Le Journal

If you’re hunting for a job in Texas amid a tough employment market, you stand a better chance of landing it here than you might in other states.A new ranking by personal finance website WalletHub of the best states for jobs puts Texas at No. 7. The Lone Star State lands at No. 2 in the economic environment category and No. 18 in the job market category.Massachusetts tops the list, and West Virginia appears at the bottom.To determine the most attractive states for employment, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 34 key indicators of economic health and job market strength. Ranking factors included employment growth, median annual income, and average commute time.“Living in one of the best states for jobs can provide stable conditions for the long term, helping you ride out the fluctuations that the economy will experience in the future,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo says.In September, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Texas led the U.S. in job creation with the addition of 195,600 jobs over the past 12 months.While Abbott proclaimed Texas is “America’s jobs leader,” the state’s level of job creation has recently slowed. In June, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas noted that the state’s year-to-date job growth rate had dipped to 1.8 percent, and that even slower job growth was expected in the second half of this year.The August unemployment rate in Texas stood at 4.1 percent, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Throughout 2025, the monthly rate in Texas has been either four percent or 4.1 percent.By comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate in August was 4.3 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2025, the monthly rate for the U.S. has ranged from 4 percent to 4.3 percent.Here’s a rundown of the August unemployment rates in Texas’ four biggest metro areas:Austin — 3.9 percentDallas-Fort Worth — 4.4 percentSan Antonio — 4.4 percentHouston — 5 percentUnemployment rates have remained steady this year despite layoffs and hiring freezes driven by economic uncertainty. However, the number of U.S. workers who’ve been without a job for at least 27 weeks has risen by 385,000 this year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in August. That month, long-term unemployed workers accounted for about one-fourth of all unemployed workers.An August survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed a record-low 44.9 percent of Americans were confident about finding a job if they lost their current one.This story originally was published on our sister site, InnovationMap.

Women’s Hockey (16-0) It was a tighter margin than the team has been used to this season, but the women’s hockey team stayed unbeaten with 5-3 and 4-3 wins over RIT last weekend. Penn State had allowed more than two goals just once in its first 14 games. In Game 1, Mya Vaslet and Maddy Christian each scored a shorthanded goal on the same penalty kill to provide the winning margin in a 5-3 win. Six of the eight goals in the game came in the first period, and Penn State never trailed in the game. In Game 2, Danica Maynard scored a pair of goals, including the game-winning goal, to lift Penn State to a 4-3 win. The Nittany Lions outshot RIT 47-20 in the game and never trailed. Penn State will travel to Boston to take on Northeastern in a top 10 battle on Friday (3:30pm on ESPN+) and Saturday (2pm). Women’s Volleyball (17-11) The women’s volleyball team swept its final two home games with wins over Michigan State and Maryland. Maggie Mendelson, Kennedy Martin, Gabrielle Nichols, and Emmi Sellman all reached 10 kills in the sweep over the Spartans, as the offense combined to hit .278 while holding Michigan State to just .140. Penn State extended its dominance over Maryland, hitting a blistering .449 in a three-set sweep. Jordan Hopp had 7 blocks and Gillian Grimes had 19 digs to lead an excellent performance from the defense. Penn State will hit the road for its final two regular season matches against Nebraska on Friday (6:30pm on Big Ten Network) and Iowa on Saturday (7pm on Big Ten Network). Women’s Basketball (5-1) Penn State split its games at the Battle for Atlantis, falling 100-93 to Princeton and beating San Diego State 83-67. Penn State held a 10-point lead after the first quarter against Princeton but was outscored in each of the following three quarters as the Tigers slowly grabbed control of the game. Gracie Merkle was 19 for 23 from the floor and scored 39 total points, and Moriah Murray made 6 of her 9 three-pointers, but the Lady Lions committed 16 turnovers. A dominant 21-7 second quarter allowed Penn State to pull away early against San Diego State, and the Lions extended the lead to 20 by the end of the third quarter to wrap up the tournament with a split. Gracie Merkle had 26 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double, and Penn State was +13 on the glass to help run away with an 83-67 win. Penn State will return home to the BJC to take on Yale on Sunday (1pm on Big Ten Plus). Women’s Soccer (10-8-3) The women’s soccer season came to a close with a 2-0 loss to Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Penn State was eliminated before the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016. Virginia outshot Penn State 8-4 in shots on goal and stifled the Nittany Lions’ attack all game. Mackenzie Gress made six saves in the loss.

