Iowa’s unemployment rate went up slightly in January. Kerry Koonce crunches the numbers for Iowa Workforce Development. “Our rate was at four-point-three percent (4.3) — it’s a tenth of a percent up from four-point-two (4.2) in December. Part of that is due to benchmarking as the numbers change a little bit. But, compared to January 2013 — we were at five percent — so we are significantly below where we were a year ago,” Koonce says. The benchmarking Koonce mentioned is the annual process where they bring all of last year’s monthly numbers up to date before figuring the new year numbers. Koonce says the numbers released each month sometimes don’t include all the information available.

“Sometimes it’s a quarter later when all of the data comes in, January’s data, it can be April before we see everything. So we go back and true up those numbers to what the real information is from what employers report on their quarterly information and those kinds of things,” Koonce says. “And so you will see some changes in each month’s numbers of the previous year which overall can have an impact on what the annual rate is and those kinds of things.” The numbers show the state lost 73-hundred jobs from December to January.

“The majority of that came in the trade, transportation and utilities area…most of it in retail trade. And what it looks like is the seasonable adjustment numbers maybe didn’t capture everything. So, we are expecting that maybe next month that’s going to kind of even back out,” according to Koonce. Fifty-six-hundred of the lost jobs were in that trade, transportation and utilities sector.

“We think that when the February numbers come out — and those will come out later this month — we will see where we are normally at this time of year,” Koonce says. Regardless of how the numbers are adjusted, she says the overall picture is improving. “We’re almost a full percentage point below where we were this time last year. So that’s a significant improvement for our economy as we continue move forward,” Koonce says. “Plus, our unemployment claims continue to decrease, new claims continue to go down.”

The January 2013 unemployment rate for the state was five percent. The U-S unemployment rate for January inched down to six-point-six-percent (6.6) percent from six-point-seven (6.7) percent in December. This was the lowest national rate since October 2008.

(Radio Iowa)

A new initiative is seeking out Iowa gardeners for help in reducing food insecurity in the state. Cultivate Iowa aims to promote the health benefits of food gardening and to increase produce donations to food pantries. Angie Tagtow, program coordinator for the campaign, says 400-thousand Iowans don’t have access to healthy food. Tagtow says, “We thought gardening would be an innovative strategy to improving access to healthful food, improving self-sufficiency, and hopefully improving overall food security and health of low-resource populations.”

Tagtow says studies find people with less money have higher rates of diet-related chronic disease because they eat fewer fruits and vegetables. She says growing food will benefit the community but it can also help the gardener.  “The cost of food is going to be going up and so by growing your own, it actually saves a tremendous amount on your food budget in comparison to what the food prices really are,” she says.

Households and individuals who can’t afford regular access to food are considered food insecure. The project is being organized by Food Access and Health Work Group, which connects the Iowa Food Bank Association and other pantries to state agencies.

(Radio Iowa)

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on drug charges earlier this month. On March 8th, 61-year old Kenneth Allen Frazee, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. And, on March 5th, 43-year old Jeffrey Wade Massey, of Hamburg, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to have Insurance, Driving Under Suspension, and failure to show proof of vehicle registration.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports a man from northwest Iowa was arrested Sunday afternoon on a Woodbury County warrant. 48-year old Frederic W. Wissing, of Sioux City, was taken into custody at the Jail in Clarinda, on a warrant for Unlawful Use of a Prescription Drug. Wissing was being held in the Page County Jail on $2,000 bond, awaiting transport to Woodbury County.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports an investigation is underway into an accident that occurred sometime around 10-p.m. Saturday, March 15th. Authorities say the exact location of this accident is unknown at this time.  The vehicle was first reported to be somewhere in the area of Jade Lane and 230^th Street or south and west of Yorktown,  according to directions from the original caller, who was a party involved in the accident which is believed to only involve one vehicle.

After an extensive search with numerous area Fire Departments, Ambulance services, Law Enforcement, and Mercy 3 helicopter from Clarinda, the vehicle was located approximately 1.4 miles south of 230^th Street on B Avenue, or about 12 miles west and south of the location given by the original caller.

While the accident is under investigation, no further information is being released at this time.  

The Atlantic Police Department reports one arrest and one recent accident. Officials say 34-year old Kevin Jensen, of Atlantic, was arrested Friday on a warrant for Violation of his probation. Jensen was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, an accident at around 3:40-p.m. Friday at 8th and Plum Streets caused $8,000 damage, but no one was seriously injured. Officials say vehicles driven by Nadine Gladwin, of Des Moines, and Devon Bretey, of Atlantic, collided when Gladwin failed to obey a stop or yield sign as she was headed east on 8th Street, and Bretey was traveling north on Plum. Gladwin’s car hit the Bretey vehicle on the left side. Gladwin complained of minor injuries, but declined medical assistance.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest Sunday (3/16) of 23-year-old Scott Nathaniel Belew of Audubon on a Possession of Controlled Substance, Marijuana charge.  Belew was arrested at approximately 7:00pm Sunday after a traffic stop on Davenport Street in Audubon.

Belew was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later posted bond and was released.  He is set to appear in court on March 20th.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Woodbury County Board chairman is defending more than $180,000 in county funding for the nonprofit organization he manages.  George Boykin told the Sioux City Journal that it would not be fair for Sanford Community Center to suffer because he’s on the county board.  Boykin is the center’s executive director. It operates after-school and summer programs for at-risk young people, as well as coordinates numerous outreach efforts.

Boykin says has never had a say in funding that goes to the center and abstains from funding discussions on it. James Van Bruggen, of the Taxpayers Research Council, says it seems to him that the center is “getting favoritism, because they are getting six figures of money.”

w/ Ric Hanson

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With spring set to officially arrive later this week, many people across the state are in the mood to do some cleaning, and with a few simple tips, the process doesn’t need to be so daunting. According to professional organizer Amelia Hatcher, for most people, it’s not realistic to maintain a home in perfect order each day, but they can focus on clearing out the clutter.

“Clutter is anything that causes frustration, anxiety or chaos in your life,” as she defined it. “It completely drains you of your energy. It could be the pile of paper on your desk. It could be the pile of laundry. It could be your dumping ground like your kitchen table, and it just completely causes stress.” “Amelia the Clutter Queen” also recommends only cleaning and organizing one area at a time, so as not to become overwhelmed.

Hatcher was drawn into the clutter-fighting line about five years ago when she began helping family and friends. She said that for other caregivers, getting rid of the clutter not only helps get rid of chaos, but also helps improve safety of mobility.

“I’ve had several situations where people have fallen, broken a hip, and it’s actually not safe in the home,” she recalled. “So it’s my goal to go in and change things around to where the home is more accessible to things like walkers, possibly a wheelchair.”

Hatcher said that, among other points to look at, old medications should be properly disposed of, and no-longer-needed documents with personal information should be shredded to protect against identity theft.

More information is at AmeliaTheClutterQueen.com/a>.

(Iowa News Service)