IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 2.9 percent in March from a revised February rate of 3.0 percent. The state’s labor force participation rate fell to 67 percent from 67.2 percent in February. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent in March. The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 48,700 in March from 50,200 in February. The total number of working Iowans fell to 1,648,200 in March. This figure is 2,500 lower than February and 17,400 lower than one year ago.

DES MOINES – A final piece of major legislation seems to be on its way to passage before the end of the 2024 session. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports additional income and property tax reductions have been proposed in both chambers through companion bills. The legislation accelerates tax cuts first approved in 2022, dropping the rate to 3.8% in 2025, and lowers the threshold for cities and counties to use growth funding to reduce their general fund levies.

DES MOINES – The Des Moines International Airport will receive $2.2 million from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminals Program to fund the construction of new terminal areas. The Airport Terminals Program was established in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This Airport Terminals Program grant is separate from other awards announced over the past several years. It will support DSM’s construction of several common use terminal areas to improve accessibility and efficiency.

IOWA CITY – A custodian with Iowa City High School received national recognition for an act of heroism. KCRG-TV reports Wegayewu Faris was fishing in the Iowa River when he saw a young boy start to drown. While Faris was able to get the boy to safety in 2022, he himself drowned. The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission awarded Faris with the Carnegie Medal of Heroism.