File photo, not current rate
HARRISBURG – Cityandstatepa.com is reporting… Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.1% in the month of September – down a tenth of a percent from the month prior – according to preliminary data provided by state and federal officials on Friday. The figure marks the lowest unemployment rate the state has seen since April of 2000, according to historical records from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jennifer Berrier, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, said the latest unemployment rate is the lowest to be found in records dating back to 1976.
The rate “serves as a testament to Pennsylvanians’ resilience – their ability to bounce back from a crisis, provide for their families, and tackle the economic challenges of today and tomorrow,” Berrier said in a statement. “Despite near-historic lows in unemployment, Pennsylvania faces a historically tight labor market. We must continue to invest in our workers and businesses to ensure Pennsylvania’s workforce system remains strong in the face of economic uncertainty.” Overall, Pennsylvania still has about 100,000 fewer people working than pre-pandemic levels, whereas states with more economic freedom have not only fully recovered those lost jobs, but seen substantial job growth in the last 20 months.
The state’s unemployment rate spiked to 16.5% in April 2020 amid pandemic mitigation measures implemented by the Wolf administration, which forced many businesses to close their doors and caused unemployment claims to skyrocket. Prior to the pandemic, the commonwealth hadn’t seen an unemployment rate in double digits since October 1983, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Since the peak of the pandemic shutdowns, the state’s unemployment rate has gradually shrunk, but is still significantly higher than the national average of 3.5%.
PECKVILLE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Doug Mastriano, the Republican Nominee for Pennsylvania Governor, brought his Restore Freedom Rally Saturday to Northeastern Pennsylvania. The third of his three stops took him to Fiorelli’s Banquet and Conference Center in Peckville. Approximately 300 supporters gathered there to hear Mastriano discuss topics, including school choice, election reform, and eliminating sanctuary cities statewide.
He said, “So, I know on 8 November we’re going to choose a new day in PA. We’re going to choose Mastriano and we’re going to come out in overwhelming numbers here and upset the liberals’ applecart.” “We just want our freedoms back and what we keep on seeing here time and time again is that we’re not understanding, we’re not getting the whole story from Josh Shapiro who is a career politician,” said Former Republican Luzerne County Councilman Harry Haas. Besides his stop in Peckville, Mastriano also held rallies Saturday in Drums, Luzerne County, and East Stroudsburg, Monroe County.
NORTHAMPTON, Pa. (AP) — AP is reporting… A soldier killed during the Korean War has been laid to rest in his hometown in eastern Pennsylvania, while a second Korean War soldier also recently identified will be buried next month in another part of the state. Edward Reiter dropped out of Northampton Area High School during his junior year and — with his father’s reluctant permission — enlisted in the Army, The (Allentown) Morning Call reported. Eight months later, still just 17, he disappeared on a battlefield in July 1950 in the first weeks of the Korean War.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced in August that unidentified remains from the war buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu were disinterred in 2019 and identified as his thorough analysis of dental, anthropological, mitochondrial DNA and other evidence. “He’s never been forgotten,” the Rev. Patrick Lamb said during a eulogy Saturday at Queenship of Mary Catholic Church before Reiter was buried with military honors at Our Lady of Hungary Cemetery in Northampton, where his parents are interred.
About 20 family members attended the service, including Reiter’s sister, Rose Prickler, who held a memorial Mass for him at the church every year, the Morning Call reported. She was presented with her brother’s Purple Heart by a National Guard support specialist. “I hope you will understand our total and profound appreciation,” consulate principal officer Daesup Chung told the family, which besides Prickler consisted of nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. Another sister, Helen Templeton, was unable to attend and the rest of his siblings have passed on.
Also accounted for in August was U.S. Army Cpl. David N. Defibaugh, 18, of Duncansville, who went missing in action in July 1950, but the announcement was made only last week after his family received a full briefing on his identification. Defibaugh will be buried Nov. 4 in Altoona, authorities said.
