Latest local news, weather and high school sports from Amarillo

Yesterday at 9:00 AM  Thousands of people in New Mexico are still looking for work or at least better jobs even as the state's unemployment rate is down.

Thursday, March 21, 2013  New Mexico Republican Rep. Steve Pearce wants to make people who collect unemployment benefits take a drug test.

Friday, January 25, 2013  The state Department of Workforce Solutions says it has cleared up a backlog involving unemployment benefit claims by more than 3,000 people.

Friday, October 19, 2012  New Mexico's unemployment rate dropped slightly for the month of September, down to 6.4 percent from 6.5 percent in August.

Friday, July 22, 2011  Gov. Susana Martinez's administration says the finances of New Mexico's unemployment compensation program are improving and the fund should remain in the black through early 2013, a year longer than previously projected.

Thursday, November 18, 2010  The Workforce Solutions Department says the state's program for paying unemployment benefits will run out of money next August if the jobless rate remains high.

Thursday, September 23, 2010  New Mexico's unemployment rate rose slightly in August to 8.3 percent, up from 8.2 percent in July.

Friday, July 23, 2010  Gov. Bill Richardson's administration reports that New Mexico's unemployment rate dropped to 8.2 percent in June, from 8.4 percent in the previous month.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010  New Mexico reported a 8.4 percent unemployment rate in May - down from the 8.7 percent of the previous month.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010  Businesses in New Mexico will pay higher taxes starting in January to shore up the program that provides jobless benefits.

Thursday, May 27, 2010  New Mexico's unemployment rate dipped slightly in April from the month before, but still remains above the 2009 jobless rate.

Monday, April 05, 2010  New Mexicans who have claimed unemployment insurance are now able to check the status of their claims on a toll-free number.

Thursday, April 01, 2010  New Mexico's unemployment rate was 8.7 percent in February, up from January's 8.5 percent rate and up from 6.1 percent a year ago.

Thursday, March 11, 2010  New Mexico's unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in January, up from December's 8.2 percent rate and the 5.9 percent rate of January 2009.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009  New Mexico's jobless rate rose to 7.9 percent in October, up from the 7.7 percent reported the previous month and the 4.5 percent rate in October 2008.