(Radio Iowa) – The state unemployment rate moved up one tenth of a point in October to three percent. Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend says there’s been minimal movement the last several months and that probably due to the pending election.  “I do think this is a reflection of the anxiety and uncertainty that employers had pre-election,” she says. Townsend says that anxiety impacted decisions on hiring, expanding, you know, capital investments. “They were just waiting to see kind of which direction they thought the fiscal policy would go and which direction they thought the economy would go. And now we have the election, and so hopefully they will be able to start making some decisions moving forward,” she says.

Townsend says it is not good to see manufacturing lose 16-hundred jobs, but she says the industry is still strong. “You know, manufacturing is our second largest industry. So it’s even with the 16-hundred layoffs, we still have over 223-thousand Iowans that are employed in manufacturing, which is good,” Townsend says. She says the workers at the manufacturing facilities get enough notice to start looking for a new job and many don’t go on unemployment. “Those who are highly skilled in advanced manufacturing, still the layoffs you see, for instance, at John Deere, those are highly skilled, highly prized, highly sought after employees,” Townsend says. “And so other employers engaged in advanced manufacturing are recruiting from those communities immediately.”

She says the industry demand is a bright spot at a down time when someone gets laid off. “Those folks are not going to have as difficult a time finding a job as someone who is laid off, who may not have, you know the skills or experience that those folks have.” The construction industry lost 18-hundred jobs in October, which Townsend says is a little early for seasonal layoffs there.

She says there’s hope that with some of the uncertainty of the election behind us, there will start be some improvements in that area.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal shelter is issuing a warning about scammers targeting the owners of lost pets. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says it’s gotten several calls from people who say they’ve gotten calls from someone claiming to be with the ARL. The caller says their lost pet has been found and needs urgent medical care, then says payment is needed, and they try to get the owner to cover the expenses through a third-party payment processor.

The Des Moines-based shelter is putting out the word that this is something it never does. All lost pets that arrive at the ARL are posted on two websites: PetcoLoveLost.org and IowaPetAlert.com. So if you get such a call, check there, call the ARL or local law enforcement.

MASON CITY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, today (Friday), report a woman convicted in Guthrie County on charges that include Involuntary Manslaughter/Public Offense and Child Endangerment-Serious Injury, and Marshall County charges of Operating Vehicle While Intoxicated and Child Endangerment-Serious Injury, failed to report back to the Beje Clark Residential Center as required, Wednesday (Nov. 13th). Seaira Marie Briceno is a 31-year-old, 5’0″, 180-pound White female.

She was admitted to the work release facility on June 4, 2024. Persons with information on Briceno’s whereabouts should contact local police.

(Radio Iowa) – The group that runs the online investigation website Find-Jodi-dot-com, dedicated to Mason City T-V anchor Jodi Huisentruit — who vanished in 1996, says they’ve confirmed -no- human remains were found in a recent search in Minnesota that was connected to the case. The Mason City Police Department recently searched an area in Winsted, Minnesota, which is about 15 miles west from the edge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Winsted’s police chief Justin Heldt tells the investigation group that farm animal remains were found in an unused city park that is adjacent to construction underway at an apartment complex. Heldt says it is not unusual in a rural community like Winsted to find animal bones.

Mason City’s police chief Jeff Brinkley had said a tip prompted the search.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce reports a slight policy change is coming for those who wish to participate in the City of Atlantic’s annual “Lighted Christmas Parade.” The parade will fill downtown Atlantic with holiday cheer Saturday, December 7th, starting at 6-p.m. Chamber Executive Director Bailey Smith says “Due to a growing crowd size the last few years, the Chamber is implementing a ‘no’ policy for throwing any items, including candy, from floats this year. If float participants want to hand anything out during the parade, they may do so by walking the sidewalks of Chestnut Street but may not distribute any type of product on the street during the parade.

