Breaking News from The Birmingham News - al.com: Business

• Alabama jobless rate rises to 3.5 percent in November
  

  Gov. Riley says state continues to have 'one of America's best economies.'

  Alabama's unemployment rate, which hit a record low of 3.1 percent in October, jumped to 3.5 percent last month, figures released this morning show.

  The November level was slightly below the 3.6 percent jobless rate from a year earlier, according to the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations. The Birmingham-Hoover metro area unemployment rate was 3 percent, up from 2.7 percent in October and matching the figure from November 2006.
  
  The U.S. jobless rate was 4.7 percent in November, up from 4.4 percent a month earlier and 4.3 percent a year ago.

  Shelby County had Alabama's lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent in November. The highest was Bullock County, at 8.7 percent. Jefferson County's rate was 3.1 percent last month.

  Gov. Bob Riley said Alabama's economy is benefit from business expansions.

  "I think there's no doubt we continue to have one of America's best economies," Riley said. "Our unemployment rate remains low, incomes are up and our economic development strategy is working to bring new jobs to the state."

  Roy Williams
  

• Group says Alabama sportsmen spend $1.7 billion yearly
  

  National Shooting Sports Foundation contends the economic impact of hunters, fishermen as big as some of state's largest businesses, creating 30,500 jobs.

  A ranking of states in categories including total number of hunters and anglers, spending by sportsmen, jobs supported, taxes generated, number of days spent hunting and fishing and the most traveled to states by hunters and anglers has been released by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

  Nationally, Texas is at the top of the pack. It is No. 1 in total hunters and anglers (2.6 million), money spent ($6.6 billion), jobs supported (106,000) and tax revenue generated ($1.3 billion). Florida lands the trophy for the No. 2 spot.

  Alabama ranks 18th nationally for its total number of sportsmen, 18th in anglers and 11th in hunters, according to the report. See the Alabama specific numbers here.

  
  The new state-by-state rankings were compiled to complement a national report, "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors," which spotlights the impact hunters and anglers have on the economy at the national and state level, as well as a constituency.

  The report was produced by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation with support from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, National Marine Manufacturers Association and SCI - First For Hunters. The report uses the results from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation and statistics provided by the American Sportfishing Association and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

• Former Bessemer finance official arrested
  

  Ryan Rancher faces charges of theft, fraud and acting as in investment adviser without a license, officials said today.
  

  Former Bessemer revenue director Ryan Rancher has been arrested by sheriff's deputies and agents from the Alabama Securities Commission on a charges of theft, fraud and acting as in investment adviser without a license, the ASC said in a statement released today.

  Rancher was booked into the Jefferson County Jail and released on $40,000 bail.

  The charges result from a nine-month investigation where a Birmingham-area resident gave Rancher $25,000 to invest. The money was never invested, according to the ASC.

  The securities commission is asking that anyone who had any dealings with Rancher to contact ASC agents at 1-800-222-1253. Rancher was fired in June from his job at the city shortly after agents asked questions about Rancher at Bessemer City Hall.

  Robert K. Gordon

  For more on this story see Saturday's The Birmingham News.

• David Hoidal, chief of UAB Health System, will leave post
  

  Hoidal, who headed the health care enterprise since mid-2004, plans to return to the Midwest to care for aging family members.

  David Hoidal will resign as chief executive officer of UAB Health System effective Jan. 4 to return home to the Midwest and help care for aging parents.

  The University of Alabama at Birmingham has not yet named an interim head of the health enterprise, which includes 908-bed UAB Hospital, the Kirklin Clinic, Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital, Viva Health, UAB Highlands, Health Services Foundation, Medical West in Bessemer and Montgomery Baptist hospitals.

  Hoidal came to UAB in 2000 to run the Kirklin Clinic, the large private doctors' practice affiliated with the university. He quickly took on overseeing the Eye Foundation Hospital. He became chief operating officer of the entire health system in 2002 and then CEO in mid-2004.

  "While my wife and I have enjoyed our many years in Alabama, our roots remain in the Midwest," Hoidal said in a written statement. "At this point in our lives our priority is to spend more time with family, particularly our aging parents. We realize that not everyone has that opportunity, and we are extremely grateful to have that option."

  Hoidal, who is in his early 50s, hasn't discussed his next professional step.

  Carol Z. Garrison, president of UAB, said the university is working on a transition plan.
  "Our health system is stronger than ever, and we have a superb executive team to ensure its continued success," she said in the university's statement.

  Anna Velasco
  

• Work begins on Homewood condo-retail project
  

  The first phase includes 73 condos and 9,000 square feet of retail space. It is being developed by Arlington Properties.

  Developers of Hallman Hill, a $100 million condominium and retail project in Homewood, celebrated the beginning of construction this morning.

  Site prep work has begun on the first phase, which includes 73 condos and 9,000 square feet of retail space. It is being developed by Arlington Properties.

  Margi Ingram of Ingram New Homes, agent for the project, said condo prices range from $239,000 to $700,000. Forty-five of 73 units planned in the first phase have been sold, she said.

  On hand today were 18 of the customers who have purchased condos.

  The first phase should be complete by spring 2009, Ingram said.

  The project's second phase will begin across the street when sales reach 85 percent in phase one, Ingram said.

  The project is on a busy Homewood corner just behind the old city hall and at the site of Homewood Gardens apartments. Half of those apartments -- the site of the Hallman Hill's second phase -- continue to be leased.

  Kim Bryan

  
  
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• Birmingham-Hoover has lowest jobless rate of nation's big cities, bureau says
  

  Area's unemployment rate of 2.7 percent in October was lowest among U.S. cities with more than 1 million people, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says.

  The Birmingham-Hoover area last month recorded the lowest unemployment rate among the nation's 49 metro areas with at least 1 million people.

  The area's jobless rate was 2.7 percent in October, down from 3.3 percent in September, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In October 2006, the rate was 3 percent.

  Birmingham-Hoover displaced previous leader Richmond, Va., whose jobless rate fell from 3.2 percent to 3 percent in October, the bureau said.

  Birmingham-Hoover's 3.3 percent jobless rate in September was sixth-lowest among the nation's large metro areas.

  The area's jobless rate has been lower than the October figure only once, at 2.4 percent in April.

  Hiring managers and employers say the Birmingham has benefited from a diverse economy and Alabama's improving outlook.

  Alabama's jobless rate was a record low 3.1 percent in October, sixth-lowest nationally.

  Roy L. Williams