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Weekly jobless claims numbers are moving in the right direction after a decline in initial unemployment benefits applications last week. Does this foreshadow more hiring in the weeks and months to come? Plus, what's in the COVID relief package schools. Also, inequities in Black representation in film and TV. And, high school basketball through the frame of wealth and poverty. We revisit the 1994 documentary "Hoop Dreams."
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Segments From this episode
Weekly jobless claims are still above the worst point during the Great Recession. But at least they're not getting worse.
At least, looking at last week’s claims for state unemployment benefits, that is. Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton, said “there is some good news out there,” as first-time claims dropped to 712,000. The improvements came in states like Texas, Minnesota and New York. “I think we’re going to see a spurt in hiring this spring,” Swonk said. She warned, however, that we’re a long way from recouping the jobs we’ve lost to COVID, given the slow pace of employment gains we saw in February. “And so, that’s why it’s so important that we have stimulus to sustain, and also provide a cushion, even if we lose momentum with the variance in the virus that we’re already seeing out there.”
COVID relief package would provide $126 billion for K-12 schools
Marketplace’s Marielle Segarra reports.
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Music from the episode
Bright Moments Flamingosis, The Kount
The team
David Brancaccio
Host
Victoria Craig
Host, BBC
Stephen Ryan
Senior Producer, BBC
Jonathan Frewin
Producer, BBC
Daniel Shin
Producer
Jay Siebold
Technical Director
Meredith Garretson Morbey
Senior Producer
Alex Schroeder
Producer
Erika Soderstrom
Producer
Rose Conlon
Producer
Brian Allison
Technical Director
