Unemployment

Datwa M. Morales  |   OW Guest Contributor
Nov 11 2010

Pictures remains grim for Blacks

The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.6 percent for the month of October, according to a report released last week by the United States Department of Labor. California ranks third highest in the country, behind Nevada and Michigan, with a 12.4 percent unemployment rate. Nationally, 14.8 million Americans are out of work, with 6.2 million job seekers reporting they have been jobless for 27 weeks or more.

Oct 22 2010

August and September

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County held steady at 12.6 percent between August and September, the state Economic Development Department reported today.

The 12.6 percent unemployment rate was above the 12.2 percent rate in September 2009, according to the EDD.

In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the unemployment rate was 9.6 percent, the same rate as August.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Oct 14 2010

What your vote means

Proposition 23 is a ballot measure that aims to suspend implementation of air pollution control law—AB 32.

In 2006, the California State Legislature and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger enacted an environmental law, AB 32, (also known as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) which requires greenhouse gas emissions in the state be cut to the levels that they were in 1990—(approx. 427 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) by 2020.

Oct 7 2010

You are very, very sleepy

The National Sleep Foundation’s annual survey says African Americans get the least amount of sleep of any ethnic group, and the ability to change some of the causes of our sleep deprivation are within our control, if we make adjustments (sleep Hygiene).

Joseph Wright  |   OW Senior Staff Writer
Aug 19 2010

Companies remain slow to hire

Many United Sates companies and businesses displayed their lack of confidence about hiring for the third consecutive month in July, giving indications that the nation’s economy will continue to grow slowly for the rest of the year. As a result the unemployment rate held steady at 9.5 percent.

Private employers added a net total of 71,000 jobs last month, which is well below the 200,000 or more jobs needed each month to reduce the unemployment rate.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”