OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The demand for cybersecurity experts has grown as crooks with computers hack their way into business, government and other networks.
CyberSeek, a project funded by the U.S. Commerce Department, says nearly 4,600 people are working on cybersecurity in Nebraska and that there are openings for more than 2,000 workers. Nearly 4,300 are doing cybersecurity in Iowa, with openings for more than 2,400 people.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that colleges in both states have been trying to meet the need for more cyberdefenders. Bellevue University in Bellevue has invested $1.3 million into its new Intelligence Systems Lab, where students learn how to break into networks and then make them more secure.

The university is among the few honored for a strong academic cybersecurity program by being named a center of academic excellence by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Three others in Nebraska are the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha’s Metropolitan Community College and Norfolk-based Northeast Community College.

Only Iowa State holds that distinction in Iowa, and it was one of the first seven schools in the nation to win that designation, in 1999, said Doug Jacobson, director of the Information Assurance Center there. “Since the adversary is dynamic and persistent, the field changes constantly,” Jacobson said. “We need more schools in the game to help produce the students.”

The endorsement means among other things that a college has put the necessary resources and expertise into offering up-to-date cybersecurity classes. Cybersecurity salaries vary depending on expertise and responsibilities, according to CyberSeek. But the average for cybercriminal investigators is $85,000 a year. The average for cybersecurity architects who design system concepts: $129,000.

Janel Nelson, who’s taught at Bellevue University, said the need for more cybersecurity experts remains acute. “We’ve had 20 years to work on this problem — more than 20 years — and it’s just as bad as when I started,” Nelson said.
Cybersecurity was undermanned then, she said. And it’s undermanned now.

Federal Food officials said Friday, that Tyson Foods has significantly expanded a recall of its chicken strips over concerns that some might be contaminated with pieces of metal. The recall now affects more than 11.8 million pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken strip products that were shipped nationwide, up from more than 69,000 pounds when the recall initially was issued in March, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said in a statement.

The expansion comes after three of six people who complained about finding pieces of metal in certain Tyson products also said they suffered an injury in their mouth, the agency said.
The products now being recalled were produced from October through March 8, and they have “use by” dates of October 1, 2019, through March 7, 2020. Each of the recalled products have establishment number “P-7221” on the back of the package.

Products under the recall include:
• Tyson fully cooked crispy chicken strips in 25-ounce and 40-ounce bags;
• Tyson fully cooked Buffalo-style chicken strips in 25-ounce and 40-ounce bags;
• Tyson fully cooked honey BBQ flavored chicken strips in 25-ounce bags;
• Best Choice Buffalo-style chicken strips in 20-ounce bags;
• Great Value fully cooked chicken strips in 25-ounce bags;
• Food Lion crispy chicken strips in 25-ounce bags.

In the previous recall, the products had only one use-by date: November 30, 2019. The Food Safety and Inspection Service said it initially discovered the problem because of two consumer complaints about extraneous materials in chicken strip products. But the agency said it “is now aware of six complaints during this time frame involving similar pieces of metal.”
Three of the complainants alleged they had an oral injury, it said. Consumers are urged to throw away or return products that might be affected and not to consume them.

(HANLONTOWN) — A pedestrian on 390th Street in northern Iowa’s Worth County was struck and killed by a car Friday evening. The Iowa State Patrol reports 58-year old Rick Johnson, of Kensett, was walking eastbound on 390th Street, about one-eighth of a mile east of Ironwood Avenue at around 5:20-p.m., when he was hit by a 2013 VW Passat. The car was driven by 42-year old Luke Beenken, of Mason City. The accident, which took place northeast of Hanlontown, remains under investigation.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by Deputies with the Worth County Sheriff’s Office, Mercy Air Med, Hanlontown Fire and Rescue, and the Forest City Ambulance Service.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former Vice President Joe Biden is focusing his 2020 White House campaign on South Carolina this weekend while several other Democratic candidates are spending time in Iowa, another early-voting state. Biden is making his debut visit in the first-in-the-South primary state with a stop Saturday in Columbia, the capital, followed by a fundraiser. He opened his latest run for president with explicit appeals to white, working-class voters across the Midwest, pledging his support for unions and promising to rebuild the middle class, Biden now is trying to gauge whether his message will resonate among black voters whose backing will be crucial in South Carolina and elsewhere.

Iowa is the focus for some of his rivals, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, as well as former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke. Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper are campaigning in New Hampshire.

Outside those early-voting states, Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is in Houston, Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio visits Michigan and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is in California.
There are more than 20 Democrats competing to take on President Donald Trump in 2020.

Officials with Glenwood Municipal Utilities, Friday, lifted a Boil Water Order for the City of Pacific Junction. The Order was lifted after the City’s water supply passed water safety tests, which means the water no longer needs to be boiled prior to consumption. GMU officials, however, say they’re still turning water services on for those who request it.

Anyone in need of restored services should come to the GMU office Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They also ask that someone be present at the residence when the water is turned back on for precautionary measures. Officials said also, that while water services are back in Pacific Junction, sewer services are still out. Residents should still refrain from using their facilities or drains to prevent back up problems in their homes.

GMU officials also ask residents to notify their office if their homes are being demolished, so that meters and radio read units can be removed. Glenwood Municipal Utility’s phone number is 712-527-4868.