DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 2.8 percent in March. The state’s jobless rate was 3.3 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent in March. Beth Townsend, Iowa Workforce Development Director, said Friday (Today), that  “Iowa’s economy continued to show overall gains in job growth with a drop in the unemployment rate in March to 2.8 percent. Iowa has added a net of 10,600 jobs since last March including manufacturing jobs that increased by 10,400 alone.” Townsend said also, “Iowa currently has 224,200 manufacturing jobs and the number is trending upward.  Increasing the skilled worker labor pool continues to be a pressing issue and the unanimous passage of the Future Ready Iowa Act by the Legislature, signed by Governor Reynolds on April 3, is a significant step in addressing that need.”

The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 47,300 in March from 47,900 in February. The current estimate is 8,200 lower than the year ago level of 55,500.  The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,626,100 in March. This figure was 500 higher than February and 300 higher than one year ago.

Iowa businesses shed 600 jobs from payrolls in March, lowering total non-farm employment down to 1,582,100 jobs. This is the second decline to begin 2018, and this month’s loss was localized entirely within private services. Goods producing industries added jobs for the second consecutive month. Private services shed 2,100 jobs, completely offsetting a gain of 1,700 last month. Government was little changed versus February and is up 500 jobs compared to last March.

Construction sectors added the most jobs in March (+1,300), marking the second consecutive increase in jobs. This sector experienced declines throughout most of 2017 and to begin the year, so the monthly gains are welcomed news for this industry. Professional, scientific, and technical services advanced by 700 jobs, partially due to gains in law offices and tax preparation services. Elsewhere, gains were seen in finance and insurance (+500), transportation (+300), and arts and entertainment (+300). Alternatively, losses continued to plague retail, which shed 1,800 jobs in March. This sector has steadily trended down since October. Accommodations and food services also lost jobs this month (-1,100) and have lost 1,800 jobs thus far this year. Smaller losses this month included private education (-500), other services (-500), and wholesale trade (-200).

Since last March, a total of 10,600 jobs have been added. Manufacturing continues to trend upward and has increased by 10,400 jobs alone. Durable goods factories have contributed 7,900 jobs added versus 2,500 in nondurable goods workshops. Finance and insurance industries experienced a surge in hiring to end the year and now rests up 2,900 jobs since last March, matching the annual gains in healthcare and social assistance. Following recent declines, retail now trails last year’s mark by 4,600 jobs. Construction also lags behind last year’s level (-3,900); however, this number has been declining as construction has shown signs of hiring over the past few months.

This week the Iowa House unanimously passed a bill designed that may give rural Iowans who don’t have ready access to ambulance services another avenue to get it. Representative Zach Nunn of Bondurant says Myrna Hunt’s story about her husband’s heart attack in late 2013 helped spur the action. Hunt told legislators her husband died on their front steps in Runnells, just a couple of blocks away from the volunteer fire department. “She called 911 for the volunteers to come and after 20 minutes she called 911 again and more than an hour later, when the volunteers finally arrived and escorted her husband to a hospital here in Des Moines, he’d already passed away from cardiac arrest,” Nunn said. “This is just one of many tales that come from our volunteers across the state who are doing the best they can with limited resources.”

The bill would let residents in unincorporated areas — outside city limits — petition for a vote that would raise property taxes in the township to pay for emergency medical services. Representative Amy Nielsen, the former mayor of North Liberty, says the lack of access to ambulance services in rural areas is troubling. “I believe that this bill is a good first step in making EMS an essential service, just like fire protection,” Nielsen says. Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton says legislators have been working on this bill for six years. “I think all of us enjoy going to our EMS ambulance service pancake breakfasts, but that’s ridiculous that they have to do that just to be able to fill the gaps in their budget,” Kaufmann says. “…This bill is just a start, but I think it’s a great start.”

The bill now goes to the Senate for review.

(Radio Iowa)

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of bankers shows that concerns over a trade war have hurt confidence in the economy in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says weak farm income continues to weigh on the rural economy, but that the survey in recent months shows the economy is trending upward.

The overall Rural Mainstreet index slipped slightly to 53.5 in April from 54.7 in March. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy in the months ahead, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

It’s an even-numbered year, so that means legislators who have decided to retire rather than seek re-election are given an “open mic” moment.  In the House, retiring representatives give floor speeches. Clel Baudler of Greenfield kicked the speech-a-thon off this week with a nearly 20-minute speech. “A man, in his lifetime, has good days and bad days and I hope this decision I’ve made to retire is a good one,” Baudler said. In the Iowa Senate, the public farewells last far longer, sometimes for hours. Colleagues start things off with compliments, shared humor and sometimes an outright roasting, then the retiree gets to speak. Mark Chelgren of Ottumwa spoke for nearly half an hour after his peers finished. Retiring Senator Rick Bertrand started his 20-minute speech by admitting to being a bit numb.

Bertrand used part of his speech to settle old scores with former Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix. Bertrand revealed he met his wife 23 years ago at the Waveland Tap in Des Moines. It’s the same bar where Dix was pictured kissing a lobbyist — images posted online that prompted Dix to resign last month. Bertrand called that karma. Senator Bob Dvorsky, of Coralville, is retiring after 32 years in the legislature and he offered a few “principles” about the legislative process. “You can probably get most things passed here as long as you don’t care who gets credit for it,” Dvorsky said. “…The second one is we deal in raging incrementalism.”

