Jobs weak, wages strong

Surprisingly weak job figures for April provide the latest evidence that the economy is slowing down after a vigorous first quarter.

A broad range of economic sectors showed job gains last month including manufacturing, financial and health care sectors. But unexpected job losses among retailers kept the overall employment gain to 138,000. Unemployment held steady at 4.7%.

Contrary to the job growth figures, April wages offered no hint of a slowdown. Workers’ hourly earnings rose to $16.61, up 9 cents over March, which had a 5-cent gain over February, which was up 7 cents over January. For the year, average hourly earnings are up 3.8%, a five-year high.

The April figures send conflicting signals to the Federal Reserve, which meets Wednesday to consider another possible interest rate hike. Page C1

The monthly employment report prompts the stock market to expect a pause in the Fed’s regular interest rate increases. Stocks Friday move sharply higher, pushing the Dow Jones industrial average to within 150 points of its all-time high. Page C4

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CIA chief Goss gives up the fight

Providing a little clandestine drama of its own, the CIA’s embattled director Porter J. Goss resigns under pressure after only 19 months in the post.

As director, Goss focused on expanding and driving the CIA’s clandestine services to take more risks.

But he was faulted for lax management, alienating veteran CIA officers and a reluctance to give up resources in the nation’s newly reorganized intelligence structure.

The former Florida congressman was said to be pushed out by Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte.

The change -- a successor may be named as early as next week -- is also a measure of the high pressures in the post-9/11 world of the once low-profile position as the nation’s spy chief. Page A1

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Blair reshuffles British Cabinet

Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair responds to his Labor Party’s poor showing in local elections by firing several senior Cabinet ministers and reshuffling other portfolios to insert Blair loyalists.

Included in the changes was a demotion of Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to leader of the House of Commons.

Opposition leader David Cameron of the Conservative Party, which has enjoyed success this year, retorts: “It will take more than a reshuffle. What we need in this country is a replacement.” Page A17

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Proposed Voting Rights Act change

As Congress prepares to reauthorize the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a group of House Republicans is lobbying colleagues to let the act’s language assistance provisions expire.

They say language assistance for voters, available throughout much of California, undermines national unity, encourages election fraud and contradicts the American melting pot ideal.

The amendment effort appears unlikely to succeed. But analysts see the bid as a reflection of continuing deep divides within the GOP over the controversial issue of immigration reform. Page A9

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Mexican town calm

For years, city officials in San Salvador Atenco did little for town life. Then, the rebels came and promised change. Wednesday the church bell tolled, federal police arrived and a riot broke out, killing a 14-year-old boy, Javier Cortes Santiago. He was buried Friday. The church bell tolled again. Rebel leaders were arrested. Page A17

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CALENDAR

Haute dog

Chihuahuas and Yorkies are so last year. Pugs are the new canines of choice among the fashion elite. The pudgy little droolers might not score high for beauty, but they’re off the charts for friendliness. Besides, in their company, homo sapiens look pretty good by comparison. Page E1

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A musical mission

Baroque musicians from around the world gather in Bolivia to celebrate the legacy of a merry 18th century missionary who used music to stir the souls of the indigenous people.

Father Martin Schmid, a Swiss Jesuit, inspired local Indians to play and even write music for the churches he built. At a festival, the modern players perform the mostly anonymous works, still a source of pride and inspiration to impoverished locals. Page E1

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T time again

During the recent immigrant rights demonstrations in L.A., the T-shirt -- in this case, the white T-shirt -- was reconfirmed as the garment of choice for making a point (whiteness stood for peace).

The versatile T isn’t just the premier vestment of message politics, though. For example, the $2,950 black T-shirt featured in Balenciaga’s spring runway collection is no social statement ... or is it? Page E1

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Dramatic lessons

For students at a high school four blocks from the World Trade Center, 9/11 was a neighborhood catastrophe.

The compelling personal accounts of students at Stuyvesant High, which was converted into a rescue and triage center after the disaster, are arranged in 23 “poem-monologues” that constitute a hauntingly resonant stage work having its West Coast premiere. Page E6

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BUSINESS

Peril and potential

Investment prospects in the Mideast are as uncertain as the chances for political tranquillity, and a recent wave of selling has bled some of the region’s hottest stock markets.

Yet with governments privatizing industries and pouring money into improving transportation and communications facilities, foreign investment this year could total $24.5 billion, six times that in 2000.

Despite violence in Iraq, Islamic fundamentalism in Egypt and concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, a local seminar on investing in the Mideast drew large audiences. Page C1

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Donalds’ dickering

Donald Trump and partners are bidding against an Irvine firm for 2.25 acres near Beverly Hills that could fetch one of the highest prices ever paid for Los Angeles-area dirt.

The bidding, informed sources say, already has passed $100 million. The winner likely will propose a luxury high-rise condominium project for the site at 10000 Santa Monica Blvd.

The Malibu developer who says he owns the parcel, meanwhile, says it’s not for sale. He’s involved in a lawsuit over terms of the ownership with Donald T. Sterling, owner of the ascendant Clippers. Page C1

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TIM RUTTEN: ‘As hanging famously concentrates the mind, so an impending midterm electoral disaster engenders hysteria among certain of the faithful.... It’s worth noting that nearly all of those calling for the prosecution of reporters also are partisan Republican commentators.’ Regarding Media. Calendar, E1

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SPORTS

And really, really good for local fans

A Clippers-Lakers second-round NBA playoff series, the good and the bad:

Good for L.A. bars.

Bad for L.A. hotels (no out-of-town fans).

Good for local souvenir hawkers.

Bad for network TV (no instant audience in another city).

Good for historians (first playoff series in one building).

Bad for the Phoenix Suns (they’d have to lose to the Lakers in tonight’s deciding first-round playoff game). Page D1

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ON LATIMES.COM

Fans react to ‘Lost’ events

How are the big events on the ABC hit “Lost” going down with the fan community? We talk to some hard-core “Lost” followers to find out how they are taking Ana Lucia’s death and whether they are still standing by their show.

latimes.com/entertainmentPlayoff wrap-up: Get behind-the-scenes commentary and analysis on the Lakers playoff performance and thoughts about the season from bloggers Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky.

latimes.com/lakersblog