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By PAUL WISEMAN, AP Economics WriterWASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment checks dropped last week to the lowest level since March, suggesting that suggest most U.S. workers continue to enjoy unusually high job security.Jobless claims dropped by 9,000 to 211,000 last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week average of claims, which strips out week-to-week ups and downs, fell by 3,500 to 223,250.The overall numbers receiving unemployment benefits fell by 52,000 to 1.84 million, the lowest since September.Thomas Simons and Sam Saliba, economists at Jefferies, called the drops “encouraging” in a commentary but cautioned that seasonal…

By LISA MASCAROWASHINGTON  — Rep. Barbara Lee has always stood apart, a matter-of-fact renegade with a long list of firsts.In high school, she was the first Black student to integrate her Southern California cheerleading squad.During the Democrat’s more than two decades in Congress, she has been the only Black woman elected to the House from California’s regions north of Los Angeles.FILE—Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Ca., waves on stage during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix Awards, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) FILE—Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, left, a freshman Democrat representing New York’s 14th Congressional District, takes a selfie with…

President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t want social media platform TikTok banned — yet. Congress passed H.R. 7521 and outgoing President Joe Biden signed it on April 24. The ban, under the Orwellian name Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, goes into effect on Jan. 19, a day before the new president takes office. TikTok has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.In a Dec. 27 brief, D. John Sauer, the incoming solicitor general, asked the court to stay the ban’s implementation “while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump’s incoming Administration the opportunity to pursue a…

DETROIT (AP) — Tesla’s global annual sales fell for the first time in at least 9 years, with a 2.3% increase in the final quarter not enough to overcome a sluggish start to 2024 despite offers of 0% financing, free charging and low-priced leases.The Austin, Texas, company delivered 495,570 vehicles from October through December, boosting deliveries to 1.79 million for the full year. But that was 1.1% below 2023 sales of 1.81 million as overall demand for electric vehicles in the U.S. and elsewhere slowed.The fourth-quarter boost came with a cost. Analysts polled by FactSet expected Tesla’s average sales price to…

By FARNOUSH AMIRI, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Johnson is fighting for his political life, again.The Louisiana Republican’s hold on the House speaker’s gavel and his position as second in line to the presidency will be tested Friday when a new Congress convenes and House Republicans weigh whether to reelect him to the post.The challenge, as always, is that Johnson will need almost every Republican vote to win.Johnson has a singular asset in his favor: President-elect Donald Trump endorsed him for speaker in a social media post at the start of the week. But it’s uncertain whether Trump’s blessing will…

Jimmy Carter’s economic legacy is cloudy, at best.The former president’s death on Dec. 29 put the performance of the business climate during his White House days between 1977 and 1980 under the microscope again.I’ll let others debate his economic policies, such as a losing battle with inflation and energy shortages. Let’s focus on home prices, a financial benchmark many Californians think about.Recently, I looked back at housing statistics for the 12 four-year presidential terms dating to Carter, pondering how White House changes may alter real estate’s fate.One pattern stood: Property owners should have few quibbles with Carter. House hunters could disagree.During…

A proposed charter school named for a local education icon could serve up to 350 San Bernardino students between sixth and 12th grade.The school would be named after Margaret Hill, who started her career in the San Bernardino City  Unified School District. If approved by the San Bernardino school board, the Dr. Margaret Hill Academy would open in August for the 2025-26 school year.The board is scheduled to vote on the charter petition Tuesday, Jan. 14.The school would serve about 100 students between sixth and seventh grade in its first year and would eventually serve up to 500 students in the…

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts as he is given the Leishman Trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks 41-21 to win the 111th Rose Bowl and CFP quarterfinal game in Pasadena on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG) Roses are doused on the head of Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes after defeating the Oregon Ducks 41-21 to win the 111th Rose Bowl and CFP quarterfinal game in Pasadena on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG) Head coach Ryan Day of…

PASADENA – I get it. You hate almost everything about modern college football.All the jarring conference realignment. The constant churn of the transfer portal. The wild, wild west that is this NIL landscape. You think it all stinks.But the College Football Playoff? This fully formed postseason tournament? The new 12-team bracket that lets the players — and not voters nor pollsters nor pundits — sort out for themselves where they stand at season’s end?What a genius invention! A tournament to decide a winner? Who would’ve thought such madness could succeed?Because coming into Wednesday’s 111th Rose Bowl – which was also…

LOS ANGELES — Ohio State quarterback Will Howard tossed long-stemmed roses to the crowd from the stage where Ohio State had just received its Rose Bowl trophy.Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly wasn’t on that stage after the 41-21 rout of Oregon, but he was among the crowd in the background and taking in the success — exactly where he likes to be.Kelly doled out a piece of advice to Howard that led to Howard’s 319 passing yards and no turnovers in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game on Wednesday evening, which was just short of his career-best 326…