Week 2 is in the books for Friday night football
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‘We’re making it work’
US adds a modest 130,000 jobs in August By Cristopher Rugaber AP ECONOMICS WRITER
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers added a modest 130,000 jobs in August, a sign that hiring in the United States has slowed but remains durable in the face of global economic weakness and President Donald Trump’s trade war with China. The job gain was boosted by the temporary hiring of 25,000 government workers for the 2020 Census. Excluding all government hiring, the economy added just 96,000 jobs in August, the fewest since May. Still, the Labor Department reported Friday in its monthly jobs report that the unemployment rate remained 3.7%, near the lowest level in five decades. And more Americans entered the workforce in August — a positive development that increased the proportion of adults who are either working or seeking work to its highest level since February. In addition, average hourly pay rose 3.2% from a year earlier, outpacing inflation and increasing Americans’ spending power. Even with the slower pace of hiring, more jobs and rising pay are expected to help sustain America’s economic recovery, which has entered its 11th year, the longest on record. An improving job market can help fuel consumer spending, the primary driver of growth. And for now, Americans are still spending. Consumer spending rose in the April-June quarter by the most in five years. It had also increased at a healthy clip in July. That is especially significant now because many businesses have cut their spending and delayed expansion and investment given their uncertainty about the duration and impact of the trade war. In addition, retaliatory tariffs from China have cut into U.S. exports. In its employment report Friday, the government revised down its estimate of job growth for June and July by a combined 20,000. That revision reduced average job growth for the past six months to 150,000, down from 223,000 for all of last year. Still, hiring at the current monthly average would be enough to keep up with population growth and lower the unemployment rate over time. For August, the unemployment rate for African-Americans fell to 5.5%, a record low. Trump has repeatedly highlighted that decline.
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PADS’ expansion falls behind, but nobody’s panicking By Tom Collins
NEWSTRIBUNE SENIOR REPORTER
Carol Alcorn threw open the doors to the homeless shelter and…one person walked in. And that’s a good thing. Had there been a crush of people seeking refuge at Public Action to Deliver Shelter — unlikely when the nighttime lows are cool but not cold — Alcorn might have had a temporary space crunch. PADS’ expansion is, after all, 30 days behind schedule. Alcorn is executive director of Illinois Valley PADS and she’s only the latest in a growing chorus of people who’ve had it to here with Mother Nature. She was hoping to have the expanded shelter open by the start of PADS season, Sept. 1, but adverse weather has put contractors four weeks behind schedule. “We couldn’t get in for two months,” Alcorn said, “and there were small little glitches that
happen with contracting. We’re making it work.” It could have come at a much worse time, however. This time of year, Alcorn doesn’t so much get knocks on her door as she does phone calls from people who are running out of options and soon will seek shelter. Alcorn won’t have a full house until November or December. “We’re getting lots and lots of calls a day,” she said. “When you’re homeless it’s hard to get over that barrier of deciding to go into the shelter. It’s pretty typical for us to get numerous calls from the same individual before they decide to make that step.” The upshot is contractors have time to knock out the remaining quarter of unfinished work before the daily census starts creeping up. Workers were seen spackling the drywall and doing other end-stage tasks that signal the job is drawing to a close. What PADS still could use is cash donations. (See inset box)
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The expanded homeless shelter in Peru is getting close to being finished — only about a quarter of work left to go — but Carol Alcorn is none too pleased that Mother Nature put her workers 30 days behind schedule. Alcorn, executive director, pledges the expansion of Illinois Valley Public Action to Deliver Shelter’s location in Peru will be ready in time for the coming cold snap that will usher in more of the displaced. What Alcorn still needs is money; fundraising for the $1.1 million project hovers around the halfway mark.
BIG WEEKEND FOR FESTIVALS Photos from La Salle and Princeton
Chris Rush, La Salle VFW post commander, flips pork chops during the fifth annual BBQ-nBlues festival in downtown La Salle on Friday. Festivities continue today with Jazz’N the Street, with fireworks at 10 a.m. Find more details on page A3. NT PHOTO/SCOTT ANDERSON
PADS has gratefully accepted more than $500,000 toward the $1.1 million campaign goal. “The community’s generous response to the first phase of our building campaign has made this addition a reality for hundreds of our marginalized neighbors,” said Mary Koehler, a PADS board member. “It is our hope that as we prepare for a frigid winter and an increasing number of people coming to our doors, our valued donors and community partners will help us reach the finish line in raising the remaining funds to bring our building campaign to a successful conclusion.” Late last year, PADS launched an expansion of nearly 6,000 feet and which will roughly double its beds and washrooms plus add a proportional amount of classroom space. Groundbreaking was in spring. The need for growth was a reflection not only on the volume of bodies — which jumped 23%
Want to help?
Donations to help PADS fund the expansion can be made securely online at www.ivpads.com or by dropping off a donation to any IV PADS location.
between winter 2016 and winter 2017 — but on their changing needs. Classroom space is needed because staff and volunteers don’t merely feed, clothe and lodge the clients, they also teach life skills for clients to get jobs, find places to live and make a fresh start. Segregated bedrooms are needed because of the growing number of women and children. While most of the clients are men, last year there were 35 families with 70 children, prompting PADS to install four family rooms plus separate men’s and women’s quarters. Last, they simply need space. See PADS Page A2
Mendota elementary teachers file intent-to-strike notice By the NewsTribune staff
MENDOTA — Mendota Elementary teachers are poised to strike on Oct. 16 unless an upcoming mediation session produces an agreement. In a Friday news release, MEA elementary teachers voted overwhelmingly (97% support) to strike. The vote comes after negotiations, begun in February, stalled and after a mediator was called in June. “After several meetings, talks have stalled once again. Today the MEA elementary teachers took an intent to strike vote,” While the potential strike date has been set for Oct. 16,
the next mediation session is scheduled for Sept. 19. Mendota grade school board president Sean Pappas said a federal mediator has been involved for a little over a month. In addition to the Sept. 19 meeting, a session is scheduled Oct. 1. “We have no official notification of a strike,” Mendota grade school board president Sean Pappas said at 3:20 p.m. Friday. “Negotiations are ongoing with the union and we’re hopeful for a resolution.” At www.newstrib.com: Read a complete statement issued Friday by the school board.