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Iowa early News Headlines: Saturday, 12/23/17

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December 23rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — One adult and two children have died and two other children were injured in a mobile home fire in Davenport. Firefighters responded Thursday night to the fire at the Five Seasons mobile home park and found heavy smoke and flames. District Fire Chief Joe Smith says it took crews about a half hour to extinguish the fire. Officials wouldn’t identify those killed and injured until relatives could be notified. The injured children were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A nonpartisan group that reviews Iowa’s finances has estimated a shortfall of about $37 million in the current $7.2 billion state budget. The Legislative Services Agency provided the data in a report this week. The agency adds the next state budget, set to go into effect in July, has an expected shortfall of about $65 million. That’s due to built-in increases like plans to return money to Iowa’s emergency reserves, which helped plug previous budget shortfalls.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — A southeast Iowa jury has found a former boarding school director guilty of abusing students. WGEM-TV reports that on Friday morning jurors found Benjamin Trane guilty of intent to commit sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and child endangerment. The jury began deliberating Thursday afternoon. Trane was the owner and director of Midwest Academy in Keokuk. The school was closed in January 2016.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa businessman has pleaded guilty to evading federal income taxes. Prosecutors say 49-year-old Michael Collins, of McClelland, entered the plea Thursday in a U.S. District Court in Council Bluffs. His sentencing is scheduled for May 11.