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New unemployment filings in DC, Maryland, Virginia fall sharply

By Jeff Clabaugh
Unemployment numbers are reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/designer491)

First-time filings for unemployment benefits last week fell in the District, Maryland and Virginia. The largest drop came in Virginia, following the national trend of lower initial claims filed last week.

Nationwide, the Department of Labor reports 498,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits for the first time during the week ending May 1, the lowest number of weekly initial claims since the pandemic began more than a year ago.

Unadjusted, or not factoring in seasonal influences, initial claims totaled 504,670.

Continuing claims, or the total number of Americans receiving standard unemployment benefits, rose just slightly from the previous week to 3.69 million.

Initial jobless claims, not seasonally adjusted, in D.C., Maryland and Virginia during the week ending May 1:

DC

  • Week ending May 1: 1,538
  • Week ending April 24: 2,788

Maryland

  • Week ending May 1: 6,907
  • Week ending April 24: 8,560

Virginia

  • Week ending May 1: 13,447
  • Week ending April 24: 37,356

The Department of Labor posts weekly new unemployment filings by state online.

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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