Page 6 The Skanner August 8, 2018
News
Jobs Boom Favors Democratic Counties, Not Trump Strongholds
58.5 percent of
the job gains
in the past
year were in
counties that
backed Hillary
Clinton
By Josh Boak
AP Economics Writer
MONACA, Pennsylva-
nia — The United States
is on pace to add about
2.6 million jobs this year
under President Donald
Trump’s watch. Yet the
bulk of the hiring has
occurred in bastions of
Democratic voters rath-
er than in the Republican
counties that put Trump
in the White House.
On average for the
year-ended this May, 58.5
percent of the job gains
were in counties that
backed Democrat Hil-
lary Clinton in 2016, ac-
cording to an Associated
Press analysis of month-
ly government jobs data
by county.
Despite an otherwise
robust national econo-
my, the analysis shows
that a striking num-
ber of Trump counties
are losing jobs. The AP
found that 35.4 percent
of Trump counties have
shed jobs in the past year,
compared with just 19.2
percent of Clinton coun-
ties.
The jobs data shows
an economy that is as
fractured as the politi-
cal landscape ahead of
the 2018 midterm elec-
tions. As more money
pools in such corporate
hubs as Houston, San
Francisco or Seattle,
prosperity spills over
less and less to small-
er towns and cities in
America’s
interior.
That would seem to
undercut what Trump
sees as a central ac-
complishment of his
administration — job
creation for middle
class and blue-collar
workers in towns far
removed from bus-
tling urban centers.
Job
growth
in
Trump’s economy is
still concentrated in
the same general plac-
es as it was toward the
end of Barack Obama’s
presidency — when
roughly 58.7 percent
of the average annu-
al job gains were in
Democratic counties.
Yet the lack of trans-
formative job growth
in Trump areas hasn’t
seemed to erode his
support among Re-
publicans, while hir-
ing in Democratic ar-
eas have done little to
improve his standing
with those voters. For
Trump’s core support-
ers, cultural issues
such as gun rights, im-
migration and loyalty
to the president have
become dominant prior-
ities.
Trump has pointed
with pride at a strength-
ening national economy
in hopes that voters will
reward the Republican
Party by preserving its
majorities in the House
and Senate this year. The
government
reported
the fastest quarterly eco-
nomic growth since 2014
and the unemployment
rate is a healthy 3.9 per-
cent. At a Pennsylvania
rally on Thursday, the
president declared, “Our
economy is soaring. Our
jobs are booming.”
But other issues pre-
occupy the minds of the
party faithful in Trump
strongholds such as Bea-
ver County, Pennsylva-
nia, northwest of Pitts-
burgh.
Chip Kohser, the coun-
ty Republican chairman
and the bristle-bearded
See JOBS on page 7
Pet Staycation:
Preparing Your
Home for a Pet Sitter
By Jasmine Streeter, DVM
Special to The Skanner
News
A
ugust is a popular
months for travel-
ers. Whether your
packing up for a
last-minute vacation out
the country or heading
off to a family reunion,
it’s possible you may not
be able to take your fur
baby with you. I traveled
extensively this summer
and listed a few tips that
helped keep my peace of
mind while away from
my little ones.
Caregiver:
Choose a responsible
adult who truly enjoys
spending time with your
pets. Your pets should
like them too! Give the
caregiver a range of
times to arrive and take
care of your animals. It’s
best to emulate their nor-
mal schedule as much
as possible. For exam-
Dr. Jasmine
Shanelle
Streeter
Veterinarian
ple, you might suggest
they come between 7-9
a.m. and 12-2 p.m. Also,
make sure the person
you choose has adequate
transportation so your
pets won’t be placed in an
uncomfortable position.
Food & Water: Pro-
vide detailed instruc-
tions on feeding your
pet while away. Write
the amount of food to
be given, how often to
feed, and location where
feeding should occur.
Also inform the sitter of
any quirks your pet has
during meals or if they
display food aggression.
Note the location of food
bins and where to find
fresh water since many
sitters may not be famil-
iar with your home. Also
provide enough food for
the duration of your trip
so your pet isn’t left hun-
gry.
Medication:
Pets that require daily
medications or special
supplements
should
continue to receive their
medications even if you
are on vacation. Provide
Soleil enjoying her Staycation
detailed
descriptions
and if possible a tutori-
al on how to administer
your pets medication.
Try to choose individu-
als who are comfortable
and have experience ad-
ministering pet meds.
Make sure medications
are clearly labeled and
kept out of reach of nos-
ey pets.
Walks: If your pet sitter
will be going on walks,
show them the routes in
your area that your dog
or cat likes. Take them
on a walk with you be-
fore leaving so you can
answer any questions
they have. Inform them
if you pet is fond of other
animals and dog parks or
if they would appreciate
a quiet stroll in Forest
Park.
Dog & Cat Proofing:
When moms away,
your pets will play. Many
pets behave differently
when separated from
their families and may
even become destruc-
tive. Take the time to
puppy/kitty-proof your
home before leaving to
reduce the risk of acci-
dents.
Emergency Contact:
Always leave an emer-
gency contact in your
area that can be contact-
ed if something goes
wrong. Inform the per-
son you have listed so
they will be aware they
may be receiving a call.
Hopefully
everything
runs smoothly, but its
best to be prepared.
Veterinary Information
& Contact:
Consider briefly re-
viewing a copy of your
pet’s vaccine and medical
history with your sitter.
Provide your veterinary
hospital
information
and nearest emergency
hospital number in case
your caregiver needs
medical attention.
Wishing you amazing
travels filled with beau-
tiful moments, and for
your pets, rest and relax-
ation on these hot sum-
mer days. Enjoy!
You can ask Dr. Jasmine
your pet question or email
your pet photo to drjas-
mine@theskanner.com.
Your topic may be dis-
cussed in a future column!