(The Center Square) — Updated federal datashowsCalifornia gained 76% fewer jobs in 2024 than initially estimated, gaining only 60,000 jobs, instead of the earlier announced 250,000 jobs.
A 2024 state-fundedreportfound that California private sector employment went into a downturn in 2022, with jobs growth only coming from the public sector and related employment. If this trend has continued, the state’s 0.3% jobs growth could have entirely come from taxpayer-financed government and government-adjacent hiring.
“The corrected data show that the state added just 60,000 jobs between September 2023 and September 2024. The monthly jobs report, which the administration and the Legislature relied on to gauge the economy during that period, showed the labor market growing steadily, appearing to add more than 250,000 jobs over that period,” wrote the state-funded Legislative Analyst’s Office. “Actual job growth for the year was 0.3 percent, compared to the 1.5 percent growth initially reported via the preliminary survey.”
The state-funded Legislative Analyst’s Office reported that between September 2022 and April 2024, the private sector lost 154,000 jobs, while the public and publicly-supported sector, which includes the healthcare sector — which is majority-funded by taxes via Medicare, Medicaid, and Affordable Care Act premium subsidies — gained 361,000 jobs.
The governor has proposed withdrawing $7 billion from reserves this year, while increasing spending to $322 billion. Amid stock market volatility and uncertainty about federal funding, it’s unclear how much the state may have to cut from its projected revenue.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-09-11 08:05:00
Decarlos Brown Jr. faces federal and state charges for the August 22 killing of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail. The North Carolina chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has urged federal prosecutors to classify the murder as a hate crime, citing video footage allegedly showing Brown making racist remarks. Brown, arrested 15 times previously, is charged with first-degree murder and a federal charge related to mass transportation. The case has sparked viral attention, legislative proposals, and a state audit of transit safety. CAIR condemns the murder and warns against using the crime to promote racial bias.
(The Center Square) – When a federal charge was levied this week against Decarlos Brown Jr. in the killing of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail, authorities said more charges were possible.
North Carolina’s chapter of the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the nation has formally requested federal prosecutors charge Brown with a hate crime.
“We join calls for the U.S. attorney to investigate the murder of Iryna Zarutska as a possible hate crime given video footage that appears to show the perpetrator commenting on her race and gender after brutally attacking her,” the North Carolina chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement. “Whenever someone commits similar acts of violence while engaging in racist or bigoted rhetoric, law enforcement should automatically investigate a bias motive.”
Zarutska, 23, was killed while aboard the Lynx Blue Line light rail train about 10 p.m. Aug. 22 alongside Camden Road near the East/West station, according to the Charlotte Area Transit System video. Brown, arrested a 15th time in as many years, is charged with first-degree murder on the state level and charged on the federal level with committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.
While in the local news immediately, the story went viral over the weekend and into this week when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police released video from the transit system. Congressional proposals are in the works; state Republicans in the U.S. House have requested the chief judge in the district remove the magistrate signing off on cashless bail for Brown in January; and a probe of safety and budget for the transit system is underway by the state auditor.
CAIR-North Carolina said, “Video footage from the incident reportedly shows the alleged attacker, Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., pacing through the train and twice saying, ‘I got that white girl.’”
The Center Square has not confirmed the comments. Video released by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police is from cameras aboard the Charlotte Area Transit System light rail train.
General Assembly leaders planned a noon press conference connected to the stabbing.
CAIR-North Carolina said, “As we condemn Ms. Zarutska’s horrific murder and call for a hate crime probe, we also condemn those using this crime to resurrect racist talking points about the Black community. This selective outrage is dangerous, hypocritical, and racially motivated, especially given that white supremacists fall silent about other stabbings, mass shootings, hate crimes, financial crimes, rapes, and various other misconduct committed by people of all races and backgrounds. Our society must secure justice for victims of crimes, not turn them into pawns for extremists.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article presents a factual overview of the incident and related responses without adopting or promoting a distinct ideological stance. It reports on the victim’s killing, the ongoing legal actions, and the call from the North Carolina chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for hate crime charges. The article quotes CAIR’s statements, which include both a call for investigation and a critique of racial double standards, but it does so without endorsing or challenging these views. It also mentions political actions from state Republicans and other official responses, maintaining a neutral tone throughout. The language is primarily descriptive, focusing on reporting events and stated positions rather than framing them in a way that suggests bias. Thus, the content adheres to neutral, factual reporting rather than expressing an ideological perspective.
