Business/Economy

In other Smith’s news, all the permits are signed to begin work on converting the former Shamrock Station property into a Smith’s Fuel Center. Steve Sorenson, vice president for corporate development, told the Los Alamos Monitor the project would go to bid in two weeks.
The Shamrock station will be demolished, and construction is expected to begin sometime in late July or early August. Sorenson anticipates the new station will be open by mid-October.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent last month from 8.2 percent in March. It has fallen a full percentage point since August to a three-year low. But last month's decline was not due to job growth. The government only counts people as unemployed if they are actively looking for work.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew more slowly in the first three months of this year. Governments spent less, and businesses cut back on investment. But consumers spent at the fastest pace in more than a year.

The result suggests that the economy will continue to expand, slowly but steadily.

SANTA FE (AP) — A state hearing officer has listened to several Blue Cross Blue Shield policyholders speak of financial hardships they’ll endure if higher monthly premiums were to kick in as the insurer wants.
The insurance company has proposed a 6.9 percent increase on June 1 for 31,000 New Mexicans with individual health care policies.
Saturday’s hearing to take consumer comment in Santa Fe came after Blue Cross laid out its case for the increase earlier this month. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports The company argued it was needed to cover claims that led the company to lose $7.2 million in the individual market in 2011.