House passes $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, Biden expected to sign on Friday

The House passed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, which includes $1,400 stimulus checks for many Americans. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law in his first major legislative win.

Failing to report wages to the Georgia Department of Labor is fraud

Georgians are returning to work. It’s been the trend, according to the Georgia Department of Labor, for about five months now. But officials are also seeing a trend that looks, on paper anyway, like fraud. 

Senate approves $1.9T COVID-19 relief bill after all-night session

Senators worked through the night on the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid bill and have approved the package with a 50-49 vote. The bill is on track to pass in the House next week.

COVID-19 relief bill: Democrats strike deal on jobless benefits after logjam

Senate leaders and moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin have struck a deal over emergency jobless benefits, breaking a nine-hour logjam that had stalled the party’s showpiece $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.

Unemployment fraud on the rise

According to federal investigators, there’s an epidemic of unemployment fraud.

In hopeful sign for economy, US adds 379,000 jobs in February

U.S. employers added a robust 379,000 jobs last month, the most since October and a sign that the economy is strengthening as confirmed viral cases drop, consumers spend more and states and cities ease business restrictions.

Lawmakers propose big raises for themselves, other officials

Georgia’s House speaker is backing a plan that would nearly double pay for lawmakers and also boost pay for all statewide officials except the governor.

Unemployment claims climb to 745,000; layoffs still high

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits edged higher last week to 745,000, a sign that many employers continue to cut jobs despite a drop in confirmed viral infections and evidence that the overall economy is improving.

Senate parliamentarian rules minimum wage hike must be dropped from COVID relief bill

The Senate parliamentarian has dealt a potentially lethal blow to Democrats' drive to hike the minimum wage, deciding that the cherished progressive goal must fall from a massive COVID-19 relief bill the party is trying to speed through Congress, Democratic Senate aides said Thursday. 

Unemployment claims drop to 730,000; pandemic keeps layoffs high

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply last week but remained high by historical standards.

Georgia lawmakers angry over unemployment benefits aim at labor head

Georgia lawmakers say the commissioner has done too little to address a backlog of unemployment claims while they continue to get so many calls.

Unemployment claims up nationwide but not in Georgia

While a rise in unemployment claims marks a four-week high nationwide, Georgia is seeing its number of claims drop.

US unemployment claims jump to 861,000 as layoffs stay high

The number of Americans applying for unemployment aid rose last week to 861,000, evidence that layoffs remain painfully high despite a steady drop in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

AOC pushes back after Biden dismisses progressives' plan to cancel $50,000 in student loan debt

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized President Biden after he shot down a proposal from progressive Democrats to eliminate $50,000 in student loan debt, saying the president's arguments against acting unilaterally on the matter "just don't hold water."