White House sees economic gains WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is lauding a rosier election-year economic forecast, predicting the economy could add 2 million jobs this year. ADVERTISING But the upbeat projection is based partly on the shaky premise
White House sees economic gains
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is lauding a rosier election-year economic forecast, predicting the economy could add 2 million jobs this year.
But the upbeat projection is based partly on the shaky premise that Congress will sign off on President Barack Obama’s jobs agenda.
While the White House is wary of predicting how the new job creation would affect the nation’s unemployment rate, officials point to private estimates that it could lower unemployment from the current 8.3 percent to about 8 percent, where it was when Obama took office in January 2009.
In rushing out a more optimistic jobs forecast, the White House is trying to get ahead of another, more dismal set of its own unemployment predictions. The budget Obama will release Monday forecasts an average unemployment rate of 8.9 percent in 2012.
Florida mogul adopts girlfriend
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The story already had people’s attention: A multimillionaire polo magnate was accused of causing a drunken-driving wreck that killed a young man. But now, with his criminal trial approaching, a strange twist has raised even more eyebrows: He has adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend.
Critics say it is an attempt by John Goodman to shield some of his fortune from the accident victim’s family. But at least one legal expert says a judge is likely to see through the maneuver and prevent the 48-year-old owner of the International Polo Club in Palm Beach from benefiting from it.
The adoption was revealed in recently filed court papers, dumbfounding even the judge who will preside over the wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the victim’s family.
Kodak will stop making cameras
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Picture it: Save for a few disposable point-and-shoots, Kodak is exiting the camera business.
Eastman Kodak Co. said Thursday that it will stop making digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames in a move that marks the end of an era for the beleaguered 132-year-old company. Founded by George Eastman in 1880, Kodak was known all over the world for iconic cameras such as the Brownie and the Instamatic. For the last few decades, however, the Rochester, New York-based company has struggled.
School reopens amid abuse case
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A hubbub of controversy surrounded the reopening of an elementary school on Thursday where the arrest of two former teachers on lewdness charges led to the entire staff being replaced.
Outside Miramonte Elementary School, about a hundred parents and children protested with signs saying “Give us our teachers back” and chanting “no new teachers” as TV cameras rolled.
The teachers union announced it would file grievances on behalf of some 85 reassigned teachers against Los Angeles Unified School District.
Inside, new teachers took over classrooms, with students sometimes having to instruct them in how things worked.
Doctors telling more to exercise
ATLANTA (AP) — More and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get out and exercise, according to government survey released Thursday.
Nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
The report also found more women got that advice than men. And among people with chronic health problems, diabetics, were the most likely to get the advice and cancer patients were least likely.
The most dramatic — and surprising — increases were reported in patients age 85 and older. In 2000, about 15 percent were told by doctors to exercise. By 2010, almost 30 percent were getting such a recommendation.
