FTC warns of ‘large scale’ unemployment fraud scam amid coronavirus pandemic

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning of a “large-scale scam erupting in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic” involving impostors who are filing claims for unemployment benefits using the personal information of people who have not filed any claims. 

1.9 million seek jobless aid even as reopenings slow layoffs

Nearly 1.9 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many employers are still cutting jobs even as the gradual reopening of businesses has slowed the pace of layoffs.

41 million have lost jobs since virus hit, but layoffs slow

About 41 million people have now applied for aid since the virus outbreak intensified in March, though not all of them are still unemployed.

US economy shrank at 5% annual rate in Q1

It was the biggest quarterly decline in more than a decade, since an 8.4% fall in 2008 during the depths of the financial crisis.

LA County joins lawsuits to support refugees, immigrant students

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to support lawsuits against the Trump administration's moves to make it harder for refugees to resettle in the U.S. and to deny COVID-19 relief funds to students living in the country illegally.

Counties can begin reopening in-store retail shopping

The California Department of Public Health announced on Monday the statewide reopening of in-store retail shopping, a major step in California's emergence from shutdown orders issued in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

Nearly 39 million have sought US jobless aid since virus hit

Roughly 38.6 million people have now filed for jobless aid since the coronavirus forced millions of businesses to close their doors and shrink their workforces, the Labor Department said Thursday.

California approves Ventura County for accelerated reopening

Ventura County on Wednesday became the first Southern California county to receive approval from the California Department of Public Health to move forward on an accelerated path to reopening.

Los Angeles looks to cap fees on restaurant delivery service apps

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would limit delivery service apps from charging restaurants more than 15% of a total order.

Office Depot closing stores, laying off 13,000 workers

Office Depot announced a restructuring plan that includes closing stores and laying off about 13,100 employees by 2023.

JCPenney files for bankruptcy as coronavirus pushes retailer over edge

Retailer JCPenney filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after the coronavirus pandemic forced stores to shut, the company announced Friday evening, joining J. Crew and Neiman Marcus.