TAG SEARCH RESULTS FOR: ""

Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Remains at 3.0 Percent in January

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.0 percent in January, down from the 3.2 percent announced in December but unchanged from a revised December rate. The state’s jobless rate was 2.9 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in January.

The total number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 50,900 in January, down 1,100 from revised December data. The total number of working Iowans decreased by 1,200 to 1,653,800. The labor force participation rate decreased to 67.3 percent from a revised December rate of 67.5 percent.

”January’s report was mixed. On the positive side it shows the total number of nonfarm jobs remains 12,700 above last year’s total, even after retail businesses pared 2,000 jobs following the holidays,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “We also saw 2,300 people leave the workforce voluntarily in January. Given we have over 58,000 job openings currently in Iowa, it is important we retain the Iowans in the workforce and recruit those who have dropped out. We help Iowans find great career opportunities every day, and we encourage those who have been out of the workforce for a period of time to get in touch. We can help you find your next great career.”

The last five years of monthly labor force data (2019-2023) recently were revised as required by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. This “benchmarking” is the periodic process of re-estimating statistics as more complete data becomes available, such as updated data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Prior-year estimates for the Current Employment Statistics (CES) and Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) programs – key statistical measures of employment – are benchmarked annually. Revised data are incorporated in January employment statistics when they are released each March.

Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment

Iowa’s establishments shed 2,000 jobs to begin 2024, lowering total nonfarm employment to 1,596,800 jobs. This monthly decline was due to private service industries removing jobs in wholesale and retail trade along with professional and business services. These losses overshadowed small gains in goods production. Whereas private industries lost positions in January, government (as sector that includes workers at hospitals and schools as well as federal, state, and local government agencies) increased adding 300 jobs, mostly at state universities.

Construction added 600 jobs in January and has now reached an all-time high despite unusually snowy weather to start the new year. A combined 3,200 jobs have been gained in this industry since October. Leisure and hospitality advanced slightly (+500) and was partially lifted by small gains in both accommodations and food services. Other gains in January were light and included health care and social assistance (+800) and information (+300). Alternatively, trade and transportation shed a combined 3,200 jobs to lead all other sectors. Retail trade was responsible for most of the layoffs in January (-2,000) although both wholesale trade and transportation and warehousing also trended down. The only other major losses occurred in other services (-600) and professional, scientific, and technical services (-600).

Over the past twelve months, the state has gained 12,700 jobs. Among private services, education and health care has added the most jobs (+6,400).  Over half of the hires were related to health care and social assistance. Construction is now up 2,700 jobs annually, while manufacturing continues to trend up and has gained 2,100 jobs since last January. On the other hand, trade, transportation, and utilities shed the most jobs annually (-5,400) as transportation and warehousing fueled most of the decline (-3,600).

2024 Governor’s Volunteer Awards Accepting Nominations

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — The Governor’s Volunteer Award (GVA) program provides an easy way to honor the dedicated people who volunteer their time and talent to help an agency or organization deliver on its mission. There is no competitive selection process at the state level to decide who does or does not get an award; however, nominations are reviewed and approved by the participating state agency or Volunteer Iowa. By submitting the information, the person completing the form is verifying that the individual or group listed is deserving of this honor.

Nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government entities (city, county, state, and federal) may recommend an individual volunteer or group of volunteers who directly assisted the organization with a project, event, or activity, for a Governor’s Volunteer Award. A small handling fee per award helps to cover the cost of printing certificates, postage for the invitations, mementos, ceremony materials and the online nomination system.

Guidelines (GVA Nominations Guidelines PDF Version)

Nominations may be submitted in the following categories:

  • Individual Governor’s Volunteer Award: one person providing outstanding volunteer service
  • Individual Length of Service Award: one person who has served multiple years. Awarded for increments of five years, e.g., 5, 10, 15, etc.
  • Group Governor’s Volunteer Award: two or more people who volunteer together as a team
  • Group Length of Service Award (groups who have served multiple years. Awarded for increments of five years, e.g., 5, 10, 15, etc.

Recipients are not required to live in Iowa but their service must have benefited an Iowa organization or community. Those previously honored with an Individual Award should not receive another but may be selected once every five years for a Length of Service Award.

