Jobless claims jump to 965,000 as COVID-19 pandemic takes toll

The number of people seeking unemployment aid soared last week to 965,000, the most since late August and evidence that the resurgent virus has caused a spike in layoffs.

$2,000 checks: Biden to release stimulus package plan

On Monday, Biden maintained that getting money into the hands of Americans is a top priority when he takes office.

$900,000-plus Mega Millions lottery ticket sold at Burbank liquor store

A ticket with five numbers, but missing the Mega number, in Tuesday's drawing of the multi-state Mega Millions lottery was sold at a liquor store in Burbank.

Schumer pledges quick delivery of $2,000 stimulus checks: 'We will get that done'

Senate Democrats plan to make another coronavirus relief package — including sending an additional stimulus payment to many Americans — one of their top priorities for the year once they assume control of the chamber.

Powerball, Mega Millions combined jackpots rise to more than $1 billion

After a long stretch of relatively paltry prizes, U.S. lottery players now have a choice of games that offer combined jackpots of more than $1 billion.

Unemployment continues to hurt low-income workers amid pandemic

Ten months into America’s viral outbreak, low-income workers are still bearing the brunt of job losses — an unusual and harsh feature of the pandemic recession that flattened the economy last spring.

Biden plans to extend student loan payment pause ‘on day one,’ supports forgiving $10K in debt

President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team said he plans to extend a suspension of student loan payments due to financial hardships posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on “day one,” and he also favors forgiving $10,000 in student loan debt.

US lost 140,000 jobs in December; first monthly loss since spring

U.S. employers shed jobs last month for the first time since April, cutting 140,000 positions, clear evidence that the economy is faltering as the viral pandemic tightens its grip on consumers and businesses.

Jobless claims slip to still-high 787,000 in the US

The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell slightly to 787,000, evidence of a job market stumbling in the face of the viral pandemic and the damage it has inflicted on the economy for nearly 10 months.

California suspends 1.4 million virus unemployment claims

The state Employment Development Department on Wednesday said it had examined existing claims from people who said they lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic and found about 3.5 million claims were “potentially fraudulent.”

Powerball $470M jackpot goes unclaimed as Mega Millions surges to $490M

Mega Millions Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET in Atlanta. Identically, Powerball drawings take place in Atlanta at 11 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday.

California may have paid out-of-state inmates job benefits

More than $40 million in California funding intended to help people left jobless by the coronavirus pandemic probably went to inmates in out-of-state jails and prisons, officials said.

Parents could get up to $1,100 in stimulus money per child born in 2020

Parents who had one or more children born in 2020 could receive up to $1,100 in extra stimulus money per child, according to IRS guidelines.

Mega Millions, Powerball jackpots are above $400 million each

Both the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots have soared to more than $400 million each, with drawings to be held Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Unemployment benefit claims unexpectedly fall as coronavirus lockdowns widen

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits fell last week amid a rise in COVID-19 infections and new restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the disease.

Newsom appoints new director to Employment Development Department

The department also has been criticized for granting payouts on hundreds of thousands of fraudulent claims, including some in the name of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. The state has acknowledged that it has paid about $400 million in the names of prison inmates.

McConnell blocks immediate Democratic push for $2,000 stimulus checks

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked Democrats' push to immediately bring President Donald Trump's demand for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks up for a vote.