Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 4 percent in June from 3.9 percent in May. The state’s unemployment rate was 3.8 percent during the same month one year ago. The June unemployment rate was below the comparable U.S. rate of 5.5 percent. The total number of working Iowans dropped to 1,605,400 in June from

1,614,300 in May. The current estimate is 8,000 higher than the year-ago level.

Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) recorded a 24-year high in ridership in the year ended June 30, due in large part to record gasoline prices. Preliminary totals indicate that 4,361,878 trips were taken on regular-route buses during the year that just ended, DART van pools totaled 280,000 rides, the highest ridership ever for the program, and another 160,000 trips were taken in DART Paratransit vehicles. The numbers represent a 10 percent increase for the fiscal year that ended June 30 over the previous fiscal year. DART said in a news release that its ridership growth doubled the national trend in increased use of public transit systems. DART’s long-distance express routes had a 25 percent increase, the largest rise among the system’s routes. DART also credited the boost in ridership to the addition of new services, including Sunday bus service, the downtown free shuttle and a free-fare program for employers.

West Des Moines-based West Bancorporation Inc., parent of West Bank, has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 16 cents per share payable Aug. 14 to shareholders of record on July 28. As of July 16, the company had 17,403,882 shares of common stock outstanding. After the dividend payment, all of the company’s capital ratios and those of West Bank will continue above the requirements to be well capitalized. West Bancorporation will announce its earnings for the second quarter and first half of 2008 and file its second-quarter Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission before U.S. markets open on July 31.

Multimedia Imaging Inc. has canceled the July 24 West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event due to the death of owner Ed Boesen. The company will host the event in December.

Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) will notify nearly 74,000 Iowans who may be eligible for emergency unemployment insurance benefits. Eligibility letters will be mailed in three phases to people whose benefits were exhausted after May 1, 2007, and before July 6. Individuals who have not exhausted their initial benefits will be notified as they become eligible. Additionally, Iowans who do not receive a letter notifying them of their eligibility, but who believe they are eligible for emergency benefits, should contact their local IWD office. The emergency unemployment compensation benefits were authorized recently by federal legislation. The program provides a maximum of 13 weeks of extended unemployment insurance benefits to eligible workers who have exhausted their regular benefits and remain unemployed. Emergency benefits are paid by the federal government and do not affect the solvency of Iowa’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

Jean Chatzky, financial editor for NBC’s “Today” show, will join Meredith Corp.’s More magazine as a contributing editor, with a monthly column debuting in October. She also will write longer feature articles focusing on financial issues.

West Des Moines-based GeoLearning Inc. said in a news release that it has been added to JMP Securities LLC’s listing of the best 100 privately held software companies. GeoLearning is a provider of managed learning services and on-demand learning and performance platforms.

Jasper Winery will have a grand opening July 26 to mark its move from Newton to a recently completed 8,000-square-foot winery on three acres at 2400 George Flagg Parkway in Des Moines. The event will kick off a series of Saturday concerts called Saturdays Uncorked. The winery will feature a one-acre vineyard and will house all winery operations, including wine production, a tasting room and special event space for groups of up to 150 people. Jasper will continue to operate a 10-acre vineyard near Newton and plans to purchase grapes from 12 Central Iowa growers for a production run that will exceed 15,000 gallons this year.