WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $4,847,959 grant to provide an estimated 1,500 jobless workers in Washington state with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage.

"Today's grant will help Washington state residents pay for health insurance while they seek new employment. That makes good sense. After all, losing your job is bad enough, but the impact is gravely compounded if it also means the loss of health benefits," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $8,197,664 Regional Economic Impact National Emergency Grant to assist dislocated workers in California's San Joaquin Valley. This region is comprised of Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne counties.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Labor today released updated model notice packages to enable group health plans and employers to provide notice on the availability of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act continuation coverage premium reductions under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through March 31.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered Tennessee Commerce Bank in Nashville to reinstate a former corporate officer and pay more than $1 million in back wages, interest, attorney's fees, compensatory damages and other relief. The department found the bank had fired the individual in violation of the whistleblower protection provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Conference will take place in Houston on April 14 and 15

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis will convene a National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety on April 14 and 15 in Houston, Texas.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has appointed Edna Primrose, workforce investment veteran and former director of the Job Corps center in Woodland, Md., as the new national director of Job Corps.

"Edna Primrose will bring to this position not only a wealth of knowledge about the history of the Job Corps program and how it works, but hands-on experience with students whose lives have been enriched by Job Corps," Secretary Solis said.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 457,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 462,000. The 4-week moving average was 471,250, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 475,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending March 6, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct Project Solutions Inc. of Rochester, New York.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced more than $34 million in grant funding to six high schools that have been deemed persistently dangerous by state educational agencies. Funds will support programs that reduce violence and improve educational outcomes through mentoring, alternative learning strategies, employment and case management.

WASHINGTON – A report released today by the U.S. Department of Labor found that the 2009 Recovery Act Summer Youth Employment Initiative was largely successful in connecting young workers with employment experiences. Overall, 317,000 young people took part in the initiative.

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Dr. David Michaels today testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee's Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Michaels shared the U.S. Department of Labor's views on the Protecting America's Workers Act, particularly the issue of enhanced penalties.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor will begin exercising its authority to certify applications for U Nonimmigrant Status Visas. U visas – as they are known – are designed to help victims of qualifying criminal activities who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and are willing to assist law enforcement or other government officials in the investigation or prosecution of those crimes.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced the availability of approximately $125 million in funds for Community-Based Job Training Grants.

Grants will fund outreach and technical assistance to workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced approximately $1.2 million in grant funds authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 from the dislocated workers assistance national reserve. A solicitation for grants announcement appears in today's Federal Register. One to four projects will be funded to provide technical assistance and outreach to dislocated workers impacted by foreign trade.

Delaware, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Carl Stover and Stover Industries Inc. in Delaware, for allegedly using employee contributions owed to the company’s 401(k) plan to pay the operating expenses of the company, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced approximately $67 million in grant funds for the Workforce Investment Act Indian and Native American Program.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 462,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 468,000. The 4-week moving average was 475,500, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week's revised average of 470,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Feb. 27, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

San Francisco – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained consent judgments providing for restitution of more than $12 million from Clair R. Couturier Jr., David R. Johanson and Robert E. Eddy, plan officials and service providers involved with the employee stock ownership plan sponsored by The Employee Ownership Holding Co. of Stockton, California, and Fife, Washington.

Denver – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Denver against the former president and owner of IXP Inc., Fruita, Colo., for abandoning the company's 401(k) plan as its trustee after the company ceased operations in January 2009. IXP Inc. installed gasoline distribution pipelines.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. Secretary Solis presented the department's fiscal year 2011 budget request and highlighted why the funding is vital to the nation's ongoing economic recovery.