HIRING is up and unemployment is down (Shutterstock).

Good economic news came out of the Department of Labor on Friday, as the September report showed that employers hired 254,000 more people, lowering the national unemployment rate to 4.1 percent.

The Associated Press reported that the latest figures are up from 159,000 job created in August and represent the second consecutive monthly decrease in the unemployment rate.

The Labor Department also revised it job estimates for July and August resulting in an average of 186,000 new jobs added each month for those three months, an improvement over 140,000 over the previous three-month period.

The biggest gains were for restaurants and bars, which added 69,000 jobs in September. Next were healthcare companies with 45,000, government agencies with 31,000 and social assistance employers with 27,000 and construction firms with 25,000.

Hurricane Helene’s lingering havoc

The powerful Hurricane Helene has passed after wreaking havoc from Florida to North Carolina, but its effects are lasting.

HELENE at its peak (NWS).

Electrical power, phone service and access to drinking water are still spotty across the Southeast, according to the Associated Press.

Rural areas in western North Carolina have been hit especially hard. “We have no water. We have no power,” said Anna Ramsey of Ashville. “But I think it’s also been humbling.”

To add to the other miseries, the flooding had disturbed underground nests of yellowjackets, bees and other insects leading to widespread reports of swarms and stinging.

To protect people who are allergic to insect stings, the state department of health and human services is buying Benadryl and epinephrine injections to distribute to hospitals, doctors and emergency medical personnel.

Will 2024 election be peaceful?

At a White House press briefing on Friday, President Joe Biden expressed concerns that the presidential election on Nov. 5 might be marked by violence.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

In response to a question, Biden said “I’m confident it will free and fair. I don’t know whether it will be peaceful. The things that [former president Donald] Trump has said last time around when he didn’t like the outcome of the election were very dangerous,” according to United Press International.

In other election news, Republican presidential nomineeTrump will turn to Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, the scene of an assassination attempt made against him on July 13.

Former president Barack Obama will travel with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris will on a tour through swing stats, starting with a visit to Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Weather: It’s holding steady

If you think perfect early autumn weather in West Orange County is with temperatures in the low 80s, here it is. The forecast for Saturday is for morning fog followed by sunshine, with a daytime high of 80 and an overnight low of 62. For the three days that follow here will be partly cloudy skies. Sunday will have daytime/overnight temperatures of 80 (62) follow by 83 (63) on Monday and 80 (62) on Tuesday.

Great Thoughts

“The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason. Because what’s in front of you is so much more important than what’s behind.”

– Jelly Roll (musician).