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States and cities eye stronger protections for gig economy workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:37 GMT

Caitlin Dewey | (TNS) Stateline.orgJoshua Wood remembers days during the COVID-19 lockdown when New York City’s streets were practically empty, save for workers like him.That experience convinced the 25-year-old Brooklynite — who makes deliveries for both Uber Eats and a package delivery service — that the gig economy needed some urgent changes.Roughly 1 in 6 American adults have engaged in gig work for platforms such as Uber, Lyft and DoorDash, according to a 2021 report by the Pew Research Center. But while those jobs promise flexibility and a low barrier to entry, they often pay less on an hourly basis than the prevailing minimum wage and lack basic protections such as overtime, sick pay and unemployment insurance.“There was a sense among workers, coming off the pandemic, that something really needed to be done,” said Wood, a member of the labor group Los Deliveristas Unidos, which fights for gig worker benefits in New York City. “So much of the city is dependent on the work that...

Stabbing of SF city worker was an anti-LGBTQ hate crime, DA says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:37 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A man who allegedly stabbed a San Francisco city employee in the Tenderloin last week was charged on multiple counts, including premeditated attempted murder and an anti-LGBTQ hate crime special enhancement, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Thursday.The suspect, 27-year-old Oscar Chapman of San Francisco, allegedly stabbed a male city employee who was working at the Windsor Hotel in the Tenderloin on Sept. 13. Around 11:07 a.m., the San Francisco Police Department responded to the single room occupancy hotel on Eddy Street on a report of a stabbing, the DA’s office said. Witnesses told police arriving at the scene that Chapman had fled and directed officers to his location.Shortly after, San Francisco police found Chapman along with a knife that was allegedly used in the stabbing and apprehended him, according to the DA’s office.Chapman was arraigned on Sept. 20 for the charges of willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder; ...

From product recalls to pop music: Federal agency drops album of safety-themed songs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:37 GMT

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has a new album out: We're Safety Now Haven't We. (Courtesy CPSC) U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has a new album out: We're Safety Now Haven't We. (Courtesy CPSC) It won’t break any sales records for a just-released album, but a new, seven-song album geared toward teens and young adults is getting some attention — in large part, because it comes from a federal agency.The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — the independent federal regulatory agency that announces product recalls — has just released an album of songs about wearing helmets, fireworks safety and the importance of smoke detectors, among other topics.The free, downloadable album is called R...

Virginia Tech heads to Marshall, looking to avoid 1-3 start, but QB Grant Wells is questionable

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:37 GMT

Virginia Tech (1-2) at Marshall (2-0), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN2)Line: Marshall by 5 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.Series Record: Virginia Tech leads 11-2.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Virginia Tech hopes to avoid another letdown heading into Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Hokies are off to their worst start since 2010, when they opened 0-2 but rallied to finish 11-3. Virginia Tech has finished with a losing record in three straight seasons and four of the past five. Marshall, one of only three remaining unbeaten teams left in the Sun Belt Conference, opens league play next Saturday and still has a tough nonconference test at North Carolina State in two weeks.KEY MATCHUPMarshall RB Rasheen Ali against Virginia Tech’s defense. The Hokies are giving up 212 rushing yards per game, which is seventh worst among Bowl Subdivision teams. Ali, who ran for 1,400 in 2021 and missed most of last season with a knee injury, has five touchdowns in two games and is 10th in the nation with an ave...

3 South Africa navy personnel die after swept off a submarine deck. 4 soldiers killed in road crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:37 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Three South African navy personnel died and a senior officer was in critical condition after seven crew members of a submarine were swept off its deck by big waves as a helicopter was attempting to transfer supplies, the Department of Defence said Thursday.Wednesday’s accident happened as an Air Force Lynx helicopter was attempting what’s known as a vertical replenishment of supplies to the SAS Manthatisi submarine on the ocean surface off the coast of Cape Town, the department said.Also on Wednesday, four soldiers died and an additional two were critically injured in a separate road crash near the city of Upington. Those deaths happened when two SAMIL 50 army trucks, one towing the other, rolled because of a burst tire. The soldiers were thrown out and one of the trucks landed on them, the department said in a separate announcement.The two deadly accidents happened approximately three hours apart. It’s rare for there to be multiple deaths in Sou...

