After four months of either dropping or holding steady, the state unemployment rate inched up slightly in July to 4.8-percent. Iowa Workforce Development spokesperson, Kerry Koonce, says the increase from the 4.6-percent rate of June doesn’t tell the whole story.

“We still saw job growth though, we still added 5,000 jobs across the state in non-farm. So, our uptick in unemployment comes form some increased in layoffs — predominantly in the manufacturing industry — and then a slight decrease in the overall size of the labor force,” Koonce explains. “When you couple those two together, that’s how come you’ve got the increase in the unemployment rate.”

Koonce says the construction sector led all areas, with an increase of 1,600 jobs in July. “Which is very good, because at the start of the year we didn’t see construction rise as much as we normally do,” Koonce says. “But now we are seeing it being very strong going through summer here.”

She says the one month increase in the unemployment rate doesn’t signal a change in the economy that has been steadily improving. “Because the key is to be adding jobs into the economy so that people have options to be applying for and those that are looking for work. So, overall we would say that it’s still positive. We would need a quarter of continuing increase in the unemployment rate to really be concerned there,” Koonce says.

Kids are going back to high school and college this month, but Koonce says those part-time summer jobs they may’ve held are not figured into the ongoing unemployment rate. Koonce says those jobs are adjusted out as seasonal jobs, but she says those who have been working in their hometown often pick up jobs in the town where they go to college too, so there is some transferring of jobs.

The July rate was well below the 5.5-percent rate of one year ago. For the first time in awhile, the national unemployment rate dropped, while the Iowa rate went up. But the national unemployment rate of 7.4-percent in July was still well above the Iowa rate.

(Radio Iowa)

Live Healthy Iowa is excited to announce an addition to their 2013 challenge lineup. The Healthy Families Challenge brings together youth and adults in a fun challenge as they learn about making healthy choices and being active. The new six-week challenge begins September 23rd. Register your family now at www.livehealthyiowa.org.

The Healthy Families Challenge encourages up to 10 household residents, including at least one adult and one child, to compete in weekly challenges focused on nutrition and physical activity habits. Registration for the challenge is $25 per family and participants will receive a resource kit which includes a team packet, activity ball and a 2014 ‘Healthy & Homemade meals’ calendar; fun weekly educational lessons; a team tracking page and access to healthy recipes and wellness information on Live Healthy Iowa’s website. All families who complete the challenge will receive a Subway gift card and have the chance to win additional prizes such as passes to an Iowa ski spot, a Des Moines family getaway and gift cards!

“We are excited to bring our youth and adult participants together for this new challenge,” says Live Healthy Iowa Director Nicole Bruce, “It’s a great opportunity for all ages to learn about healthy lifestyles and support their loved ones in making positive changes.”

For more information about Live Healthy Iowa and to register for the new Healthy Families Challenge, please visit www.livehealthyiowa.org.

Live Healthy Iowa, formerly Lighten Up Iowa, was created in 2001 by the Iowa Sports Foundation as a strategic health initiative to address the state’s growing obesity problem. Live Healthy Iowa brings together friends, families, businesses and communities in team-based wellness challenges designed to promote positive lifestyle change. In 2012, more than 208,000 adult and youth Iowans took part in a Live Healthy Iowa program. To learn more, visit www.livehealthyiowa.org.

On August 14, at 6:25 p.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident at 620th and Keystone Road in rural Atlantic. A 2002 Oldsmobile owned and driven by 17-year old Ashley Marie Shinn of Adair was southbound on 620th Street when the vehicle slid sideways into the west ditch and rolled onto its roof. Shinn was transported via Medivac to CCMH where she was treated and released. One passenger was taken to CCMH via private vehicle. The incident remains under investigation. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $4000.

On August 17, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of domestic violence at 403 California Street in Lewis. Upon investigation, the Sheriff’s Office arrested 26-year old Nicholas Vinson Johnson Reed of Lewis on charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm (D Felony); Domestic Abuse Assault (Aggravated); Possession of a Controlled Substance (Meth) (Serious); and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple). Johnson Reed was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held on $8300 bond.

On August 18, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 20-year old Tucker Douglas Schmidt of Massena on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Schmidt was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

The city of Harlan is scheduled to have a regular City Council Meeting in Council Chambers on Tuesday, August, 20th at 5:15-p.m. On the agenda will be the renewal application from Casey’s General Store for a Class E Liquor License, Class B wine, Class C beer and Sunday sales, review of expenditure, revenue, and investment reports for the month of July, Police statistical report for the month of July and receive and file the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s July, 2013 report.

There will also be a motion to accept the quote from StaBilt Construction Co. to surface Maple Road from Highway 44 to the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $36,185.90. Also, a motion to accept Pat Deren’s resignation from the Airport Commission and to appoint Randy Pash to complete Pat’s term which expires April 1st, 2018.

In other business, there will be a motion to rescind Resolution No. 2106, approving 28E agreement with Shelby County regarding the collection of delinquent parking tickets.

The meeting will begin at 5:15-p.m. in Council Chambers.

In reference to the manhunt for escapee from the Clarinda Correctional Facility, Rodney Eugene Long:

Any residents in Adams County and/or surrounding counties be on the lookout for possible suspicious persons or activity. If you happen to locate any suspicious activity, do not approach them and contact your local Sheriff’s Office, Law Enforcement Agency or dial 911. Person may be armed and dangerous.

Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced they will be hosting the second Governor’s Bullying Prevention Summit, to be held on Nov. 4 at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.

This year’s theme is “Mission Possible: Stepping Up the Response,” and is a follow-up to the governor’s sold-out inaugural 2012 Bullying Prevention Summit, which drew about 1,100 students and adults to focus on community involvement in preventing bullying.

The purpose of this year’s summit is to explore the practical next steps to better address the pervasive problem of bullying.

The 2012 Iowa Youth Survey reported that 57 percent of students said that in the last 30 days they had been bullied at school in a variety of ways. That was up from 50 percent in 2010. Growing awareness that bullying should not be tolerated may be behind the increase, as well as new challenges presented by the Internet and social media. Despite this, the governor says we all need to work together to reverse the trend.

“We still have a lot of work to do to eliminate bullying within our schools and ensure our children feel safe at school,” said Gov. Branstad. “Iowans share a commitment to helping young people act responsibly and treating others with respect and dignity. Those are core values that shape the culture of Iowa, and we all need to work together to instill these values within our young people.”

The summit’s keynote speaker is Emily Bazelon, who is the author of “Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy.”

The summit will include sessions on how both students and adults can make a difference. Participants will explore what makes for good legal policy, plus other kinds of support schools need to better deal with bullying.

The governor’s office is partnering with the Iowa Hall of Pride in promotion of the summit, which includes a video contest. Each school in Iowa is invited to submit a video. Videos should reflect the theme “Mission Possible: Stepping Up the Response,” and should show how schools and communities have created or will create a campaign to stop bullying, and demonstrating how everyone deserves to feel safe and supported at school.

Further details on the video contest and registration for the summit can be found at http://preventbullying.iowa.gov. Registration opens Aug. 26, 2013.