Obama addresses nation on economy, Ft. Hood shootings

Obama: Gov't working to ease pain of joblessness

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says new figures showing national  unemployment has hit the double-digit mark are regretful and says he's working hard to restore the struggling economy.

Standing in the White House Rose Garden, Obama called the new jobs report another illustration of why much more work is needed to spur business creation and consumer spending. He appeared a few hours after the government reported that the jobless rate hit 10.2 percent last month, the highest since 1983. The rate was 9.8 percent in September.

Obama noted legislation he's signing to provide additional unemployment benefits to people thrown out of work. And he said "I will not rest until all Americans who want work can find
work."

Obama says don't jump to conclusions on shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the "whole nation is grieving right now" over the mass killings at Fort Hood. He urged people not to jump to conclusions while law enforcement officials gather facts about the shootings.

The president on Friday ordered flags at the White House and other federal agencies to be flown at half-staff until Veterans Day as a tribute to those who lost their lives.

A shooter went on a rampage that left 13 people dead and injured 30 others at the sprawling Army post in Texas. Obama promised to update the nation as his administration learns more about what happened.

The suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was shot and remains hospitalized. The motive for the incident is unclear.