The winners and the losers

Winner: Despite all the bad economic news nationally, Utah's jobless rate in April was 5.2 percent, which was virtually unchanged since March. Nationally, the rate was 8.9 percent. Experts say the economy may be bottoming out, but that's no reason to expect a robust return to the good old days any time soon.

Loser: Con artists have been preying on Americans since the start of the republic, but that doesn't make what they do an honored age-old tradition. Authorities this week began warning Utahns about fraudulent charities that seek to take advantage of public sympathies for groups such as police and firefighters. About the same time, police arrested five men in connection with a fraud ring targeting Home Depot stores across Western states. The message for everyone, regardless of age or station, is to be aware and be skeptical.