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The vote does not immediately unionize anyone. It does allow an estimated 21,000 home workers to decide whether to join a union. That includes child-care providers who operate private businesses in their own homes, and personal care attendants — known as PCAs — who care for elderly and disabled people in the clients' h... |
Because such workers want to negotiate with the state over subsidies, training, benefits and other issues, they needed a state law to allow them to consider unionizing. |
• Bill gives two groups of workers the right to vote on whether to form unions. |
• Affects 21,000 home child-care providers and personal care attendants. |
The bill was a top priority for two unions that are a big part of the DFL coalition: The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, which is organizing child-care workers, and the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, which is organizing PCAs. |
The vote culminates an eight-year effort that has divided the normally placid business of caring for children into highly politicized camps of union supporters and union foes. |
"This has gotta be the best day in my life for a very long time," Karla Scapanski, a Sauk Rapids child-care provider, said as union supporters around her at the Capitol sang "Solidarity Forever." Said Scapanski: "The more we get together and stand up for what's important to us, the stronger we are." |
Hollee Saville, a child-care provider and union opponent from St. Michael, was near tears. |
"We're very disappointed that the legislators who voted yes on this chose to steal our freedoms and our rights as independent business owners and sell them off to the unions for the highest bid," Saville said. |
Opponents have already started mapping out legal challenges. |
Bill Messenger, a lawyer for the Virginia-based National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, said he will file suit on behalf of Minnesota providers who oppose the union, alleging that the law forces care workers to unionize and violates their right of freedom of association. |
Unions nationally have lost battles over right-to-work laws and public-employee bargaining in Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan. |
Minnesota, with a DFL-controlled Legislature elected with strong union support in November, is moving in the other direction. |
"When you consider what's happening all around the country, where there's an assault on organized labor ... this is one of the first states to actually reverse that trend and expand organized labor," said DFL State Chair Ken Martin. |
The issue was highly emotional, politically potent and had the potential to chew up scarce floor time. It produced a record 17-hour, dusk-till-dawn debate in the Senate last week. House foes filed enough amendments to filibuster the issue right through the midnight adjournment deadline on Monday. But DFL and GOP leader... |
"We see government at its ugliest and most brutish," said Rep. Linda Runbeck, R-Circle Pines, during the House debate. She called it a case of "big government and big unions double-teaming small businesses." Opponents saw the bill as a payoff for unions that contribute heavily to DFL candidates and causes and that now ... |
"Providers all over Minnesota are so engaged on this issue," said Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, a former child-care provider and opponent of the bill. |
"They want to continue their version of the American dream." |
Defenders of the bill say it is part of a historical union struggle to improve workers' lives, particularly in female-dominated jobs such as nursing, teaching and now caring for children and the elderly. They emphasized that the bill does not require unionization of anyone, but merely calls for an election. |
"I believe this bill is a way to address inequality," said Rep. Carly Melin, DFL-Hibbing, who also noted that a previous GOP-controlled Legislature had recently sought to cut both the child-care subsidy program and PCA payments. |
House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, talked about the importance of the union to her autoworker father, and compared that to her mother's low wages doing nonunion work, such as cleaning houses and working in a grocery store. |
"If we pass this law, all we're saying is, it's their choice," Murphy said. |
'Intolerance is not welcome here,' Charlottesville's mayor said of the white nationalists. |
In a statement posted to Facebook, Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer suggested the rally was meant to intimidate supporters of the planned removal of Confederate statues in the city in central Virginia, home to the University of Virginia and Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s historic home. “We are a Welcoming City, but su... |
Signer’s statement was a reaction to a small nighttime rally at the city’s Lee Park led by white nationalist Richard Spencer and others. Participants chanted, “We will not be replaced," “Russia is our friend” and “Blood and soil,” a historic Nazi chant, ABC News reported. |
