Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Louisiana 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 1,107 in the week ending January 31, down from 1,400 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims rose to 231,000 last week, up 22,000 claims from 209,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Mississippi saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 75.4%. Nebraska, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 70.7%.

USA TODAY Co. 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.

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill exchanged sharp words on social media over abortion pill access.
• Louisiana plans to sue California and New York to force the extradition of doctors accused of mailing abortion pills into the state.
• Both California and New York have refused extradition requests, citing state shield laws that protect doctors.
• Louisiana’s attorney general argues the refusal to extradite violates the U.S. Constitution.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom hurled a vulgar expletive at Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill in a social media post in response to Murrill’s plan to sue California and New York to force extradition of doctors accused of mailing abortion pills to Louisiana.

“Louisiana plans to sue me because I won’t extradite a doctor for providing an abortion,” California’s Democratic governor said Thursday night in a post on X. “@AGLizMurrill: Go —- yourself. California will never help you criminalize healthcare.”

Murrill quickly responded with her own post on X and a text to USA Today Network.

“Bless your heart @GavinNewsom. Killing Louisiana babies isn’t healthcare, nor is shielding California drug dealers,” said Murrill, a Republican. “The sovereign State of Louisiana will defend life. See ya soon.”

During the past two years Murrill has secured felony indictments against New York Dr. Margaret Carpenter and Remy Coeytaux accusing them of mailing abortion pills to women in Louisiana, where abortion is illegal in almost all cases.

Louisiana has sent extradition requests signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry to both states, but Newsom and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul have refused to extradite the doctors for criminal prosecution.

Both Newsom and Hochul have cited shield laws in their states that protect doctors from prosecution. Abortion remains legal in California and New York.

In a separate post on X, Murrill reiterated her intention to file lawsuits that aim to force extradition.

“@GovKathyHochul and @CAgovernor are not above the Constitution, and we will hold them accountable,” she said in her post. “The Supreme Court’s precedents on important Constitutional provisions like the Extradition Clause and the Full Faith and Credit Clause forbid this assault on Louisiana’s sovereignty and her citizens.”

More: Louisiana at forefront of national abortion pill debate

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.