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Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The United States would lead the world in college graduates by the end of this decade according to the pledges made by the top executive of the country on Wednesday at a manufacturing plant in Alexandria, Virginia.

Addressing an audience at Alexandria campus of the “Northern Virginia Community College,” during an event promoting the program, “Skills for America’s Future Manufacturing,” President Barack Obama touched upon ways aimed at enhancing skills through training workers and investing in research and technology to give the U.S. an edge in competing with other countries.

Citing a student named David, President Obama emphasized the importance of the facility said, “David said whatever he ends up doing, the automotive training program here was “the spark (he) needed to get (his) career started.”

“We’ve got to light more sparks all across America, and that’s going to make a difference in the futures of individuals who are looking for a better life, but it’s also going to make a difference in America’s future,” Obama continued.

Setting a goal “that by the end of this decade, we are going to once again lead the world in producing college graduates,” President Obama said, “To achieve that, we’re making college more affordable and we’re investing in community colleges.”

With unemployment figures still hovering at uncomfortable levels and economy sluggish in recovery, Obama balanced his words saying, “Obviously we’re slowly recovering from a very painful recession … But there are too many people out there still out of work.”

According to the White House officials, the latest program aims to train half a million community college students for manufacturing jobs over the next five years, which would help offset the gap left by the 2.7 million older workers who will be retiring in the next decade or so.

On a lighter vein, Obama explained his rolled-up shirt sleeves, saying, “My sleeves are rolled up. I was getting under the hood (to repair cars).”

Amid laughter, the president asked, “Do you guys want me to work on your car?” adding, “Don’t do it,” with more laughter breaking out among the audience.

Earlier before addressing the audience of more than 100 people, President Obama wearing button- down shirt with the cuffs rolled up, no jacket, light blue tie, gray pants, visited a classroom calling out, “Hello, hey everybody, what’s going on?” as he entered.

President made it a point to ask each students name and then had conversation with instructor Packer, who said it is the 5th semester of doing program.

From the classroom, the president moved to a garage where a half dozen people waited with cars with hoods propped open.

After the instructor had noted that the facility was a hybrid repair class, President Obama told the accompanying journalists, “This facility here at NOVA is one of the few that provides that kind of training.”

“This is going to be the future so you guys are on the cutting edge,” the president told students, adding as he was leaving, “You guys are doing great work, keep it up.”

Obama administration officials have confirmed that the National Association of Manufacturers is now backing the program, “Skills for America’s Future Manufacturing.”

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Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The unemployment rate grew 9 percent in April despite the economy adding more jobs than was expected.

The Labor Department said on Friday nonfarm payroll increased 244,000 during the period, boosted by gains in the service, manufacturing and mining industries. In the private sector, 268,000 jobs were added while the federal and state governments lost 24,000 jobs.

There was an increase of 51,000 positions during the month in the professional and businesses services, specifically in technical consulting and coputers systems design.

Jobs related to healthcare rose 37,000, largely due to a 22,000 increase in employment in ambultory healthcare. Hospitals accounted for 10,000 jobs.

In the hospitatility industry, there was continued growth with 46,000 more jobs, mainly from a 30,600 spike in employment in accomodation and food services.

Manufacturing added 29,000 jobs to the economy and mining 11.4 percent.

Despite the gains, the unemployment trate rose to 9 percent in April from 8.8 percent in the previous month.

The number of jobless Americans remained little changed at 13.7 million. Those unemployed for less than five weeks rose by 242,000, but the number of jobless for at least 27 weeks dropped by 283,000 to 5.8 million.

There was virtually the same number of people involutarily working part-time, at 8.6 million.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) used the jobs report to assail the White House for “causing renewed uncertainty for private-sector job creators, crowding out private investment and punishing small businesses and entrepreneurs who are willing to invest.”

“While any improvement is welcome news, job growth in America is still nowhere close to what it should be,” the Republican leader added.

