In August, the nation’s unemployment rate fell to its lowest rate in nearly five years, according to new Labor Department data, the Chicago Sun-Times reports today. Part of the drop, however, is due to the fact that the number of unemployed people who have stopped looking for work increased, the newspaper reports. Read the full Chicago Sun-Times article for more.

In other headlines:

Area homebuilders see improving market – Daily Herald

The nation’s housing: For short-sellers, some good news – Daily Herald