Economy

A new state-by-state analysis of the teen unemployment rate shows the youth jobless picture improving throughout our listening area. The figures look at the number of 16 to 19 year olds in each state who are actively seeking work.

The ten-county Caves, Lakes and Corvettes Region saw an increase of 3.7% in direct tourism expenditures in 2011 equaling nearly $340 million. The increase added an overall amount of nearly $534 million in total expenditures to the region's economy.

Thousands of Americans who have been receiving extended unemployment benefits will no longer receive that money, if they live in states that no longer qualify for the program. Under federal law, the rate of unemployment must be 10 percent higher than for the previous three years for extended benefits to remain in each state. States that no longer qualify, as of today, include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas.  Officials in California say that state alone will see more than 90, 000 people lose their extended unemployment benefits today.