Pennsylvania jobless rate flat again, payrolls hit new high

HARRISBURG, PA. >> Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained flat for a second straight month in October, a nearly two-decade low, as payrolls jumped to another record high.

The state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday that Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate stayed at 4.1 percent last month, the lowest point since 2000.

The national rate is 3.7 percent.

A survey of households found Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force grew by 23,000 to pass 6.4 million, as employment and unemployment both rose.

A separate survey of employers showed seasonally adjusted non-farm payrolls rose by 18,500 in October, hitting another record high above 6 million.

The biggest gainers were professional and business services, education and health services and the construction sector.

Friday’s figures are preliminary and could change.

Lawsuit seeking church abuse records filed in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA >> Two survivors of alleged child sexual abuse in the Philadelphia Archdiocese are suing for the release of church records from all of Pennsylvania’s dioceses.

The lawsuit filed in Philadelphia Thursday names the state’s Roman Catholic dioceses and seeks the release of records related to allegations of child sexual abuse and a list of all priests accused and their work histories.

The lawsuit filed by lawyer Jeff Anderson is one of several his firm has filed in recent months seeking church records. He has filed similar lawsuits in New York, California and Illinois and against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Anderson’s 2013 lawsuit in Minnesota resulted in the release of thousands of pages of records. Messages were left Friday with the Pennsylvania dioceses. Several say they do not comment on pending litigation.

Philadelphia reconciles $21 million in ‘missing’ funds

PHILADELPHIA >> Philadelphia authorities have reconciled much of the city’s accounts to locate most of the seemingly “missing” $33 million.

City finance officials said Friday the term missing money gives a misconception that it was misspent or stolen. Finance officials with the help of an outside firm have spent the last few months reconciling financial records from several previous years to find the funds.

The “missing” amount went from $33.3 million to $23.3 million to $2.1 million as of Friday. Officials say $21 million was found after examiners saw duplicate payment entries made in different accounts, but money only taken from one.

Officials say the full reconciliation will be finished by year’s end and procedures and new policies have been put in place to prevent the issue from happening again.

Equipment, gear stolen from pet fire rescue group Red Paw

PHILADELPHIA >> A firefighter who has dedicated her life to helping pets affected by fires is hoping someone will return her team’s stolen equipment.

Jennifer Leary with Red Paw Emergency Relief Team posted a plea on Twitter asking for the public’s help.

She says a brand new cargo unit was stolen off their response vehicle a week ago, while it was parked in northeast Philadelphia.

She says new respirator masks and her personal protective gear was also stolen.