Iowa’s jobless rate stayed steady at 3.5 percent in March, compared with February, and is down from 3.7 percent in March 2007. Total employment rose to a new high of 1,615,300 from 1,610,900 in February, but nonfarm employment declined slightly to 1,523,600, compared with an all-time record in January of 1,524,400. Manufacturing had the largest gain last month, up 600 jobs, while financial activities, education and health services, and government each added 300 jobs. The largest losses occurred in trade, transportation and utilities and in leisure and hospitality, with both sectors losing 700 jobs during the month.

Dubuque-based Flexsteel Industries Inc.’s net income for the quarter ended March 31 was $0.8 million, or 13 cents per share, compared with $1.5 million, or 23 cents per share, in the prior-year quarter. Net sales declined 5.7 percent to $98.1 million, compared with $104.1 million a year ago. Residential sales increased 2.5 percent to $60.9 million, while recreational vehicle sales fell 20.6 percent to $14 million and commercial sales declined 14 percent to $23.2 million. Listen to a replay of this morning’s conference call at (800) 642-1687 (Use I.D. # 35843799).

A new report from Iowa State University economist Dave Swenson shows that the major presidential candidates’ economic impact on Iowa was $15.5 million in total sales in the six months preceding the caucuses, which is far less than the $50 million to $100 million others have estimated. Though major candidates spent $352.5 million across the country in the second half of 2007, Iowa’s portion was only 7.7 percent of that because most candidates hired staff and used resources from out of state, Swenson said. Of the amount candidates did spend in-state, the majority (about $5.5 million) went to staff payroll, $2.2 million went to travel, $2 million went to printing and $1.1 million went to event fees. For the complete report, go to www.econ.iastate.edu/research/webpapers/paper_12911.pdf.

Operation Downtown, the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department and the Riverfront Development Authority are honoring Earth Day with the Earth Day Trash Bash, a clean up event today from 1 to 4 p.m. in downtown Des Moines. Volunteers will be picking up litter along downtown streets, the Principal Riverwalk, Gray’s Lake and Meredith Trail. Prizes will be awarded for most unusual item found, largest percentage of employee participation and company that demonstrates the most environmental stewardship in its workplace in a ceremony starting at 4 p.m. at the Long Look Garden at City Hall.

Ralph Oman, former head of the U.S. Copyright Office, will give the Drake University Intellectual Property Law Center’s first distinguished lecture on copyright law today beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Room 201 of Cartwright Hall, 27th Street and Carpenter Avenue. The lecture is titled “The Role of the U.S. Copyright Office.” It is free and open to the public.

John Pappajohn, a well-known philanthropist and venture capitalist, will be the keynote speaker at Grand View College’s commencement ceremony this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines. He also will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in recognition of his contributions to the community. Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, also will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in recognition of his leadership of the church and his outstanding achievements. He will speak at a baccalaureate ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership‘s Buy Into the Circle campaign will host a training session on state government purchasing to help businesses learn how to gain contracts from government agencies. The discussion is from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday in the Arthur Davis Conference Center at the Greater Des Moines Partnership office, 700 Locust St. The event is free. Register by calling Meg Fitz at 286-4934.