NPR 2011-03-05

The unemployment rate is down to 8.9% after employers hired workers at the fastest pace in nine months. According to the latest Labor 1 Department report, the economy picked up 192,000 jobs last month, but the drop in the unemployment rate is baffling. Chief economist 2 John Ryding of RDQ Economics.

"I would have thought that discouraged workers would be coming back into the workplace and looking for jobs and not be putting up with pressure on the unemployment rate, but that doesn't seem to be happening, and that's a little bit of puzzle to us."

Most sectors 3 posted gains, but it's just the opposite in state and local government where budget battles are under way, and 30,000 jobs were slashed 4.

One of the fiercest battles over money involves high-speed rail funding to Florida. Today, Transportation Secretary Ray La Hood 5 announced the 2.4 billion in stimulus 6 dollars intended for the Sunshine State would be given to someone else. This after the state Supreme 7 Court upheld Republican Governor Rick Scott's decision to decline the money. NPR's Debbie Elliot reports the decision effectively kills the Orlando to Tampa rail line.

The Florida Supreme Court is rejecting a bipartisan challenge brought by state lawmakers. They argue that Governor Scott exceeded his constitutional authority when he refused $2.4 billion in federal stimulus money for the high-speed rail line. The challenge was fast-track to the state's high court this week after Transportation Secretary Ray La Hood gave Scott until today to accept the money or lose it to other states. Scott says he's afraid Florida taxpayers 8 would be left with billions in cost overruns and operating cost if the Orlando to Tampa line is built. After speaking with Scott today, La Hood says other states are enthusiastic about receiving additional rail support. Debbie Elliot, NPR News.

A US aid contractor 9 goes on trial in Cuba today. As NPR's Michele Kelemen reports, the US says Allan Gross has been held too long already and should be released.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she's deeply concerned about 61-year-old Allan Gross.

"He's been unjustly jailed for far too long. We call on the government of Cuba to release him and unconditionally 10 allow him to leave Cuba and return to his family to bring an end to their long ordeal 11."

Gross was a contractor for the US Agency for International Development, and the US says he was providing Internet access to Jewish organizations. The Cuban government consideres his actions subversive 12. He could face 20 years in prison if convicted. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average down nearly 170 points or down 1.3% at 12,091; NASDAQ is down 28 or more than 1% at 2,770.

From Washington, this is NPR News.

Heavy casualties are reported out of a rebel-held city in Libya. Forces loyal to leader Muammar Gaddafi fought their way into Zawiya, which is just east of the capital Tripoli. Newswires report the commander of the rebel forces has been killed. Meanwhile, protesters continued to ignore Gaddafi's warnings against attempts to oust 13 him. After noon prayers at a mosque 14 today, a large crowd left to march in Tripoli. They dispersed 15 after encountering tear gas and live ammunition 16 from Gaddafi's forces.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast says it's overstretched and cannot protect all civilians 17 in the volatile 18 West African nation. NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports the acknowledgement comes the day after unarmed women protesters were shot dead by security forces loyal to the disputed leader.

The UN mission in Ivory Coast says its peacekeepers lack manpower. The admission follows a spasm 19 of violence in the commercial capital Abidjan. Laurent Gbagbo's security forces opened fire on female supporters of his presidential rival Alassane Ouattara yesterday. The women were holding a peaceful march. Ivory Coast's UN Ambassador Youssouf Bamba says the world must take the crisis in his country as seriously as it is the uprising in Libya.

"We don't want any differentiation 20 in the treatment of those crises. They're the same thing. They're the same civilians who are killed. They are using war, weapon to kill peaceful civilians."

Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR News, Accra.

With oil prices continuing to surge, given the unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, US stocks are down. Dow down 170 points at 12,090.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.