Eastern Idaho unemployment outpaces rest of state

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate plunged another three-tenths of a percentage point to 7.1 percent in September, and eastern Idaho's numbers continued to outpace the rest of the state.

The Idaho Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area reported an unemployment rate of 5.9 percent, down from 7.3 percent in September 2011. The city of Rexburg reported a rate of 5.0 percent , down from 5.7 in September 2011.

While it was the lowest rate since May 2009, it came with a fourth straight month of a shrinking labor force and the first August-September labor force decline since the 1986 recession.

Employers across the state expanded September payrolls from August at a higher rate than the past five years and at a slightly faster pace than they did during the expansion from 2003 through 2007.

Another 1,200 workers were on the job in September, pushing total employment to 720,600 – its highest level in four years – and breaking a two-month employment slide. Total nonfarm jobs were 1.2 percent above September 2011, marking the fifth straight month that jobs have totaled at least a percentage point higher than a year earlier.

Unemployment benefit payments dropped 36 percent in September from September 2011, and the number of claimants averaged 15,000 during the month, down 37 percent from nearly 24,000 a year ago. Benefits for more than a third of those claimants expire at the end of the year.

The combination was a sign of slow but sustainable growth that could persist even in the face of economic setbacks, the Idaho Department of Labor reported.

The drop in Idaho’s jobless rate matched the three-tenths of a point decline in the national rate to 7.8 percent and marked 11 full years that the state rate has been lower than the national rate.

Except for construction and information, all major industrial sectors saw larger payrolls this fall than a year ago. But nonfarm jobs overall remained below the 2005 levels, and construction and manufacturing job totals matched the early 1990s. Total jobs are not expected to recover to pre-recession levels until 2015.

University of Phoenix closing operation in Idaho Falls

The University of Phoenix Learning Center in Idaho Falls will be among the sites across the nation that will be closing in the wake of bad financial news from the school's parent company.

Apollo Group Inc., the largest U.S. for-profit college chain, has seen a 59 percent decline in the value of its stock since the beginning of the year, making it the worst-performing stock in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

The company announced Wednesday it will be closing 25 campuses and 90 learning centers and cutting about 800 jobs.

“We’re positioning ourselves to be more nimble, more competitive and more successful for all of our stakeholders in Apollo,” Chief Executive Officer Greg Cappelli was quoted as saying in Bloomberg BusinessWeek (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-17/apollo-group-falls-most-in-two-years-on-sales-forecast.html).

After the closings, which are to be completed next year, the University of Phoenix will be left with a nationwide network of 112 locations and a physical presence in 36 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Students affected by the closings will have the option of transferring to the university’s online classes (about three-quarters of its students are online.) Students are now being notified of the changes, and a hot line has been set up at (866) 992-3302 for those with questions.

Permits issued for oncology, surgical center remodeling

Plans for Idaho Falls Oncology at the Idaho Falls Building Department office.

Work is set to begin in earnest on a new place for Idaho Falls cancer patients to get chemotherapy in relative comfort.

IFSC Partners, a Portland, Ore.-based company, had building permits issued earlier this month for the remodel of the Idaho Falls Surgical Center building at 1945 East 17th Street. The building to the north that used to be the Idaho Falls Recovery Center is being remodeled into Idaho Falls Oncology. Valuation of the first remodel is estimated at $1.31 million and the second is $1.47 million.

When finished the two buildings will be connected by a common corridor. Overall, the project will cover 175,767 square feet, with parking for 98 vehicles. Idaho Falls Oncology will be given a new address, 1957 East 17th Street.

The architect on the project is Ankrom Moisan Associated, a Portland firm. The contractor is Bateman-Hall of Idaho Falls.

Cortney Liddiard, CEO of Ball Ventures, and James Adamson, president and CEO of Mountain View Hospital, are listed on the building plans as the principals involved in IFSC Partners.

Memorial Drive to be completely closed starting Friday

Memorial Drive will be closed completely to traffic Friday, to allow for final grading and paving and completion of a roundabout.

The project, which started July 8, is expected to be completely open to traffic by Nov. 5. In the last few weeks of construction, the road will be completely closed between Broadway and F Street, including the intersection with Riverside Drive.

With winter at hand and the road construction season coming to an end, the expanded construction schedule and brief closing ought to allow for the work to be finished before the ground freezes, Idaho Falls City Engineer Kent Fugal said.

When finished, traffic on Memorial will be one lane each way, with landscaping designed to make foot traffic easier between downtown and the Idaho Falls Greenbelt. "We are very excited to see this project finished," Fugal said.

I.F. insurance rep named finalist for national award

Kandace Kepler

Kandace Kepler of Premier Insurance's Idaho Falls office has been named a national finalist for the 2012 Outstanding Customer Service Representative of the Year award. The award is sponsored by the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research, and recognizes the contributions and commitment of those who serve clients within the insurance industry.

Kepler began her insurance career as a customer service representative in 1987 and has been associated with Premier Insurance of Idaho Falls since 1997, serving as a commercial account executive. She earned a certified insurance service representative designation in 2001, construction risk and insurance specialist in 2011, and most recently, certified insurance counselor. She is currently working towards the designation of certified risk manager.