“Public safety is always our top concern when implementing any type of event in town,” Smith says. “We love how much everyone enjoys this parade and are so proud to see it get bigger every year. We think with this minor adjustment, we’ll be able to keep people from congregating to the middle of the street and avoid any major safety issues.”

Each float will have a holiday theme, lighting and music. Awards will be given for: Best Overall, Best Holiday Spirit and Twinkle Twinkle award. Fireworks will kick off the Christmas magic over the Rock Island Depot, starting at 6 PM. The Lighted Parade & Fireworks are sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son, McDermott & Son Roofing and Rush, CPA & Associates. Bailey Smith says “The Fireworks and Lighted Parade is a holiday tradition that Atlantic families look forward to every year. It’s always fun to see how creative people get with their light displays each year.”

Before the parade, join Santa and Atlantic Hy-Vee at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA beginning at 9 AM for ‘Pancakes with Santa’ and other fun activities. Santa will be in his Cabin in City Park following pancakes from 3 PM – 5:30 PM. Pancakes with Santa is sponsored by Smith Land Service, Atlantic Dental Center, Sonntag Development and Nishna Valley Dental.

If you would like to participate in the Lighted Parade, visit www.atlanticiowa.com for a registration form. Line-up begins at 5-p.m. at 6th & Walnut Street with judging beginning at 5:30-p.m. Registration is not required, but is encouraged.

Pick up a Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, ‘like’ the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan) to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities and a printable version of the brochure at www.atlanticiowa.com. Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA or #ChristmasinAtlantic and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook or Instagram pages. Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce with any

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Did you know there were TWO Thanksgiving celebrations in Iowa…in the same year? It’s true. Learn more about why and when, during a special program taking place this Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, beginning at 2-p.m. The program will be held inside the American Legion Memorial Building (201 Poplar St.), in Atlantic. Leo Landis has researched the forgotten stories that began when Iowa became a territory, and shifted to setting the special celebration for as late as December, since that time.

Landis is the Curator for the State Historical Society in Iowa, as well as the State Historical Museum. He continues to add new exhibits, as information is discovered, and is passionate about making Iowa history available and interesting.

Atlantic Rock Island Society (ARISE) is sponsoring the program. There is no fee to attend, but donations are appreciated. The American Legion Memorial Building is handicapped accessible.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Pottawattamie County was arrested Tuesday afternoon, on a drug charge. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 23-year-old Allen Ray Schill, of Oakland, was arrested at around 1:15-p.m., for Possession of Marijuana. Schill was booked-into the Montgomery County Jail and held on a cash bond.

(Oakland, Iowa) – If you live in Oakland and heard tornado/fire sirens going-off, you didn’t need to worry. Officials with the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) posted on social media, that the sirens weren’t alerting Oakland residents them to any sort of threat. The EMA said the sirens in Oakland had malfunctioned because of a technical issue.

The social media post said “There is no threat or hazard. The issue is being worked on at this time.”

DES MOINES, Iowa — Officials with the FBI are asking for help identifying a man authorities said may have critical information about a child victim in a sexual exploitation case. The FBI describes the man as being between 45 to 65 years old, bald with a dark goatee. They are calling him “John Doe 49.” As part of their search, agents released several photos of the man.

Officials say he has at least five visual tattoos, including the word “Dabby” on the right side of his chest.  The FBI investigators do not have any specific leads on where the man is located, so they released this information nationwide. If anyone recognizes him, contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

CLIVE, Iowa — A Clive man has been arrested after authorities say he assaulted a woman then sent explicit photos of her on social media. KCCI-TV in Des Moines reports 20-year-old Gemini Smith is charged with assault, robbery, criminal mischief and violation of a no-contact order.

According to the criminal complaint, Smith went to the woman’s house to pick up a sweatshirt he left there. Once he arrived, documents say he pepper-sprayed and punched her. Smith took her phone and fled the scene. Authorities say Smith logged into the victim’s social media accounts and sent explicit photos and videos of her to people without her permission.

Smith is scheduled to be back in court Nov. 25.