MASON CITY – Repairs are underway on the existing Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’. The bridge was closed on Feb. 25 after it was discovered that two of the bridge piers shifted, making it unsafe for traffic. During the repair process, portions of the bridge deck will be removed, leaving large gaps in the surface. The repairs are expected to be complete by late April. Construction continues on the new bridge adjacent to the existing bridge. Project completion is anticipated in 2026..

IOWA – The majority of Iowa’s K-12 schools and colleges have hit spring break, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be heading out of state for the week. According to AAA, just under one-fourth of Iowa’s families had planned a vacation. Among those, 21% planned on a beach getaway and 28% were headed to a large city or metro area. However, the same survey conducted by the group shows nearly 80 percent of Iowans will take some form of out-of-state vacation this year.

MINNEAPOLIS – It was championship Saturday for many NCAA collegiate athletes from the teams in Iowa. The Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball team pulled off a comeback in Minneapolis, winning 94-89 in Overtime against Nebraska to win their third consecutive Big Ten Tournament Championship. Just a few hours later, the Drake Bulldogs Men’s Basketball team earned an NCAA tournament bid at Arch Madness, holding off Indiana State 84-80 to win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament title. Late into the evening, the Iowa State Cyclones wrestling team fended off Oklahoma State to win the Big 12 wrestling crown and send eight individuals to the NCAA bracket. UNI had Parker Keckeisen and Ryder Downey win individual gold and earn their way to the final tournament of the season as well.