Iowa news briefs

Authorities say five people injured in Muscatine fire

MUSCATINE? Authorities say five people have been injured in a Muscatine house fire.

Cedar Rapids television station KCRG says firetrucks were dispatched to the home about 12:30 a.m. Monday.

Authorities say two adults and three children were taken to hospitals for injuries that included burns and smoke inhalation. One of the adults was flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for treatment.

The fire cause is being investigated.

Sinise, band rock out for Iowan who lost limbs

CEDAR FALLS ? The Lt. Dan Band formed by actor Gary Sinise rocked out loud and proud for an Iowan who lost limbs to a bomb blast while serving in Afghanistan.

The band performed Saturday night in Cedar Falls to help raise money to build a high-tech ?smart home? for Taylor Morris, who was wounded in May 2012.

Sinise named the band after his character in the movie ?Forrest Gump.? Gate receipts from the concert hadn?t been totaled, but an organizer reported about $5,000 in walk-up ticket sales in less than an hour before the event at Gateway Park.

Morris remains in the U.S. Navy while recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center near Washington. He hopes to return to Cedar Falls in the next six to 12 months.

Hardacre Theater in Tipton closes

TIPTON ? A 99-year-old eastern Iowa theater is closing because of the film industry's shift to digital movies.

The Hardacre Theater in Tipton closed last weekend after the conclusion of the long-running Hardacre Film Festival.

Owner Stuart Clark told WHBF-TV that the big problem is that the theater isn't equipped to play digital movies.

A group has been formed and is pursuing nonprofit status with hopes of buying and upgrading the theater.

Clark says he's hopeful the organization can raise enough money to buy the building and pay for a digital system.

Council Bluffs police shoot man

COUNCIL BLUFFS ? A man is being treated at an Omaha hospital after being shot in a confrontation with Council Bluffs police.

Few details were immediately released about the Sunday afternoon confrontation on the north side of Council Bluffs.

Officials said the man was armed with a knife and suffered several gunshot wounds to his chest.

The man may have also had self-inflicted wounds to his wrists.

Iowa City ponders returning hotel to building

IOWA CITY ? The Iowa City Council is considering renovating a century-old downtown building for use as a hotel.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the council on Tuesday will consider hiring Nebraska based HDR Engineering for a little more than $50,000 to study the downtown building. Other groups would share in the cost.

The building opened as the Jefferson Hotel in 1913 and described itself in an advertisement as "Service first-class and quick. Popular prices. Neat as a pin."

Council member Terry Dickens, who owns a jewelry store in the building, says he sees a potential of transforming the building into a boutique hotel.

The University of Iowa now uses upstairs space for offices.