Weekly jobless claims fall by 5,000 to reach lowest level since February 2008

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing requests for jobless benefits fell by 5,000 last week to 348,000, the lowest level since February 2008, the US Labor Department said Thursday.

Economists surveyed by MarketWatch projected that claims would rise to a seasonally-adjusted 353,000 in the week ended March 17. Claims from two weeks ago were revised up to 353,000 from 351,000.

The average of new claims over the past four weeks, meanwhile, declined by 1,250 to 355,000.

Continuing claims, which reflect people already receiving benefits, decreased by 9,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 3.35 million in the week ended March 10. Continuing claims are reported with a one-week lag.

About 7.28 million people received some kind of state or federal benefit in the week ended March 3, a decline of 142,499. Total claims are reported with a two-week lag.

To read more, go to MarketWatch

MarketWatch, US Labor Department, jobless benefits, claims

Nypost.com

Tebow will have to take show on road

Tim Tebow’s legion of fans will be Tebowing somewhere other than Denver this season.

Fresh off landing Peyton Manning yesterday, the Broncos reportedly are prepared to trade Tebow despite the fiercely debated quarterback leading them to the playoffs last season — and despite a postseason promise by Denver VP John Elway that Tebow would enter training camp as the presumptive starter in 2012.

Elway broke that pledge in very public fashion the past two weeks, making the Broncos the first team out of the gate to pursue Manning after the four-time MVP quarterback was released by the Colts 13 days ago.

Any thought the Broncos might keep the unorthodox Tebow around to learn from Manning and run the Wildcat formation was quickly scotched yesterday. ESPN reported Elway immediately planned to deal Tebow as soon as he found out Manning was Denver-bound.

A league source speculated the Broncos would go so far as to release Tebow if they can’t find a trade partner because the cost to their salary cap would be minimal.

Speculation on Tebow’s next stop — assuming the Broncos can trade him — centered immediately on the three teams in the former Heisman Trophy winner’s home state of Florida.

The Dolphins quickly tried to put a stop to that, signing former Jaguars passer David Garrard last night, and Tampa hasn’t shown any interest, either. But Tebow grew up in the Jacksonville area, and the Jaguars are likely to feel fan pressure to add him despite his awkward quarterbacking skills.

The Patriots also could be interested, considering new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels made Tebow a first-round pick two years ago and New England likes to use unusual sets on offense. The Eagles, too, might be in the market for a mobile backup to Michael Vick.

Tebow has not spoken publicly since the Broncos’ interest in Manning became known, a stance that included him cancelling a planned media session at one of his Florida charity events earlier this month on the same day Manning was visiting Denver’s practice facility.

Elway’s decision is hardly a surprise, considering the Hall of Fame quarterback could hardly hide his dismay — and at times disgust — last season while Tebow unconventionally pulled out comeback win after improbable comeback win.

Tebow was 8-5 in 13 starts for the Broncos last season, including a staggering playoff upset of the Steelers, but he completed just 47 percent of his passes.

“I wouldn’t say I feel bad for him,” Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers told Denver reporters yesterday when asked about Tebow. “It’s a business. And I’m pretty sure Tim understands that. ... We wish him luck, no matter what he does. I hope he’s here. He’s a great leader, a great locker room guy.”

Peyton Manning, John Elway, Tim Tebow, Tebow, Broncos, Denver, Denver, quarterback

Nypost.com

Yonkers Graded Entries

Post Time: 7:10 p.m.

Best Bet: Cam B Zipper (3rd)

FIRST: mile; pace; $8,500; cond

7 Yep

(GBrennan)

1-1-1

8-5

5 UpfrontCountryboy

(JStrttn)

1-7-2

4-1

8 Cheyenne Moishe

(CManzi)

4-3-4

12-1

1 Southwind Chase

(DDube)

1-4-7

3-1

2 Wimpus Takes All

(SSmith)

4-6-6

15-1

3 Powerful Pilot

(MMacDnald)

5-4-7

10-1

4 Loco For Cocoa

(JBartlett)

10-3-4

8-1

6 Prince Bubba

(LStalbaum)

1-6-3

10-1

SECOND: mile; trot; $11,000; cl($15000)

1 Montanachmpinne

(LStlbm)

6-1-5

4-1

6 Cc Mister C

(JGregory)

6-7-6

8-5

8 Holy Smokes

(JBartlett)

2-4-7

10-1

2 Tsarina

(DDube)

7-6-3

8-1

3 S F Ciro

(JStratton)

5-4-4

5-1

4 FourStarzConway

(GBrennn)

7-7-8

12-1

5 Chrome Finish

(CManzi)

