DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport school officials say several students had to be treated after a school resource officer deployed pepper spray during an incident at Central High School.
Television station KWQC reports that the incident happened Friday. The school district says there was a disturbance in the 3rd-floor hallway, and the officer responded with the use of pepper spray. Several people reported having trouble breathing and were treated by the school nurse.

Officials say windows were opened on the third floor to help air out the building. There were no reports of serious injuries.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — College graduates will be hitting a hot job market this spring if they’re ready to begin their careers, counselors and recruiters said. “The market’s pretty phenomenal for our students right now,” said Bill Watts, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s director of advising and career services. He said graduates have better chances this year to land good jobs than he’s seen in 20 years. The National Association of Colleges and Employers said last month that hiring of college graduates will go up 10.7% this year from last year, the Omaha World-Herald reported .

The United States’ unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent last month, Nebraska’s to 2.8% and Iowa’s to 2.4%. That means there’s a comparatively small supply of prospective employees available, workforce experts said. The Nebraska Labor Department estimated recently that the state will have 21,410 annual openings through 2026 in high-skill, high-wage, high-demand jobs requiring at least a bachelor’s degree. College career directors said their job fairs have boomed. Watts said the Lincoln fair has moved from the city campus student union to Pinnacle Bank Arena because so many businesses and organizations come.

Creighton University had a waiting list for businesses for its career fair last fall, said Jeremy Fisher, Creighton’s career center director. And the Iowa State agriculture career day in February drew 277 companies and organizations, which tied the Cyclones’ record, said Mike Gaul, head of career services for Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Engineering and computer science grads are highly prized by many employers, but advisers said liberal arts majors can maximize their chances by exhibiting their ability to think critically, communicate and work with teams as well as getting work experience.

Natalie Knott, of Louisville, will graduate from Hastings College with a double major: business administration and marketing. She said she had 18 job interviews — more than one with some companies — and received two offers. She took a job with NRC Health, a Lincoln-based consumer researcher for hospitals. “It’s such a relief to have it done,” she said of the job hunt. “I’ve had a plan and a vision of what I wanted to do.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal drug enforcement officials say nearly 9 tons of medication was collected last month in Nebraska and Iowa as part of a program that allows the public to turn in unused, expired or unwanted prescription drugs.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration says more than 5,660 pounds of medication was turned in at 47 sites in Nebraska the DEA’s Drug Take-Back Day held April 27. In Iowa, 11,680 pounds of prescription medication was collected.

The DEA says that since the program began in 2010, Nebraska has collected 94,149 pounds of discarded drugs, and Iowa has collected 135,255 pounds. The program is intended to curb prescription drug abuse and overdoses and accidental poisonings.

A bicyclist has died after being struck by a vehicle in Pottawattamie County. Sheriff’s officials say the accident happened at around 2:25-a.m. in the area of Old Lincoln Highway and Northline Drive.

When deputies arrived, they found a man suffering from serious injuries.  The vehicle that struck the bicyclist had left the area.  The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Currently, investigators are working to identify the male and locate the vehicle involved. No further information is available at this time.