Types of Service

Starting in 2021, Volunteer Iowa began collecting information to be able to recognize different types of service across the state. While not required as part of a nomination, nominators may select the following types of service for the GVAs:

  • Animal Welfare
  • Arts and Culture
  • Disaster Relief/Recovery: (e.g. COVID, natural disasters)
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Education
  • Environmental (e.g. cleanup, preservation/restoration)
  • Food Assistance
  • Future Ready Iowa
  • Health/Hospital
  • Housing
  • Mentoring
  • Senior Assistance
  • State Employees who volunteer
  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics)
  • Youth who volunteer
  • Other

Submitting Recommendations

All information must be submitted online and approved by an official Governor’s Volunteer Awards coordinator. Award recipient information can be submitted using one of the following methods:

  • All organizations (including state government agencies) submit information, and the handling fee, directly through Volunteer Iowa. Organizations will be able to submit the handling fee online. Fill out the nomination form.
  • State agencies will submit nominations through the same online form. Invoicing will be handled separately.
  • Staff of state government agencies must submit nominations through their agency’s coordinator. A contact list is available at the bottom of this page.

Nominations are accepted from: City governments, community colleges, county governments, federal government units operating in Iowa, Iowa MENTOR certified programs, K-12 schools (public and parochial), national service programs operating in Iowa (AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors), nonprofit and charitable organizations, private colleges and universities, non-state government organizations.

Submit Nominations

“Beacon of Hope Project” Soliciting Input from Community Youth

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The leaders of the Beacon of Hope Project in Oskaloosa are asking for community youth to provide their input.

The Beacon of Hope Project was announced recently as a gathering place for area youth at 121 North Market St in Oskaloosa. Building owner Keven Hempel says that the decision has been made to open up an opportunity for the youth of Oskaloosa and surrounding towns to have a say in designing the inside of the building. This input will contribute to the finishing of the design phase of part of the building. 

Oskaloosa area youth are invited to Penn Central Mall at 5pm this evening to discuss the project.

‘Oppenheimer’ crowned best picture at an Academy Awards shadowed by war

Posted on by Sam Parsons

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Oppenheimer,” a solemn three-hour biopic that became an unlikely billion-dollar box-office sensation, was crowed best picture at a 96th Academy Awards that doubled as a coronation for Christopher Nolan. The most closely watched contest of the Academy Awards went to Emma Stone, who won best best actress for her performance as Bella Baxter in “Poor Things.” Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy have won their first Oscars. Robert Downey Jr. won best supporting actor at the Academy Awards, notching his first Oscar and handing the 58-year-old actor a crowning moment in an up-and-down career. Protests over Israel’s war in Gaza snarled traffic around the Academy Awards on Sunday, slowing stars’ arrival at the red carpet and turning the Oscar spotlight toward the ongoing conflict.

Iowa Supreme Court rules on ‘revenge porn’ case

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Dar Danielson (Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Supreme Court rules a Boone County man who posted a sex video online to get back at his former girlfriend does not have to register as a sex offender.

Kadin Miller recorded himself having consensual sex with his girlfriend and then posted the video to an online porn site several months later, saying it was revenge after the relationship ended badly He was found guilty of harassment and the district court ruled the posting of the video was sexually motived and Miller was ordered to register as a sex offender. A forensic psychologist  who examined Miller testified on behalf that  the crime “is really based on anger and revenge.” She testified that it would be “atypical” for this type of crime to be sexually motivated.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled the prosecution failed to present evidence “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Miller’s harassment was sexually motivated. The ruling says that just because a sex act was performed for sexual gratification, that doesn’t mean the posting of the video was also for sexual gratification.

Chief Justice Susan Christensen wrote a dissenting opinion, saying so-called “revenge porn” has many motives other than personal vindictiveness, such as “greed, voyeurism, and self-aggrandizement.” She says the act of distributing sexually graphic images without the person’s consent is more appropriately described by the term “nonconsensual pornography,” which is a form of “image based sexual abuse.”

Here’s the full ruling: Miller ruling PDF

Very High Fire Danger Today

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a warning today regarding burning conditions.

The NWS says that, due to high winds, there will be very high fire danger today in central Iowa from mid day through the late afternoon. Breezy southwest winds from 15-20 mph with gusts up to 25-30 mph, along with dry surface vegetation and a low relative humidity between 20 to 30 percent, mean that any fires that ignite will spread rapidly.

Several counties in the area still have burn bans in effect. The counties of Jasper, Poweshiek, Monroe, and Wapello, as well as the Barnes City Fire District of Mahaska County, all have active burn bans, while Marion County lifted its burn ban this weekend.

William Penn University Hosting Inaugural Worldview Forum Next Week

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — William Penn University is creating a forum for our community to exchange information about  important social concerns of today.  

The inaugural Worldview Forum will be a discussion between industry and educational professionals on the  many impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including the short and long-term implications of AI. The forum is not a  debate between parties. Instead, we’ll pose questions that engage the listener to hear what is taking place in education  and industry. Later in the evening, the presenters will be given a response time to answer audience submitted questions. 