1-2-1

15-1

7 BadboyPaparazziA

(MSimns)

4-8-2

10-1

THIRD: mile; pace; $12,500; SAGAMORE

4 Cam B Zipper

(JBartlett)

1-1-6

8-5

5 SirJonathanZTam

(PLchnce)

1-4-4

4-1

1 Great Dragon

(GBrennan)

1-2-6

3-1

2 Rock N' Roll Jet

(DDube)

2-8-6

8-1

3 Remissionofsins

(EAbbatiell)

4-1-8

30-1

6 Oat Matt Donald

(BHolland)

7-6-6

30-1

7 AskDirections

(MMacDnald)

2-4-4

12-1

8 Three Artist

(CManzi)

3-1-2

6-1

FOURTH: mile; pace; $12,500; SAGAMORE

4 Braden

(JBartlett)

1-6-3

4-5

1 UpfrontEllijayEd

(MMacDnld)

1-1-9

6-5

2 Showtime Shark

(GBrennan)

3-1-2

6-1

3 Fat Mans Alley

(DDube)

4-7-3

10-1

5 Grab A Crab

(JStratton)

5-8-1

10-1

6 It'sgottabemyway

(CManzi)

6-3-5

30-1

7 Taxed

(EAbbatiello)

4-9-1

20-1

8 Prince Sharka

(JPantaleano)

8-3-9

40-1

FIFTH: mile; trot; $11,000; cond

5 Conway Cruiser

(GBrennan)

1-3-3

8-5

1 Hardrock Kid

(JStratton)

2-5-1

4-1

2 Cinderella Man

(JBartlett)

6-5-4

5-1

3 Brickyard Toots

(RBaynes)

4-2-5

10-1

4 BrewingMaster

(MMacDnld)

3-2-5

6-1

6 Winterleebrook

(BHolland)

4-4-7

15-1

7 Sir Hajo

(CManzi)

6-6-5

20-1

8 Rule By Strength

(DDube)

5-5-3

8-1

SIXTH: mile; trot; $12,500; SAGAMORE

3 Avenue Hanover

(DDube)

1-6-5

6-5

2 Alexpanderthegreat

(BHllnd)

1-7-4

5-1

8 PanferminFestival

(JStrtton)

2-3-4

15-1

1 One On Each Lap

(JBartlett)

8-1-4

8-1

4 Get A Job

(GBrennan)

5-4-5

40-1

5 RavenswdReese

(MMcDnld)

6-8-9

12-1

6 Reited Xx

(JPantaleano)

6-2-6

20-1

7 Stonebridge Bonus

(CManzi)

6-5-2

10-1

SEVENTH: mile; pace; $12,500; SAGAMORE

5 Cruznwithdabigdog

(JBrtltt)

1-8-5

3-1

3 Waiver Hanover

(GBrennan)

3-6-7

6-1

4 WeighTheOdds

(MMacDnld)

4-1-2

4-1

1 Fox Valley Renoir

(BHolland)

4-1-2

5-1

2 Not This Time

(PLachance)

7-4-3

8-1

6 Aj's Poppop

(JMarohn)

3-2-1

6-1

7 Painted Black

(DDube)

3-1-7

SCR

8 Joe De Fino

(CManzi)

3-1-8

8-1

EIGHTH: mile; pace; $12,500; SAGAMORE

8 StonebrdgeRcket

(MMcDnld)

2-4-1

8-5

2 Bettor's Green

(DDube)

4-8-8

4-1

6 China King

(GBrennan)

2-7-5

5-1

1 Valley Fever

(BHolland)

5-3-1

6-1

3 Top Doc

(SSmith)

4-5-8

15-1

4 DrunkenFrnchman

(JBrtlett)

7-3-6

30-1

5 Cityscape

(JStratton)

6-7-3

20-1

7 Classic Call

(PLachance)

2-2-1

5-1

NINTH: mile; pace; $12,500; SAGAMORE

6 WoodmereUltimate

(JBrtlett)

3-10-4

9-5

4 Listowel

(JPantaleano)

2-4-2

5-1

5 Bettor Win

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2-1-2

4-1

1 LaurentHanover

(MMacDnld)

8-5-8

12-1

2 ShowdwnAtSnUp

(GBrennn)

3-2-2

6-1

3 Cheyenne Jeffrey

(DDube)

5-7-1

10-1

7 Major At Heart

(LStalbaum)

4-6-3

15-1

TENTH: mile; pace; $11,000; cl($15000)

1 Vintage Art

(DDube)

4-6-6

8-1

7 Ultimate Desire

(CManzi)

