Thursday Morning Read: Shooting victim, bargaining debate, better cell service

'LIFE-THREATENING' SHOOTING — A woman is facing life-threatening injuries after being shot Wednesday, authorities said. Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Beulow said police were called to the 1300 block of L Avenue NE around 4:30 p.m. for a report of shots fired. Police believe the injured woman and the shots fired report are related and that the vehicle in which the woman was transported to the hospital could be the same one involved in the shooting. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/news/woman-hospitalized-with-life-threatening-injuries-following-shooting-in-cedar-rapids/

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING DEBATE GRINDS ON — Iowa lawmakers put in a full day Wednesday talking about making large-scale changes to Chapter 20, the public employee collective bargaining law. The Republican plan 'cuts and guts' collective bargaining for 184,000 Iowa public employees, Rep. Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City, said during debate that continued well into the evening in both chambers. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/iowa-senate-debates-collective-bargaining-through-the-night/

BETTER CELL SERVICE FOR CARVER, KINNICK — Following years of dropped calls, never-received text messages, and crawling internet service, Hawkeye fans should expect a marked improvement in their cellular communications inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena and Kinnick Stadium. U.S. Cellular — working with project manager Connectivity Wireless Solutions — on Wednesday announced it's the first wireless carrier to deploy a distributed antenna system network in Carver — a system that will be up and running in time for the men's basketball game Saturday against Illinois. The cellular company also plans to add a network at the UI Stead Family Children's Hospital later this month and at Kinnick before the April 21 spring football game. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/sports/university-of-iowa-to-debut-improved-carver-kinnick-cell-service/

UNI ON A ROLL — A 64-61 escape Wednesday night of Bradley at McLeod Center was UNI's fourth win in a row and its ninth in 10 games. That 0-5 start to the Missouri Valley Conference season? Yeah, forget that. Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/basketball/surging-uni-wins-again-escapes-bradley-64-61/

QUOTABLE: 'I want the option to die peacefully and I deserve that. It is time for lawmakers to hear my plea. Access to a peaceful death on my own terms shouldn't be determined by where I live. We want the same freedoms as terminally ill people in six other states.' — Lori Gibbs, a Dubuque woman who is a member of the Compassion & Choices advocacy group, at a news conference Wednesday regarding an Iowa Legislature proposal to approve medical aid in dying for people voluntarily seeking end-of-life options