The protest came in response to a Nov. 28 city council vote to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee at the park and sell it. A court injunction has halted the removal for six months. The city also plans to rename Lee Park as well as another park named after Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. |
Signer called the protest “horrific," noting that it coincided with Lee Park’s Festival of Cultures event, which celebrates the city’s cultural and linguistic diversity. He said it wasn’t immediately clear whether the timing was intentional. |
Saturday night’s rally was actually the second event protesting removal of the Lee statue, local news reported. An earlier rally brought clashes between supporters of “white heritage” and detractors of the monument, WVIR-TV reported. Spencer said the afternoon demonstration, which was at the city's Jackson Park, was pe... |
Spencer, known for popularizing the phrase "alt right," spoke at the afternoon event, telling onlookers, “I'm here to take part in this great celebration of our heritage and to say 'no' to the city of Charlottesville. You're not going to tear down our statue and you're not going to replace us." |
Defense of the statue has become a rallying cry for Republican gubernatorial candidate Corey Stewart, a one-time chairman of Donald Trump’s Virginia campaign. |
Cries for removal of Confederate imagery nationwide began shortly after the 2015 shooting deaths of nine parishioners at historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., and the subsequent removal of the battle flag from the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse. The gunman was a self-avowed ... |
On Thursday, a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis was taken down in New Orleans, the second of four monuments in that city scheduled for removal. Late last month, the city removed a 35-foot tall granite obelisk tribute to whites who battled a biracial Reconstruction government installed in New Orleans afte... |
When it comes to the connected home, the early adopters have caught on, but the general public has yet to catch up. |
According to new research from Argus Insights, early consumer demand for home automation and security devices has dropped off, as early adoption has leveled off, and general consumers are finding the devices too complex for casual use. |
According to the company’s analysis of more than 12,000 consumer reviews of security cameras this year, for instance, consumers are reporting issues with camera liability and connectivity. These reviews are having a chilling effect on new purchases, as these reviews influence consumers researching the devices. |
Despite the drop in interest, the category will still likely be one of growth in the future. A drop-off in interest as technology broadens from early adopters to a larger general market has been seen in many categories, including tablets, organizers and computers, Feland says. |
The 34,688-square-foot estate is listing for $21 million. |
Tyler Perry’s former Atlanta house is on the market for $21 million. When Perry sold the home to its current owner in 2016 for $17.5 million, it was the highest sale on record for the Atlanta area, according to listing agent Chase Mizell of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. The current owner first list... |
Perry — creator of the Madea film franchise and writer of numerous plays, TV shows and several books — has been a prominent figure in entertainment since his film “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” debuted to box office success in 2005. The Madea franchise has grossed in excess of half a billion dollars domestically, accordi... |
In 2011, Forbes listed Perry as the highest-paid man in entertainment with an estimated $130 million in earnings. His TV credits include “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” and “The Haves and the Have Nots.” Perry recently moved his production company, Tyler Perry Studios, into the former Fort McPherson Army base in East Po... |
The European-style villa sits on 17 acres with an almost 35,000-square-foot main house that has seven bedrooms and 14 bathrooms. The foyer includes a grand double staircase with marble floors and Corinthian columns. |
The main-level dining room has hand-painted woodland scenes on the walls, a fireplace with fleur-de-lis-style carving and one of the home’s numerous crystal chandeliers. |
The lower level takes on a more medieval flair with vaulted ceilings, textured wall paint and golden-hued lighting that gives the appearance of candles. The home theater, spa room, resistance pool and lounge are on the lower level. |
A game room with mahogany wet bar, vaulted ceilings and several vintage-style chandeliers is on the upper level. |
A balcony running the full length of the back of the house overlooks a landscaped yard with a 70,000-gallon infinity pool and raised tennis courts above an indoor ballroom with catering kitchen. |
The home also has a wine cellar, sauna, a generator system that can power the entire estate, guardhouse and staff quarters. An indoor resistance pool installed by the current owner is adjacent to the spa room. On the lower level is a lounge near the home theater. Vaulted ceilings in a textured paint give the appearance... |
