John Heckert wipes his eyes as he fills out computer...

John Heckert wipes his eyes as he fills out computer forms to apply for unemployment insurance in Oakland, Calif. (Aug. 5, 2010) Credit: Getty Images

 More people than expected filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week, hitting the highest level since November, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday.

The 500,000 claims, adjusted to weed out seasonal quirks, meant a third straight week of increases. The figure was just under the 509,000 claims received the week ending Nov. 14.

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs indicted ... Can LI roads withstand more flooding? ... Legacy of 8-year-old's cancer fight ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV

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