TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A new report shows the Kansas unemployment

rate dropped slightly in July, but state officials offered a mixed

assessment of the economy.

The state Department of Labor reported Friday the seasonally

adjusted jobless rate stood at 6.5 percent in July, down from 6.6

percent in June and 7 percent in July 2010.

The report also shows that Kansas had 400 fewer people employed

overall in July than a year earlier. But the state also had a net

gain of about 1,300 private-sector jobs over the year.

Those are small numbers, given the total Kansas labor force of

more than 1.3 million. Department officials said there’s danger of

a stagnant recovery, but they noted encouraging signs in some

industries.