“Over the past month, rather than joining Republicans in focusing on policies that promote long-term economic growth to help balance the federal budget, the Democrats who control Washington have indicated they are planning to increase taxes and allow the government’s spending binge to continue.”

But the White House pointed out that there was an averge of about a quarter of a million private sector jobs created each month for three consecutive months.

“We’re pleased about that. We obviously have a lot more work to do,” presidential spokesman Jay Carney told reporters. “The recession cost the American labor force 8 million jobs and we’re still digging ourselves out of that hole.”

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Detroit, MI, United States (AHN) – Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is threatening workers in the city he will void their collective bargaining agreements by passing a new state law that would lead to the appointment of a fiscal manager who would cancel the pacts.

Bing is pushing for the municipal workers to pay more for health care and pensions.

Initiatives by Republican governors to cut government spending and labor power by curtailing collective bargaining rights have been largely successful even as union leaders protested such attempts in Wisconsin and Ohio. However, Bing did not encounter such stiff resistance among the 12,000 municipal workers.

Roger Hickey, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future, said the lack of massive objection to Bing’s budget proposals was probably due to the city workers viewing him as a political leader seeking concessions and not to emasculate the unions.

The city previously closed 24 offices spread over five days in the first quarter of 2011 as part of budget-mandated furloughs to cut costs. The offices closed on Jan. 31, Feb. 14 and 28, and March 14 and 28.

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Cranston, RI, United States (AHN) – The American Civil Liberties Union is suing a Rhode Island high school over a prayer banner the group says violates the Constitution and excludes students who do not share the same beliefs.

The lawsuit against the school district in the state’s largest city concerns a banner at Cranston West High School that became the center of controversy last summer despite having been posted since 1963.

The ACLU received a complaint from a parent and told Superintendent Peter Nero in July that the banner violates the First Amendment. The group cited U.S. Supreme Court decisions on unconstitutional school-sponsored prayers and the posting of Ten Commandments in public classrooms.

Last month, however, the school committee voted 4-3 to keep the prayer posted in the campus auditorium.

Public hearings were held before the vote, after which there were concerns about the safety of a sophomore student, Jessica Ahlquist, who spoke against the banner.

“The public hearings that I have attended have added to that feeling– that my views and beliefs don’t count, or have less value than those of the Christian majority,” Ahlquist said on Monday. I don’t feel that I or anyone else should have to feel that way at school. The prayer does not belong in a public school.”

The ACLU filed the suit on behalf of Ahlquist, who is an atheist, with the endorsement of the Rev. Donald Anderson of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, which consists of Protestant and Orthodox denominations, and Rabbi Peter Stein of a Jewish congregation in Cranston.

In a statement on Monday, the civil rights group chastised school officials for “ignoring warnings about the cost of litigation and despite the school district’s ongoing and severe budgetary problems, which have led to layoffs and program cuts.”

The school committee has retained the pro bono services of Joseph Cavanagh, a partner for Providence-based Blish & Cavanagh who graduated from Cranston High School East.

Cavanagh will serve as local counsel and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty will serve as outside counsel in the lawsuit, also on a pro bono basis.

Bishop Thomas Tobin of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has made clear his support to keep the banner, which begins with, “Our Heavenly Father,” and ends with, “Amen.”

“The ACLU should avoid these silly little squabbles and move on to other more important issues where civil liberties are really threatened,” Tobin wrote last month in an op-ed.

“Those who are fighting to have the prayer remain in the school – students, parents and others – I presume that they take some personal time throughout the day to pray,” the bishop added. “No one’s preventing that free exercise of religion. If they’re fighting over the banner and not really practicing faith on other occasions, their passion for the banner is suspect.”

The 8-foot-high, 3-foot-wide banner was written by a member of the school’s first graduating class when students were asked to choose a school creed, school colors and a school mascot. It was recited by students for some time.

In its letter to the school about the banner, the ACLU said, “Even if there have been few, if any, formal complaints in the past from parents or students about this display… there are people, like our complainant, who have been offended by or concerned about it but who were fearful of coming forward.”