Two gated entrances and an advanced security system protect the property. |
Holdovers 'Suicide Squad' and 'Sausage Party' stay No. 1 and No. 2, respectively; Natalie Portman's directorial debut, 'A Tale of Love and Darkness,' finally opens at the specialty box office, while 'Hell or High Water' continues to impress. |
Timur Bekmambetov's Ben-Hur was shut out of the box-office chariot race this weekend, debuting to a mere $11.4 million from 3,804 theaters despite a hefty production budget of nearly $100 million and coming out behind a pair of smaller new films, War Dogs and Kubo and the Two Strings. |
Ben-Hur narrowly beat holdover Pete's Dragon to place No. 5. |
Overall, Warner Bros.' Suicide Squad stayed No. 1 in its third weekend, grossing $20.7 million from 3,924 theaters for a domestic cume of $262.3 million. Overseas, the anti-superhero film passed the $300 million mark after earning another $38 million from 64 markets for a global tally of $572.7 million. |
But that wasn't enough to best Illumination Entertainment and Universal's The Secret Life of Pets internationally. The animation tentpole, which is rolling out overseas more slowly, dethroned Suicide Squad to win the foreign weekend race with $45 million, putting its worldwide total at $674.5 million. |
Back in North America, Sausage Party, from Sony and Annapurna Pictures, took second place with $15.3 million from 3,103 locations for a strong 10-day domestic total of $65.9 million. The R-rated animated comedy dipped 55 percent. |
MGM partnered with Paramount in making Ben-Hur and put up 80 percent of the financing. Overseas, the epic rolled out in about a third of the marketplace, grossing $10.7 million for a global start of $22 million. It performed best in Mexico and Brazil. |
"This has definitely been a rough summer for remakes and sequels," said Rob Moore, vice chairman of Paramount. |
Younger moviegoers had virtually no interest in seeing Ben-Hur. According to MGM and Paramount, 95 percent of the audience was over the age of 25. The movie skewed slightly female (51 percent). |
Paramount's Noah (2014) and Fox's Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) were likewise big-budget offerings that hoped to appeal to all demos, including faith-based moviegoers. Noah opened to a solid $47 million, while Exodus: Gods and Kings took in only $24 million. |
Todd Phillips' first film since the Hangover trilogy, War Dogs, opened in third place with $14.3 million from 3,258 theaters. The war dramedy, which earned a B CinemaScore, stars Miles Teller and Jonah Hill and is loosely based on the true story of two young Florida men who became international arms dealers during the ... |
"There's no question this was a passion for Todd. It's smart and quirky, and these two actors turned in a great performance," said Warner Bros. domestic distribution chief Jeff Goldstein, who added that he's also elated with Suicide Squad, which will help deliver a record August in terms of industry box-office revenue. |
War Dogs, not surprisingly, drew more males (56 percent), while 51 percent of ticket buyers were over the age of 35. |
Internationally, the pic debuted to $6.5 million from 31 markets for a global bow of $20.8 million. War Dogs cost just under $50 million to make. |
The well-reviewed Kubo and the Two Strings, which grabbed an A CinemaScore, placed No. 4 with an $12.6 million debut from 3,260 theaters. It's the lowest opening for a Laika and Focus collaboration. |
Kubo centers on a young boy who embarks on a quest to unlock the secret of his legacy and fulfill his heroic destiny. Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, George Takei, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Rooney Mara and Matthew McConaughey star as the voice cast. |
Pete's Dragon, from Disney, took in another $11.33 million for a domestic total of $42.9 million and a global cume of $57.1 million. |
The critically acclaimed heist film Hell or High Water, from CBS Films and Lionsgate, continued to do nice business in its limited rollout, grossing $2.7 million as it expanded from 32 theaters to a total of 472 for an early domestic total of $3.5 million. The movie, billed as a modern-day Western, is scoring both in a... |
Also at the specialty box office, Natalie Portman's directorial debut, A Tale of Love and Darkness, finally opened more than a year after premiering at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. The historical biographical film, in which Portman also stars, debuted to $36,000 from two theaters in New York and Los Angeles for an av... |
Focus Features' division Focus World, a theatrical-VOD label, is handling Love and Darkness. |
Q: Do medics and cops get bridges to wait for them? |
Say there’s a pursuit or a patient being transported after a shooting – do authorities call to get the bridge to wait for them? |
A: It’s possible, but not common, Seattle police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said. |
“Its no different than a train crossing the tracks,” he said. “We’re subject to it and let people to know to take alternate routes. |
Whitcomb wasn’t aware of a time when bridge operators held one open during a major pursuit, though he said it’s possible police could request that. |
