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.

MercyOne North Iowa welcoming volunteers back

While escort, wayfinding and in-surgery center volunteers are allowed to return, in-patient care volunteers are not being brought back at this time

Iowa Sec. of State shares identity protection program for sexual assault survivors

The 'Safe at Home' program provides a legal substitute address, as well as mail forwarding and confidential voter registration

North Iowa welcomes home champion Bulls: 'It means everything that we can bring a championship to this town'

This is the 4th championship the team has won in their 10-year history, beating Rochester 5-1 on Monday

Developments bringing promising signs to North Iowa

Starboard Square is the latest in a series of developments to the Courtway Park site at I-35 & Iowa Highway 122

Walking a block for autism awareness

17 teams participated in this year's Walk-a-Block for One Vision's Children's Autism Center

Iowa State Sen. Ragan and State Rep. Latham hold virtual forum

Workforce and business were the two primary topics discussed during Friday's forum held over Zoom

As DIY projects are in high demand, lumber prices are skyrocketing

The prices for lumber have had a trickle effect on prices for other materials like drywall and even home prices

Iowa agencies working to raise awareness of child abuse

Over 30,000 assessments for child abuse or neglect were filed in 2020, according to the Iowa Department of Human Service. During Child Abuse Prevention Month, agencies like DHS are working to get resources to those who need it most and reduce the number of cases and assessments.

Cleaning up a 'milky' mess in Mason City

An ongoing investigation found that an organic milkshake ingredient turned up in a plunge pool along a Mason City walking path.

Waldorf University calls off classes for a 'snow day'

While there was no actual snow on the ground, the University made the decision to cancel classes on Wednesday as a reward for students' hard work during a challenging year.

Data is updated nightly.

Cases: 560450

Reported Deaths: 7122

Data is updated nightly.

Cases: 359450

Reported Deaths: 5839