In his stocking feet Saturday, Congressional hopeful Jim Himes, 41, stood behind his empty size 12-W brown oxfords at 3:30 p.m. in a parking lot and mopped his brow.

The U.S. Labor Department said Thursday 62,000 jobs evaporated in June, leaving local economists to ponder whether Connecticut can continue to add jobs in a national economic meltdown.

NORWALKBY CHRIS BOSAKHour Staff WriterIt had already started, but Gov. M. Jodi Rell made it official on Thursday.