A high-powered bolt-action rifle believed to be used in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been recovered near Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The suspect, thought to be college-aged and blending in with the campus, remains at large. Investigators tracked the shooter’s movements from arrival at 11:52 a.m., through the campus and rooftop shooting location, to fleeing into a nearby neighborhood. Kirk was shot in the neck before 12:30 p.m. MDT during a campus event. The FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety are leading the investigation, which includes collected evidence like footwear and palm prints.
(The Center Square) – The weapon believed to have been used in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been recovered; however, a manhunt remains underway for the suspected shooter.
Investigators held a briefing Thursday morning indicating that investigators recovered a “high-powered bolt action rifle” into a wooded area near the shooting site. Investigators say the “suspect blended in well with a college institution,” believing the suspect to be college aged. They say they have “images of the suspect.”
Investigators say they have made progress overnight in tracking the movements of the suspect before and after the shooting.
“We were able to track the movements of the shooter; starting at 11:52 a.m. the subject arrived on campus, shortly away from campus. We have tracked his movements onto the campus, through the stairwells up to the roof, across the roof to a shooting location. After the shooting, we were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled off of the campus and into a neighborhood,” according to the commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, Beau Mason.
The suspected rifle used in the shooting is being sent off to an FBI laboratory for analysis. In addition to the recovered weapon, investigators say they collected footwear impressions, a palm print and forearm imprints; however, they didn’t indicate where they were collected.
Kirk was shot in the neck before 12:30 p.m. MDT Wednesday during a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Two individuals were briefly detained and questioned in relation to the shooting, but were later released, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Videos circulating show a shadowy figure, appearing to be dressed in black clothing, can be seen on a rooftop approximately 200 yards from where Kirk was speaking. The figure can be seen running shortly after the shooting.
The FBI, along with the Utah Department of Public Safety, is leading the investigation.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on the facts surrounding the shooting of a conservative activist, focusing on the investigation details, law enforcement statements, and evidence recovery without inserting opinion or ideological commentary. It presents information about the incident in a straightforward manner, using neutral language and avoiding any framing that would suggest bias toward or against any political viewpoint. Although the victim’s political affiliation is mentioned (conservative), this inclusion is relevant to identifying the individual rather than promoting an ideological stance. Hence, the content adheres to neutral, factual reporting rather than expressing a discernible ideological perspective.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-09-11 08:10:00
An assistant dean at Middle Tennessee State University, identified as Laura Sosh-Lightsy, was fired after posting insensitive comments about the murder of Charlie Kirk. Sosh-Lightsy wrote, “Looks like ol’ Charlie spoke his fate into existence. Hate begets hate. ZERO sympathy.” The university president, Sidney A. McPhee, condemned the remarks as inconsistent with the university’s values and damaging to its reputation, leading to her immediate dismissal. Sosh-Lightsy had worked at MTSU for over 21 years and was assistant dean for student care and conduct for more than a year. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn publicly supported the firing and called for her removal.
(The Center Square) – An assistant dean at Middle Tennessee State University was fired after posting “inappropriate and callous comments,” about the murder of Charlie Kirk, the school’s president said in a Facebook post.
The employee was not identified in the post but U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., on social media identified her as Laura Sosh-Lightsy.
The post by Sosh-Lightsy said, “Looks like ol’ Charlie spoke his fate into existence,” she wrote. “Hate begets hate. ZERO sympathy,” according to Blackburn’s post.
The senator shared a post from Matthew Hurtt, director of professional services at the Leadership Institute, that showed Sosh-Lightsy was an employee of the university for more than 21 years. She was named assistant dean for student care and conduct a year and three months ago.
“The comments by this employee, who worked in a position of trust directly with students, were inconsistent with our values and have undermined the university’s credibility and reputation with our students, faculty, staff and the community at large,” said university President Sidney A. McPhee in the Facebook post. “This employee has been fired effective immediately. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Kirk family.”
Blackburn called for Sosh Lightsy’s firing in her post.
“This person should be ashamed of her post. She should be removed from her position at @MTSU,” Blackburn said.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The article primarily reports factual events regarding the firing of an assistant dean at Middle Tennessee State University following controversial comments about Charlie Kirk’s murder. The language is straightforward and mostly neutral, presenting statements from the university president and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn without editorializing or overtly opinionated language. However, the selection of sources and the framing—highlighting Blackburn’s criticism and the assistant dean’s contentious comment—reflect a perspective more aligned with conservative viewpoints. The piece does not advocate for a particular ideological stance but centers on criticism from a prominent Republican senator, which could lead to a mild center-right slant in perception due to the nature of the voices emphasized and the context presented. Overall, it remains close to factual reporting without explicitly promoting an ideological agenda.
