Iowa’s unemployment rate was three-point-four percent in April, up slightly to 3.2 percent. Labor analyst Ann Wagner of Iowa Workforce Development says a dip in construction jobs helped push the rate up. Wagner says construction has been doing very well, hitting peak employment last year, but in April there was a sudden drop of 2,000 jobs. Wagner says they’re not sure if the drop is one-month anomaly or if it’s linked to the slowdown in housing. Wagner says it’ll take another month to see if the drop in construction jobs is a trend. She says the release of the May data should show if there’s a downturn in construction or if some major projects had ended. Wagner says they’ll monitor the issue as the drop "is unusual." Wagner says there are still a lot of areas looking to hire workers. Wagner says professional and business service jobs were up 800 in April, education and health was up 700, government jobs were up 600 and trade and transportation was up 500. Wagner says the job picture remains strong. Wagner says the state gained over 18,000 non-farm jobs in the last year and there are 7,600 more people with jobs. The unemployment rate last April was 3.8 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate edged up to 4.5 percent in April, compared to 4.4 percent in March.
Unemployment rate up in April after drop in construction jobs
Thompson: across-the-board cut the way to reduce deficit
Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson says the way to reduce federal spending is an across-the-board cut.
Thompson, a Republican presidential candidate who is campaigning in Iowa today, doesn’t think getting rid of individual government programs would work. "That is not how you save money," Thompson says.
If he’s elected president, Thompson says he’ll force department heads to submit budget plans for the next year that spend between one and five percent less than the current year. "That saves much more money than cutting individual programs," Thompson says. "That’s where the president of the United States can have an impact on reducing the deficit."
During a televised debate earlier this week, Thompson was asked to name one federal program he would cut, and Thompson replied that he would "eliminate" the "stockpile" of vaccines and other medications held by the Department of Health and Human Services. That’s the agency Thompson used to run. Thompson now disputes that.
"I didn’t say get rid of the stockpile," Thompson says. "What happened when they put in the (Department of) Homeland Security, they took part of the stockpile and put it in Homeland Security. I’d take that out of the Homeland Security, put it back in (the Centers for Disease Control, which is part of the Health and Human Services Department)…CDC has the expertise of running it."
According to Thompson, doctors should be in charge of the health care system when there’s an emergency like 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina rather than having FEMA, Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services all share responsibility for dispensing medications from the government stockpile of vaccines.
You can read more about Thompson’s remarks on The Blog at www.radioiowa.com.
Harkin critical of Shrek for promoting junk food
The third installment of the movie "Shrek" featuring the green ogre as the lead character premieres Friday — but the character has already drawn a protest from Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. Harkin says Tuesday he sent a letter to the CEO of the company that produced the Shrek movie protesting the character’s use in promoting junk food to kids.
Harkin says the character has been licensed to market Cheetos, Pop Tarts, Skittles, M&M’s, Frosted Flakes, FrootSnickers, Cheeze-its, Keebler cookies and other items. "This is just irresponsible, and I fear it calls into question, the good faith of the food and advertising industry," Harkin says. Harkin, a Democrat, is on an F-C-C committee on media and childhood obesity along with Kansas Senator Sam Brownback. Harkin says they’ve gotten indications the companies want to work with them, but are prepared to take action if they don’t.
Harkin says: "They have the option of using their creativity to encourage children to make positive healthful choices. Let me be clear, if theses industries continue on their present course, then government will have a responsibility to act. We’re not going to stand idly by in the face of a worsening epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes." Harkin says the marketing of junk food to kids continues to expand.
Harkin says the "Center for Digital Democracy" is releasing a report that documents how junk food marketing to kids has expanded far beyond television. Harkin says the report shows major food and beverage companies are using cellphones, instant messages, video games, and user generate videos "in order to target children and to foster ongoing personal relationships with them." Harkin says the new methods of marketing raise new concerns.
Harkin says the new mediums are not even on parent’s radar screens. Harkin says one part of his Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention Act would allow the F-T-C to regulate the marketing. But Harkin says he also has left it open to allow the companies to "step up to the plate and make this legislation unnecessary." Harkin made his comments during a conference call with reporters.
Music legend suffers stroke while performing in Western Iowa
A rock-and-roll legend is hospitalized in Omaha after falling ill in western Iowa over the weekend. Guitar great Bo Diddley performed Sunday at Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs but seemed disoriented during the show and was rushed to Creighton University Medical Center. A spokeswoman now confirms, he had a stroke that effected the left side of his brain, effecting his speech. He also has a history of diabetes and hypertension. Diddley is 78 and is listed in guarded condition in intensive care at the Omaha hospital. Diddley had his first hit in 1955 and was inducted into the Rock and Hall of Fame in 1987. He was given the Grammy for lifetime achievement in 1998.
Audio: Radio Iowa’s Matt Kelley reports on Bo Diddley. :38 MP3
Victim of car-train wreck identified
Authorities have identified the man who was killed in a car-train crash in Council Bluffs. According to authorities, the driver — and only occupant — of the car was 33-year old Mark A. Roberson, the Second, of Council Bluffs. Police say Roberson was identified based on circumstantial evidence and DNA tests were being conducted to make a positive I.D.
Roberson’s Pontiac Grand Am collided with a train operated by Iowa Interstate Railroad on Union Pacific tracks at around 11:30 P.M. Monday. When police arrived, Roberson’s car was on fire and he was unresponsive. Train employees and police officers went through three fire extinguishers while trying to battle the flames and pull Roberson from the car, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The vehicle was soon engulfed in fire and Roberson died at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.
Man hospitalized after Cedar Falls standoff
A reported hostage situation in Cedar Falls early today ends with a man hospitalized for mental treatment. Around 3:30 this morning, police received a report of a hostage situation and assault involving a weapon at a Cedar Falls home.
Officers surrounded the house, and the city’s Major Incident Response and Hostage Negotiations Teams were called in to make contact with the person inside.
The standoff lasted more than two hours. When police finally entered the home around 5:45 this morning, they discovered the man faked the reported incident. Police say a man was taken to a Waterloo hospital for an involuntary mental committal.
State audit confirms questionable expenses at Dallas County Jail
The state auditor has found at least $8,000 worth of questionable expenses in the operation of the Dallas County Jail. The attorney general asked for the audit after allegations surfaced that former Jail Administrator Deke Gliem was giving female jail inmates phone cards and other personal items — if they would perform “personal favors” for him.
Gliem resigned last fall. The audit uncovered nearly $6,000 worth of unaccounted for phone cards. The audit also found over $2,300 worth of fingerprinting fees were not properly accounted for. There were incomplete records for commissary items like snacks and toiletries — the items the jail administrator is accused of using in exchange for those sexual “favors” from female inmates.
The Dallas County sheriff issued a statement, saying he and his staff have addressed all the issues raised by the audit and either have corrective measures in place, or plans have been drafted to make the changes soon.
