DES MOINES – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 2.4 percent in January. The state’s jobless rate was 2.8 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.0 percent in January. “More Iowans than ever are now employed,” said Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development. “This is the fourth straight month for job gains. These positive numbers reflect the efforts we are making through Registered Apprenticeship, Home Base Iowa and Future Ready Iowa. With historically low unemployment continuing, now more than ever, is the right time to invest in Future Ready Iowa to help Iowans improve their lives through good paying jobs and careers by ensuring access to training and education opportunities in high demand careers.”

The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 40,600 in January from 40,400 in December.  The current estimate is 5,900 lower than the year ago level of 46,500.  The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,654,400 in January. This figure was 3,200 higher than December and 22,500 higher than one year ago. Monthly labor force data have been revised for 2014-2018 as required by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Benchmarking is the process of re-estimating statistics as more complete data becomes available.  Prior year’s estimates for the Current Employment Statistics (CES) and Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) programs are benchmarked annually.  In March, the revised data is incorporated with the January employment statistics.

Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Employment

Iowa establishments added 500 jobs in January, lifting total nonfarm employment up slightly to 1,593,900 jobs. The monthly gain is now the fourth consecutive increase for the state. Overall, private sectors shed 300 jobs in January while government agencies added 800 jobs. This gain was primarily within local governments. Compared to last year, private sectors have accounted for virtually all of the annual gain in Iowa (+13,700) whereas government is nearly unchanged (+200).

Education and health care gained 700 jobs in January to lead all super sectors. Both education and health care advanced slightly. Private education has been sluggish over the past few months, while health care and social assistance continues to steadily advance slowly and has now added jobs in five straight months. Manufacturing firms also added jobs to start the year (+500). The monthly increase stemmed from durable goods shops in January, although both durable and nondurable goods have generally shown some level of hiring over the past few years. The only other sector showing an increase this month was arts, entertainment, and recreation, up 500 jobs from December. This is the fourth consecutive increase for this sector. Alternatively, losses were largest in other services (-1,000). The monthly decline is the first since August. Construction pared jobs for the third month in a row (-400). This sector has lost steam following a ramp-up in activity in 2018. The only other notable loss occurred in professional and business services, down 400 jobs in January.

Annually, total nonfarm employment is up 13,900 jobs. Manufacturing continues to fuel much of the growth in the economy with 8,800 jobs added versus last year. Professional and business services is up 1,300 jobs due to hiring within professional, scientific, and technical services. Leisure and hospitality has advanced 1,800 jobs fueled by arts, entertainment, and recreation. Retail trade continues to lead all sectors in losses (-3,300). A minor increase of 100 jobs in December was the first gain since September of 2017. This sector continues to adjust to shifting consumer preferences and is not expected to show any major gains this year.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report the arrest early this (Monday) morning, of a woman in Treynor. A Deputy responding at around 12-a.m. to a disturbance call on Lamar Drive, in Treynor, arrested 27-year old Meagan Ashley Marie Conner, of Treynor, for Domestic Abuse Assault causing injury/1st offense. On Friday:

• Pott. County Jail inmate, 37-year old Maurice T. Bass, Sr., was presented with a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• 38-year old Seth R. Carmel, of Omaha, who was visiting an inmate at the jail, was arrested Friday on a Nebraska warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice.
• A Sheriff’s Deputy called to a residence in the 200 block of N. Central Street, Friday afternoon, arrested 43-year old Kathy Gerhardt, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• 48-year old Kenneth O. Rutherford, of Council Bluffs, who was being held in the Omaha Correctional Center (OCC), was transferred to the Pott. County Jail, Friday morning, where he was wanted on a warrant for Driving While Barred ($2,000 bond), and on a hold for another facility.
• 37-year old Trinidad Barradas-Melandres, of Omaha, was transported from the OCC to the Pott. County Jail, Friday, to address a warrant for Indecent Contact with a Child ($2,000 bond), and to be held for another facility.
• Friday morning, 28-year old Anthony Ernest Robinson, Jr., turned himself-in to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, to address a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• 38-year old Robert Michael Uyeda, of Missouri Valley was transported to the Pott. County Jail, Friday, by Harrison County Deputies. He was wanted on a warrant for Contempt of Court.
• And, 31-year old Crystal M. Donovan, of Omaha, was transported from the Douglas County, NE. Jail to Pott. County, Friday, to address a warrant for Violation of Probation.

