Unemployment claims in the United States have reached a new low in the COVID-19 era, the Labor Department showed in its weekly report Thursday. The report said 547,000 U.S. workers filed new jobless claims last week — the lowest figure since March 14, 2020, and a weekly decline of almost …

The US Department of Agriculture has announced that it is extending Universal Free Lunch through the 2021-2022 school year. “This is an effort to help more than 12 million school students who are going through food insecurity. States and districts wanted waivers extended to plan for safe reopening in the fall. …

A judge in Colorado’s largest judicial district will resign after using a racial slur, employing derogatory language to speak about another judge, espousing opinions about racial justice from the bench and directing court employees to work on her personal business. The Colorado Supreme Court on Friday censured 18th Judicial District …

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. Bystander video viewed around the world, and multiple police body cameras, captured Chauvin kneeling on Floyd for nine minutes and 29 seconds in the street outside a …

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed an “anti-riot” bill into law, increasing penalties for people who participate in unruly protests. The measure, which goes into effect immediately, increases the charge for protesters who destroy historical structures such as flags and memorials, raises the charge for battery on a police …

Texas Republicans have approved a bill that will allow a person to carry a gun without a permit or license. House Republicans in Texas have approved a “constitutional carry” bill, called House Bill 1927, allowing Texans to carry a handgun without a license. The current law in the state requires gun …

Florida’s House voted to advance an anti-trans bill on Wednesday that would ban trans girls from competing on women’s sports teams and could allow schools to require proof of a student’s biological sex. The legislation advanced as dozens of other anti-trans bills are being proposed across the U.S. Florida’s GOP-controlled …

Just a little over a year after the coronavirus was first identified, the world has recorded more than 3 million deaths Saturday from the disease. More than 140 million people around the world have contracted COVID-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The United States has the most COVID-19 …

On Wednesday, a House panel approved legislation to create a commission to study the issue of paying reparations to the descendants of slaves. According to CBS News, this will be the first time the House Judiciary Committee has acted on the legislation. However, the decision to make the commission was …

Hundreds of companies and CEOs have added their signatures to a letter published opposing “any discriminatory legislation or measures that restrict or prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot.” The statement, published in a two-page ad in The New York Times and Washington …

Former Georgia state representative Vernon Jones announced Friday that he would challenge Gov. Brian Kemp for the state’s top job. “For those who feel the incumbent governor didn’t fight for you, a new day has dawned,” Jones said during his announcement. The former State House Representative and DeKalb County CEO …

Today, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D- CO.) and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) unveiled their proposal to overhaul the nation’s unemployment insurance (UI) system. “The COVID-19 pandemic has made it overwhelmingly clear that our nation’s unemployment insurance system is inadequate and unreliable for workers when they lose a job,” said …

Rep. Kevin Brady (TX-R) announced Wednesday that he plans to retire at the end of his current term. In a statement, Brady said that he will retire after 13 terms representing Texas’ 8th District, which included a role as the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee “I …

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley says that she will support former President Trump if he chooses to mount a White House bid in 2024. Haley, who has previously served as governor of South Carolina, indicated that she will not run for president in 2024 if Trump tosses his hat into …

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday invited President Joe Biden to attend a joint session of Congress later this month. The address is not an official State of the Union because a president’s first speech before Congress is not considered a State of the Union. In a letter to Biden, Pelosi …