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Overall, the American economy lost 54,000 net jobs in August, as another 114,000 temporary Census workers were dismissed from the federal government’s payrolls.

Aside from the staffing changes at the Census Bureau, which has been trimming jobs added earlier in the year for the decennial population count, private-sector employers added a modest 67,000 jobs over the month.

The nation’s manufacturers, which had been growing all year and leading the weak jobs recovery, fell back in August, cutting 27,000 to their payrolls. Budget-strapped state governments shed another 14,000 jobs.

The health-care sector added 28,000 jobs in August, and construction employment was up 19,000, although about half of that was due to the return of workers on strike in July.

* Unemployment rate rises to 9.6%

* Illinois employment could improve later this year

A report released Thursday by Robert Half International said a net 12 percent of Illinois executives expect to hire more employees in the fourth quarter, an increase of 11 percentage points over sentiment measured in the third quarter. The company’s survey showed 19 percent of executives planned to staff up, while 7 percent were expecting to cut staff. Subtracting the 7 percent from the 19 percent generated the net 12 percent figure.

* Huntley: Labor Day, and too many jobless

* Stocks set to extend September rally after jobs data comes in better than expected

* Mortgage rates hit another low; now at 4.32%

Meanwhile, 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.83 percent, down from 3.86 percent last week, the lowest since Freddie Mac began surveying this loan type in 1991. Fifteen-year mortgage rates have fallen to fresh lows for eight out of the past 11 weeks.

* FEMA gives $75 million to state flood victims

* 45,000 apply for federal flood aid in Illinois

* Last day of food aid for flood victims

* New bonds help businesses

A total of $1.5 billion in tax-exempt bond authority is available for Federal Emergency Managment Agency-designated disaster areas covering 18 counties, including Lake. Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds have been authorized by the federal government as a money-saving incentive for eligible commercial, industrial, manufacturing, retail and public utility projects to help repair damage and restore jobs.

* Report: Chicago among worst for driving safety

* 4 slain in garage were bound with duct tape

Four men–with their hands, feet and mouths bound with duct tape–were found shot to death last night in a garage in Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood.

“Multiple weapons” were found at the scene in the 6100 block of South Kildare Avenue, police said, but the motive for the slayings was not known.

* Two men charged with attempted murder after two Chicago cops are shot

* Gang members grumble over police, anger parents of slaying victims

Parents of children slain in Chicago voiced anger over a news conference called Thursday by self-proclaimed former and current West Side gang members to complain they’re being treated unfairly by police.

“My first impression was, ‘How dare they?’” said Annette Nance-Holt, whose son Blair was gunned down on a CTA bus three years ago.

* Some Clergy Members Slam Police Meeting with Gangs

* Gang member tells others: ‘Put the guns down’

Like the other alleged gang leaders, Barbee said he doesn’t think the strategy is fair: “They can’t hold me accountable for something other people do.”

Yet, Barbee said he’s doing exactly what the lawmen had hoped. Since the Aug. 17 meeting at Garfield Park Conservatory, Barbee said, he has been on the street talking to younger gang members in his turf along Madison between Pulaski and Cicero.

* Gang member: ‘Ain’t no more leaders’

* Safer: Facing down the gang leaders

* Sun-Times: Gangs have no right to whine

* Walter’s Perspective: Boo-Hoo To Gangbangers

* Steinberg: Weis reaches out to gang members, they bite back

* Tribune: Weis’ thin reed

* Blame game escalates as Cook County tax bills delayed

With the passing of Sept. 1, Cook County failed to make its formal deadline for mailing out second-installment tax bills for the 33rd straight year. The question is, when will the bills go out?

The issue, which has an immediate fiscal impact on schools and municipalities, has become a political football - especially in the hotly contested assessor’s race, where each camp accuses the other of foot-dragging to delay bills until after the Nov. 2 election.

That kind of delay could cost schools and other taxing bodies money. Many school districts have Dec. 1 deadlines for making payments on debt, and if they haven’t received their share of tax collections by then and don’t have reserves to cover the gap, they have to borrow, said Deb Parenti, associate superintendent for finance and operations for Northwest Suburban High School District 214.

* 911 tape in Pagano suicide released

* Metra bars riders who ignore gates, lights

* Daley wants protections for renters, condo buyers

The proposal — which Daley will introduce at next Wednesday’s City Council meeting – would increase from four months to nine months the forewarning developers have to give renters if they plan to convert apartments into condominiums. It also would require landlords to give renters at least $1,500 to relocate if the building in which they live is going to be converted.

* Daley: Give renters more condo conversion protections

* Parents Might Be Able to See How CPS Teachers Rank

* Museum passes await CPS students on 1st day of classes

Chicago Public Schools students who show up for the first day of classes next Tuesday will find more than new classmates and teachers awaiting them.

Kids in kindergarten through 12th grade will receive a family pass to the Museum of Science and Industry — an incentive to drive first-day attendance.

* Asian carp-blocking work will close Sanitary Canal off and on

* Hundreds pack church for Chicago Heights mayor’s funeral

Lopez, 44, died Aug. 27 of hypertensive cardiovascular disease and diabetes. He was watching his daughter’s basketball practice when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed. Minutes later, he was pronounced dead at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights.

In the church Thursday, Chicago Heights aldermen were flanked in pews to the left of the pulpit, and state Rep. Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights) and state Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) sat behind them.

* Barsanti named to 16th Circuit judge post

* Yorkville names new School Board president

* Public excluded from (Highland Park) school referendum meeting

* City, Election Commission on the outs for months

Tensions between the city and the Aurora Election Commission came to a head last week, when commissioners denied a city-sponsored referendum to abolish the election authority a spot on November’s ballot.

* DuPage County $70 mil capital plan up for vote

The 30-year borrowing plan will ultimately cost taxpayers $125 million, but would provide funding for a number of initiatives including flood control programs, new technology and road improvements.

* Will County wants to protect airport interests

Will County Board Chairman Jim Moustis said the county has to protect itself from any pre-election, politically motivated decisions about the proposed Peotone airport.

The airport project has been in limbo while the Illinois Department of Transportation gets final paperwork to the Federal Aviation Administration for analysis.

* Oak Lawn officials, firefighters at odds over overtime

* Burica new Frankfort police chief

* Huntley village board closer to downtown revamp

* Libertyville driver’s license facility may be evicted

* Good news for Quad-Cities workers: Alcoa completes staff recall

* Census change would mean $1.2 million from Vermilion County

* Pekin landfill committee formed

* Jered Shofner sworn in as DeWitt County sheriff

* Taylorville Energy Center plan gets boost from Durbin’s support

* Durbin: Ill. needs to latch onto coal projects

* Durbin supports Tenaska project

* Springfield school enrollment up less than 1 percent