THE ECONOMY added 226,000 more jobs in April, but they was below expectations (Shutterstock).

A weaker than expected jobs report triggered arguments over whether the stimulus programs pushed by President Joe Biden and passed by Congress were doing more harm than good.

According to the Associated Press, the Department of Labor reported that the increase in jobs was 266,000, lower than earlier estimates of up to 1 million new positions. The figure showed unemployment rose slightly to 6.1 percent.

Biden said that patience was necessary see the full impact of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package he had advocated.

“We knew this wouldn’t be a sprint,” said Biden. “It’d be a marathon.” He added that the funding “was designed to help us over the course of a year, not 60 days.”

“This is a stunning economic setback, and unequivocal proof that President Biden is sabotaging our jobs recovery with promises of higher taxes and regulation on local businesses that discourage hiring and drive jobs overseas,” said Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), according to The New York Times.

News: Civil rights charges vs. Chauvin and more

OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN kneeling on George Floyd (Wikipedia).

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd, now faces federal charges of violation of civil rights.

United Press International is reporting that a federal grand jury has issued indictments against Chauvin and three other police officers present at the incident.

According to UPI, the charges include failing to render medical aid, and willfully failing to intervene to stop Chauvin, who kneeled on the neck of Floyd for nine minutes during an arrest, despite cries of  “I can’t breathe.”

The charges against Chauvin also include his conduct in a Sept. 2017 incident during an encounter with a teenage boy in which the police officer allegedly held the youth by the threat, punched him several times and kneeled on his neck.

Business: Weak jobs report = stronger stocks

Friday’s tepid jobs report from the Department of Labor was actually good news for a lot of investors in the stock market.

Buoyed by the idea that such results would help to tamp down the danger of inflation, two of the three major stock indexes set new records.

The Dow Jones Average rose 229.23 points to a best-ever 34,777.76. The S&P 500 also broke new ground, rising 30.98 points to 4,232.60. The tech-heavy Nasdaq also soared, gaining 119.39 points to close at 13,752,24.

Sports: Slumping Dodgers and Angels meet

ALBERT PUJOLS is gone from the Angels, who will play the Dodgers three times (File photo).

The Angels and Dodgers, both on extending losing streaks, will meet today in the first game of the 2021 Freeway Series between the two regional rivals.

One day after cutting slugger Albert Pujols from the roster (on the team since 2012), the Halos will host the Dodgers at the Big A. The Orange County team lost 8-3 to Tampa Bay on Thursday and fell into fifth and last place in the AL West with a 13-17 record. They’ve lost seven of their last 10 games. The Dodgers are 17-15 and have fallen into third place in the NL West. They’ve lost eight of 10.

Friday’s games

• Angels 9, Dodgers 2
• Portland 106, Lakers 101
• Colorado Avalanche 3, Kings 2
• Minnesota 4, Ducks 3 (OT]

Weather: Look! Up in the sky! It’s … clouds

As promised by forecasters, partly cloudy conditions are prevailing throughout the West Orange County area and are expected to prevail through the weekend. Saturday’s daytime high is predicted to be 70 (nighttime low of 58) with partly cloudy weather. Sunday will be almost identical at 70 (60) and that should remain through Tuesday. In coastal areas of Huntington Beach, daytime temps should be two to three degrees cooler.