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.

Unemployment benefits to be delayed by Trump's late signing of COVID-19 relief bill

The $900 billion economic relief package that President Donald Trump signed over the weekend will deliver vital aid to millions of struggling households and businesses.

Las Vegas slots player wins $15.5M jackpot on Christmas Eve

The Suncoast Hotel and Casino reported a man named Kevin won nearly $15.5 million from one of its slot machines Thursday night.

'It does break my heart a little bit': A bleak Christmas for America's unemployed

Millions of Americans have been jobless since the viral pandemic ripped through the U.S. economy in March, triggering a deep recession and causing widespread unemployment.

House Dems will try to pass $2,000 stimulus checks this week after Trump signals support

House Democrats are planning to force a vote this week on increasing the size of the stimulus checks included in the $900 billion coronavirus relief package after President Trump demanded Congress raise the payments from $600 to $2,000 per adult.

Layoffs remain elevated as 803,000 seek unemployment aid

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell by 89,000 last week to a still-elevated 803,000, evidence that the job market remains under stress nine months after the coronavirus outbreak sent the U.S. economy into recession and caused millions of layoffs.