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Big wins for organized labor and progressive causes as California lawmakers wrap for the year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:46:51 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — When health care workers in California asked the state Legislature for a raise earlier this year, it seemed like the longest of long shots — especially after lawmakers in May had to loan hospitals in financial distress $150 million just to stay open.But on Thursday, just before the Legislature adjourned for the year, lawmakers voted to boost the pay of health care workers to at least $25 per hour — and the California Hospital Association supported it, even issuing a joint news release with the labor union praising the bill. The union behind the effort called it the nation’s first statewide minimum wage for health workers.The vote capped a legislative session in California that once again showed the strength of organized labor in the nation’s most populous state. Fast food workers? They got a $20-per-hour minimum wage, which would be the highest base pay in the country for an often overlooked workforce. Striking workers? They could get unemployme...

Canada announces $5 million for Libya flood victims as death toll mounts

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:46:51 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada is announcing $5 million in aid for groups helping people in Libya who have been displaced by disastrous flooding.International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said the money will help provide emergency health care, water and shelter to northeast Libya through groups like United Nations agencies and the Red Crescent.The flooding started last Sunday, when storm Daniel caused dams to burst.Some 10,000 people are missing and presumed dead in a disaster that has already claimed more than 11,000 lives.Libyan authorities warned Friday that waterborne disease and explosive ordnance that shifted during the flood could claim even more lives.The country’s two opposing governments, who have been divided for years by civil strife and war, have struggled to respond. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2023.— With files from The Associated PressThe Canadian Press<!– Photo: 20230915170940-6504cf8728afdcba1f673fbdjpeg.jpg, Caption: Canada...

Alberta government to help families affected by E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:46:51 GMT

CALGARY — The Alberta government will immediately give families a one-time payment of $2,000 for each child affected by an E. coli outbreak related to several Calgary daycares, Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.“Families are having a tough time with a lot of disruptions. Some have spent days and nights watching their children in pain in the hospital or sick at home, and we understand that this has put families under a lot of stress,” said Smith, who got choked up at a news conference as she described the anguish and broken trust affected families must be feeling.“We want to help ease as much of that stress as we can. And that includes the financial strain this has caused due to parents being away from work and caring for their kids.”Investigators were still looking for the source of the outbreak that has infected hundreds and left dozens of children severely ill since it was declared on Sept. 4. Health officials have said it almost certainly came from a cent...

Greece wins new credit rating boost that stops short of restoring Greek bonds to investment grade

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:46:51 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s economy received a substantial vote of confidence late Friday from Moody’s ratings agency, which upgraded the Greek credit rating by two notches but stopped just short of returning the formerly struggling country to formal financial respectability.Moody’s said it was upgrading Greece’s rating from Ba3 to Ba1, with a stable outlook. But that still leaves the country’s bonds one notch shy of investment grade, which would clear the way for purchases by many major global investors.Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said the upgrade was “mainly a proof that the government must remain faithful to a sober fiscal policy,” to be combined with “sensitivity” on social issues.The last time Moody’s upgraded Greece’s rating was in November 2020. It had downgraded the country’s bonds to non-investment, or junk, status in 2010, at the height of the financial crisis that forced three international bailouts in return for s...

Oregon launches legal psilocybin access amid high demand and hopes for improved mental health care

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:46:51 GMT

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Psilocybin tea, wind chimes and a tie-dye mattress await those coming to an office suite in Eugene to trip on psychedelic mushrooms. For roughly six hours, adults over 21 can experience what many users describe as vivid geometric shapes, a loss of identity and a oneness with the universe.Epic Healing Eugene — America’s first licensed psilocybin service center — opened in June, marking Oregon’s unprecedented step in offering the mind-bending drug to the public. The center now has a waitlist of more than 3,000 names, including people with depression, PTSD or end-of-life dread.No prescription or referral is needed, but proponents hope Oregon’s legalization will spark a revolution in mental health care.Colorado voters last year passed a measure allowing regulated use of psychedelic mushrooms starting in 2024, and California’s Legislature this month approved a measure that would allow possession and use of certain plant- and mushroom-based psychedelics, in...

