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Va., Md. unemployment rates unchanged; DC falls, while Alaska the highest

By Jeff Clabaugh

WASHINGTON — Unemployment rates in six states and the District of Columbia fell in January, with jobless rates stable in 44 states.

The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said Virginia’s seasonally adjusted January unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, matching December’s unemployment rate but lower than Virginia’s 4.0 percent unemployment rate in January 2017.

Maryland’s January unemployment rate was 4.1 percent, also unchanged from December, but down from 4.3 percent a year earlier.

The District’s rate in January was 5.8 percent, down from 5.9 percent in December, and down from 6.0 percent in January 2017.

Hawaii had the lowest state unemployment rate in the nation in January, at just 2.1 percent. Alaska had the highest, at 7.3 percent.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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