LANSING — In response to pandemic-related regulations and seasonal job cuts, Ionia County saw a significant unemployment rate increase in December.The newest regional rates, released Thursday, Jan. 28, by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, show an increase of 0.4 percent between November (3.6 percent) and December (4 percent).The county remained well below the statewide unemployment rate of 7.3 percent and ranked fifth in the state behind Washtenaw County (3.6