Texans and Jaguars searching for higher-scoring offenses in first meeting of the season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:37 GMT

HOUSTON (0-2) at JACKSONVILLE (1-1)Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, FoxOPENING LINE: Jaguars by 8 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Houston 0-2; Jacksonville 1-1.SERIES RECORD: Texans lead 28-14.LAST MEETING: Jaguars beat Texans 31-3 on Jan. 1, 2023, in Houston.LAST WEEK: Texans lost to the Colts 31-20; Jaguars lost to the Chiefs 17-9.TEXANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (17), RUSH (29), PASS (5), SCORING (27).TEXANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (11), RUSH (21), PASS (11), SCORING (29).JAGUARS OFFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (24), PASS (14), SCORING (21).JAGUARS DEFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (8), PASS (25), SCORING (10).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Texans even; Jaguars plus-3.TEXANS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB C.J. Stroud had 384 yards passing with his first two TD passes last Sunday despite being sacked six times. It was the second-most passing yards by a rookie in franchise history. His 58 completions in his first two games rank second in NFL history, trailing Joe Burrow (60 in 2020).JAGUARS PLAYER TO WATCH: Calvin...

2 French journalists expelled from Morocco as tensions revive between Rabat and Paris

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:37 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Two French journalists have been expelled from Morocco this week in a move denounced by media outlets and press freedom advocates. Staff reporter Quentin Müller and freelancer photojournalist Thérèse Di Campo, who work for the weekly Marianne magazine, said on Wednesday that they were taken by force from their Casablanca hotel room by 10 plainclothes police officers and put on the first flight to Paris. Both Müller and Stéphane Aubouard, an editor at Marianne, said the expulsions were politically motivated in response to critical reporting. Morocco denied the charge and said their removal was about procedure, not politics. However, media activists framed it as the latest action taken by Moroccan authorities against journalists.In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Müller linked their expulsions to broader concerns about retaliation against journalists in Morocco.“We were removed and forcibly expelled from the country without any explanation. This speaks a lot...

Biden says Norfolk Southern must be held accountable for Ohio derailment but won’t declare disaster

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:37 GMT

President Joe Biden ordered federal agencies to continue holding Norfolk Southern accountable for its February derailment in eastern Ohio and appoint a FEMA official to oversee East Palestine’s recovery, but he still stopped short of declaring a disaster.Biden issued the executive order Wednesday evening. Part of the order essentially directed the environmental, health and transportation officials to continue doing what they are doing to make sure Norfolk Southern fulfills its responsibilities and report on the progress. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will name a recovery coordinator to monitor the situation.The lack of a disaster declaration has been a key concern for many residents of the area where the derailment happened near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, but officials have said this situation doesn’t easily fit the definition of a disaster because Norfolk Southern is paying to clean up the mess and help the town recover so unpaid bills aren’t piling u...

Nebraska is adjusting on the fly with quarterback and injury issues entering game against La Tech

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:37 GMT

Louisiana Tech (2-2) at Nebraska (1-2), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)Line: Nebraska by 20 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Nebraska leads 2-0.WHAT’S AT STAKE?As if Nebraska first-year coach Matt Rhule’s job isn’t hard enough, he now has a mini quarterback controversy on his hands and has lost two of his top three running backs to season-ending injuries. Rhule and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield will use this game to figure out the best path forward with second-ranked Michigan up next. KEY MATCHUPLouisiana Tech WR Smoke Harris vs. Nebraska secondary. Harris is in his sixth season with the Bulldogs and their most versatile player. He has 24 catches for 288 yards and three touchdowns and no drops in 30 targets. He also returns kicks and punts. The Huskers should be prepared. They faced multiple elite receivers two weeks ago against Colorado.PLAYERS TO WATCHLouisiana Tech: QBs Hank Bachmeier or Jack Turner. Bachmeier is the Boise State ...

Forward Andrei Svechnikov is back on the ice for the Carolina Hurricanes at training camp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:37 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov looked comfortable as he skated with the Carolina Hurricanes to open training camp Thursday, sharing smiles and a few jokes — even a playful shoulder shove to Jordan Martinook despite wearing a yellow non-contact jersey.The Hurricanes forward is still working his way back from a serious knee injury that sidelined him late in the regular season and playoffs. He was eager to get back to working with his teammates to start a season of being a Stanley Cup favorite, though he wouldn’t commit just yet to whether he’ll be ready for next month’s opener.“Good chances, but I can’t promise anything to be honest,” Svechnikov said after the morning workout with Carolina’s top-of-roster players. “We’ll see how I’m going to feel in a few weeks.”The status of the No. 2 overall draft pick from 2018 has been one of the key questions hanging over the offeseason for the Hurricanes, who have reached the playoffs for five st...