Good morning.
Set aside some time around 8:30 a.m. ET if you're anxious to hear about what's expected to be the day's big news. That's when the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases figures on the August unemployment rate and the number of jobs eliminated last month by U.S. businesses (it would be a HUGE surprise if there was job growth last month). The BLS will post the employment report here. We'll pass along the news as quickly as we can. Planet Money will be on the story as well.
On Morning Edition, NPR's Chris Arnold told guest host Ari Shapiro that the jobless rate likely ticked up to 9.5% in August from 9.4% in July and that employers probably eliminated about 250,000 jobs. Those aren't great numbers, but they're much better than the losses of last winter and spring:
A not-as-bad-as-before jobs report, of course, would add to the evidence gathered in recent weeks that signals the economy may be on the mend. The Wall Street Journal this morning offers another such sign: An increase in the number of people at shopping malls hints that consumers may be coming out of their shells.
As for other stories making headlines, they include:
— The Associated Press — Dozens Of Afghan Civilians Reported Killed In NATO Airstrike: "A NATO jet blasted two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban in northern Afghanistan, setting off a huge fireball Friday that killed up to 90 people, Afghan officials said. The NATO command said a 'large number of insurgents' were killed or injured in the pre-dawn attack near the village of Omar Khel in Kunduz province. An Afghan police officer said the 90 dead included about 40 civilians who were siphoning fuel from the trucks."
Related story in The New York Times — "Advisers To Obama Divided On Size Of Afghan Force."
Related story on Morning Edition — "Two Democrats Criticize Afghan War Strategy." NPR's Tom Bowman talks with Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts and Sen. Russell Feingold of Wisconsin about their concerns regarding President Barack Obama's Afghan strategy:
— The Associated Press — North Korea Claims It Is In Final Stage Of Enriching Uranium:
— Los Angeles Times — Incendiary Materials Found Near Site Where Wildfire Started; Homicide Investigation Launched: "A source close to the investigation said investigators found incendiary material near the site. The source, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the matter, would not be more specific or identify the material. Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said investigators don't want to release details out of fear it could hurt their ability to find and prosecute an arsonist." Two firefighters were killed while battling the blaze.
Related report from NPR News' Paul Brown:
— El Paso Times — "Juarez In Shock" After Massacre: "The brutality of a massacre (Wednesday) at a Juarez drug rehabilitation center in which 18 people were killed shocked a city already plagued with record-breaking violence. A motive for the attack was under investigation, but it appeared to be linked to feuding drug trafficking groups."
Related report on Morning Edition — "Mexico's Murder Capital Lives Up To Its Reputation":
— Los Angeles Times — "Democrats Consider Setting 'Trigger' For Government Healthcare": "Looking to break the logjam on healthcare legislation, the White House and Democrats in the Senate are increasingly placing their hopes on the idea of a 'trigger' that, if set off, would allow the government to offer health insurance to many Americans."
— Michael Jackson Is Interred:
The King of Pop, who died June 25, was laid to rest last night at Glendale (Calif.) Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
The King of Pop, who died June 25, was laid to rest last night at Glendale (Calif.) Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
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