The winners and the losers

Winner: While Utah's unemployment rate grew compared to the same time last year, it stands at 7.5 percent, according to the latest figures. By any comparison, this is good when stacked against the national rate of 9.8 percent. Meanwhile, our neighbor to the north is having a tough time of it. Idaho had among the highest increases in unemployment last month among the states, with a current rate of 9.4 percent. And our neighbor to the west, Nevada, has the nation's highest unemployment rate at 14.3 percent.

Loser: Speaking of unemployment, the rate rose in 21 states last month, while it fell in 15 and stayed the same in 14. While the economy is improving, a lot of companies still are in the mode of contracting, re-evaluating their work methods and searching for efficiencies. We can only hope they begin hiring again soon.

Loser: In an age when childhood obesity is becoming a national scourge, it was astounding to learn this week that only five states still require physical education classes from kindergarten through the 12th grade. Unfortunately, Utah isn't one of them. The state requires it through eighth grade, and then through three years of high school. Some of this, however, can be done in online courses, which can rob students of the fun and enjoyment of exercising as a regular part of the day with classmates or as teams. The state does require a wellness course for high school graduation, but more should be done to make physical fitness a habit for the rising generation, which faces a slew of debilitating diseases and conditions unless current trends are reversed.

Winner: While Utah isn't the most racially diverse state in the nation (it also, however, is not the least diverse, by a long shot), its population is among the most integrated in the nation, newly released Census figures showed this week. In terms of Asians and whites, Utah ranks 5th. It is 8th for Hispanics and whites and 13th for blacks and whites. Provo-Orem was the second-most integrated of the top 100 metro areas for Hispanics and whites. This means the state has fewer enclaves of neighborhoods dominated by just one racial group than most states, which means it is easier for races to co-mingle and learn from each other. This doesn't mean the state is devoid of racial problems, but it is a positive indication that, as diversity grows, it will enrich the lives of many Utahns.