Unemployment benefits extension no help for growing numbers of jobless

Late Thursday afternoon, President Obama signed into law a bill granting workers out of a job for more than 26 weeks additional unemployment insurance payments, paid for by the federal government. The benefits had been in place since November 2009, but had lapsed for seven weeks — an unprecedented hiatus, given the 9.5 percent unemployment rate. The bill, held up in the Senate by Republicans concerned about the deficit, makes benefits retroactive to June 2 and forward to Nov. 30. In states with higher than 8 percent unemployment, workers will continue to receive up to 99 weeks of benefits.

Crispin layoffs reflect growing Colorado economic crisis

Last week the global downturn made its way to Boulder, Colo. Crispin Porter + Bogusky, the largest advertising agency in the state and AdWeek’s 2008 Agency of the Year, cut 60 jobs, a lot of them here, in this famously well-off, progressive and eco-friendly university town.

The Crispin layoffs are just the latest blow for the Colorado advertising and PR industry.