What we’re reading: National Guard assembled in two states, U.S. unemployment drops

By Charlotte Tomlinson

Published Oct 2, 2020

In this June 1, 2020, file photo, District of Columbia National Guard, and U.S. Park Police, advance through the white roses in front of the AFL-CIO headquarters, with St. John’s Church behind them, as they move demonstrators back after they gathered to protest the death of George Floyd near the White House in Washington. The National Guard has designated military police units in two states to serve as rapid reaction forces in order to be better prepared to respond quickly to civil unrest around the country, in the wake of the violent protests that rocked the nation’s capitol and several states this summer. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

National Guard taps units for rapid response amid civil unrest in the U.S.

The National Guard has deployed military police units to two states for rapid response in case riots or violent protests occur, according to the AP.

Military leaders do not directly tie to this recent change to the current political climate, but with the unrest around the presidential campaigns they do not want to take any chances.

About 600 troops, 300 each in Alabama and Arizona, will be ready to deploy within 24 hours if a governor in another state requests them.

Secretary Ryan McCarty said the only problem with this is how quickly they can be deployed with the appropriate training and understanding of the task at hand.

The Guard will only be used if it is extremely necessary, but the government wants to be prepared regardless of any situation that may arise.

U.S. unemployment drops to 7.9% but hiring slows pre-election

In this Sept. 2, 2020, file photo, a passerby walks past a business storefront with store closing signs in Boston. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 7.9% in September, but hiring is slowing and many Americans have given up looking for work, the government said Friday, Oct. 2, in the final jobs report before the voters decide whether to give President Donald Trump another term. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

In September, the U.S. unemployment dropped from 8.4% to 7.9%, according to the AP.

Drew Matus, an economist at MetLife Investment Management, said there just “seems to be a worrisome loss of momentum and there’s a lot of caution on the part of employers.”

With September’s hiring gain, the economy is beginning to recover from the large amount of job losses the COVID-19 outbreak caused, but many industries, including travel and tourism, are still continuing to slump.

The number of laid-off workers whose jobs are gone permanently rose to 3.8 million from 3.4 million.

The September job report showed there were more women than men who were leaving the workforce to stay home and help their kids with remote learning.

NFL reschedules Steelers-Titans after first game was postponed by a COVID-19 outbreak

Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans, is shown Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans suspended in-person activities through Friday after the NFL says three Titans players and five personnel tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first COVID-19 outbreak of the NFL season in Week 4. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

The Tennessee Titans have rescheduled their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after the first game was postponed, according to the AP.

The rescheduling forced the NFL to postpone Tennessee’s game from Oct. 25, giving the Steelers an unplanned bye.

The Steelers will play Baltimore on Nov. 1 with the Ravens’ bye moved up one week.

The NFL and the players’ union agreed to continue daily testing, including bye weeks, for the foreseeable future to be ahead of the outbreaks.