Thursday Morning Read: Iowa’s prison costs grow; DNA database leads local woman to half brother; Cedar Rapids man with 56 convictions to stay in jail

TODAY'S WEATHER — Increasing clouds. High 59, low 34.

IOWA'S PRISON COSTS GROW — State taxpayers paid an average daily cost of $95.16 to house nearly 8,100 inmates in Iowa's nine prisons during the fiscal year that ended in June 2016, according to a state audit issued Wednesday. Read more: http://bit.ly/2yMSge2

DNA DATABASE LEADS LOCAL WOMAN TO HALF BROTHER — Pamela Cady's longtime hobby has taken her to some unexpected places. Just last weekend, for instance, she met family she didn't know she had before last May. Read more: http://bit.ly/2h8vp2H

CEDAR RAPIDS MAN WITH 56 CONVICTIONS TO STAY IN JAIL — A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a Cedar Rapids man, who he said has the 'worst criminal history I've seen' with 56 convictions, will remain in federal custody pending trial on charges of distributing synthetic drugs. Read more: http://bit.ly/2yM1KXj

IOWA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS — The Gazette's sports writers pick the semifinalists and championship games for the Iowa high school football playoffs. Read more: http://bit.ly/2yNM0mg

QUOTABLE — 'I am confident that workers will once again claim victory in the November 2018 election when those politicians who stabbed them in the back are sent packing.' Danny Homan, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 61, after an overwhelming number of city, county and school district employees in Iowa voted to maintain their union affiliations. Read more: http://bit.ly/2h9EtEt