Coin shortage prompts bank to pay you for spare change: 'It has never happened before'

Do you have a jar of coins in your house? Maybe you have been saving for a special occasion? Well, a local bank says they will pay you for what's inside that jar -- plus interest!

Wisconsin's unemployment rate falls, still thousands wait for 1st checks to arrive

Wisconsin's unemployment rate dropped nearly three percent from last month. But while people are getting back to work, 140,000 Wisconsinites are still waiting on unemployment checks.

Agency: Wisconsin unemployment rate fell to 12% in May

MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development reports that the state's unemployment rate dropped to 12% in May.The state's “safer at home” order closing most nonessential businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic was in effect for two weeks that month before being struck down.The 12% unemployment rate was down from the revised 13.6% rate in April.The national unemployment rate for May was 13.3%.Wisconsin added 72,100 private-sector jobs in May.

Recession hit US in February, ending record-long expansion

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy entered a recession in February, a group of economists declared Monday, ending the longest expansion on record.The economists said employment peaked in February and fell sharply afterward, marking the beginning of the downturn.The economists make up a committee within the National Bureau of Economic Research, a trade group that determines when recessions begin and end.

Unemployment rate falls to 13.3%, US adds 2.5 million jobs

WASHINGTON — The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 13.3% in May from 14.7%, and 2.5 million jobs were added — a surprisingly positive reading in the midst of a recession that has paralyzed the economy in the wake of the viral pandemic.The May job gain suggests that businesses have quickly been recalling workers as states have reopened their economies.Other evidence has also shown that the job market meltdown triggered by the coronavirus has bottomed out.

Wisconsin DWD: Additional unemployment benefits available under Extended Benefit program

MADISON -- Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Caleb Frostman announced on Friday, May 29 that, due to an increase in the state's unemployment rate, Wisconsin triggered into the Extended Benefit program.The Extended Benefit program provides additional unemployment benefits to those who exhaust previous benefits, effective May 17, 2020.

Want your extra $600? Wisconsin announces date for expanded unemployment benefits

MADISON -- Starting next week, people in Wisconsin can file for the expanded unemployment benefits promised under the CARES Act.On its website, Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development says people who newly qualify for unemployment benefits under the law, such as independent contractors and the self-employed, can begin to file applications the week of April 21.The state will start making payments of an additional $600 per week starting the week of April 26; most people qualify for the additional payments.The CARES Act also expands unemployment benefits by an additional 13 weeks.

US sheds most jobs in a decade, ending record hiring streak

WASHINGTON — A record-long streak of U.S. job growth ended suddenly in March after nearly a decade, as employers slashed hundreds of thousands of jobs because of the viral outbreak that has all but shut down the U.S. economy.

US sheds 701,000 jobs, ending a record-long hiring streak

WASHINGTON  — A record-long streak of U.S. job growth ended suddenly in March after nearly a decade as employers cut 701,000 jobs because of the viral outbreak that's all but shut down the U.S. economy.

Wisconsin Republicans support waiving unemployment waiting period

MADISON — Wisconsin Republican legislative leaders said for the first time Wednesday that they support temporarily waiving a one-week waiting period for people to receive unemployment benefits as part of a state aid package in response to the coronavirus pandemic.In a joint news conference, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald criticized Democratic Gov.

1.5M+ calls for unemployment benefits in just a week in Wisconsin 'overloaded the system'

MADISON – More than 115,000 (115,679) new applications for unemployment were filed during the week of March 22 through march 28, officials with the Department of Workforce Development announced Monday, March 30, noting an "unprecedented number of calls (1.5 million-plus) overloaded the system."DWD officials encouraged people to file online HERE, noting that the online application process is faster and easier than applying over the phone.

Merry Clickmas: Black Friday online sales hit record $7.4B

NEW YORK — This year’s Black Friday was the biggest ever for online sales, as fewer people hit the stores and shoppers rang up $7.4 billion in transactions from their phones, computers and tablets.That’s just behind the $7.9 billion haul of last year’s Cyber Monday, which holds the one-day record for online sales, according to Adobe Analytics.

Black Friday frenzy goes global - and not everyone’s happy

PARIS — People don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in France, or Russia, or South Africa - but they do shop on Black Friday.The U.S. sales phenomenon has spread to retailers across the world in recent years with such force that it’s prompting a backlash from some activists, politicians and even consumers.Workers at Amazon in Germany went on strike for better pay on one of the busiest days of the year.

'Thankful to be here:' Deal hunters await Black Friday, pre-sales

WAUWATOSA -- Who needs Black Friday when you can burn off some Thanksgiving calories and the change in your pocket all at once.Shoppers like Nick Triantafelo arrived around 3:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving.

Brookfield Square closed for Thanksgiving, reopening on Black Friday

BROOKFIELD -- Brookfield Square Mall will continue its tradition of remaining closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28.