Thousands of unemployed Missourians have received their extended unemployment benefits after a heated debate in the statehouse held them off.

Existing benefits ended early this month and those unemployed went without their weekly benefits because of a blockade in the Missouri Senate.

A compromise was reached among the four Senate Republicans holding the filibuster to stop extending unemployment benefits and Gov. Jay Nixon.

Amy Susan of the Department of Labor said the benefits were sent out almost immediately after the governor signed the legislation on April 13.

– Missouri Digital News