The group cited the Cranston school district policy, which says, “The proper setting for religious observance is the home and the place of worship.”

Tobin, however, said in his op-ed, “Why would that inspiration offend anyone? Because it begins with a rather generic reference to ‘our heavenly Father’ and ends with ‘Amen’? The use of our national currency that carries a far more religious sentiment – ‘In God We Trust.’ And I suppose that they hold their ears during the singing of “God Bless America.’ “

The ACLU had dismissed such arguments in its letter, saying it is akin to efforts by Pawtucket city officials years ago to justify sponsoring a nativity scene by comparing Christmas to Thanksgiving.

“Justify[ing] prayers like this one as being merely ‘ceremonial’ or ‘non-sectarian’ … only serves to trivialize what is, at its core, a deeply religious message,” the group said.

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Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The U.S. postal With the national unemployment rate running at 9.5 percent The U.S. Postal Service announced Thursday it is offering buyouts to eligible employees in an effort to cut 7,500 administrative jobs.

Postal officials hope the $20,000 buyout packages encourage enough workers to retire early to achieve the reduction of 7,500 employees.

The Voluntary Early Retirement plan and financial incentives is being made available only to employees who work as career nonbargaining personnel at “headquarters, headquarters-related field units, area offices and administrative personnel at customer service district offices,” USPS officials said in a statement.

Employees can choose to leave by May 31. But with the nation’s unemployment rate running at 9.5 percent, this buyout might not achieve its target, which was the case in 2009 when a buyout expected to encourage 30,000 workers to voluntarily retire only drew 21,000 takers.

USPS officials also said they wanted to close seven struggling district offices located around the country.

The postal service has seen a decline in mail volume and revenue as it competes with use of the Internet, as well as competition from companies such as UPS and FedEx.

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe put the situation into perspective.

“It’s critical that we adjust our workforce to match America’s changing communications trends as mail volumes continue to decline,” Donahoe said. “At every step and with every change, our focus remains on our customers and continuing to provide outstanding customer service.”

The district offices are not used for mail delivery or collection. The offices slated for closing are located in Columbus, Ohio; Troy, Mich.; Carol Stream, Ill.; Providence, R.I.; Macon, Ga.; Big Sky, Mont.; and Albuquerque, N.M.

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Miami, FL, United States (AHN) – President Barack Obama was the guest of honor Friday afternoon at one of Florida’s formerly failing high schools to deliver a speech pushing America to refund and reform education.

Obama spoke alongside Education Secretary Arne Duncan and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, but only after cheering students from Miami Central Senior High, a majority African American school, gave a heartfelt welcome to America’s first African American president.

“How do we attract new jobs, new businesses, new industries to our shores?” Obama asked the crowd. “How do we grow our economy and out-compete our competitors? In today’s economy, companies are making decisions on where to locate, who to hire, based on key factors [including where to find] highly skilled, highly educated workers – that’s what they’re looking for.”

“I decided to come to Miami Central to kick-off ‘Education Month’ because you’re doing what I challenged states to do when I took office, and that’s turning the lowest performing schools around,” Obama said.

In his address, Obama outlined plans to increase funding for failing schools, citing Miami Central as proof federal assistance aimed at turning around “F” institutions can produce real results. The Department of Education has been giving states School Improvement Grants (SIG) since 1965, but Obama boosted funding as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Duncan pushed for $3.5 billion in SIG funding in 2009 and Obama has added an additional $545 million in funding for 2011.

Obama toured Miami Central, making a surprise visit to spill-over students who couldn’t fit into the gym and thought they were going to see the president speak from a television. Awaiting the Commander-in-Chief’s speech in the school’s library, the students were given a surprise visit from Obama, who received a warm welcome. Other students showed the president their work in creating robots in the classroom.

“This used to be a place where problems on the streets followed children into the classrooms,” Obama explained. “Where there was a culture of failure that brought everyone down. Now, turning around these schools isn’t easy… we have to reform how things are done. It isn’t easy to turn around an expectation of failure, and turn that into an expectation of excellence.”