[ Academia ] [ Litigation ] [ Regulatory & Policy ] [ Transactional ] as a Related Elective for those interested in Human Rights : Environmental lawyers should understand the methods and concerns of the environmental justice movement, particularly the perspective it uses to consider environmental harms. Future civil ri... |
This course will introduce environmental justice as a social movement, including its central substantive concerns (the needs of humans in the built environment rather than the need to protect the environment from humans) and its methods (community-based political organizing rather than professionalized judicial or legi... |
I'm your Taking Action Reporter Jackie Callaway. My Husband and I made Tampa our home 7 years ago. We love it here. I'm a San Francisco native and a Florida transplant who graduated from the University of Central Florida. I landed one of my first jobs here in Tampa working as a morning anchor for 970 WFLA Radio. Even t... |
In 2003 we launched the 'Taking Action' segment. From day one, the job fit like a glove... It's my pleasure, passion and privilege to be able to right wrongs for our viewers while holding businesses and others accountable for the products they provide and services they sell. Along the way I've picked up awards from the... |
For me, it's all about making sure you get what you pay for and sometimes exposing those who routinely take advantage of Bay Area residents. To date, our Taking Action team has assisted thousands of local consumers in obtaining goods, services, refunds and repairs totaling millions of dollars. If you are dealing with a... |
When I'm not working, you'll find me at the beach or park with my children, Carmen and Gage, or possibly in the gym. I'm a fitness buff who also enjoys volunteering. Since 2003 I have been involved with the Multiple Sclerosis Society and their annual MS Walk at Lowry Park Zoo. |
Blood donations are still a major need in the community. |
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Jewish Hospital hosted a Valentine’s Day blood drive on Tuesday to help individuals in Louisville who are in need of blood. |
Blood is critical to patients during emergent and scheduled treatment situations. |
Nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S. |
On average, it only takes 8-10 minutes for someone to donate a pint of blood. |
If you missed Tuesday’s blood drive, you can always donate blood at the American Red Cross. |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Critics have been doubting that Rajon Rondo can ever become an elite player again. The veteran point guard, now with the Sacramento Kings, proved Friday night he still has some game. |
“That was the Rondo of old,” teammate Omri Casspi said. |
In August 1994 in Baltimore, 17-year-old Kenyatta Johnson lost his life after being shot at point blank range at a street corner in an argument over $8. |
Although the killer less than a few years later received a life sentence, Johnson’s mother, Rhonda, left behind a good-paying job as an employment counselor in Baltimore and relocated to Rocky Mount to better cope with the loss of her son. |
Rhonda Johnson was in the cafe and restaurant business in Rocky Mount for a time, also feeding homeless and sick people and making sure teenagers stayed out of trouble. |
Last year, Johnson, a community activist, decided to host an Angel Moms dinner at the Booker T. Washington Community Center, timed for Mother’s Day weekend. Johnson said she did so due to the loss of her son, which she noted is something a mother never gets over. |
She said instead of having an unhappy Mother’s Day, she wanted to do something for other mothers who have lost their children so they could celebrate their children’s lives. |
The 2019 Angel Moms dinner gathering is set for 4-7 p.m. May 11 in larger space at the Booker T. Theater. |
As part of the program, mothers of the deceased children are given the microphone so they can tell stories in an upbeat manner. |
She also said plans are for Edgecombe County native Milton Bullock, of the Motown group The Platters, to sing. |
She emphasized the importance of people knowing the angel moms are not forgotten because children are murdered daily or die of accidents or illnesses. |
Johnson spoke of the success of last year’s gathering, which included entertainment, flowers, food and gifts and photographers taking pictures. |
“We had 60-something moms show up,” Johnson said. “And originally it was supposed to, I thought, be for moms that lost their children to violence. But then so many other mothers were contacting me that had lost kids in other ways and were so hurt. |
“And, of course, I didn't turn ‘em down. I said, ‘No, this thing is going to be for any angel mom that has lost a child’,” she said. |
As for the future, she said she would like to try to get some sort of an organization together for her and fellow angel moms. She said that is because a lot of them need help with a variety of details and matters, including getting headstones for their children. |
“A lot of ‘em aren’t just prepared to lose a child,” she said. |
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