CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The state’s latest job report show unemployment is slightly lower, but there was also a dip in job growth. Iowa’s unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in March from 3.4 percent in February. This is also a bit better than 3.6 percent a year ago. It’s also still better than the national employment rate, which fell to 4.3 percent. The state saw 500 fewer jobs available from February, the third decrease in the last four months. Iowa has lost 5,800 non-farm jobs since November. In the past year, Iowa has lost 20,700 jobs. Common Sense Institute Iowa says this ranks the state as 46th in the nation for job growth. The state’s Workforce Development program says the loss of jobs is mainly in private service industries, such as professional, business and financial services. Health care and social assistance added 1,100 jobs in March, by far the most across sectors. Administrative support and waste management showed the biggest loss in March, losing 1,000 jobs. In the last year, manufacturing continues to lead with the most job losses, now 3,800. This is mainly in heavy equipment production, the state says.
JOHNSTON, Iowa (KCRG) — The Iowa National Guard says more soldiers have returned from their deployment. 140 soldiers assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division have safely returned to the United States. A welcome home ceremony will be held next week in Des Moines. The date and time of the welcome home ceremony is not yet finalized. The troops are some of the 1,800 that had been deployed since May 2025 as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a counter-terrorism effort in Iraq and Syria. 107 soldiers were welcomed home last week in Cedar Rapids. Around 200 soldiers remain deployed in the Middle East.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Cedar Rapids Community School District has hired David Nicholson as its new Chief Financial Officer, a return to the district where he previously served for four years. Nicholson will start October 1, succeeding Karla Hogan, who is retiring in January 2027. Nicholson comes to the role from the Council Bluffs Community School District, where he currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. He previously spent four years as CRCSD’s Executive Director of Business Services. Nicholson also had previous financial roles including Vice President and CFO at Central Iowa Power Cooperative, CFO and Operating Officer for the Linn-Mar Community School District, and CFO and Treasurer for the Central Rivers Area Education Agency. He also had roles in education and community including President of the Iowa Association of School Business Officials (IASBO), Iowa Department of Education CAR/SES, served on the Marion City Council, and served as President of the Marion East/Cedar Rapids Rotary.
SCOTT COUNTY, Iowa (KWQC) – A Davenport man is accused of pointing a weapon at a person during a road rage incident Tuesday night. Traveon Hall, 21, was arrested Tuesday and charged with assault while displaying a weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor. At 4:21 p.m., police received a 911 call saying a gun was pointed at someone during a road rage incident on I-80 near mile marker 280, according to the Scott County Sheriff’s Office. Witnesses told police Hall pointed a gun at someone while driving down the interstate, according to an arrest affidavit. The affidavit said Hall told police he took a gun from the glove box, loaded it and chambered a round. Hall has since posted bond, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 26.
