Employment

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but remained at historically low levels.

When outgoing Iowa Cubs chairman and owner Michael Gartner gathered the team’s 23 full-time employees last week in Principal Park’s Betfred Sports Lounge, he told them he was handing out new business cards. What he handed out instead were bonus checks to the tune of $600,000.

The state has awarded $14.8 million to 4,608 residential projects and more than $26.7 million to 2,666 business installations. The average residential credit has grown from $1,850 in 2012 to $3,215 in 2021. The average business credits have increased from $7,997 to $9,990.

Schools in Davenport surprised parents Monday with an announcement that classes had been canceled because there weren’t enough drivers to run school bus routes.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose this past week despite signs that the U.S. labor market is rebounding from the coronavirus recession.

Changes to Iowa’s unemployment process --- including a doubling of the number of work searches a person must make in order to qualify for benefits --- will go into effect Jan. 9, the state announced Monday.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits plunged last week to the lowest level in 52 years — more evidence the U.S. job market is recovering from last year's coronavirus recession.

Applications for U.S. state unemployment benefits rose by less than forecast last week after a plunge tied to seasonal adjustments in the previous period.