4-3-1

4-1

5 Tugboat

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4-4-8

5-1

2 Kid Cruiser

(MMacDonald)

6-8-6

6-1

3 The Life Boat

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1-4-2

6-1

4 Magnus Deo

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4-1-4

3-1

6 My Time Hanover

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5-5-5

8-1

8 Lets Go Blue

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2-6-5

15-1

ELEVENTH: mile; pace; $14,000; cl($25000)

1 MilitaryStratcom

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1-1-1

6-5

3 Andy Baran

(MMacDonald)

2-10-5

4-1

5 Cyclone Cully N

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8-3-1

5-1

2 Ittakestwobaby

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7-7-7

30-1

4 K Slater

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6-7-7

12-1

6 Firebreathn Dragon

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7-8-4

15-1

7 White Ruler

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3-7-4

6-1

TWELFTH: mile; pace; $11,000; cond

2 Hi Sir

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1-8-8

5-1

4 Taylorlane Cruiser

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3-2-1

4-1

5 Kid Carson

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5-4-8

3-1

1 D'artagnan

(GMerton)

6-7-9

8-1

3 Strong Signal

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2-5-7

6-1

6 Lucky Land

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8-4-2

6-1

7 Pictonian Pride

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4-3-3

5-1

8 Roxies Big Guy

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3-8-8

10-1

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CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens softball preview

Mary Louis’s motto for this season is “respect all, fear none.” The Hilltoppers have been one of the city’s most talent squads, but have struggled against CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens leaders and rivals Archbishop Molloy and St. Francis Prep.

“We get into that big game with Prep and Molloy, you see the name on the shirt and they are just different,” Hilltoppers coach Ginny Peiser said of her team's play.

She believes this group has the ability to get over the hump, saying it will need to get the keys hits to go along with strong defense and pitching. Mary Louis will get three cracks at each this year in the new five-team top divison with Bishop Kearney and St. Edmund moving down.

An Rong Xu

TMLA coach Ginny Peiser believes her team has a deep and poweful line up.

Sophomore Nicole Hubert will need to be a big part of that success. She burst onto the scene last season with a lively arm and a clutch bat. Hubert takes over for Rebecca Warne as the team's ace, has added pitches and worked on her control to limit walks. She went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs during a win over Christ the King in the Brooklyn/Queens quarterfinals. JV call up Kristen Freile will be the team’s No. 2 starter.

“She is more mature on the mound,” Peiser said of Hubert. “She is throwing a lot harder and cutting down on the walks. It’s nice to see. She knows going into it that she’s No. 1. Her confidence is really high right now.”

Hubert will also hit fourth in a lineup loaded with quality bats. Senior third baseman and No. 3 batter Shannon Minihane is one of the city’s best line drive hitters and is extremely difficult to strike out. Veteran catcher Stephanie Barbaro brings a strong bat and ability to call a superb game. Deirdre Munday brings her power bat and experience back to center field and Julie Canova, who has impressed at the plate early, returns at first.

“I’m playing with it to see what combination works, but from top to bottom we really don’t have a weak batting order anywhere,” Peiser said. “It’s going to be strong.”

Alyssa Paolicelli is back at second base and could be in the leadoff spot depending on the development of super speedy sophomore Gabby Malave, who will see time in the outfield. Sam Rossi will be in left and JV call up Kim Myers should see time in right. The speedy Louisa Conway and Brittany Nicoll, a line-drive type hitter, will split time at shortstop depending on who is hitting best.

“They play well together and our defense is awesome,” Peiser said. “We just got to get the hits to go with it. Getting over that hump I think is going to be the key.”

Bobby Suarez is of the belief that you can’t let Christ the King’s youth fool you. The Royals roster boasts just three seniors this season.

“I think we are going to surprise a lot of people and I like that feeling right now,” the second-year coach said.

These three seniors have all been some of the league's best players during their careers. Catcher Erica Eddy has a strong arm behind the plate and a steady bat. Shortstop Kim Velez has good range and is impossible to get out when she get going. Josephine Phillips will be the team’s No. 2 starter.

“I think she can carry this team a long way,” Suarez said of Velez.

A lot of the Royals success will have to do with lefty windmiller Amanda Gauthier. The hard throwing junior has been gritty in the circle since coming up as a freshman. The majority of the club is made up of a talented group of sophomores, starting with athletic centerfielder Destiny Marino. Jessica Vietez will see time at catcher and in left field. Suarez raved about the glove and bat of Megan Allie at second base. Freshman Gabby Russo will be at third in the leadoff spot. Classmate Kaitlyn Finneran will add depth to the rotation.

