WASHINGTON (AP) ? The number of people continuing to seek unemployment benefits has risen sharply, according to government data released Thursday, indicating that laid-off workers are having a harder time finding new jobs as the recession enters its second year.

The Labor Department also reported that initial applications for unemployment insurance dropped by 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 467,000 for the week ending Jan. 3. Wall Street economists expected initial claims to increase, but the new figure partly reflects the shortened New Year's holiday week.

The four-week average of initial claims, which smooths out fluctuations but also includes the shortened holiday weeks, fell by 27,000 to 525,750.
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LOS ANGELES — Carrie Underwood of Checotah and Rascal Flatts, featuring guitarist Joe Don Rooney of Picher, were among the winners Wednesday night at the 35th annual People’s Choice Awards.

Underwood was selected by Internet voters as favorite female singer, star under 35 and country song for "Last Name.” Rascal Flatts won the favorite group award.

Brad Pitt, who was born in Shawnee, won favorite leading man.

Ellen DeGeneres and "Dancing with the Stars” also were early winners at the People’s Choice Awards.

"I wish I could share this with you,” DeGeneres told the audience while clutching her trophy for favorite talk show host.
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WASHINGTON (AP) ? New claims for unemployment benefits dropped unexpectedly last week while the number of people continuing to seek aid rose sharply, the government said Thursday.

The Labor Department reported that initial applications for unemployment insurance dropped by 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 467,000 for the week ending Jan. 3. Wall Street economists expected initial claims to increase to 540,000. The figure partly reflects seasonal volatility that occurs around the New Year's holiday.

The four-week average of initial claims, which smooths out fluctuations, fell by 27,000 to 525,750.

But the number of people continuing to claim jobless benefits jumped unexpectedly by 101,000 to 4.61 million. That was above
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A wheelchair-bound man was killed during a drive-by shooting in north Tulsa on Wednesday afternoon. 

Fire officials are trying to determine how an early morning Tulsa house fire started, but they do know the fire started in the bedroom of the home.

A multi-million dollar battle is brewing over the future of Tulsa's SemGroup. 

Tulsa Police are looking for a man who may have robbed two businesses overnight.

Tulsa Police say the security guard was not hurt and went to a nearby convenience store to call for help.