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WASHINGTON - Banks and small businesses reported an overwhelming volume of calls and some confusion Friday as the Small Business Administration launched the first phase of the $2 trillion economic stimulus package in the face of COVID-19.

WASHINGTON - New jobless claims continued to soar to record heights in Arizona and the nation, with state filings jumping from the then-record 29,333 claims two weeks ago to 88,592 last week. It cames national claims jumped from 3.3 million to 6.6 million.

PHOENIX – Valley Metro changes bus route schedules, Arizona State University moves graduation ceremonies online, and other news about the COVID-19 pandemic in the Grand Canyon State

PHOENIX – Phoenix Zoo announces major staff cuts, Gov. Ducey asks the Trump administration for a disaster declaration and other news from the Grand Canyon State.

PHOENIX - Panic led to hoarding but warehouses are being replenished, Mark Miller, president of the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance says. The popularity of delivery services are on the rise, and industry employees who are working hard for Arizona residents appreciate the support, Miller says.

TEMPE - When Tucson Mayor Regina Romero ordered nonessential businesses to close Saturday to halt COVID-19, she could only ask barbershops and salons to go along, after Gov. Doug Ducey declared them "essential services" - a designation that remains in his statewide "stay-home" directive.

WASHINGTON - Arizona hospitals are rationing and ordering workers to reuse protective equipment like masks, gowns and eyewear in an attempt to head off shortages expected with the surge in COVID-19 patients in the state, a move some worry will put workers and patients at risk.

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump signed a $2 trillion economic stimulus package just hours after it was rushed through the House Friday, clearing the way for aid to businesses, increased benefits for workers and direct payments to taxpayers.

PHOENIX - The spread of COVID-19 has "deeply affected" Arizona animal shelters, which are discontinuing some services, cutting hours and trying to juggle between taking animals in and adopting them out to stretch resources while protecting pets and people.

PHOENIX – School districts are distributing meals to students, the elderly won’t have to get their vehicles’ emissions tested and other updates from the Grand Canyon State.

PHOENIX - New unemployment claims rose to almost 3.3 million last week, an increase of 3 million over the previous week and the highest on record, new Labor Department numbers show, and economists say this could just be the beginning of a jobs spiral from the coronavirus.

WASHINGTON - The Senate gave unanimous approval late Wednesday to a historic $2 trillion economic stimulus package that calls for direct payments to taxpayers and hundreds of billions in relief for small businesses and targeted industries, like airlines.