NPR 2009-11-07

From NPR News in Washington, I’m Lakshmi Singh.

 US military forces around the world were asked to observe a moment of silence today for those killed and wounded at the Fort Hood 1 military post in Texas. That attack yesterday left 13 people dead and more than 30 wounded. The alleged 2 gunman, Major Nidal Hasan was hospitalized after being shot multiple times. He is reported to be in a coma 3. Authorities are trying to build a profile now on Hasan and learn what led him to allegedly attack fellow service members. Muslim leaders, meanwhile, are reacting carefully to news that Hasan was a devout 4 Muslim. NPR's Dianna Douglas reports.

American Muslim advocacy groups were swift to condemn 5 the attack on Fort Hood, saying it was not at all related to Islam. At the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Executive Director Nihad Awad warned Muslims that they could become the victims of hate crimes as more details come in about the suspected shooter.

"Based, unfortunately, on our past experience, we also urge American Muslims and those who may be perceived to be Muslim to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves from a possible backlash."

 Mosques in community centers near the post have already received threatening phone calls and emails. The Muslim advocacy group is concerned that the Fort Hood attack could cast suspicion on doctors with Muslim or Arabic-sounding names. Dianna Douglas, NPR News, Washington.

 A mass shooting in downtown Orlando today left one person dead and several others wounded. Local police have arrested Jason Rodriguez. He is accused of opening fire inside the building where he used to work.

 The US unemployment rate shot up to 10.2% in October. That's the worst reading since the recession of the early 1980s. NPR's John Ydstie reports.

 The jump in the unemployment rate was worse than most economists 6 had expected. It suggests the economy continues to be very weak. The number of jobs cut from payrolls 7 came in closer to expectations. Overall, businesses trimmed 190,000 jobs in October. That's an improvement from the 219,000 jobs lost in September, but bigger than the job cuts recorded back in August. The continuing rise in unemployment leaves close to 16 million Americans seeking work, but unable to find it. President Obama called the 10.2% unemployment rate “a sobering number that underscores the economic challenges that lie ahead”. John Ydstie, NPR News, Washington.

 With the jobless rate in the double digits 8, President Obama is extending unemployment benefits to those at risk of losing them soon.

"I just signed into law a bill that will help grow our economy, save and create new jobs and provide relief to struggling families and businesses." President Obama’s speaking at the Rose Garden today.

 The Dow is up 17 points.

 This is NPR.

 The Texas jury will now consider punishment in the child sexual abuse conviction of a member of a polygamist group. The conviction is the first in a series of trials triggered by a raid last year on the group's Texas ranch 9. NPR's Howard Berkes reports.

 Thirty-eight-year-old Raymond Jessop faces up to 20 years in prison for the so-called spiritual marriage to a 15-year-old girl. He also faces another trial for bigamy. Prosecutors 10 say documents found at the FLDS polygamist ranch outside Eldorado, Texas, indicate Jessop has nine wives. Jessop is the first Texas member of the group to face a jury and his conviction is a rare success for Texas authorities, who first seized and were later forced to release more than 400 children. The raid itself was based on a bogus distress 11 call from a woman pretending to be an abused girl at the ranch. But the raid yielded documents, photographs and computers that led to charges against a dozen FLDS leaders and followers 12 and so far that evidence is holding up in court. Howard Berkes, NPR News.

AIG, the giant insurer which was supported by government bailout is reporting second straight quarterly profit, an increase in the value of its investments helped. AIG's net income was 455 million dollars in the third quarter. Same time a year ago, the insurer had lost more than 24 billion. Its performance may have improved but AIG is still restructuring. The company's CEO warns of volatility 13 in results in the coming quarters.

Here is an update from Wall Street, Dow Jones Industrial Average up 17 points at last check at 10,023. The NASDAQ up seven points to 2,112.

I’m Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.