That was easy -- Staples announces it plans to close stores

Associated Press

Staples is speeding up the closure of about 15 of its U.S. stores and plans to close 45 stores and some delivery businesses in Europe.

The office products company also says it will invest more in its online and mobile efforts and will expand the product assortment that it offers to its business customers.

Staples Inc. said Tuesday that these moves and other actions are part of a strategic plan to better serve customers' needs and accelerate growth.

Staples is trying to adapt to the evolving needs of its customers. Last month the company reported that its second-quarter net income fell as sales of computers, software, and basic office supplies softened. Computer sales have been pressured by the introduction to many offices of the computer tablet and other mobile devices. Traffic is also down at Staples' stores and Europe continues to be a weak spot.

The chain expects the U.S. store closings will result in a charge of about $35 million in the fourth quarter. For fiscal 2012, it anticipates about 30 U.S. store closings. Staples also expects 30 stores will be scaled down and stores being relocated.

Lawmakers should keep hands off 3D printing, BYU-I professor says

3D printing uses liquids, power or sheet material to create an object from a CAD drawing.

This is an interesting article from TechCrunch written by Rick Kelly, an adjunct political science professor at BYU-Idaho, about 3-D printers and the issues they may be likely to present, especially when it comes to the Internet.

With 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, the machine takes data from a CAD drawing and creates and object by laying down layers of liquid, powder, or sheet material. These layers, which correspond to the virtual cross section from the CAD model, are joined together or fused automatically to create almost any shape or geometric feature.

Kelly's concern is with the possibility of laws to restrict the manufacturing of firearms and drug using 3D printers, and the Internet freedom implications of such laws.

For those who appreciate the internet because of its democratizing effects and freedom, I believe the choice is clear. We should decide now that we will oppose any law that attempts to undermine freedom on the internet, no matter the consequences.

http://techcrunch.com/2012/08/26/the-next-battle-for-internet-freedom-could-be-over-3d-printing/ 

Idaho Falls residential building numbers show increase

A four-plex on John Adams Parkway, part of a 24-unit development started in the spring.

Going by numbers from the city of Idaho Falls Building Department, the market for new homes in Idaho Falls seems to be on the rebound.

Through the end of August, the city issued 91 permits for single family dwellings. This is the highest number since 2008, but still far below the 234 permits that were issued in the first eight months of 2007.

Based on a cost-per-square-foot calculation, the city issued permits for residential projects amounting to $6.93 million in residential value. Counting commercial projects, Idaho Falls issued permits for more than $73 million.

This is a number that can be swayed by one or two big projects, which has been the case this year. A permit for the $9.5 million Ethel Boyes Elementary project was issued Aug. 28. Add that to the Dora Erickson Elementary project and the new INL research center permits that were issued earlier this year and the numbers add up fast.

Walk MS 2012 set for Saturday morning at Snake River Landing

Walk MS 2012 is set to take place Saturday at Snake River Landing. Walkers will be raising money to support programs, research and services sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Registration and check-in is at 8:30 a.m. at 901 Pier View Drive. The walk starts at 10 a.m. One- and three-mile routes will be laid out. At 11 a.m., there will be a finish line celebration and food.

If you are interested in taking part, joining a team or creating a team, here is a link where you can find more information: http://walkutu.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=18325&pg=entry

Census: Idaho 2011 median household income fell for third straight year

Here's a news release that came out Thursday from the Idaho Department of Labor. Normally I'd post the link, but this is short enough to run in its entirety.

The slow recovery from the Great Recession continued to have an impact on Idaho households in 2011, dropping median household income for the third straight year.

New U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Thursday put median household income in Idaho at $43,341, down 0.3 percent from 2010. Since the recession took a firm grip on Idaho’s economy in 2008, median household income has dropped 8.9 percent.
 
Only eight other states have posted three straight year of declining median household income, the income level at which half the households bring in more and the other half less. But only Nevada and Georgia recorded larger three-year declines.
 
Florida has seen median household income decline for four straight years. The other states with three-year declines were Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Jersey and New Mexico.
 
The share of Idahoans living in poverty last year rose to 16.5 percent from 15.7 percent in 2010, and the households receiving food stamps rose from 72,000, or 12.5 percent of all households, to over 78,000, or 13.5 percent, in 2011. While Hispanic households receiving food stamps fell from 31.9 percent to 30.7 percent, the number of white households receiving food stamps rose from 10.2 percent to 11.9 percent in 2011.
 
At the same time 83.5 percent of the population had some kind of health coverage, up from 82.3 percent in 2010 primarily due to additional people qualifying for government health care. Those with private insurance dropped from 67.4 percent in 2010 to 66.9 percent in 2011 while those enrolled in public health care programs rose from 26.9 percent in 2010 to 28.5 percent in 2011.
 
Additional demographic, social and economic statistics on Idaho and the other states based on 2011 estimates are at http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t on the American Community Survey site of the U.S. Census Bureau.