There is some encouraging news on the economic front. Hamilton County witnessed a drop in its unemployment for the month of April of 2.3 percent. The rate for March was at 2.8 percent. Iowa Workforce Development reported there were 7,090 people employed across Hamilton County in April with 160 people without work. The unemployment rates for surrounding counties included Boone at 1.9 percent, Franklin at 2.3 percent, Hardin at 2.6 percent, Story at 1.8 percent, Webster County at 2.6 percent and Wright County was at 2.2 percent for April. Iowa’s April unemployment rate was 2.7 percent with the national unemployment rate at 3.4 percent for the month.