iowa workforce development says the unemployment rate has dropped to three point six percent - significantly lower than the national average. but many manucfacturing companies in the corridor say they still have hundreds of jobs open each year, without workers trained to fill them. cbs 2 news reporter mellaney moore is live at one company right now trying to inspire people to go into manufacturing . tonight at kirkwood community college are 15 booths related to manufacturing.that's 15 opportunities to learn about what's made here in the corridor and how to be a part of it. it. betsy borchardt is a second year kirkwood community college student gearing up.......for a career in renewable energy. energy.manufacturers hope the

number of students like borchardt starts climbing. climbing. we work with a lot of manufacturers in the area and one of the things that we hear from them a lot is how difficult it is to find skilled work force.kirkwood staff say when many people think of manufacturing...they think of what the industry looked like years ago. ago. the united states is a country that was founded on making things.roger klouda's company in linn county makes plastic injection molds for major brands like polaris, yamaha and honda.he says manufacturing is much cleaner and more high-tech than it used to be...and something that can be made into a career. career. those of us who still make things have a lot of pride in that.msi mold builders is one of 15 companies at kirkwood's advancing the future tour. tour. they want people to realize that in order to continue to move forward and grow within our region, manufacturers play a key part in that.manufacturers say they have to compete nationally for workers...but promote the industry and local programs to get help here. here. i think a lot of times people don't realize what skill of math, for example is

needed to run one of their machines, what kinds of skills are necessary to do a nice weld.they hope programs like these help bring concerns over the lack of workers down. if you would like to learn about the list of companies here interested in meeting potential workers, we have resources for you on our website, cbs 2 iowa dot com. covering the corridor in cedar rapids, mellaney moore, cbs 2 news. in total - there are close to 6 thousand manufacturing employers in the state.it's a lucrative job too - the average salary in iowa is just over 51 thousand dollars. a member of the iowa board of regents now says the board may have "mishandled the selection process for the university of iowa president. subhash sahai says the regents' hiring of bruce harreld may have given the appearance of bias and a lack

of transparency since his selection - students and facility members have accused the regents of favoriting harreld for the job. today - board president bruce rastetter said that isn't true. "yes, bruce harreld also came to campus and bruce harreld wanted to do additional diligence work beyond what some of the other candidates did. which i would view as good. good.herrald will take office november 2nd. three marion men are now facing charges after a burglary spree in solon. police arrested 18-year-olds kain crotez and zachary ross and 19-year-old jordan lehman yesterday. according to police complaints, the three men broke into multiple cars on september 21st and stole credit cards.they also stole a gun and ammo clip out of one car.all three were caught on security video using the stolen cards and admitted the thefts to police.each one now

burglary and one theft charge. cbs 2 news is continuing to track the lastest numbers in the race to the white house. house.the latest quinninpiac poll has a new republican front runner among likely iowa caucus goersdoctor ben carson leads donald trump right now with 28-percent support to trump's 20.last month, quinnipiac had trump six points ahead of carson in iowa..florida senator marco rubio rounds out the top three with 13-percent support. be sure to tune in every week for cbs 2's iowa in focus. we'll takes you through the political news of the week, with in-depth analysis and stories about the campaign season you won't see anywhere else.tune in to iowa in focus, sunday mornings at 10:30 on cbs 2. bells ringing ringingit's almost that time of year again where you'll be seeing - and hearing - the salvation army around town.the organization needs your help. they're looking for volunteers

to get into the holiday spirit and give their time ringing bells.it's the salvation army's biggest fundraising effort.the red kettle campaign accounts for at least 45- percent of the army's operating budget. "it helps with food baskets throughout the year, rent and utility assistance, other social services. anything we need. i'll be em-ceeing the red kettle campaign kickoff banquet, november 12th at the cedar rapids marriott.you can find more information on our website. do you know somebody who needs a new car? how'd you like to be able to give a deserving person a car - for just one dollar? it can happen! happen!cbs 2 news reporter joy howe is here right now to tell us how. just one dollar - and just one catch: you can't nominate yourself. anderson automotive is rolling out its wheels to prosper program once again this year. the auto shop fixes up a car, and then gives it away for

