people responsible.

VERSAILLES, MO (IRN) – A Missouri state trooper convicted of a misdemeanor for the drowning death of a handcuffed Iowa man has been fired. The Kansas City Star reports Anthony Piercy was fired Friday, more than 3 1/2 years after 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson, of Clive drowned in the Lake of the Ozarks. Piercy had pulled Ellingson over on the lake in May 2014 for suspicion of operating while intoxicated. Ellingson drowned after being thrown from the boat by a wave while wearing an improperly secured life vest.

VINTON, IA (IRN) – Two girls from the town of Vinton opened a Christmas present early and couldn’t be happier. WHO-TV reports Alex Ducharme told her daughters Michelle and Ariel they could open up a big Christmas present under the tree early. Their dad Matthew has been in the Navy for 9 1/2 years and was recently deployed for about eight months at sea–that is, until the girls unwrapped the present and he popped out of the box. With his last deployment complete, Matthew says he now plans on going to college.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – More than 20 people will serve time in federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine and money laundering ring based in Marshalltown. KWWL-TV reports the group was responsible for distributing hundreds of pounds of ice methamphetamine throughout northern Iowa. The money was then funneled back to Mexico either by wire transfer or using cars to smuggle cash across the border.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A jury has convicted a Des Moines resident of murder in the shooting death of a man during a drug deal. The Des Moines Register reports on Friday a jury found 26-year-old Larry Ratliff Jr. guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of 36-year-old Antonio Quinn. Ratliff brought an assault rifle to the planned drug deal and killed Quinn during a fight.

CLIVE, IA (IRN) – A burglary at a Clive gun store has police concerned. KCCI-TV reports the burglary was Thursday at Rangemaster’s Training Center, a gun store and shooting range. Upon arrival, officers found that the front door glass and the interior glass had been broken and that seven fully automatic weapons and nine handguns had been stolen. Security camera footage shows that the burglary was committed by two people in less than two minutes.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The city of Council Bluffs is suing the federal government to stop a Native American tribe from building a casino just seven miles away in Carter Lake. KWQC-TV reports the city says a Ponca Tribe of Nebraska casino would compete with state-licensed casinos in Council Bluffs, and cut into millions of dollars in fees, taxes and charitable contributions that benefit the city’s residents.

AMES, IA (IRN) – An unusual pair of students just received their teaching degrees at ISU, according to WHO-TV. 47-year-old Kathleen Robertson, of Madrid, along with her 22-year-old son Zack both received their degree. Kathleen had always wanted to be a teacher, but with marriage and kids she decided to spend time raising her four sons. Kathleen says, “this is what I’m supposed to do…for someone who never thought I’d go back, I’m really glad I did.”

DURANGO, IA (IRN) – A child was transported to a Dubuque hospital after being hit by a car this morning. KCRG-TV reports 26-year-old Kelly Klien of Holy Cross was driving near a school, when a 7-year-old got out of his parent’s car and started to cross the road when Klein’s passenger side mirror hit him.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A West Des Moines mother was convicted of starving her 16-year-old adopted daughter to death. KCCI-TV reports 43-year-old Nicole Finn was found guilty yesterday of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping in the starvation death of Natalie Finn, who weighed just 85 pounds at the time of her death. She will spend the rest of her life in prison.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The net neutrality ruling has small businesses in Iowa worried. KCRG-TV reports the FCC decision means internet providers can speed up or slow down websites or content. Cybersecurity company Procircular CEO Aaron Warner says small businesses want equal access to the internet. Warner provides an example, “let’s say, I wanted to own a pizza shop to compete with national chains. If the chains paid to control the roads and slow me down, I really couldn’t compete. They would starve me out.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Nevada is the only state in America where betting on sports is legal, but that may soon change. New Jersey is questioning the constitutionality of the status quo, and the case has reached the U.S. Supreme Court. If the Court rules in New Jersey’s favor, betting on sports could soon be legal in Iowa, if state lawmakers agree.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The women behind the Iowa Wave t-shirt have presented a check to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, and it’s a big one. KCRG-TV reports the idea for the t-shirts started with the tradition of fans doing the wave for hospitalized children at Iowa home football games. After sales of 22,000 t-shirts, a check for more than $440,000 was delivered to the children’s hospital.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A proposal from the American Cancer Society could more than double Iowa’s cigarette tax. Governor Kim Reynolds heard the proposal Tuesday, which includes a $1.50 tax increase. Currently, Iowa has the 29th lowest cigarette tax in the nation. Reynolds declined to comment on the proposal, saying her staff would need time to review the request before any decisions would be made.

HANCOCK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – High winds blew a grain bin over near Britt, according to KIMT-TV. Approximately 11 semi loads of corn were in the bin. The National Weather Service says winds were a sustained 35-40 mph, with gusts reaching 60 mph.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport student is recovering after being hit by a bus Wednesday. WQAD-TV reports the 14-year-old boy was using a marked crosswalk when he was hit. The bus driver was cited.

ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A suspicious activity investigation is underway in Ankeny, according to KCCI-TV. Police received a report Tuesday of suspicious activity involving a woman driving a black van. The vehicle approached two children walking home from school.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids organization says parents need to be aware of a newer legal drug that could mimic the effects of opioids. KCRG-TV reports the Area Substance Abuse Council is warning parents about Kratom. It’s a plant-based drug from southeast Asia. A safe dose of Kratom is one gram. Experts warn it can be dangerous in larger amounts or if mixed with cough syrup or caffeine. Thirty-six people have died from the substance worldwide. The group is concerned that Kratom is often sold at malls at gift stores teens frequent.

WASHINGTON, IA (IRN) – Sports Illustrated Kids recently released its 2017 SportsKid of the Year and Washington’s Trashaun Willis was one of five finalists. KCII-radio reports he is a normal 14-year-old kid with outstanding athletic abilities who dominates anything he plays–and he does it with one arm. Despite the national accolades, Washington head coach Collin Stark has been most impressed with Willis’ ability to stay grounded. He described the freshman as a “kid that is not about himself who is going to continue to work extremely hard for his teammates.”