The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

Friday, December 23, 2011  Congress passes payroll tax cut, extends jobless benefits, amid House Republicans retreat

Wednesday, April 06, 2011  State senators who've been blocking a vote on a bill to extend jobless benefits in Missouri said they will stand down if Governor Jay Nixon cuts hundreds of millions of federal stimulus dollars elsewhere in the budget.

Friday, December 17, 2010  A massive bipartisan tax package preventing a big New Year's Day tax hike for millions of Americans is on its way to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Wednesday, December 08, 2010  President Barack Obama on Wednesday rejected claims that he betrayed Democrats by cutting a deal with Republicans on Bush-era tax cuts and implored his party to back the compromise, arguing it could jump-start the economy.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010  Democrats press for changes in Obama-Republican tax deal with tempers rising on Capitol Hill.

Thursday, August 26, 2010  New requests for unemployment benefits fell sharply last week, the first decline in a month and a hopeful sign after a raft of negative economic reports.

Thursday, August 19, 2010  Employers appear to be laying off workers again as applications for unemployment insurance reached the half-million mark last week for the first time since November.

Friday, July 23, 2010  President Barack Obama has signed an extension of unemployment benefits for millions of long-term unemployed people, capping a hard-fought political fight with Republicans.

Thursday, July 22, 2010  A House vote today is expected to send President Barack Obama a long-sought measure to resume unemployment payments to millions of people whose benefits have lapsed.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010  UPDATED 8:25 a.m. CDT. With a GOP filibuster safely broken, the Senate is poised to pass legislation restoring jobless benefits for millions of people unable to find work in the frail economic recovery.

Friday, November 06, 2009  Obama signs bill extending jobless benefits, homebuyer tax credit

Thursday, October 08, 2009  The number of newly laid-off workers filing first-time claims for jobless benefits fell to the lowest level since early January, as layoffs ease a bit amid a fledgling economic recovery.

Thursday, November 20, 2008  The government says new claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to a 16-year high, providing more evidence of a rapidly weakening labor market.