Friday News Rundown (11-7-14)

By Emily Parma
Assistant Web Content Manager

The U.S. unemployment rate has dropped 5.8%. According to the Associated Press, 214,000 jobs were added last month. Employers have added at least 200,000 jobs for nine consecutive months to the U.S. economy, making the unemployment rate the lowest since 1995.

Art Squared Arts Market is going to bring a touch of Paris to San Marcos tomorrow on the Courthouse lawn. Featured artist Catherine Lotz will showcase her paintings that invoke the spirit of Paris. Lotz is originally from Franklin, New Jersey and moved to San Antonio in 1997. In addition to Lotz’s paintings, the Arts Market will include other area artists presenting their work along with live music.

Gov. Rick Perry’s trial ended with a decision to have a ruling by next week. The decision was made on Thursday by Judge Richardson due to an undecided narrow issue that lasted two hours during the trial. Courts ruled that the longest serving governor in Texas will be in office until January, when Greg Abbott, the governor elect, takes office. According to the New York Times, Perry was faced with two felonies and was criticized with a special prosecution that could possibly end his Republican presidential campaign in 2016.

Today the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a new case that will challenge President Obama’s health care policies. The justices will decide whether the law authorizes subsidies that help millions of low and middle income people afford their health insurance premiums. According to USA Today, the health care program has been sued in appeals courts four times, however, this will be the second time a challenge to the program will appear in the Supreme Court.

There will be a full time road closure on University Drive from LBJ Street to CM Allen Parkway until November 28 due to replacement of sidewalks and curbs. The West half of the intersection of LBJ at University will be closed for the next four weeks because of construction. Detour signs will be available and residents are encouraged to follow the signs.

President Obama is sending up to 1,500 troops to Iraq to train Iraq and Kurdish forces to fight ISIS, bringing the total number of troops to 2,900, according to CNN. The White House released a statement today saying that they will be asking Congress for an additional $5.6 billion to help fund the fight against ISIS. The president made this decision at the Iraqi government’s request and upon the recommendation of U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

According to the coroner in Marin County, Calif., the death of actor and comedian Robin Williams has been officially ruled as a suicide. The statement says that alcohol and drugs were not involved and investigators believe that Williams used a belt to hang himself from a bedroom door. Williams’ widow says that he had been struggling with depression, anxiety and early stages of Parkinson’s disease.Today, Williams’ ashes lay across the coast after they were scattered on August 22.

Texas State Football will host their last home Saturday game of the year tomorrow. This will also be the last Saturday tailgate of the year, and San Marcos is expecting a large crowd to show their last tailgate hoo-rah for the 2014 football season. The game starts at 3 p.m., so expect to see tons of Bobcat fans filling up Bobcat Alley outside of the stadium all morning and afternoon. This also will come with plenty of congestion on Aquarena Springs Drive and any roads that connect to it. Also, remember Texas State is a tobacco-free campus, so no tobacco usage will be permitted anywhere at tailgate.

The sun is supposed to be out in San Marcos all weekend long. The weather forecast for San Marcos will be a high of 74 on Saturday and 72 on Sunday, but we might have a couple of chilly nights with a low of 45 on Saturday and 47 on Sunday. There is a zero chance of rain all weekend, but there could be a seven-to-14 mile-per-hour gust of wind.