In Florida, SIG funding totaled $170.2 million, with almost $14 million going to 19 embattled schools in Miami-Dade County, home to America’s fourth-largest public school district serving more than 380,000 students. One SIG success story is Miami Central High School. Miami Central earned an “F” the year Obama took office, but after receiving federal SIG funding, the school improved to receive a “C” this year.

“Here’s what I say; I’m not willing to give up on any child in America. I’m not willing to give up on any school in America. I do not accept failure here in America. I believe the status quo is unacceptable. I believe it’s time to change, and it’s time we come together. Just like Jeb [Bush] and I are doing today – to give every child in America the chance to live up to their God-given potential.”

“A good education equals a good job,” Obama explained. “If we want more good news on the jobs front, we need to make more investments on the education front.”

“Educational achievement is an issue of national priority,” added Bush, whose father and brother have both served time as Republicans in the White House. “Every child, regardless of their zip code or family income should have access to a quality education.”

Aboard Air Force 1 enroute to Florida, newly installed White House Press Secretary Jay Carney explained Obama’s had his eye on Miami Central for a while. “The president very much wanted to go to this particular high school to highlight the dramatic turnaround they have accomplished there and still in the process of accomplishing, and also to make the point that by having former Gov. Jeb Bush join him at this event that he firmly believes what I think most Americans believe and that certainly former Gov. Bush believes, and that is that education and education reform are not Democratic issues, they’re not Republican issues, they’re American issues.”

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Tucson, AZ, United States (AHN) – The University of Arizona has established an institute to promote civility in public debate. The center, which is chaired by two former U.S. presidents, follows last month’s shooting in Tucson that injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and left six dead.

The National Institute for Civil Discourse is a non-partisan center at the university’s School of Government and Public Policy.

Its mission is to promote civic engagement consistent with First Amendment principles by developing programs and by gathering policy-makers to discuss issues that attract controversy and acrimony.

The center is chared by former President George H. W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton.

“Our country needs a setting for political debate that is both frank and civil,” Bush said in a statement released bythe university.

“America faces big challenges in revitalizing the American Dream at home and preserving our leadership for security, peace, freedom and prosperity in the world. Meeting them requires an honest dialogue celebrating both a clarification of our differences and a genuine stand for principled comparisons,” Clinton added.

The institute’s board is made up of a mix of liberal and conservative leaders, including Ken Duberstein, former chief of staff of the Reagan White House, and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

FOX host Greta Van Susteren and Harvard Institute of Politics director Trey Grayson are also members of the board.

Giffords was among 13 people wounded when a gunman opened fire outside a Safeway in Tucson on Jan. 8. One of her aides died in the tragedy along with a judge, John Roll, whom Bush appointed to the federal bench, and a nine-year old girl who had been elected to her school’s student council.

The shooting took place amid a highly charged national debate about issues such as immigration and healthcare. It ignited criticisms and accusations of partisanship and the use of inciteful political rhetoric, an argument President Barack Obama addressed in his speech at the university’s memorial for the shooting victims.

“The truth is none of us can know exactly what triggered this vicious attack,” Obama had said. “None of us can know with any certainty what might have stopped these shots from being fired, or what thoughts lurked in the inner recesses of a violent man’s mind.”

“If, as has been discussed in recent days, their death helps usher in more civility in our public discourse,” he added, “let us remember it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy — it did not — but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to the challenges of our nation in a way that would make them proud.”

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Kathmandu, Nepal (AHN) – Nepali Diasporas living in New York face a language barrier, creating a major challenge that causes immigrants to miss out on jobs and other opportunities in the United States.

Most of the Nepalis who reached the U.S. in search of green pastures are at the receiving end of downward socio-economic mobility, forcing them to lower their living standards in order to survive and support family members back home, a study has revealed.