*your help, to figure out who to give it to. they want you to think about someone who needs and really *deserves a car. all you have to do is tell anderson automotive that person's story, and they do the rest. "we just love hearing their story and how they try so hard. and sometimes life just beats them up. that doesn't make them a bad person, they've just had a little rougher time 11.38.09.14 11.33.42.06 it gives somebody the opportunity who's been kind of kicked down a little bit, the chance to get back on their feet. 11.33.46.02 11.33.46.02submit your nominations to anderson automotive - either through their website or handwritten - but they need to be postmarked by this tuesday, the 26th. then, we will announce the winner -you'll *only* see it right here on cbs2 next friday, october 30th! meet the man who's honoring veterans, one painting at a time. ray "bubba" sorensen is stopping in every iowa county creating "freedom" rocks murals painted on boulders as

a thank you to our nation's veterans for their service. today, sorenson was in solon painting johnson county's freedom rock. he says it's the least he can do for those who gave up their lives for their country. "im very blessed to live in america, and i have the freedom to choose what i want to do for a living. and i choose to be an artist, and what better way to do not only what you chose to do for a living, but to honor the people who protect that right." right."sorenson will be in the hawkeye state often - he hopes to do 10 to 12 rocks a year and has worked booked through 20-20. the greatest show on earth is in cedar rapids right now. now.the ringling brothers and barnum and bailey circus kicks off one of its last tours at the u-s cellular center this evening.it will also be one of the last times you'll get to see the iconic asian elephants. by 2018, the circus plans to phase out the elephant acts. instead, ringling will care for them at the center for

they plan to work with doctors and research cancer cures. "with ringling being the largest population of asian elephants, what better place to figure this out than with the ringling bros and barnum and bailey circus." circus."the circus will be in cedar rapids until sunday. still to come on the cbs 2 news at 6. second thoughts - why city leaders in marion are taking a closer look at the site of a

if you work hard, and you do your part, you should be able to get ahead and stay ahead. but the republicans... they want to go back to letting the super wealthy call the shots. they don't stand up for equal pay for women. they don't support paid family leave. they don't even really support refinancing student debt. we've got to get this economy working for the vast majority of americans, not just for those at the top. that's what i intend to do as president.

tomorrow on cbs 2 this morning, see a new way scammers are trying to steal your identity. identity. what you need to know to protect yourself. that's tomorrow on cbs 2 this morning. time now for this weeks cbj report reportjoining us live from the corridor business journal is reporter dave dewitte.dave - you're reporting that parts of a landmark building in cedar rapids are for sale? one of cedar rapids' downtown iconic buildings is for sale, although you can't buy all of it. it.much of the paramount building, which is attached to the paramount theater, hit the market recently for $1.8 million. the listing includes ground floor lobby space, plus more than 15,000 square feet of leasable retail space and office space on several floors above. built in the 1930s, the five-story structure was

flood of 2008 and divided into condominium ownership. it is in good shape, but the owner, who bought the space two years ago, is moving away, real estate agent tiffany earl said. we're also hearing there's some apprehension about the proposed y-m-c-a location in marion? marion?marion mayor snooks bouska doesn't like the site the ymca picked for a proposed $19 million facility to replace the half-century-old structure the y has long outgrown. the site on the city's north side at tower terrace road and winslow road is in the indian creek flood plain, mr. bouska noted in recent media reports. but the reports drew a quick response from ymca executive director bob carlson. he said the building site will be elevated three feet above the 100-year flood plain, and there are no plans at this time for baseball diamonds and tennis

courts in the flood plain that some media reported. mr. bouska wants to see a new y on the existing site on 10th avenue, but mr. carlson said the nenesite on the north end will be in the center of marion's population in 20 years. a big consulting contract awarded by the city of cedar rapids tuesday will launch the city's program to build about 4,000 curb cuts to improve accessibility for residents.the city hired recreation accessibility consultants for $935,000 to help the city survey and prioritize intersections that need curb cuts, and plan work that will begin next spring. assistant city manger sandy fowler said the city expects to have contract specifications to put the first 1,000 curb cut projects out for bid by the end of march, and wants contractors to be prepared for all that work. it's part of the city's recent settlement with the united states department of

