HARRISBURG — Thousands of jobless Pennsylvanians will be able to collect federally funded unemployment benefits through early March.

Gov. Tom Corbett signed a bill Thursday that updates Pennsylvania law to ensure residents continue to qualify for up to 13 weeks of benefits.

The state Labor and Industry Department estimates that qualifying will allow 17,000 people to collect $30 million in benefits through March 10.

A Dec. 23 federal law provided a 60-day benefits extension, but the benefit would have ended last week unless the state acted to extend it into March.

The federal benefits cover private-sector employees, but not public-sector employees.

HARRISBURG — A landmark settlement with the nation's biggest mortgage lenders over foreclosure abuses will deliver about $266 million in aid to the state for struggling homeowners or people who lost their homes, state Attorney General Linda Kelly said Thursday.Pennsylvania and 48 other states joined the $25 billion settlement. The money will help homeowners facing foreclosure, borrowers who lost their homes and people who owe more than their homes are worth.She said that the complexity of the agreement will require several months for it to result in action and that consumers should be wary of scams linked to it in the meantime.