“I’ve got a very young team, something to build for the next two or three years,” Suarez said.

Fontbonne Hall’s youth and talent is easy to see just by looking in the circle. Sophomore’s Nicolette Tripani and Maria Serrantino were both brilliant at times during their first season on the varsity last season. They will play third base when they are not pitching and will be fixtures in the middle of a quality batting order.

“We’re a year older,” Bonnies coach Frank Marinello said.

Classmate Christina Calascione will take over for Jackie Mitchell in center field and in the leadoff spot and Natalia Sroga moved from third to left field. JV call up Kristina Schiano takes over at shortstop. Freshman Arianna Dillon replaces the graduated Jenna Nixon behind the plate.

“She gets quality at bats and she’s a great athlete,” Marinello said of Calascione.

Marinello called senior Kristina Mandala at first base his "grizzled veteran." Senior Melissa Clark will be at second and classmates Karri-Ann Galante and Maria Randazzo will see time in the outfield. Liz Fox should see time at the corners and second base.

jstaszewski@nypost.com

Ginny Peiser, Archbishop Molloy, The Hilltoppers, Hilltoppers, Nicole Hubert, Mary Louis, JV, St. Francis, Bobby Suarez, Bishop Kearney, Peiser

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Raw deal for D’An

* Although there doesn’t seem to be much sympathy for former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, I thought he got a bum deal. When you do everything you can do to please the boss and the boss gets rid of you as a reward, it’s a pretty tough lump to swallow. I suppose it won’t mean much if the Knicks go on to win a championship, but if they don’t, it will be hard not to look back and wonder what would have happened if James Dolan had traded Carmelo Anthony for Deron Williams and D’Antoni had remained as coach.

KEN DREXLER

North Woodmere, N.Y.

* I hope Mike Woodson does well coaching the Knicks, but I know Woodson is answering to Carmelo Anthony, so I would rather have Phil Jackson here. There is no way Jackson would answer to Carmelo, a me-first player who has never won anything in the NBA.

EDWARD DROSSMAN

Manhattan

* Let’s see: Carmelo Anthony out of the line-up, the Knicks win; Anthony in the lineup, the Knicks lose. Do you really have to be a genius to figure this out? Great players make everyone else around them better. Anthony didn’t do that in Denver, where in his eight full seasons the Nuggets only got out the first round of the playoffs once. And he doesn’t do it with the Knicks either. MSG rocked for the three weeks of Linsanity. Sadly, it’s back to the same old story for a franchise that has time and again thrown money at the wrong “stars.”

STEVE BORRELLI

Raritan, N.J.

* I may stand alone on this one, but the choice of Mike D’Antoni as the Knicks’ head coach was doomed almost from the start. D’Antoni’s Achilles’ heel was his unwavering dedication to the motion offense and his stunning inability to adapt his approach to maximize the value of his best players. For Mike Woodson, here are the keys to the kingdom, and a contract extension: Preach defense and rebounding and use your current pieces in a more traditional offense.

BRIAN VICTOR

Manhattan

Ghosts of Flushing

* I have a theory on the Mess, oops, I mean the Mets. Taking into account all of the injuries the last couple of years — Johan Santana, Ike Davis, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Jason Bay, etc., I’m starting to believe Citi Field was built over a cemetery without relocating the bodies. Can you say “Poltergeist II,” boys and girls? I can just see their new team slogan” “They’re baaaack — on the DL.”

LOUIE REY

East Meadow, N.Y.

Rangers rooters

* Do the clowns who broadcast Rangers games have any idea of who their audience is? We are Rangers fans: We are not interested in daily updates of Sidney Crosby’s health. We are not waiting with bated breath to hear how the Islanders could make the playoffs. We do not get a thrill out of hearing how great Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, et all, are dominating the league. It was laughable during one game last week when Sam Rosen stated that one opposing superstar was impossible to strip of the puck, and then on the next three tours down the ice, he was (you guessed it) stripped of the puck.

MARTY PERRY

Massapequa, N.Y.

Away from home

* It looks as if Andy Pettitte has discovered that spending more time with your family is not always such a wonderful thing.

RICHARD SIEGELMAN

Plainview, N.Y.

Carmelo Anthony, Mike Woodson, Knicks, Mike D’Antoni, Deron Williams, D’Antoni, coach Mike D’Antoni, Phil Jackson

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Goldstein's pioneering Elbassionys want title for Muslim female athletes worldwide

Goldstein is going for a PSAL Class A title Sunday against Curtis. In Nora Elbassiony’s mind, though, it’ll be more than just a championship for her beloved Dolphins. The senior sharpshooter believes it’ll be a victory for Muslim girls everywhere.

