Transgender Professor's Discrimination Suit Reveals Uneven LGBT Workplace Rights

As the Justice Department takes up the case of Rachel Tudor, transgender rights advocates are celebrating a legal turning point that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are still waiting to see: federal civil rights protection against workplace discrimination.



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Message from the GM

At the March Board of Directors' meeting, a certificate of appreciation was given to the Cameron Park Rotary Club for its contributions to the improvement of Hacienda Park, including the Americans with Disabilities Act pathway, benches, small dog park and the Little Free Lending Library. A certificate of appreciation was also provided to the Church of the Foothills for their volunteers who serve the popular senior lunch program.



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GoLocalProv | Business | NEW: Cilantro Mexican Grill Ordered to Pay $100K in Back Wages by Dept. of Labor

Cilantro Mexican Grill restaurant chain must pay over $100K in wages and damages to 32 underpaid employees following a US Labor Department investigation . The restaurant failed to pay cooks and servers time and a half when they worked more than 40 hours per week, according to findings by the US Labor Department.



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Buffalo Niagara unemployment drops to lowest mark in 7 years

The jobless rate in the Buffalo Niagara metropolitan area declined by more than a full point in the past year on the heels of a big lift in the labor market. The state Department of Labor said Tuesday that the unemployment rate for Buffalo was 6.4 percent for February compared to 7.5 percent in the same month last year.



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Candidates should keep millennials' opinions in mind

The recently released 2015 Millennial, Sexuality, and Reproductive Health Survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute indicates that people of good faith come to different conclusions on issues such as reproductive rights, sexual assault and workplace equality while still finding common ground in the belief that decisions regarding reproduction and women's health care are foundational to the American way of life. The report notes that majorities of millennials in all major religious groups, including white evangelical Protestants , white Catholics and Hispanic Catholics , believe it morally acceptable to use contraception.



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Employees Sue Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Over Minimum Wage Violations

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que doesn't pay its employees fair wages or overtime and makes them split tips with the kitchen staff and managers, according to a class action lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court. Former employee Ashley Hankins, who worked there from July 2012 to January 2015, claims that the rib joint forced waitstaff and bartenders - both of whom received a reduced minimum wage - to perform "back-of-the-house" tasks like stocking, cleaning, brewing coffee, and refilling condiments, a violation of state laws.



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Press release distribution, EDGAR filing, XBRL, regulatory filings

HALCN INVESTOR ALERT BY THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL OF LOUISIANA: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Proposed Amendment of Halcn Resources Corporation Convertible Note and Warrants )--Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC , announces that KSF has commenced an ... )--Re: AB Sveriges Sakerstallda Obligationer SEK 500,000,000.00 MATURING: 02-Jul-2019 ISIN: XS1083839503 PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE INTEREST RATE FOR THE PERIOD 02-Ap... )--Advanced Cash, un sistema de pago online versatil y facil de usar, anuncio que empezaron a trabajar con BitPay, lider mundial en procesamiento de pagos en bitc... )--Advanced Cash, an easy to use and versatile online payment system, announced they started working with BitPay, the world's leading bitcoin payment processor, t... )--Re: More Boligkreditt AS SEK 150,000,000.00 ... (more)



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Jos. A. Bank laying off 122 after Men's Wearhouse merger

Retailer Jos. A. Bank Clothiers says it's laying off 122 workers at its Hampstead headquarters nearly one year after announcing its acquisition by Men's Wearhouse.



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Scribd Must Comply With The Americans With Disabilities Act

The Americans With Disabilities Act is an important civil rights law intended to ensure that people with physical disabilities can enjoy the same social and economic interactions as everyone else. The law had ambitious visions about social equality, but the statute codified a pre-Internet view of the world.



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Are Settlement Attempts Still Required for EEOC Charges?

Should attempts to settle discrimination lawsuits with the EEOC be made in good faith? Employers in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana think so and hope the Supreme Court of the United States will agree. Last month, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in an appeal from a case in the Seventh Circuit, which ruled last December that employers cannot defend a discrimination lawsuit based on the failure of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to engage in good faith conciliation efforts prior to suing an employer.



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Jos. A. Bank laying off 122 after Mena s Wearhouse merger

Retailer Jos. A. Bank Clothiers says it is laying off 122 workers at its Maryland headquarters nearly one year after announcing its acquisition by Men's Wearhouse.



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2 South Brunswick companies cited by OSHA

Two companies in the Dayton section were cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health for alleged violations following inspections, according to an OSHA statement. South Brunswick companies cited for alleged violations by OSHA Two companies in the Dayton section were cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health for alleged violations following inspections, according to an OSHA statement.



