Alex Jirgens joined KIMT as a multimedia journalist in January of 2018.

Title: Multimedia journalist

ajirgens@kimt.com

https://www.facebook.com/jirgensKIMT3/

I am a native of the Sunflower State...Kansas! I was born in Ottawa, grew up in Pleasanton (both near Kansas City), McPherson and then Lehigh (both near Wichita), where I grew up on a farm. After high school, I then attended Hutchinson Community College for two years. After a couple years of working and saving up, I went back to school, this time at Kansas State (Every Man a Wildcat!) in the Fall of 2015. I graduated in December 2017 with a B.S. in Journalism/Mass Communication, and minored in Geography.

I have been interested in media as a whole since I was a kid, where I would keep my ear next to the radio, my eyeballs were glued to the TV, and reading the newspaper before school. I first broke into broadcasting at radio stations KHUT and KWBW in Hutchinson, as a board operator for a Sunday morning church service and high school athletic broadcasts, in October 2012. In August 2013, I joined KBBE radio in McPherson, hosting a Sunday morning Christian music show. In addition, I produced commercials and weather updates, as well as hosting two New Year's Eve shows. In September 2015, I accepted two positions: one at Manhattan Broadcasting Company, where I was a DJ on two stations, delivered live severe weather coverage on four stations, hosted a halftime scoreboard show for Friday night football broadcasts, and later became a City Commission reporter and overnight newscaster; and another with K-State's campus station KSDB, where I hosted a live talk show called "Open Mic" once a week, and a couple of music shows, as well as producing station imaging and promotions. In addition, I also anchored, produced and directed newscasts for K-State's TV station KKSU. During the Summer of 2017, I was accepted into an internship program at all-news radio station 680 News/CFTR in Toronto, Canada, an experience I will never forget. I did everything from reporting and script writing to doing live traffic updates and business reports. In November 2017, I was offered a position at KIMT.

In my free time, I enjoy traveling and sightseeing (if there is anything I should see in Iowa or Minnesota that you recommend, please let me know!), cooking, attending live music and comedy events, listening to new and old music (I have a very diverse taste in music...from hip hop to soundtracks, I listen to it all!), rooting for the Wildcats, Chiefs, Royals, Packers (there's a long story behind that) and Vikings, and visiting with family and friends.

Talon Development planning second Mason City housing development

After the success of The River, a 102-unit market rate housing complex is planned at a nearby site

WWII era plane on display this weekend at Mason City Airport

'That's All, Brother', en route to the annual EAA AirVenture show in Wisconsin, led the first charge of paratroopers who parachuted into Normandy on D-Day

Demand fueling higher prices at the gas pump

Other factors including state and federal gas taxes, fuel blends, profit margins and volume play a role in why you're spending more at the gas station

Finkenauer set to run for U.S. Senate

The former Iowa 1st District Representative is intending to run for longtime incumbent Senator Grassley's seat in the 2022 election

Vaccine lottery kicks off this week in Cerro Gordo County

Those who decide to get vaccinated will have the chance to win $250

Eviction moratorium ends July 31

The moratorium was enacted to protect renters from finding themselves without a home during the pandemic

Have your say with a 'roadside chat'

Iowa DOT is asking residents to submit driver safety messages that will be on display on electronic message boards throughout the Hawkeye State

Project aims to restore Clear Lake seawall

Parts of the caps on the seawall are missing large stones and mortar, which has frequently been found in the water. Now, a former state senator is working with city and state leaders to refurbish the 80+-year-old wall.

Community Kitchen of North Iowa receives nearly $9K in COVID-19 relief funds

The funds covered the cost of a new refrigerator as well as to-go containers

NIACC set to announce new season of Performing Arts series

After the pandemic brought the curtains down prematurely, and a soft relaunch with some streamed events,

Data is updated nightly.

Cases: 609016

Reported Deaths: 7741

Data is updated nightly.

Cases: 374664

Reported Deaths: 6109