Elbassiony and her two sisters and teammates – Dunia and Lala – are Muslims of Egyptian and Turkish descent. In their religion, she says, just wearing a basketball uniform is considered a sin. Traditionalists would never let their daughters even take the court.

“The old-fashioned people would always say girls aren’t supposed to play sports, they should be home,” Elbassiony said. “So to win that, it would be like a smack in their faces that girls can play sports.”

An Rong Xu

The Elbassiony sisters of Goldstein will try to win a PSAL Class A title Sunday.

Instead of holding back the three sisters, their parents, Sam Elbassiony and Nervin Bekhit, have been incredibly supportive. Sam Elbassiony was a soccer player in his native Egypt, but never made it as far as he wanted because his parents were not happy with his grades. He and his wife have made sure their daughters keep their grades 90 and above to continue playing basketball. Dunia was also a key player on Goldstein’s PSAL Class B championship girls volleyball team.

“His dream was taken away from him,” Nora said. “So we just make sure we have a 90-plus averages so that we can do what we love.”

Added Dunia: “They definitely assimilated and changed their mindsets since they moved to the United States. They know it’s something we love so they support it.”

This is the first year the three sisters have played on the same team. Elbassiony is the team’s 3-point gunner and Dunia is a sophomore forward, who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work inside. Lala, just a freshman, comes off the bench. Nora, the elder of the group who will be the first female in her family to attend college next year, has taken her sisters under her wing.

Dunia was worried how other people would react to three Muslim girls being on a team, but has been pleasantly surprised at the outcome. Nora admits there have been some racial remarks made to her and her sisters after Sept. 11.

“It’s actually exciting in a weird way, originally I was like, oh my God this is going to be bad,” Dunia said. “However it got us a lot closer. We've never been on a set team together, so it’s helped us develop a stronger bond.”

The Elbassionys are hoping to take that bond upstate. They will have to beat a very good Curtis team to do it 3 p.m. Sunday at City College. Next year, Nora will be off to college and though she jokes that their youngest sister, 6-year-old Hana, is going to be the best basketball player of them all, Dunia and Lala will be on their own next year.

“Winning it with my sisters by my side would mean even more,” Dunia said. “It’s our last chance to win a championship game all together.”

mraimondi@nypost.com

Nora Elbassiony, Sam Elbassiony, Muslim girls, Muslim girls, Dunia, Rong XuThe Elbassiony, championship

Nypost.com

Knicks co-captains must lead by example

The word “accountability’’ has been a fixture in Mike Woodson’s vocabulary since taking over as interim Knicks coach Wednesday.

Friday, he specified he will hold his two co-captains Amar’e Stoudemire (eight points) and Carmelo Anthony (12 points) accountable in leadership roles — something former coach Mike D’Antoni probably did not do.

Stoudemire was the Knicks captain last season. Anthony was voted in as team captain in a player vote during training camp.

Tyson Chandler (16 points, seven rebounds, four blocks) has been the de facto leader of the team, however, but does not have a title.

Anthony J. Causi

HANGING IN THERE: Amar’e Stoudemire hangs on the rim after slamming home two of his eight points during the Knicks’ 115-100 victory over the Pacers last night at the Garden.

The lighthearted atmosphere in the locker room after losses became an issue during the team’s recent 0-4 road trip.

“I’m going to hold them more accountable for what goes on in the locker [room], what happens on the floor, because they’ve been around and know better. They know how it’s done,” Woodson said before the Knicks’ 115-100 victory over the Pacers. “I think they’re battle-tested long with Tyson Chandler.’’

Accountability is an interesting word.

D’Antoni certainly did not hold Anthony and Stoudemire accountable for their poor defense. It will be interesting to see if Woodson holds them accountable for their play and benches them if they are not doing well despite their maximum contracts totaling $37 million.

***

As reported Friday, Woodson said he will add former Knicks first-round pick Darrell Walker and his former Hawks assistant Jim Todd to the coaching staff.

Todd was finishing up at Sacramento and got out of his contract. Also being added as special adviser is his high school coach, Jim Smith, who also helped him out in Atlanta. Smith now lives in Memphis.

“Another set of eyes for me,’’ Woodson said.

Walker, meanwhile, used to coach for Isiah Thomas in Toronto.

“I’ve known him since my playing days, he’s been on benches, he’s been a head coach, they bring great experience,’’ Woodson said.

marc.berman@nypost.com

Mike Woodson, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Knicks, coach Mike D’Antoni, camp.Tyson Chandler, Stoudemire, The word “accountability

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