Utah Jobless Claims Slow As Businesses Near Reopening

 As the number of new Utah residents claiming unemployment slowed for the fourth consecutive week, officials warned workers Thursday that they must accept offers to return to work or risk losing state and federal jobless benefits. State officials say people who fail to report a suitable offer to return to work and stay on unemployment may be forced to pay back state and federal checks. Though far less than the pandemic peak of 33,000 people, the 12,000 new unemployment claims last week were still higher than any single week on record before the COVID-19 pandemic.