Headlines for Friday, May 7, 2010

US economy adds jobs
Jobless numbers are out today and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says they show a remarkable change from last year at this time.  The US economy added nearly 300 thousand new jobs in April.  And while the country has now added jobs for the past four months, the unemployment rate continues to rise.  It’s currently at 9.9% nationwide.  The rising number is likely the result of people beginning to look for work again after a period of discouragement.  But the so-called “real unemployment rate” – those who are discouraged and not looking or underemployed – rose as well to 17.1%.  And 6.7 million people have been without work for more than 6 months.

Fourteen jailed in LA at protest against Arizona immigration law
Fourteen Los Angeles activists are in jail today, after being arrested at a protest targeting Arizona’s new immigration law.  The group chained themselves together outside of a LA immigrant detention center.  Nelson Motto, who is speaking on the behalf of the arrested protesters, says they are refusing to identify themselves to authorities to protest the Arizona provision that residents must be able to prove their identity and that they are in the county legally.

“Their message to the, not just Los Angeles, but throughout the whole country, is that we have to challenge these laws.  No human being is illegal.  And they are asking everybody to stand in solidarity and refuse to identify themselves, and not allow Arizona to expand in other communities.”

Nationally, several immigrant ally organizations hope to step up the pressure on Arizona economically.  Prominent Latino civil rights organizations have announced a business boycott of the state.  The SEIU announced a boycott and canceled a conference in Arizona planed for later this year.  And the city governments of Boston, DC, El Paso, San Francisco and St.  Paul have all restricted travel and other business dealings with the state.

“Ban the Box” measure means CT felons may have better shot at employment
In Connecticut, 200,000 residents have felony convictions, and that often severely hinders their efforts to find legal employment.  A bill to bar the question asking if an applicant for a state government job has a felony record has passed unanimously in both houses of the state's General Assembly.  FSRN's Melinda Tuhus reports.

In hearings on the bill, residents testified to the humiliation they felt having to check the box indicating they are ex-felons, and how that often marked the end of a job search, not the beginning.

The so-called Ban the Box bill defers the question to a time when an applicant is a finalist for a state job.  LaResse Harvey, policy director of the criminal justice reform group, A Better Way Foundation, says the applicant may voluntarily offer the information during a job interview.

“You sold yourself based on your character and who you are, not who you were.  And then you get an opportunity to explain how you got that felony, how many years ago it was, what you've done to better yourself since then.”

She adds that this puts the applicant in a much stronger position with a prospective employer.  Four cities in Connecticut already have similar laws, as do four other states.  The law goes into effect October 1 of this year.  Melinda Tuhus, FSRN, New Haven.

NH court extends press protections to internet sites
Internet sites that act as a conduit of information and opinion should be protected under the same free speech laws that protect the traditional press.  This according to a ruling made by the New Hampshire Supreme Court.  The case stemmed from a suit filed by a Mortgage company when a watchdog website would not reveal the source of a leaked financial document and name of a commenter who posted on its site.  The judge ruled the watchdog website was a member of the news media and as such, the media’s right to protect sources trumps concerns about defamatory comments posted to websites.  The ruling is being seen as a victory for freedom of press in the state.

UK finds oil in area claimed by Argentina
Tensions between Great Britain and Argentina continue to escalate as a British oil company announced they have discovered oil off the Falkland Islands, called the Malvinas by Argentina.  FSRN’s Marcos Federman reports from Buenos Aries.

Three months ago Great Britain authorized off shore oil exploration in waters off the Falklands.  Argentina responded by raising opposition in international forums.  The government has prohibited companies that do business in Argentina from any involvement in British oil exploration.

The Falkland-Malvinas are in Argentine waters, but Argentina and England have been arguing over sovereignty issues since 1833.  The conflict reached a peak in 1982 during the Falklands War.

Today the Foreign Ministry once again denounced the oil explorations and said the islands were the property of the Argentine people.  It also said Argentina will do everything necessary to prevent actions that are illegal according to international laws.  Marcos Federman, FSRN, Buenos Aries.