Dvorsky gave a relatively short, five-minute-long goodbye speech and, like many exiting lawmakers, he choked up at the end. “We’re here as public servants and we can be proud of that and I will miss all that dearly,” Dvorsky said. “And one other thing I will miss — I will miss all of you.” Once the reminiscing, advice, compliments and emotional goodbyes are over, SOME of the retiring senators get a piece of furniture. Lawmakers who’ve served at least 20 years in the state senate get to take the chair from their senate desk. Neither the House nor the Senate will be in session today (Friday). Next week, more farewell speeches are on tap. One retiring senator has yet to be recognized and 15 other retiring members of the House will have the option of giving farewell remarks.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s Joni Ernst is among a group of bipartisan U-S Senators who have introduced legislation to provide more federal money for mental health services to rural residents. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says a 2016 study by the C-D-C found ag workers have a higher suicide rate than any other occupation. She says the bill would establish helplines, provide suicide prevention training for farm advocates, create support groups, and reestablish the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network “We do require the Farm and Ranch Stress Committee to develop a long-term strategy to address the issues of farmer mental health. Because we do know in those rural areas we are lacking services that you might be able to find in the greater metro areas of our rural states,” Ernst says.

Ernst says they are hoping for a collaboration at all levels to give farmers more options for help. “What we would like to do of course is see those services develop –whether it’s through the extension services through additional mental health counselors — tapping into existing resources out there,” Ernst explained. She says the high rate of suicide within the agricultural community underscores the urgent need to act right away. She says the seed funding would help get some of the additional resources off the ground and they hope the legislation would be included in the farm bill and it would provide about 10 million dollars each year.

Ernst says existing services — such as hotlines — will be reviewed to be sure it is worthwhile to put federal money into them. “We have seen examples in the past where hotlines just certainly haven’t lived up to the expectations,” according to Ernst. “So, that’s one thing that we need to continue to provide oversight on to make sure if dollars are going to hotlines, whether they are existing or new structures, that they are providing the necessary supports.”

The bill is called the Facilitating Accessible Resources for Mental Health and Encouraging Rural Solutions For Immediate Response to Stressful Times or “FARMERS FIRST” Act.

(Radio Iowa)

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

CRESCO, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa woman is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a hospital auxiliary. Howard County Court records say 57-year-old Rebecca Creger, of Cresco, is charged with theft and ongoing criminal conduct. A court hearing is scheduled Monday for her.

Authorities say Creger wrote nearly $21,000 in checks to herself last year while she was treasurer of the Regional Health Services of Howard County Hospital Auxiliary. She told an investigator that she needed the money for medical bills and that she wanted to pay it back.

A complaint has been filed against the Atlantic Education Association with regard to Collective Bargaining. According to reports, a complaint by the Atlantic School District alleges the Education Association, which represents the District’s Certified Staff, violated Chapter 20.10 of the Iowa Code, with regard to the Public Employment Relations Act (Collective Bargaining).

The District’s Board of Education held a regularly-scheduled Board meeting April 11th. In attendance were various public employees of the District. The complaint alleges also in attendance, were persons who had participated in the negotiations process between the Board and Association. During the meeting, various District public employees addressed the Board regarding topics of bargaining, including topics of bargaining that were outlined in the 2017-2018 agreement and that were being negotiated as part of the 2018-2019 agreement.

Education Association President Mike McDermott denied any allegations of impropriety, and indicated he’s disappointed the legal matter will interfere with contract talks. The legal issue must be resolved before a contract settlement can be reached. Atlantic Superintendent Steve Barber said in a statement to the media, that “The District has filed a complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board requesting a decision in regarding the process of negotiations and comments made by Public Employees. The District looks forward to continuing to work with the Association in negotiation and finalization of an agreement for the 2018-2019 school year.”

The Education Association has 10-days to respond to the complaint, but can request an extension if more time is needed to formulate a response.

Today (Friday) is an unofficial holiday for marijuana users, which has prompted an enforcement campaign from the Iowa State Patrol. Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Nate Ludwig says “The term 4/20 is synonymous with drug use, so that’s why we’re conducting this project (today) through Sunday.” Ludwig says drug-impaired driving is becoming a bigger issue on the state’s roads. “I know the fatality rate attributed to those that are impaired has gone up over the last few years,” Ludwig says. “When people think of impaired driving, they just think of drunk driving from alcohol. But, it’s anything – whether you ingest it, absorb it, smoke it – anything that’s going to impair your cognitive ability to operate a vehicle is impaired driving.”

The Drug Impaired Driving enforcement campaign will involve more officers on roadways looking for erratic drivers who could be under the influence of drugs. Ludwig says many marijuana users believe it’s harmless to smoke-up and get behind the wheel. “And they’re wrong because anytime you do that, the chemical that’s in it is going to slow your reaction time, impair your cognitive performance, and it’s going to make it more difficult for you to drive down the road and be safe,” Ludwig said.

The enforcement campaign involves Iowa and five other states; Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The Lawrence, Kanas Police Department recently posted a message to Twitter saying “Hey potheads planning to toke up on 4/20, stay off the roads. Stock up on Cheetos and Mt. Dew BEFORE you spark.”

(Radio Iowa)