Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina signed into law a measure that will cut benefits for the unemployed by about one-third and will reduce how long they can collect payments. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/us/north-carolina-jobless-benefits-are-cut.html?ref=us  The law also cuts maximum weekly benefits to $350 from $535 and caps benefits at 12 instead of the current 26 weeks. Critics said the harsh nature of the cuts would harm some of the most vulnerable residents.