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Olney students gain deeper understanding of Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks Middle School eighth-grader Michael Manago and his classmates examine materials from the ìCivil Rights Act of 1964” exhibit at Library of Congress. Students from Rosa Parks Middle School in Olney take in the ìCivil Rights Act of 1964” exhibit at the Library of Congress.



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Rochester area unemployment rate drops to 6 percent

Rochester's economy continues to show promise this year, with an increase in the number of jobs and a decline in the unemployment rate in February, the state Department of Labor reported Tuesday. The Rochester metro area's jobless rate was 6 percent last month, down from 6.9 percent in February 2014.



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State unemployment rate dips below 4 percent

The Vermont Department of Labor released data showing that the percentage of people actively seeking jobs but not finding employment fell from 4.1 percent in January. The lowest unemployment rates were 3.0 percent and 3.3 percent in the Burlington-South Burlington and White River Junction areas, respectively.



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Best Practices in Social Media for Employers Part 3 - Disciplining...

As discussed previously , adopting a National Labor Relations Act -compliant social media policy is the first step in ensuring that the policy can be enforced. However, employers should also be aware of the potential risks associated with disciplining employees for violations of such a policy.



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Albany region's unemployment rate drops in February

The Albany metro had the second-lowest unemployment rate in New York in February, according to data released from the state Department of Labor. Unemployment in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy area was 5.1 percent in February, down from 6.1 percent during the same month last year.



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Succeed Management Solutions, LLC Introduces a Trenching and Shoring...

Succeed's clients can now reduce injuries, fatalities, and regulatory penalties by training workers on safe trenching and shoring practices On March 19th, OSHA announced in a Regional News Release that a Houston-based construction company exposed employees to severe excavation hazards. After an OSHA investigation, the employer was cited "for one repeat and two serious trenching violations."



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Jobs grow, as unemployment nudges up

After nudging down the last few months, joblessness in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area headed up in February, two tenths of a percentage point to 6.2 percent. Data released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry showed more of the region's residents working.



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OSHA: Safety Violations Found At South Brunswick Companies

The U.S. Department of Labor has found safety violations at two South Brunswick clothing companies that supply some of the nation's largest apparel retailers, authorities said. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a total of more than $64,000 in fines to the two companies, which are both at the same location and share management, maintenance employees and safety departments, authorities said.



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What Small Nonprofits Should Keep In Mind

It seems to me that more individuals are striking out and starting their own businesses, which include social enterprises and nonprofit ventures. As an entrepreneur, I think it's great to have more people creating something for themselves, especially when it helps society.



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Mohawk Promotes John Macy to Senior VP and CFO, Hires Bob Smusz

March 31, 2015 - Mohawk announced that John P. Macy has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, responsible for directing Mohawk's financial function including management of treasury activities, banking relations, cash management, insurance coverage, ERISA/pension, credit agreements and internal and external financial reporting. Macy began with Mohawk as Vice President, Corporate Treasurer in 2012.



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Best Practices in Social Media for Employers Part 3 -...

As discussed previously , adopting a National Labor Relations Act -compliant social media policy is the first step in ensuring that the policy can be enforced. However, employers should also be aware of the potential risks associated with disciplining employees for violations of such a policy.



http://ift.tt/19ysJoj

Press release distribution, EDGAR filing, XBRL, regulatory filings

HALCN INVESTOR ALERT BY THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL OF LOUISIANA: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Proposed Amendment of Halcn Resources Corporation Convertible Note and Warrants )--Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC , announces that KSF has commenced an ... )--Re: AB Sveriges Sakerstallda Obligationer SEK 500,000,000.00 MATURING: 02-Jul-2019 ISIN: XS1083839503 PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE INTEREST RATE FOR THE PERIOD 02-Ap... )--Advanced Cash, un sistema de pago online versA til y fA cil de usar, anunciA3 que empezaron a trabajar con BitPay, lA der mundial en procesamiento de pagos en bitc... )--Advanced Cash, an easy to use and versatile online payment system, announced they started working with BitPay, the world's leading bitcoin payment processor, t... )--Re: More Boligkreditt AS SEK 150,000,000.00 ... (more)



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Region's jobless rate nudges higher

After nudging down the last few months, joblessness in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area headed up in February two tenths of a percentage point to 6.2 percent. Data released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry showed more of the region's residents working.



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19 Democratic Senators Urge DOL To Implement Fair Pay And Safe Workplaces Executive Order

On July 31, 2014, President Obama signed the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order , which imposes additional disclosure and compliance obligations on federal government contractors with contracts valued at $500,000 or more. Among other things, the Order will require contractors to disclose violations of numerous labor, employment, wage payment and safety laws during the contract bidding process.