Sequins, disco sparkle, and slimming sass lit up the ballroom at the Post Oak Hotel for the Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP) Celebrity Paws Gala. No boring centerpieces and meh entrées here.The Studio 39-themed bash — marking the gala’s 39th year — was more Studio 54 than staid social, as 680-plus guests and four-legged companions leaned all the way into disco glam. Think head-to-toe shine, white, black, gold, and silver dripping from most ladies, and a life-size silver horse centerpiece paying tribute to the infamous Bianca Jagger entrance circa 1977.Angela Hernandez and Kamisha Mickey helmed the co-chair duties for what would become CAP’s most successful gala to date, bringing in more than $1.1 million to support animal shelter, rescue, and adoption programs. That includes proceeds from a premium silent auction and a raffle for a 2025 Subaru BRZ Premium donated by West Houston Subaru.The vibe? Party. The crowd? Full Sparkle.And the menu? Heavy on Branson Cognac espresso martinis and Le Chemin du Roi champagne, served from sleek ice bars courtesy of Sire Spirits. Guests mixed, mingled, and posed in front of custom selfie vignettes (shoutout to Lowenberg Law Firm for the glam-on-the-go photo moments), reluctant to take their seats until the music stopped.Leading the program was 2024 Celebrity Pet Champion of the Year Andy Cerota, who served as emcee. A string of awards followed, including honors for Ben Ackerley, Daphne and Steve Savva, Meghan and Clint Conroy, Mary Kenner, Brian Spack, and Edna Meyer-Nelson, who received the Melcher Humanitarian of the Year award and reflected on her connection to the award’s namesake, Lucile B. Melcher.The runway moment of the night belonged to the CAP honorees and their photogenic pets. They were junior honorees Shefali and Maya Desai, and elite honorees Tori Halbert with Tilly, Emily Carruth with Nala, Iraida Brown with Panda, Kellie Geitner with Chloe, Melanie Camp with Matilda, Mandy Kao with Mei Mei and Teddy, Kimberly and David King with Hank, Jenna Morris and Sarah Morris with Ellie Lush and Honey Bee, Suzanne and Adam Stiles with Charlie, and Sarah Vercher with Coco.Kao’s pup arriving via remote-controlled kiddie car, driven by her son, earned audible squeals from the room. Portraits by Gittings Photography added a luxe touch to the honoree wall, while Olly, a Paws for Therapy service dog, received a standing ovation for her work in local hospitals and libraries.A surprise gift from Heritage Ranch dog and cat food by H-E-B during the Paws Up appeal added fuel to an already fiery room.Other supporters were Patricia and Sig Cornelius, Dr. Mary Riley, the Fertitta Family, Gloria and Frank Meszaros, and Carol Altman Simmons.Serving sparkle were Sandi Mercado, Kappy Muenzer, Linda Schmuck and Todd Zucker, Alicia and Eric Jansen, Courtney and Zac Harmon, Susan Boggio, Danielle and Derek Gillespie, Marian and Austin Cornelius, Christine Johnson, Jody Merritt and Steve Spencer, Ghada Ali, Hershey Grace, Susan Klein, Nora and Bob Ackerley, Eve Ackerley, Dean Putterman, Ed Finger, Marcellus Upshaw, Dr. Roxanne Riefkohl, Vicki Luna, Frankie Demeris, Tim Goldman, Nicki and Evan Keenan, Bryce Kennard, Dwight Boykins, Beau Miller, Mica Piro, Liz and Pete Carragher, Melna and Mike Moriarty, Cindy and Frank Liu, Debbie and Rudy Fesatri, Alex Blair, Marla Press, Lidiya Dean, and Elizabeth Martin.

Homer Ozzie & The Straw asks: Should I go to the game on Saturday? And if I do, who should I drag with me? I think it’ll be a little too cold for the kids to enjoy it. Marge will go if I push but she won’t be dying to do it for sure. If you’re waffling, the answer should always be yes. Even if you aren’t there the entire game, it’s worth it to go and support these kids who’ve had a rough year. Plus, tickets can still be found on StubHub for under $50 each, which in this economy is pretty darn good! PSU Esq. asks: Is Terry Smith only two defensive stops away from being the head coach? A win at Iowa and home against Indiana may have sealed the deal and got him the job. Had Terry Smith beaten Iowa and Indiana, I think most of us would be more ok with him being named the next head coach. As it is, he’s a wonderful person and a great representative of our university, and I’m very thankful for everything he’s done, not just this year but in all of his family’s years of ties to Penn State – but I don’t think he’s who we need as the next head coach. If he is named to that role, then I’m sure I’d eventually come around, but it might take a bit. This isn’t the defensive line coach. Kraft and the PSU administration can’t just take the words of non-unbiased young men when that decision impacts their eight-figure product. I just truly hope there’s a way to go in a different direction, but also not burn bridges with Terry Smith and all of the players and alumni he has rooting for him (unlike what happened with Larry Johnson Sr). barneyk asks: Assuming we beat Rutgers this weekend and recognizing that although PSU has had a rough year they are still a big name draw for bowl games, what bowl game do you think PSU will play in? I’m thinking it’ll be the Pinstripe Bowl, which would be a fitting bookend to the CJF era at Penn State. They’re a big draw, sure, but there’s only so much higher up on the Big Ten pecking order that they can jump if they win and elect to go to a bowl. wvpsufan asks: So what’s up with the running game lately? Have the blocking scheme changed drastically or is the line just executing better To my special eyes, the blocking scheme hasn’t changed drastically – the line is executing better, and the playcalling is much better. We are doing a better job of stretching the field vertically, which helps open up the run game – and there’s been fewer gimmicky play calls on offense, now that the quarterback room is down to 1.5 healthy players. Much like on the defensive line, it certainly seems as though Coach Smith told Kotelnicki that he’s got to run the ball off-tackle until the opposing defense can stop it. And, spoiler alert, the last two weeks our opponent has been unable to stop it – and it looks like this week’s opponent may not fare much better, if the stats are any indicator. PSU1979dude asks: Do you think NFL scouts will look at Singleton’s entire career production and largely ignore this year’s drop? How does one explain the drop when Kaytron exploded this year? I still think Nick is an excellent back and has a lot of potential Yes, for the most part they will. He’s not injured, and there’s a lot of off-field and overall team things that have been going on (not sure if you’ve heard!) that have impacted not just his, but other key potential draftees’ stock.  What will impact where he goes the most will be 1) how he performs at the combine, and 2) how he performs at PSU’s pro day. He has an outside shot at getting taken on the second day, but his measurables and overall body of work means he won’t get out of Pittsburgh without a new team. Gerry Dincher asks: How much blame for the failure of this football season do you place on James Franklin? Most, if not all of it. It was clear that the team had bought into their own hype and that Franklin had lost them before the UCLA game. Everything is top down in terms of vibes in football, which is why “any given Saturday” is a thing – a…

Dans une région reculée de la Sibérie, les automobilistes doivent prendre des précautions impensables pour protéger leur voiture.