(Radio Iowa) — Police in Waterloo are investigating the suspicious death of a teenager. On Sunday morning, officers were called to a residential street where they found an unresponsive male lying face down on the sidewalk. The victim has been identified as 16-year-old Tayshaun Jenkins. Initial reports indicated it was a hit-and-run accident. Investigators say no other information about Jenkins’ death is being released until they receive the autopsy results.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa safety agency has proposed fining a Dubuque manufacturer nearly $26,000 over the workplace death of a Wisconsin man. The Telegraph Herald reports that the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently issued a citation to A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing Co. Each of the hazards cited carry fines of nearly $13,000.

Authorities say 46-year-old Dennis Hall died Dec. 6 after becoming trapped in equipment at the plant. OSHA investigators say Hall “fell through the unguarded floor hole to a moving conveyor and was transported into other mechanical hazards resulting in fatal injuries.” He’d worked for McDonald for five years and lived in Potosi, Wisconsin.

The company makes water works brass, plumbing valves, pumps and water systems, and high-pressure gas valves and meter bars.

The Creston Police Department reports there were two arrests over the past few days and three incidents of vandalism. At around 8-p.m. Friday, 28-year old Matthew Edwin Thomas, of Creston, was arrested at his residence for Simple Assault. And, at around 3:40-a.m. today (Monday), 20-year old Austin Brian Lanny Benge, of Orient, was arrested in Creston for Driving Under Suspension. Both men were released on bond.

And, there were three reports of vehicles sustaining broken windows in Creston over the weekend. The incidents, which happened sometime Friday or Saturday, caused a total of $700 damage. The incidents took place in the 500 and 100 blocks of W. Montgomery Street, along with the 100 block of Manor Drive.

(7-a.m. News)

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 63-year-old care program supervisor has been accused of sexually abusing a client in Davenport. Scott County court records say Bruce Enger is charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist. The records say the alleged victim has been a client of REM Iowa for six years.

REM Iowa serves adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Enger’s responsibilities including supervising the residence in which the alleged victim lived.

Click to enlarge image

Click to enlarge image

The National Weather Service reports widespread rain across Iowa remains on track for Tuesday through Thursday, where a swath of 1 to 2 inches of rain can be expected. Thunderstorms are possible as well, resulting in locally higher amounts approaching 3 inches, especially over western portions of Iowa. In addition to the rainfall, warmer temperatures will melt a good portion of the snow pack today through Wednesday resulting in significant runoff and potential river flooding mid to late week and into the weekend. The potential for ice jams exist as the runoff, swelling rivers, and warmer temperatures look to break up the river ice and lead to some localized flash flooding.

(Radio Iowa) — This is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the man who runs the state Gambling Treatment Program says it’s a good time to take a close look at the issue. Eric Pruess, says the number of problem gamblers remains small, but they shouldn’t be overlooked.

Eric Preuss

“Many Iowans are impacted by problem gambling and they continue to gamble because they just don’t know. They don’t know why they have a problem, they don’t know what problem gambling is, or where to get help. Problem gambling should not go unnoticed,” he says.

Pruess says the most recent studies show how prevalent gambling is in Iowa. He says nearly nine in ten adult Iowans have gambled in their lifetime, seven in 10 gambled in the last 12 months, and about four in ten gambled in the last 30 days.  Pruess says everyone needs to know help is out there. “The good news is that prevention is effective, treatment works and recovery is possible,” according to Pruess. “As of January first 2019, I-D-P-H now contracts with 19 local agencies to provide problem gambling treatment, prevention and recovery support services in 19 service regions that encompass all 999 counties in Iowa.”

He says the results of treatment are encouraging. He says 66 percent reported dissatisfaction with life when starting treatment, and that dropped to 24 percent at discharge. While 50 percent reported being late in paying bills at admission to treatment — which fell to 25 percent when they were released. Pruess says the creation “Your Life Iowa” gives people struggling with addiction a place to go. “Help and information is available 24-seven 365 via phone, text and on-line chat,” Pruess says. He says it is also the home to 1-800-BETTSOFF.org for those who need help with problem gambling.

He says they have had more than 65-thousand visits in the last year, with most of the page visits being for problem gambling. Pruess says there are a variety of way they can help and he encourages anyone with concerns to visit the website.