From NPR News in Washington, I'm Babara Cline.Off the North Carolina coast, hurricane Arthur has strengthened to a category-two stormwith sustained winds of a hundred miles an hour.Forecaster says there's a good chance to make a landfall near or over the outer banks tonight.11-year-old Patrick Vacik of New York is vacationed in the outer banks with his familyand he has already figured out how do deal with the storm.Well, we will probably play categories Em, we will probably eat a lot and play ball games.Arthur's about 110 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras.Hiring is the strongest it's been in years, according to the laborer Department,the economy added more jobs than expected last month.It's NPR's Mara Liasson reportsthe numbers are welcomed news to the Whitehouse.The economy added 288,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate dropped to 6.1%.That is the lowest level since September 2008 when the financial crisis began.The economy is the number one issue in the midterm electionand the improved outlook makes it a little easier for embattled Democrats to argue the recovery is picking up steameven if lots of people still are not feeling the effects.The labor Department report also shows thatthe unemployment rate is dropping because more people are getting hirednot because more people have given up looking for work.The chairman of the president counselor of economic adviser issued a statement pointing out thatit is the first time since late 1999 that there has been a total job growth over 200,000 a month for 5 straight months.
