More than 1 million Americans are bracing for a harrowing, post-Christmas jolt as federal unemployment benefits come to a sudden halt this weekend.

New York's minimum wage will increase to $8 an hour at the end of this year, 75 cents above the federal minimum and the old state rate.

The Arkansas Department of Human Services says more than 93,000 people have filed applications for health insurance under Arkansas' private option plan to expand Medicaid.

State officials in both Vermont and Massachusetts are so unhappy with CGI, the lead contractor for the beleaguered HealthCare.gov, that theyre withholding payment.