By Sarah Light, staff writer

Mason City, Iowa, television station KIMT will launch its first 4 p.m. newscast today from its new studio in Albert Lea.

The decision to open a new studio in Minnesota and to launch the afternoon newscast came out of a desire to better serve the viewers in the organization&8217;s 20 county-viewing area in Iowa and Minnesota, said Steve Martinson, KIMT president and general manager.

Prior to this expansion, the news station had been primarily located in Mason City, Iowa.

&8220;It just seemed to make real good sense to expand and get another location, in part so we can serve Albert Lea and the surrounding communities better than we have in the past,&8221; Martinson said.

He said the studio, which is on the bottom floor of the Lea Center on the corner of Newton Avenue and William Street, has been in the works now for several years after being put on hold during the renovation of the building.

The new newscast &8212; which happens Monday through Friday &8212; will give the station the opportunity to fit in more news, in a format that&8217;s a little different than most newscasts, Martinson said.

It will have a less-rushed feel and will include more interviews on community issues, along with more interactive-type news.

&8220;It&8217;s exciting for us,&8221; he said. &8220;Albert Lea, I think, has kind of turned the corner. It seems like that area has some new economic growth and some new ideas.&8221;

Martinson said for years, the organization had been sending reporters 45 to 50 minutes away to cover events.

&8220;We&8217;ve always been interested in covering the news in those counties we need to serve, but physically having a location there is going to help us be more in tune with our viewers&8217; needs and issues that are up there,&8221; he said. &8220;We just thought it was the right thing to do.&8221;

Three KIMT employees will work at the new studio, including Renee Standera, who will be the anchor and producer of the newscast, and Amy Fleming.

Standera, who recently moved to the area from Cincinnati, said she is thrilled for the studio and newscast.

&8220;I&8217;m really looking forward to giving the people of Minnesota the news and information they need to go through their everyday lives,&8221; she said. &8220;I&8217;m just looking forward to meeting people and becoming a source of information for them.&8221;

The IMT of KIMT historically stands for Iowa-Minnesota Television.

Visit KIMT on the Web at www.kimt.com.