Eastern Idaho joblessness continues to decline

The employment news for Idaho from July was about the best in the nation -- only Idaho and Rhode Island posted declines in their jobless rates -- and eastern Idaho's numbers were even better.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped another two-tenths of a percentage point, falling to a three-year low of 7.5 percent. In the Idaho Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area the rate dropped from 6.7 in June to 6.2 percent, down from 7.3 percent in July 2011. Rexburg posted a jobless rate in July of 5.3 percent, down from 6 percent in June and 6.5 percent in July 2011.

Idaho’s rate, which has been lower than the national rate since September 2001, has fallen dramatically during the past year from a post-recession high of 8.9 percent in July 2011. Despite employment slipping slightly, there were still over 19,000 more Idahoans at work in July than a year earlier while the number out of work dropped again to 58,600 – 9,700 fewer than in July 2011 and the lowest number of unemployed in three years.

New hires were at their highest rate for a July since 2007, although these new hires overwhelmingly filled jobs that had been held by people who retired or left for some other reason. The replacement factor in the jobs picture will increase as more and more  baby-boomers decide to take their pensions.

The Conference Board, a Washington, D.C. business think tank, estimated fewer than five unemployed workers for every two posted job openings in Idaho, the first time that ratio has been that low since late 2008. At the peak of the recession in late 2009, there were nine unemployed workers for every two posted job openings in the state.

Only 10 rural counties recorded double-digit unemployment rates in July, unchanged from June but down from 17 in July 2011. The highest rate was 17.3 percent in resource-dependent Adams County, up over a point from June but over two points lower than in July 2011.

Here's a breakdown of July 2012 unemployment for all eastern Idaho counties:

Bingham: 6.2 percent
Bonneville: 6.2 percent
Butte: 5.8 percent
Clark: 7.0 percent
Custer: 7.1 percent
Fremont: 6.5 percent
Jefferson: 6.3 percent
Lemhi: 10.3 percent
Madison: 4.9 percent
Teton: 6.5 percent

Idaho Falls to start free text, e-mail service to public

Starting Monday, the city of Idaho Falls will begin offering free 24 hour city news alerts, designed to keep citizens informed and up to date.

“(This) is just another example where Idaho Falls is leading the way in governmental transparency and accountability," said Mayor Jared Fuhriman.

The new subscriber service will allow anyone interested to receive daily city updates and press releases, city calendar events, emergency notifications and weekly newsletters, delivered directly to their e-mail in-box or text-capable devices.

To subscribe, one needs only to forward their phone number (for texts) or e-mail (for e-mail alerts) or both to the Idaho Falls Public Information Office. They can be reached by calling 208-612-8122 or by e-mail at bhuerta@idahofallsidaho.gov.

'Hey, I saw you on TV ... "

In case you missed me Monday night on Local News 8 doing my best impression of an informed observer of local business development, here's a link: http://www.localnews8.com/news/Idaho-Falls-Ammon-see-upswing-in-retail-development/-/308662/16099336/-/agoffh/-/index.html.

It is worth noting that after this aired on the 10 o'clock news, my number of pageviews on Tuesday was more than double its previous high. Even though I'm an old print dog, I've learned to be "platform agnostic." I'm willing to take a story to print, web, radio or TV. It's pretty obvious that TV packs a lot of clout.

Thanks to Marissa Bodnar, who called me about doing an interview. Considering the number of eyeballs that little segment brought to this blog, let me quote the Marvelettes' "Beechwood 4-5789" and say, "You can call me up and have a date any old time."

Taste of Idaho poster offers Costco hint

A Taste of Idaho is Thursday evening, and I'd encourage anyone who likes food, sunshine and music to head down to Snake River Landing between 6 and 9 to experience the magic.

I'm posting the poster, however, because I noticed Costco Wholesale among the sponsors' logos at the bottom. You may read into this whatever you choose. If there is any news, I expect it to break next week while I am on the East Coast visiting my mother. This is what happened with Olive Garden. I got a call on my cell phone about it while I was on the ski lift at Grand Targhee during spring break.

Authors to sign books at zoo Saturday

The Tautphaus Park Zoo is now a selling a “Green Kids Club” book series, and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the authors will be available to autograph copies at the Tautphaus Park Zoo.

According to the Green Kids Club Web site (http://www.green-kids-club.com/), “The series was developed as a utility to teach children the importance of protecting habitats to sustain ecosystems, animal life and ultimately human life.” The books are written by local authors, Sylvia Medina and Saige Ballock-Dixon and illustrated by Joy Eagle.

“The Green Kids Club books and the mission of the Tautphaus Park Zoo really do go hand in hand.” said Beth Rich, zoo superintendent. “The zoo is dedicated to conservation and education on wildlife and wild places so these books help support our goals and mission very nicely.”