Thursday Morning Read: Iowa fire deaths highest in more than a decade; Martin found guilty of Cedar Rapids murder; Kirkwood cuts on-campus nurse position

TODAY'S WEATHER — Light snow likely. High 15, low 3.

IOWA FIRE DEATHS HIGHEST IN MORE THAN A DECADE — Two Eastern Iowa fires that killed a combined nine people, including four children, within five days made 2017 the deadliest year in more than a decade for fire deaths in Iowa. Read more: http://bit.ly/2DnLQ3Y

MARTIN FOUND GUILTY OF CEDAR RAPIDS MURDER — Quarzone Martin was found guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Andrew Meeks during a July drug deal in Cedar Rapids. Read more: http://bit.ly/2DkftTO

KIRKWOOD CUTS ON-CAMPUS NURSE POSITION — Kirkwood Community College no longer will have a registered nurse working part-time on campus when students return next month for the spring semester. Read more: http://bit.ly/2DnkLhi

HAWKEYES PREVAIL IN BRONX BRAWL — The only thing that saved the Hawkeyes from being buried in the first half was the frozen turf. Boston College couldn't quite sink the shovel deep enough. Still, Iowa is OK fighting from its back, like a totally confident MMA fighter. Read more: http://bit.ly/2Dru1Rj

QUOTABLE — 'Homelessness is not contained within a shelter, and having these people interact on a daily basis is going to raise awareness. That type of awareness is way more powerful than what some of these other very good and necessary organizations can do.' John Derryberry, incoming executive director of Family Promise of Linn County, a program that arranges for homeless families to spend the night in local churches and helps connect them with services and jobs. Read more: http://bit.ly/2DnFSjp