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Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, Oct. 4th 2015

News

October 4th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Alliant Energy is set to break ground next week on a 67,000-square-foot operations center in Mason City. The Globe Gazette reports that the groundbreaking will be held at 2 p.m. Monday on about 20 acres of land at 1035 43rd Street Southwest.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — MidAmerican Energy officials say they believe too much odorant added to a natural gas line caused more than 100 people to reports the smell in their Des Moines homes. The reports were made Friday morning. MidAmerican spokeswoman Ruth Comer says crews were sent out to resolve the issue. She also noted that Friday was likely the first time residents were turning on their furnace for this season.

FAIRFAX, Iowa (AP) — Fire officials say five children safely escaped from a fire that destroyed two homes in the eastern Iowa town of Fairfax. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that the fire began Friday in an occupied home. Fairfax fire chief Mike Sankot says strong wind caused the flames to spread to a nearby house still under construction. None of the children in the first house were hurt.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a house fire in Waterloo severely damaged a home and left the couple who occupied it hospitalized overnight for smoke inhalation. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says the fire was reported around 10:30 p.m. Friday. Officials have not released the names of the couple, but say they are in their 50s.