Jobless benefits will be extended for about two and a half million unemployed Americans who lost their checks in a funding face-off between Republicans and Democrats in Congress. The continued payments for the chronic jobless are all that’s left of a move to extend last year’s economic stimulus package. Efforts failed to send more aid to state governments and to provide funds to avoid teacher layoffs. Source Link
Once again, rough weather is interfering with cleanup efforts at the site of that oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A storm that’s racing across the Gulf is forcing crews out of the spill area and stopping work on a relief tunnel that will be used to permanently plug the leaking well. It could be nearly a week before skimmer boats can return to the Gulf waters to continue the oil cleanup. Source Link
Your annual vaccination may become a one-shot deal if a new flu vaccine passes the test. The two-step flu vaccine would eliminate the need to create new versions every year to combat the latest strain of flu. Researchers say in animal tests, the vaccine protects against over 70 years of flu strains. Human testing has begun, but widespread trials could be three to five years away. Source Link
