DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 2.5 percent in August, giving the state the second-lowest rate in the country. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the unemployment rate dropped from 2.6 percent in July and was down from 3 percent a year ago. Iowa was only behind Hawaii, which has the nation’s lowest rate of 2.1 percent.

The number of unemployed people in Iowa dropped to 42,800 in August, with the total number of working Iowans climbing to 1.64 million.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Missouri River’s fluctuating water levels are keeping crews busy fixing broken sewer lines and filling sinkholes around Council Bluffs. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the Army Corps of Engineers believes the river will fluctuate between 23 feet and 28 feet deep over the next week. The agency says the water rises as upstream dams release water in order to reduce flood risk along the lower Missouri River.

Dan Christensen is the sewer department supervisor for Council Bluffs Public Works. He says the river’s ebb and flow has created several sink holes in the city. The issue has been complicated by heavy rain and drainage issues. Christensen says city workers and contractors are working as fast as possible to repair the holes, but more sinkhole issues could arise.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Insurance Division has fined a Florida man and revoked his license, alleging he’d scammed people who were buying health insurance. The division said in a news release Thursday that it ordered Covals Douze, of Coconut Creek, Florida, to pay fines and fees totaling nearly $44,000. The division also revoked Douze’s nonresident insurance producer license and barred him from reapplying for licensure for 15 years. Division spokesman Chance McElhaney says that, among other violations by Douze, people were told they were purchasing a health insurance policy but instead received a life insurance policy.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say a man being held in the Pott. County Jail on a Driving While Barred charge, now faces an additional charge of Possessing Contraband in a Jail facility. 26-year old Nathanael Lee Romick-Sleep, of Council Bluffs, was charged Thursday with the narcotics violation, and returned to the custody of jail staff. His bond on the Possession charge was set at $5,000. And, a traffic stop Thursday afternoon on a pickup in Crescent, resulted in the arrest of 49-year old Joseph Bernard Duffy, of Crescent. Duffy was taken into custody for Driving While Revoked. No listing of him was found on the Pott. County Jail roster this (Friday) morning.