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Movers & Shakers September 3, 2010

| September 4, 2010 9:00 PM

Idaho jobless rate up slightly in August

Idaho's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up a tenth of a percentage point in August to 8.9 percent. Although nonfarm jobs rose slightly, the economy continued to search for a recovery foothold.

The increase in the jobless rate forecasted by the Idaho Department of Labor is the first since the rate rose two-tenths of a point in February to a near-record 9.5 percent.

Congress resumed payment of extended federal unemployment benefits to more than 8,000 unemployed Idaho workers at the end of July after stopping those benefits in late May.

"But more workers, discouraged by their prospects of finding jobs, apparently dropped out of the labor force during August," according to a press release.

The number of people working and seeking work fell more than 900 from July to 756,000. It was the third consecutive decline in the labor force since it peaked at more than 761,000 in May.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, total employment fell 1,400 to under 789,000, the lowest level since March, and the number of workers without jobs was up 500 to 67,400.

Curry attends national convention

Janet Curry of Post Falls recently returned from St. Louis, where she attended the 2010 PartyLite national conference.

Curry, an independent PartyLite consultant for 13 years, joined nearly 5,000 attendees who gathered for specialized training sessions and presentations plus a preview of the fall/holiday lineup of new PartyLite candles and home fragrances, home decor and gourmet food items.

"The holidays will be here before we know it," said Curry, "and I'm incredibly excited about all of the new, versatile ideas we have for decorating for the wonderful season ahead."

Curry is one of more than 60,000 people selling PartyLite products at home parties.

Blue Cross donates to residency program

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, Inc., recently donated $100,000 to the Family Medicine Residency Program of Idaho to aid the state's efforts to help increase the number of primary care physicians in Idaho.

This donation is the first of three $100,000 gifts the Foundation is giving to the Family Residency of Idaho.

Dr. Ted Epperly, CEO of the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho, said the organization plans to use the donation from the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health to improve access to family physicians by helping residents train in rural locations throughout Idaho.

"We are extremely grateful to receive this significant donation from the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health," said Dr. Epperly. "Idaho currently ranks 49th out of 50 states in the number of physicians per capita. We are committed to using these funds to improve access to family physicians across Idaho."

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