WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced a $4 million competition to fund at least 12 Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program grants designed to assist eligible veterans who are currently incarcerated and/or transitioning out of the justice system who are at risk of homelessness. VETS is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to better assist our nation's incarcerated veterans and help prevent their recidivism.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,635,901 grant to assist about 613 workers affected by layoffs at Northwest Airlines in Eagan, Minn.

"Workers deserve an opportunity to pursue training and employment services after losing a job through no fault of their own," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will help Minnesotans impacted by airline industry layoffs to find good jobs in emerging industries, and it will bolster both the state and national economy."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold two meetings to gather information from stakeholders to help modify its current injury and illness recordkeeping regulation and develop a modernized recordkeeping system.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the Human Rights Watch report "Fields of Peril: Child Labor in U.S. Agriculture" on child labor in agriculture:

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis chaired the first meeting in 10 years of the President's Committee on the International Labor Organization, which is responsible for formulating and coordinating United States policy toward the ILO, on May 4. This meeting is the committee's first since May 2000.

Anchorage, Alaska – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will sponsor “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities,” a free compliance assistance seminar in Anchorage on May 19 at the Hilton Anchorage, 500 W. 3rd Avenue.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced the release of an updated version of the Advanced Manufacturing Competency Model.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $7.4 million in additional funding to nine high schools that have been deemed persistently dangerous by state educational agencies.

"Every good job begins with a good education, and all students deserve to pursue that education in a safe environment," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These grants will promote the type of learning environment that will help get students on the track to personal and professional success.

WASHINGTON – Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, today issued the following statement announcing the opening of an OSHA office in Las Vegas, Nev.:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will use comments from a series of stakeholder meetings to help develop a proposed rule for Injury and Illness Prevention Programs.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the formation of a supplemental investigation group to augment the efforts of the agency's accident investigation team to determine the cause of the explosion that occurred April 5 at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today unveiled a new tool to help America's employers ensure their employment policies and practices do not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities.

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels is in Louisiana today with a team of experienced hazardous materials professionals leading an effort to ensure that oil spill cleanup workers receive necessary protections from the hazards of this work.

Washington — Phyllis C. Borzi, Assistant Secretary of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, will address the Washington Legislative Update of the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plan on Tuesday, May 4 at the Capital Hilton, 1001-16th St., NW, Washington, D.C. Borzi will discuss a variety of agency initiatives and current issues such as pension funding, 401(k) fee disclosure, investment advice, and health care reform for American workers and their families.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding two miners who lost their lives at the Dotiki Mine in Hopkins County, Ky.:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,234,762 grant to assist about 200 workers affected by layoffs at ATK Launch Systems in Corinne, Utah.

The planned retirement of the space shuttle is already having negative impacts on workers around the country, including these individuals in Utah, said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. This grant will ensure that that these aerospace workers will receive the training and services needed to keep them at the forefront of emerging industries.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 448,000, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 459,000. The 4-week moving average was 462,500, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average of 461,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the week ending April 17, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1.3 million National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue clean-up and recovery efforts from storms that occurred in Indiana in 2008.

"Indiana is still in the midst of recovering from the terrible storms that struck the state in the summer of 2008," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Additional funding announced today will help support temporary jobs for Hoosiers impacted by these storms."

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement in support of the Protecting America's Workers Act:

"It has been 40 years since the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed, but every day 14 workers are killed on the job. Tens of thousands more die from work-related disease every year, and 4.6 million are seriously injured.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,700 workers from companies in 12 states – Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.