On Wednesday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m. join us at the George Daily Auditorium for an evening of engagement.  Our distinguished speakers understand and embrace the critical thinking focus of this event for not only our students,  but the community. 

Andrew Nieuwsma, Staff Engineer and Senior Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise will serve as the  moderator for the evening. Andrew is 2012 graduate of William Penn. The panelists will include: Dr. Andrew Stevens,  Director of Data Science for Walmart Global Tech, 2007 graduate of WPU; Dr. Martin Roth, co-led the creation of the AI  major at Drake University; and Dr. Barrett Thomas, Professor for the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa. 

Prior to the event on March 20, Joe Hollis (Graduate Research Assistant, Iowa State University), Dr. Andrew  Stevens, and members of the Walmart Global Tech team will visit classrooms to present to students and teach them  about the benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence. 

Steve Lawrence, singer, entertainer and half of popular stage duo Steve & Eydie, dies at 88

Posted on by Sam Parsons

NEW YORK (AP) — Steve Lawrence, a singer and top stage act who as a solo performer and in tandem with his wife Eydie Gorme kept Tin Pan Alley alive during the rock era, died Thursday. He was 88.

Lawrence, whose hits included “Go Away Little Girl,” died from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, said Susan DuBow, a spokesperson for the family.

Lawrence and Gorme — or Steve & Eydie — were known for their frequent appearances on talk shows, in night clubs and on the stages of Las Vegas. The duo took inspiration from George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and other songwriters.

Soon after Elvis Presley and other rock music pioneers began to dominate radio and records, Lawrence and his wife were approached about changing their style.

“We had a chance to get in on the ground floor of rock ‘n’ roll,” he recalled in a 1989 interview. “It was 1957 and everything was changing, but I wanted to be Sinatra, not Rick Nelson.

“Our audience knows we’re not going to load up on heavy metal or set fire to the drummer — although on some nights we’ve talked about it,” he joked.

Although Lawrence and Gorme were best known as a team, both also had huge solo hits just months apart in the early 1960s.

Dionne Warwick, a longtime friend, said in a statement that Lawrence was “resting with comfort in the arms of the Heavenly Father. My heartfelt condolences go out.” Carol Burnett, in a statement, called Lawrence one of her favorite guests on her variety show. “He was also my very close friend,” she said. “He will always be in my heart.”

Lawrence scored first in 1962 with the achingly romantic ballad “Go Away Little Girl,” written by the Brill Building songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Gorme matched his success the following year with “Blame It on the Bossa Nova,” a bouncy tune about a dance craze of the time that was written by Brill hitmakers Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

By the 1970s, Lawrence and his wife were a top draw in Las Vegas casinos and nightclubs across the country. They also appeared regularly on television, making specials and guesting on various shows.

In the 1980s, when Vegas cut down on headline acts and nightclubs became scarcer, the pair switched to auditoriums and drew large audiences.

“People come with a general idea of what they’re going to get with us,” Lawrence said in 1989. “It’s like a product. They buy a certain cereal and they know what to expect from that package.”

Lawrence launched his professional singing career at age 15. After two failed auditions for “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts” TV show, he was accepted on the third try, going on to win the competition and the prize of appearing on Godfrey’s popular daytime radio show for a week.

King Records, impressed by the teenager’s strong, two-octave voice, signed him to a contract. His first record, “Poinciana,” sold more than 100,000 copies, and his high school allowed him to skip classes to promote it with out-of-town singing dates.

After several guest appearances on Steve Allen’s television show, Lawrence was hired as a regular. When the program became NBC’s “Tonight” in 1954, he went with it, singing and exchanging quips with Allen. The series set the pattern for the long-running “The Tonight Show.”

“I think Steve Allen was the biggest thing that happened to me,” said Lawrence, who stayed with the show’s host for five years, honing his comedic skills and attracting a wide audience with his singing. “Every night I was called upon to do something different. In its own way it was better than vaudeville.”

Early in the series’ run, a young singer named Eydie Gorme joined the cast. After singing together for four years, she and Lawrence were married in 1957.

Until Gorme’s death, in 2013, they remained popular, whether working together in concert or making separate TV appearances.

His reasoning: “If we did television together all the time, why should anyone go see us in a club?”

He appeared in such shows as “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Diagnosis Murder” and “The Nanny.”

He and his wife did star together in “The Steve Lawrence-Eydie Gorme Show” in 1958 and Lawrence had his own series, “The Steve Lawrence Show,” in 1965.

