The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose for the first time in five weeks even though the economy and job market have been recovering briskly from the coronavirus pandemicBy PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics WriterAugust 26, 2021, 12:53 PM• 3 min readWASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose for the first time in five weeks even though the economy and job market have been recovering briskly from the coronavirus pandemic.Jobless claims edged up by 4,000 to 353,000 from 349,000 a week earlier, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week... Read More

South Korea has reported 2,155 new coronavirus cases, nearly matching a record daily increase set earlier this month amid an alarming spread of infectionsBy The Associated PressAugust 25, 2021, 3:10 AM• 11 min readSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 2,155 new coronavirus cases, nearly matching a record daily increase set earlier this month amid an alarming spread of infections.With Wednesday’s report, the country has tallied more than 1,000 new cases for 50 consecutive days, including a record 2,221 on Aug. 11.The virus has shown no signs of slowing despite officials enforcing... Read More

The Supreme Court is blocking part of New York’s moratorium on evictions, put into effect because of the coronavirus pandemic, less than a month before it is supposed to expire anywayByThe Associated PressAugust 13, 2021, 2:37 AM• 2 min readWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked part of New York’s moratorium on evictions, put into effect because of the coronavirus pandemic, less than a month before it was supposed to expire anyway.The legal issue is distinct from those surrounding a new moratorium that applies in most of the country that the Centers for Disease Control... Read More

Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday announced a statewide indoor mask requirement because of the spike in coronavirus hospitalizations and cases, warning that the state’s health care system could be overwhelmedBy SARA CLINE Associated Press/Report for AmericaAugust 11, 2021, 9:13 PM• 6 min readPORTLAND, Ore. — Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday announced a statewide indoor mask requirement in Oregon as coronavirus hospitalizations and cases reach record high numbers in the state and health care systems are overwhelmed.Beginning Friday, everyone who is 5 years or older in Oregon — regardless of vaccination... Read More

As he recovers from a breakthrough infection of the coronavirus, Sen. Lindsey Graham says he has urged former President Donald Trump to press his supporters to get the COVID-19 vaccineBy MEG KINNARD Associated PressAugust 5, 2021, 5:36 PM• 3 min readCOLUMBIA, S.C. — As he recovers from a breakthrough infection of the coronavirus, Sen. Lindsey Graham said Thursday that he has urged former President Donald Trump to press his supporters to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which the South Carolina Republican called “the antidote to the virus that’s wreaking havoc on our hospitals.”“I’ve... Read More

California spent nearly $200 million to set up, operate and staff alternate care sites that ultimately provided little help when the state’s worst coronavirus surge spiraled out of control last winterBy DON THOMPSON Associated PressJuly 31, 2021, 5:04 PM• 5 min readSACRAMENTO, Calif. — California spent nearly $200 million to set up, operate and staff alternate care sites that ultimately provided little help when the state’s worst coronavirus surge spiraled out of control last winter, forcing exhausted hospital workers to treat patients in tents and cafeterias.It was a costly... Read More

LIVE UPDATESJust 57.6% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated.Last Updated: July 29, 2021, 1:20 AM ETThe United States is facing a COVID-19 summer surge as the delta variant spreads.More than 611,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.Just 57.6% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, citing new science on the transmissibility of the delta... Read More

Elected officials in a Michigan county gave themselves bonuses with federal relief money related to the coronavirus pandemicByThe Associated PressJuly 22, 2021, 8:11 PM• 3 min readCORUNNA, Mich. — Elected officials in a Michigan county gave themselves $65,000 in bonuses with federal relief money related to the COVID-19 pandemic.The money, described as “hazard pay,” included $25,000 for Jeremy Root, chairman of the Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners.The mostly rural county, between Lansing and Flint, has a population of 68,000.Commissioners — all Republicans — last week voted... Read More

Three Republican governors opposed efforts this year to absolve businesses for violating public health orders during the coronavirus pandemicBy HOLLY RAMER Associated PressJuly 21, 2021, 1:11 PM• 5 min readCONCORD, N.H. — Three Republican governors opposed efforts this year to absolve businesses for violating public health orders during the coronavirus pandemic. But only in the “Live Free or Die” state have the scofflaws been set free of the fines.In March, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed legislation requiring the state to refund about $38,000 in fines imposed on businesses for... Read More

The Federal Reserve says its low interest rate policies are providing “powerful support” for the economy as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemicBy MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics WriterJuly 9, 2021, 4:27 PM• 3 min readWASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve says its low interest rate policies are providing “powerful support” for the economy as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.In its twice-a-year report to Congress on monetary policy released Friday, the Fed indicated that it planned to maintain that support until further progress is made in recovering from last year’s... Read More