COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohioans filed 6,853 initial traditional unemployment claims last week, which was 20 more than the previous week, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Thursday. State residents also filed 65,361 continued traditional unemployment claims the week of Jan. 19-24, which was 870 fewer than the previous week. Of the initial unemployment claims filed, 1,332 have been flagged for more stringent identity verification to ensure they are not fraudulent. In December, Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.5%. The national unemployment rate was 4.4%.