Essential StateImpact: Year in Review

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Thank you for making our first four months a success! See you next year...

StateImpact Idaho launched in September 2011.  While we’ve only been live for the last four months, we thought we’d look back at the five most-read stories during StateImpact Idaho’s first year.

• In Rural Idaho, the Recession Changes One Town’s Fate: Before the recession, rural Fairfield, Idaho was planning for growth.  Now, it’s dealing with a double-digit unemployment rate and trying to hold onto the business that already exist.  Molly Messick visited Fairfield in November to tell a story not uncommon to many rural towns in America.

• In the Wake of Foreclosure, a Debt That Won’t Die: Many people who go through foreclosure assume losing their home is the last step in the process.  And for many, its the definition of hitting rock bottom.  But some former homeowners find themselves in an even tighter spot when lenders pursue them for the debt that remains.  This is a story about what can happen after foreclosure, and why banks are increasingly going after what’s left.

• Governor Otter: The State Can’t Reject a Federal Unemployment Benefit Extension:  Congress approved a last minute, temporary extension, of federal unemployment benefits before its holiday recess.  But before that was finalized, Idaho’s Labor Department director said the state should work to reject any new extension.  Governor Butch Otter says that can’t happen.

• As Farmland Prices Soar, It’s Not Just Farmers Buying:  The price of quality cropland is soaring across the U.S.  In parts of Idaho, land has reportedly sold for as much as $10,000 an acre.  That’s more than double average prices.  Now, investors are buying farmland and driving demand.  This story explains how it works and how one of Idaho’s oldest industries could be impacted.

• Labor Director Opposes Extending Unemployment Benefits:  Idaho’s Labor Department director opposes any further extension of federal unemployment benefits.  More than 12,000 Idahoans are currently receiving federal benefits, an additional 12,000 are receiving state benefits.

Plus, here are a couple of runners up: Idaho Dairy Farmers Struggle to Find Optimism and our series Jobless in Idaho.  Thanks for clicking, commenting and sharing our stories in 2011.  We can’t wait to bring you even more in 2012!