Over 14,000 without power on the South Side

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:46:51 GMT

CHICAGO — Over 14,000 people are without power on the city's South Side on Friday afternoon, according to ComEd.In a post shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Alderman Matthew O'Shea said the 19th Ward suffered a major power outage impacting several thousand homes and businesses. 10 hospitalized after Salmonella outbreak at Avondale taqueria According to the ComEd outage map, as of 4:15 p.m. on Friday, over 14,600 customers were without power.Ald. O'Shea says ComEd is expected to provide an update on the outage on Friday afternoon.Currently, it is unclear what caused the outage or how long it will take crews to restore service.This is a developing story, stay with WGN News for the latest updates.

Video shows trooper dragged by car during Massachusetts traffic stop

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:46:51 GMT

BROCKTON, Mass. (WPRI) — A fugitive allegedly caught on camera dragging a Massachusetts State Police trooper with his car in Brockton, Massachusetts Wednesday evening has been captured, according to authorities.Troopers found Derek Lobo, 31, hiding inside a Union Street home Thursday afternoon. He was arrested by the same trooper he's accused of dragging the night before.Derek Lobo (Courtesy: Massachusetts State Police)Dashcam footage from the initial traffic stop shows two troopers speaking with Lobo, who was sitting in the driver's seat. The driver's side door was open and one of the troopers was leaning into the vehicle when Lobo unexpectedly stepped on the gas and took off, police said.The trooper who was speaking directly with Lobo could be seen clinging to the vehicle as it sped away. He held on for several yards before falling onto the pavement, an oncoming car narrowly missing him.The trooper suffered minor injuries.Lobo is facing nearly a dozen charges, including assault an...

Ashton Kutcher steps down from anti-child sex abuse group after Danny Masterson pushback

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:46:51 GMT

(The Hill) — Ashton Kutcher, co-founder of Thorn – a technology company protecting children from sexual abuse – announced Friday he would resign from the organization’s board amid backlash he received for supporting former co-star and convicted rapist Danny Masterson. “This decision is rooted in the recognition of recent events and ensuring Thorn remains focused on its mission: to build technology to defend children from sexual abuse,” the company, founded by Kutcher and Demi Moore, said in a statement. Biden leads Trump, DeSantis in Michigan: poll On Sept. 7, a Los Angeles judge sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women. Kutcher and his wife, actress Mila Kunis, who both co-starred with Masterson on “That 70’s Show,” wrote character letters to the judge prior to Masterson's sentencing. In his letter, Kutcher described Masterson as a friend he considers a “brother” and a “role model.” Kutcher and Kunis were heavily criticized over their suppo...

Krispy Kreme celebrates new coffee line with free doughnuts

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:46:51 GMT

(WFLA) – Krispy Kreme is offering free doughnuts to customers who order a beverage from its newest coffee line.The offer is valid now through Sunday, Sept. 17 at participating stores. Customers who purchase one of the chain's new coffee drinks — said to be made with "richer roasts and better beans" — will be treated to a doughnut of their choosing, while supplies last."Krispy Kreme fans expect an awesome doughnut experience that exceeds their expectations. It’s time we delivered coffee worthy of pairing with our iconic doughnuts,” Dave Skena, the global chief brand officer for Krispy Kreme, said in a news release issued this week. New bill could raise Florida teachers’ minimum salary The new coffee line is made with "100% responsibly sourced" beans, according to the company. Drink offerings include hot, iced and frozen beverages, made with classic-roast coffees, medium-roast coffees and espressos.In total, Krispy Kreme says there are more than "two dozen updated coffee bevera...

Austin Public Health could soon test wastewater for influenza, RSV indicators

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:46:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Public Health (APH) already looks at wastewater to detect the prevalence of COVID-19, and may start to test for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to APH chief epidemiologist Janet Pichette."It would be really great to add things like RSV, norovirus and influenza because then that kind of gives us an idea of when our flu season and other seasons start," Pichette said. "We kind of have an idea with norovirus that we tend to get more gastrointestinal illness occurring in certain months. But we can get an idea of what the background is and kind of monitor the trends over the course of the year." AUGUST: Wastewater data shows increase in COVID, Austin Public Health says Research on the effectiveness of such tests occurred between August 2022 and March 2023 in three Wisconsin cities. The results of that research were published in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.""The positive co...