State’s jobless rate dips below 5%HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate fell below the 5 percent mark for the first time since 2008, dropping by three-tenths of a percentage point in December for the third straight month, the state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday.The new data showed the rate in Pennsylvania continuing a dramatic fall, even though the size of payrolls and the labor force have changed little in recent months.The seasonally adjusted rate in December was 4.8 percent, Pennsylvania’s new post-recession low. That was down from 5.1 percent in November and 5.7 percent in September.The U.S. rate is currently 5.6 percent.

Pgh. mayor blames controller for stuntPITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto says the county controller is engaging in a “cheap political stunt” by withholding county tax revenues from a local tourism agency after Peduto’s appearance on “Undercover Boss.”Peduto appeared on the CBS show last month and pledged $155,000 to help four needy city workers. Peduto has stressed that tax revenue won’t be used, and that corporate and institutional donors — including VisitPittsburgh — have pledged to pay the money.But Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner says VisitPittsburgh gets most of its $11 million budget from county tax money.So she wants the agency to account for $25,000 it donated to the “Undercover Boss” fund, plus another $25,000 it may donate, before she hands over $682,000 in tax revenues.

Obama, Biden to visit PhiladelphiaWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will visit Philadelphia next week where they will speak at House Democrats’ policy retreat.The three-day gathering of the House Democratic Caucus runs from Jan. 28 to Jan. 30. It is aimed at laying out Democratic strategies for the next two years in Congress, leading up to the 2016 elections.Obama will attend the event Thursday and Biden will make an appearance the following day.