Friday Morning Read: Blue Grass fire victims named, Salvation Army short of goal, cold temps to continue

Blue Grass Fire Victims Named - The Blue Grass Police Department released the names of four family members killed in a Christmas Day house fire.

Killed in the early morning fire were Larry Loose Sr., 71, and Rose Loose, 71, as well as their sons Steven Loose, 36, and Michael Loose, 35, police reported. Michael Loose was able to escape the burning house and was taken to a hospital, but later died.

The cause of the blaze still is under investigation, Sgt. Garrett Jahns said Thursday morning. Read more about the aftermath of this fire here.

Cold Temps Continue - If it seems we're experiencing a more normal winter in Eastern Iowa compared with those of recent years, it really may be too early to know for sure.

Below normal temperatures are expected to continue in Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa well into next week. The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities is forecasting high temperatures sharply below normal for this time of year.

'Our high temperatures right now are supposed to be in the high 20s across Eastern Iowa,' NWS meteorologist intern Peter Speck said Thursday. 'Our low temperatures should be in the teens. Read more about what the forecast outlook means for Iowans here.

Iowa Women handle Wisconsin - They'll be OK, Chase Coley insists.

'Initially, we were frustrated,' Coley said, in the wake of Makenzie Meyer's broken hand that has her out indefinitely. 'But we realized, we're fine. Everybody we still have, has different strengths.'

No. 21 Iowa survived its first game after suffering its second backcourt setback, holding off Wisconsin, 56-46, in a Big Ten women's basketball game in front of 3,865 Thursday night at the Kohl Center. Read more about Iowa's victory over Wisconsin here.

Salvation Army short of Goal - Though Salvation Army volunteers and employees have stopped ringing bells for the annual Red Kettle campaign, the Salvation Army of Cedar Rapids still needs almost $83,000 to meet its fundraising goal.

The organization has raised $655,331, or 89 percent of its holiday fundraising goal of $748,000, according to a Thursday news release.

Lia Pontarelli, director of development and communications, said the organization still hopes to meet that goal.Read more about this goal here.

Chef Basil Hadjis dies - For Basil Hadjis, life was about sharing three things: food, love and laughter.

That's what his children and former co-workers alike said after the well known Cedar Rapids chef died Tuesday after collapsing at home. He was 62.

'He loved life, he loved people, he loved entertaining, he loved providing happiness in any way he could,' his son Theo Hadjis said. Read more about Basil Hadjis here.