Afternoon Read: D.C. Unemployment Rate Drops, Maryland's Increases

The D.C. unemployment rate is slowly improving and, at 9.3 percent, it’s the lowest it’s been since April 2009, when it was 9.1 percent.

The latest statistics were released today by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and reflect figures from May 2012.

The District added more than 2,000 jobs in May, most of which came from the hospitality industry.

From Mayor Vincent Gray's office:

"I’m elated that the unemployment rate in the District is continuing to fall as more and more residents are finding jobs,” said Mayor Gray. “However, despite overall employment continuing to grow, too many individuals across the city are still looking for work – and I remain steadfast in my commitment to helping every DC resident who is willing and able to work find sustainable employment.”

Despite the gains, D.C.’s unemployment rate still hovers well above the national unemployment rate of 8.2 percent.

Maryland’s unemployment rate increased from 6.7 percent to 6.8 percent in May. The state lost 16,500 jobs that month, the third biggest loss of any state. From May 2011 to May 2012, however, the state gained 35,600 jobs.

Virginia’s remained steady at 5.6 percent and the state added 44,700 jobs over the past year.

* The must see D.C. political YouTube video of the day is, drum roll please, the “Vincent Orange goes Macchio” video mixed by the Kojo Nnamdi show.

The video shows Orange at his best from Wednesday’s D.C. Council meeting.

 * The Virginia Board of Health is expected to vote Friday on whether to permanently adopt regulations that would enact strict, hospital level regulations on health clinics that perform abortions, according to RTD.

If passed, the regulations—which pro-choice advocates are fervently against—would go through a public comment period before it goes for Gov. Bob McDonnell's final approval.

* A study out of Georgetown found that people who use Capital Bikeshare to commute forgo helmets at a higher rate than other cyclists. Seven out of ten Capital Bikeshare cyclists did not use a helmet.

* Developers with National Harbor and MGM Resorts International announced Friday that they have reached an agreement to bring a high-end casino to Prince George's County.

The proposed casino would include 4,000 video slot machines, 250 table games, retail shops, restaurants and a luxury hotel. 

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