For the first time since March, new unemployment claims fell below 10,000.

There were 9,185 new unemployment claims filed for the week of Sept. 19.

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The Maryland Department of Labor reports unemployment claims by type: regular or pandemic related assistance (PUA and PEUC). There were 5,280 regular claims and 3,905 PUA and PEUC claims.

The Unemployment Insurance Claim Center hours have been extended weekdays to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and claims centers will be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon -- call 410-949-0022.

The BEACON One-Stop Online Application website was launched April 24 and has posed problems for many Marylanders since. Read more at WBALTV