Briefs for June 20

Spaceman Coffee is permanently closing after more than four years of operation in downtown Spokane.

In a Facebook post Friday, Spaceman Coffee announced closure of its shop at 228 W. Sprague Ave.

The coffee shop indicated in the Facebook post it would be open June 25-27 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. for customers wanting “one last coffee, a few more laughs and a big goodbye.”

Spaceman Coffee was not immediately available for comment about the closure.

The coffee shop had been closed since mid-March amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Idaho jobless rate drops in May

Idaho’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.9% in May as the state’s economy began a rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.

The unemployment rate in May declined from a revised record high of 11.8% in April. More than 23,000 laid-off employees in the state went back to work in May, increasing the total number of employed workers to 804,643, according to the department.

Nonfarm jobs in Idaho grew by 3.5% in May from the prior month, representing a gain of 24,300 jobs.

Coeur d’Alene experienced a 3.4% increase in nonfarm jobs.

The national unemployment rate was 13.3% in May.

From staff reports.