He also made stage appearances without Gorme, including a starring role in a 1962 summer stock version of “Pal Joey.” He made it to Broadway in 1964 — and earned a Tony Award nomination — in the musical “What Makes Sammy Run?” based on Budd Schulberg’s classic novel about a New York hustler who claws his way to the top of the entertainment world.

Critics praised Lawrence but gave the play bad reviews. Still, it turned a profit, and insiders attributed its success to his performance.

Lawrence also had a few character roles in movies, most notably “Stand Up and Be Counted,” “Blues Brothers 2000,” “The Lonely Guy” and “The Yards.”

Native-born New Yorkers, Lawrence and Gorme lived in a Manhattan apartment during their early years together. When the center of TV entertainment shifted to Hollywood, they moved to Beverly Hills.

Born Sidney Liebowitz in New York City’s borough of Brooklyn, Lawrence was the son of a Jewish cantor who worked as a house painter. He began singing in his father’s synagogue choir at 8, moving on to bars and clubs by his mid-teens. He took his name from the first names of two nephews.

He and Gorme had two sons, David, a composer, and Michael. Long troubled with heart problems, Michael died of heart failure in 1986 at age 23.

“My dad was an inspiration to so many people,” his son David said in a statement. “But, to me, he was just this charming, handsome, hysterically funny guy who sang a lot. Sometimes alone and sometimes with his insanely talented wife. I am so lucky to have had him as a father and so proud to be his son.”

Extremely dry February extends record drought conditions streak

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — February set multiple records for warm, dry conditions and minimal precipitation, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

February 2024 ranks among the top two warmest, top three driest and top five least snowy months on record. Overall winter temperatures also rank among the top five warmest recorded, with February showing a statewide average temperature more than 12 degrees above normal.

February’s preliminary statewide average precipitation was 0.21 inches, 0.96 inches below normal. At the end of February, Iowa’s Drought Plan showed mostly stable conditions for the state, with areas of northeast and southern Iowa carrying a drought watch designation.

Over the past year, precipitation in Iowa has been more than 8.5 inches below normal, and the state has now seen 200 consecutive weeks of dry or drought conditions.

“A very dry February has wiped out much of the benefit received from the wet January. The encouraging trend that started the winter has not continued,” said Tim Hall, the DNR’s Hydrology Resources Coordinator. “March through June are critical months for water resources in Iowa, and normal to above normal rainfall is critical this year especially.”

The state typically sees increased precipitation, whether rain or snow, during the late winter and spring months. Another dry year following the last three years of drought would be particularly challenging for Iowans.

For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, visit:

 www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate

Central Announces New Director of Career Development and Civic Engagement

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PELLA — Central College named Jodie Smith as the director of career development and civic engagement. She joined Central’s career development office in October, serving as the associate director of career and professional development.

In her new role, Smith will oversee four key areas of a Central education: career development, civic engagement, pre-health advising and off-campus programs including international education. She will direct the professional development series on campus with résumé and cover letter writing and job search strategies through presentations in classes. She will organize the internship fair, education fair and career workshops. Smith will support her team’s efforts in helping students find internships, study abroad through international education, pursue health-related careers and complete service-learning opportunities with community partners.

Smith came to Central from Iowa Western Community College where she served as the TRIO Student Support Services program director, working with first-generation students and students with disabilities. She was introduced to higher education when she worked with the student development office at Central several years ago. She admits her career path had interesting curves and changes, which prepared her well for this new role.

“It’s been my passion and desire to help students succeed,” Smith says. “I remember how I felt getting ready to graduate and not sure what I wanted to do. I thought I needed to have it all together. I didn’t and I was terrified of the next step. I want to help students navigate the next steps in their careers.”

Working with Aaron R. Roerdink ’97, associate dean for learning enrichment and associate professor-in-residence of chemistry, Smith will lead a dynamic team with a portfolio of programs focused on students and their success. Those include:

  • Debbie Abel, administrative assistant for career development and civic engagement.
  • Cyndi Boertje, assistant director for off-campus academic experiences.
  • Jeremy Burke, pre-health advisor and Class of 2026 class dean.
  • Natalie Nunnikhoven assistant director of civic engagement.
  • Emma Ware, AmeriCorps Outreach and Volunteer Recruitment VISTA.

Smith is excited about the new curriculum core and civic engagement components of a Central education.

“Our team will assist faculty in carrying these initiatives out through creative ways that align with our changing workforce,” Smith says.

She graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.S. in psychology and from William Penn University with a B.A. in sociology and human services. Her M.A. in higher education administration was earned at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and she is currently completing an M.A. in sociology from Sam Houston State University. She lives in Oskaloosa with her husband, Al, five children and two dogs.

NEWSLETTER

Stay updated, sign up for our newsletter.