in the city's compliance with the americans with disabilities act that will cost around $15 million. million. for more in-depth coverage of these stories and more, be sure to check out monday's edition of the corridor business journal. right now - a local software company is working around the clock - literally - to help good causes. causes.workers from geonetric are volunteering their time to build brand-new websites for local non-profits.at the end of 24 hours, 8 organizations will have their new website. that's double the amount of sites created at last years event. clear skies today - but we could be in for wet day tomorrow. justin roberts is here now wearing my favorite tie, with your cbs 2 'weather first'

and coming up in sports sportsiowa on a big week but lead the big 10 in an explosive category on offense -- hawk talk is next on cbs 2.. 2.."cbs 2 news connects with you.call us at 1-800-222-kgan call us at 1-800-you.connects with "cbs 2 news connects with you.call us at 1-800-222-kgan

if you think storm damage is the only cost of climate change, think again. from the rising price of food to higher insurance rates for homes and businesses, the economic damage will only get worse. but with american-made clean energy, we can save money on electricity and spur innovation to create new businesses and jobs. it all starts with 50% clean energy by 2030.

ever since greg davis became iowa's offensive coordinator in 2012 -- he's stressed the importance of explosive plays -- and this year, davis and the rest of the hawks are seeing plenty of explosive plays iowa leads the big 10 conference with plays from scrimmage of 40 yards or more with 12 --- in the last two seasons they've had a total of 13 explosive plays -- and that makes davis a happy camper. : "we're probably more explosive through seven games than i would have anticipated in august. if you can get a couple of chunk plays during the course of a game, it does wonders for field position, it does wonders for your football team. i think c.j. is seeing opportunities to take the ball down the field and taking them." don betts has been involved with the dike-new hartford football program since it became the dike - new hartford football program in 1992 -- this season his wolverines are undefeated and ranked 2nd in

1-a -- but winning isn't what betts is all about --- it's building leaders don betts -- our ed thomas coach of the week week there's a saying at dike-new hartford -- play with effort --- "it's not taking plays off, it's 100 percent effort 100 percent of the time."play with enthusiasim -- "grinding football, no matter what you are always going after people."and play with pride -- for the name across your chest -- "i'm honored to be a part of that."and don betts has -- since the start of dike new hartford football -- -- and while the teams have changed -- - his mindset hasn't. hasn't. "we really want to win games and focus on winning, but the truth of the matter is to many of our kids and coaches put too much time and effort in to this just to be about winning or losing football games... there's a bigger mission here."preparing

"kids have to complete 3 years of leadership training -- we teach them what leadership is, how to be a leader, we give them opportunities to lead so they can take those skills with them when they move on." on." "he makes us reliable, he makes us responsible, he holds us accountable for everything that we do."because to betts -- the best part about football -- is the kids "i love these kids... they're a great group a kids and i tell them every day the highlight of my day is when i show up to practice."where the wolverines tackle life -- last night the cubs dream season came to an end at wrigley -- as the mets completed a 4 game sweep in the n-l-c-s... -- initial recation for cubbies fans and players, ovbiously disappointment --- but remember how far this team came, last year they won 73 -- this year -- they flew the "w" one hundred and 1 times -- manager joe maddon put the positives in prospective after the game "to get within 4 games of the world series in your freshman

year is not a bad thing, so of course we wanted to go further and of course it's highly disappointing however, you have to look at the positives that are involved and that's what i want them to really focus on when they go home and they have a chance to reflect individually and as a group all that we've accomplished this year." we will be right back to take

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tonight" is up next.we ho hey, is that it? i think that's it. this is krystal, and her dream is to be a roller derby girl. we love krystal! we love krystal! oh my god it's jj watt! oh my god!