“While in Nepal, people have dreams of doing well in the U.S. However, there is a huge difference between what you think of America and when you actually come here,” says New York-based non-profit organisation Adhikaar. “People have to work really hard to survive here.”

“Even if you are educated, you won’t be able to find a job of your choice if you don’t have the [right] documents,” a Nepali worker told the group. “You can earn money here, but not respect.”

Much of the problems faced by the Nepali-speaking community in New York City are typical of those faced by emerging communities. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 is not enough to survive and support a family in New York City, the report adds. Making matters worse, migrant workers in the informal sector are often exploited by the employers and are paid below the legal minimum wage.

The report titled “Snapshots of the Nepali-speaking Community in New York City: Demographics and Challenges” reveals that language barrier has become a major challenge for most of the Nepali-speaking people in finding jobs and other services. For example, many Nepalis in the U.S. do not have health insurance, and almost three-fourths of them face challenges in obtaining healthcare.

Many Nepali migrants are unable to transfer their work experience, skills and education from Nepal. Over half of the Nepalis in New York were involved in business or a professional sector in Nepal. While most Nepali immigrants are able to find jobs in New York, they are often low-wage jobs consuming long hours and providing few benefits. While immigration status is a reason for Nepali immigrants doing low-wage jobs, it is not the only one, the report adds. “Nearly half of the respondents to survey have the legal right to work in the U.S., yet most of them faced challenges.”

The most common types of job for men are works in restaurant, gas station, taxi or limousine and moving industry, while women often work as domestic workers and at nail salons or beauty parlours. Report has it that those who intend to earn degrees find themselves unable to attain their goal due to the number of hours they must work to pay for their education and living expenses.

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Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Initial jobless claims unexpectedly rose last week by 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 462,000, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday.

Economists were expecting only 450,000 Americans to file first time unemployment claims. Americans filed 449,000 first-time claims the previous week.

Although the economy is viewed as being in recovery, the continued loss of jobs indicates a continued bumpy road for America’s working class.

Some 4.399 million people continued to file unemployment claims for their second week or more, during the week ended Oct. 2, the latest week for which such statistics are available.

In addition, extended jobless benefits were available in 36 states and Puerto Rico during the week ending Sept. 25, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Those states were Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

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As the economy continues to suffer and unemployment rates stay high, paying for tuition is becoming harder and harder. It doesn’t help that the average college tuition is still continuing to increase!

A study entitled, “With Their Whole Lives Ahead of Them,” surveyed 614, 22-30 years old that were unable to complete a degree but had attended school. The study found that six out of every ten participants were unable to finish due to their inability to balance academics with work.

Due to the recession, it is becoming harder for families to support there children through school. To make matters worse, scholarships, financial aid, loans, and grants are becoming harder to receive.

M.J. Alhabeeb, Jr. is currently facing troubles like these. Alhabeeb, Jr. began attending the University of California, Los Angeles to study film in the fall of 2008 with a student loan of $65,000 for the 2008-09 academic year. However, when he returned for his sophomore year, the university told him they weren’t going to give him any money.

Alhabeeb, Jr. has been forced to take on a job and cut down his classes to two a semester so he can pay for school. Unfortunately, situations like these are occurring all over the United States.

In Alhabeeb, Jr.’s case, he was informed of his misfortune at the beginning of a semester before class registration. Some individuals are finding themselves in an even tougher spot. Currently, most college institutions do not offer tuition reimbursement unless the request is submitted prior to the start of classes or the student is unable to attend for medical reasons. Due to this, if you were to find yourself in a situation like Alhabeeb’s mid semester, you would still be liable for the cost of classes regardless if you are unable to attend.

If you are a parent paying for your child or a student paying your own way, insuring your investment is a great way to protect yourself. If you do find yourself in financial trouble, you aren’t going to want to deal with paying for an education you are no longer receiving! For an affordable rate, you can get up to $50,000 in tuition insurance that will cover you if something does come up and you are no longer able to attend. This insurance is offered at any school
and is sponsored by College Parents of America!