The Memo: What to know in business this week for Aug. 28

The Number: 2.3 percent

That was the unemployment rate in Cook County last month, when only 80 people reported being unemployed in a labor force of 3,417. That's the one of the lowest rates in nearly 20 years of DEED data, but unemployment will almost certainly rise again when an icy Highway 61 deters visitors. Unemployment was 7 percent in January, and 6.3 percent in the first month of 2016. Because tourism, of course.

The Word

"There is no simple answer as our economic system allows individuals many ways to 'make money' and increase personal wealth beyond the traditional employer/employee relationship," Elaine Hansen, director of the UMD Center for Economic Development, said about federal tax reform just past deadline for last week's story. "That relationship is easily defined and taxed, while other methods of income and wealth generation are not. Finding a possible solution might mean starting with all of the various exemptions and examining them one by one. However, that would not be met with ready acceptance by many of those individuals who are affected."

The Lead

The newsletter for Virginia Public Utilities customers was a bit salty in July - maybe it is every month - as a note under the title "We take the good with the bad" explained the details of bill collection, the cold weather rule and working together on billing issues. Here's a snippet toward the bottom: "There's a small cadre of customers who have this indignant, self-righteous, entitlement mentality. Not just the young adults, though. It's all ages. ... I will admit I've gotten a bit jaded over the 12 years I've been dealing with this crowd so it's difficult for me to empathize with them. But I learned long ago, you get more bees with honey than with vinegar."

The Happy Hour

Randy's Cafe has apparently changed hands and, for the time being, closed down. The building housing the classic Lincoln Park diner remains listed for sale for $325,000 on the Edina Realty website.

The Meeting: Perfect prezi

Ted Schick wants to help you nail your presentations, so the Chamber is hosting him from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday for a lesson in delivery at 5 W. First. St. Free for members, $25 for others, sign up at duluthchamber.com.

The Memo is a weekly roundup of things to know, ya know? Send business news of all kinds to biz@duluthnews.com and give salty business reporter Brooks Johnson a call every now and then at (218) 723-5329.