Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Vermont dropped last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.

New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, fell to 416 in the week ending April 13, down from 423 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims remained the same at 212,000 last week on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Connecticut saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 56.2%. Delaware, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 64.5%.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s weekly unemployment insurance claims report. 

BURLINGTON, Vt. — The man accused of starting a fire outside independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office earlier this month will remain detained pending further legal proceedings, a federal judge ordered Thursday.

Shant Michael Soghomonian was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of maliciously damaging or attempting to damage and destroy by fire a building used in interstate commerce, according to the indictment filed with the court. Soghomonian, 35, has not yet been arraigned.

Surveillance video shows the man throwing a liquid April 5 at the bottom of a door opening into Sanders’ third-floor office in Burlington and setting it on fire with a lighter, according to an affidavit filed by a special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The motive remains unclear, and Sanders was not in the office at the time.

Seven employees working in the office were able to get out unharmed. The building’s interior suffered damage from the fire and water sprinklers.

Soghomonian, who was previously from Northridge, California, had been staying at a South Burlington hotel for nearly two months and was spotted outside Sanders’ office the day before and the day of the fire, according to the special agent’s report.

Prosecutors argued that Soghomonian is a danger to the community and a flight risk and should remain detained. A phone message was left with his public defender and was not immediately returned.

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The 2024 Vermont high school spring season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from baseball, softball, lacrosse, track and field, tennis and Ultimate.

To report scores: Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

►Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @aabrami5

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

All-State girls basketball: Elise Berger of CVU named Free Press Miss Basketball for 2023-24 season

40 players honored: The 34th annual Free Press All-State Girls Basketball Team

All-State boys basketball: Drew Bessette of Rice named Free Press Mr. Basketball for 2023-24 season

40 players honored: The 34th annual Free Press All-State Boys Basketball Team

Watch list: The top returning Vermont high school boys lacrosse players for the 2024 season

Watch list: The top returning vermont high school girls lacrosse players for the 2024 season

THURSDAY’S H.S. GAMES

Girls lacrosse

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Milton at Stowe

Rice at U-32

South Burlington at Burlington, 5:30 p.m.

Boys lacrosse

Middlebury at Champlain Valley, 4:30 p.m.

Baseball

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Lamoille at Milton

Richford at Peoples/Stowe

Enosburg at Missisquoi

Oxbow at Harwood

Softball

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Lamoille at Milton

Middlebury at U-32

BFA-St. Albans at South Burlington

Lyndon at Mount Mansfield

Girls tennis

Matches at 3:30 p.m. unless noted

South Burlington at Colchester

Stowe at Champlain Valley

Boys tennis

Matches at 3:30 p.m. unless noted

Essex at Stowe

St. Johnsbury at Hartford

Girls Ultimate

Games at 4 p.m. unless noted

Champlain Valley at Montpelier

FRIDAY’S H.S. GAMES

Girls lacrosse

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Milton at Lamoille

Lyndon at Harwood

Spaulding at Hartford, 6:30 p.m.

Boys lacrosse

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Montpelier at BFA-Fairfax

Hartford at Spaulding

St. Johnsbury at Mount Abraham

Stowe at Colchester

Essex at Mount Mansfield

Burr and Burton at South Burlington

Lyndon at Harwood

Randolph at Otter Valley

Softball

Richford at BFA-Fairfax, 4:30 p.m.

Girls tennis

Matches at 3:30 p.m. unless noted

Mount Mansfield at Essex

Rice at Burlington

Woodstock at Stowe

Middlebury at BFA-St. Albans

Montpelier at U-32

Harwood at Hartford

Boys tennis

Matches at 3:30 p.m. unless noted

South Burlington at Middlebury

Rice at Stowe

Burlington at Champlain Valley

Boys Ultimate

Games at 4 p.m. unless noted

Rice at South Burlington

Montpelier at Mount Mansfield

Milton at Colchester

(Subject to change)