DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Investigators have expanded their inquiry into a lottery tampering scheme to determine if a former Iowa national lottery official may have rigged jackpots in more games than presently known.

Eddie Tipton, former security director of the Iowa-based Multi-State Lottery Association, was convicted in July of fraud after buying a winning lottery ticket in Des Moines in 2010. He was accused of rigging lottery computers to allow him to determine the winning number in advance.

Tipton is also accused of rigging jackpots in Colorado, Wisconsin and Oklahoma, which use computers or code provided by the multi-state lottery. Investigators are now looking into possible tampering with lotteries in 37 other states or territories that used association computers since Tipton joined the association in 2003.

DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued to drop in November, falling to 3.4 percent from 3.5 percent in October. The state’s jobless rate was 4.3 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 5.0 percent in November.  Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development, says “Iowa’s businesses showed unmistakable optimism in November. This month’s increase is the highest in several years and includes job gains in virtually all industries. Additionally, Iowa’s unemployment rate trended down to the lowest level since 2001.”

The number of unemployed Iowans fell to 58,700 in November from 60,400 in October. The current estimate is 15,000 lower than the year ago level of 73,700. The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,647,500 in November. This figure was 3,100 higher than October and 6,500 higher than one year ago.

Iowa’s total nonfarm employment advanced by 8,400 jobs in November and now rests at 1,584,700 jobs. This month’s unusually large increase follows a quiet October which saw almost no change in the number of jobs. Private industries combined for all of the gain this month; government pared 600 jobs with losses at the state and local level. Overall, employment in the state has continued to trend up, and Iowa has added an average of 2,300 jobs per month totaling 27,300 jobs added over the past twelve months. Private industries have advanced by 28,200 jobs and government is down slightly (-900).

This month, virtually all private industries expanded. The largest private sector gain was in construction (+3,700) and follows consecutive months of declines totaling 1,500 jobs. Leisure and hospitality also increased this month (+3,300) with hiring being heaviest in accommodations and food services. Like construction, this sector is also rebounding from a recent loss. Elsewhere, retail trade helped fuel a gain of 2,300 in trade, transportation, and warehousing. Smaller gains occurred in financial activities (+600) and education and health services (+400). Losses this month were limited to professional and business services (-2,100) and follows three consecutive months of unusually high gains.

Since last November, the largest annual increase occurred in construction (+7,200). This sector has also added the most jobs by percentage (+9.3 percent versus +1.8 percent for Iowa). Education and health is second in terms of growth (+5,400) followed by leisure and hospitality (+4,400). Information services leads all sectors in jobs lost (-600) due to restructuring and transformation of the sector. Manufacturing is down due to cutbacks within durable goods factories (-500). These losses have been partially offset by hiring at nondurable goods locations.

Many Iowans have lost loved ones in the past year and the next few weeks may be very difficult for them as it’ll be their first year-end holiday season without that person. Jim Luder, a bereavement counselor in Mount Pleasant, says there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate the holidays after the death of a loved one. “One of the things I’ve seen in my support groups is that it’s all across board,” Luder says. “Some people have decided, as they’ve talked to their loved ones, they’ve said, ‘We’re going to do everything like we normally do, we’re going to go to somebody’s house,’ or whatever, and others have completely scaled back and don’t do anything that they’ve done in the past.”

It’s important to set realistic expectations for yourself and for the holidays. Luder, who works for H-C-I Hospice Care Services, says it’s equally important to communicate what you can handle and how you would like to celebrate. “People need to talk to their family to let them know, ‘This is where I am, this is what I feel, this is where I can go, this is where I can’t go,'” Luder says. “This tradition, I’m really willing to go through with, but this one reminds me too much of my loved one and I’m not going to do that.”

It may also be a comfort to let others help with the holiday responsibilities. Luder says it’s important to talk about your feelings and needs. He says take care of yourself — mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. “A lot of churches do what they call a Blue Christmas where on the 21st, they will celebrate because it’s the longest night of the year,” Luder says. “They will sit down and talk about the fact that while everyone else is having a merry Christmas, they’re blue because of the one they’ve lost, but they still find hope during that time.”

He says joining a support group may also be helpful. Free support groups are available through HCI Hospice Care Services and many places of worship. Lastly, he says to remember your loved one throughout the holiday season by sharing memories, lighting a candle in that person’s honor or by making a tree ornament for your loved one. For more information, call HCI Hospice Care Services at 800-806-9934 or visit: www.hospiceofcentraliowa.org.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Department reports two arrests took place, Thursday. 33-year old Pamela Jean Demorest, of Pacific Junction, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a Council Bluffs Police Department warrant. Her bond was set at $5,000. And, 35-year old Luis Enrique Alvarez, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $300.