The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton unemployment rate for December was 4.2%, Asheville's was 3.6%. Area county rates include:
Alexander - 3.7%
Avery - 4.3%
Burke - 4.2%
Caldwell - 4.5%
Catawba - 4.1%
Lincoln - 3.9%
McDowell - 4%
Mitchell - 5.1%
Watauga - 3.7%
Hyde County had the highest umemployment rate for December at 10.6%, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.4%, according to figures released last week from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Morganton City Council will hold a public hearing at a called meeting of the City Council in Council Chambers of City Hall at 305 East Union Street at 5pm today. The public hearing is to gather the public's input on an application for grant funding from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to develop new recreational amenities at the Catawba River Soccer Complex. At the hearing, all interested persons may be heard and voice any support or objections to the proposed grant application.