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Rand Paul doesn't 'believe' in gay rights

Sen. Rand Paul doesn't think the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should have prohibited private businesses from discriminating against black people, so really, nothing that comes out of his mouth should be surprising at this point. Still: "I don't think I've ever used the word gay rights, because I don't really believe in rights based on your behavior," the Kentucky Republican told reporters in a videotaped interview that has received little attention since it was recorded in 2013.



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Syracuse area unemployment for February dropped

According to numbers released today by the state Department of Labor, unemployment in the Syracuse area fell to 6.3 percent in February from 7.3 percent in February 2014. Numbers released last week show that the Syracuse area gained 1,200 jobs in February when compared with the previous year.



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Restaurant chain to pay more than $100,000 in wages, damages

A Rhode Island restaurant chain must pay more than $100,000 to 32 employees after a federal investigation of its seven locations revealed the company had failed to pay overtime. The U.S. Department of Labor announced Tuesday that Cilantro Mexican Grill did not pay cooks and servers the legally mandated time-and-a-half rate when they worked more than 40 hours a week.



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Jenny Murray posted a blog post

Depending on whom you ask, you're likely to get a range of opinions and justifications. From a candidate's perspective, the answer is going to be a resounding, "Are you kidding me, of course! That's why I took time to attend this career fair in the first place."



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'Garda whistleblowers are still victimised' - Mick Wallace TD

He said "whistlebblowers" within the force were still being bullied and harassed while the subject of their allegations were being kept up to date about all allegations against them. In the Dail the Independent TD for Wexford told the Taoiseach that an Athlone-based garda had gone to Mr Kenny's constituency office twice to raise concerns about a garda superintendent.



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OSHA: Safety Violations Found At Middlesex County Companies

The U.S. Department of Labor has found safety violations at two South Brunswick clothing companies that supply some of the nation's largest apparel retailers, authorities said. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a total of more than $64,000 in fines to the two companies, which are both at the same location and share management, maintenance employees and safety departments, authorities said.



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Council Members Cap Women's History Month With Bill to Help Moms Return to Work

Unveiled by Manhattan Councilman Benjamin Kallos, Brooklyn Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo and Brooklyn Councilman Robert Cornegy on the final day of Women's History Month, the bill was designed to help women overcome workplace discrimination and other barriers to unemployment by utilizing the city's 18 Workforce1 career assistance centers, Mr. Kallos said. "It's the last day of Women's History Month, but gender equity should be a 365-day-a-year endeavor," he said.



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Ready to Work Partnership grant awarded to WSOS

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $6,122,500 Ready to Work Partnership grant to WSOS Community Action Commission to train 600 long-term unemployed and veterans seeking work in middle and high-skilled occupations across 17 counties in Ohio. The grant will help individuals reach their goals of education, training, and a stable job.



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Jos. A. Bank laying off 122 at Maryland headquarters 1 year after buyout by Men's Wearhouse

Retailer Jos. A. Bank Clothiers says it is laying off 122 workers at its Maryland headquarters nearly one year after announcing its acquisition by Men's Wearhouse.



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Anxiety over Reasonable Accommodation under the ADA for Social Anxiety Disorder

Employers might be just a bit more anxious after learning that the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission defined the "ability to interact with others" as a major life activity, bringing social anxiety disorder into the scope of protection afforded by the Americans with Disabilities Act . The Fourth Circuit, in the case of Jacobs v.



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Cilantro Mexican Grill to Pay $100k in Back Wages and Fines for Not Paying Overtime

The U.S. Department of Labor said the chain also used minors to deliver food in violation of child labor provisions. The Cilantro Mexican Grill restaurant chain in Rhode Island will pay more than $100,000 in back wages to 32 employees who were denied overtime pay or paid straight time for overtime in cash in violation of labor laws, the U.S. Department of Labor announced on Tuesday.



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No thanks, Obama; retail, restaurant managers say they don't want overtime

A National Retail Federation survey found that many retail and restaurant managers want to remain as salaried workers, instead of being reclassified as hourly employees, which would make them eligible for overtime. President Barack Obama wants to give restaurant and retail managers a raise, and they don't want any part of it.



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Notice of Public Meeting

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Notice is hereby given that the Board of Commissioners, Carbon County, State of Utah, will hold a Regular Public Meeting in the Commission Room of the Courthouse Building, 120 East Main, Price, Utah, Commencing at 4:30 PM, on Wednesday April 01, 2015. AGENDA 1) Present Retirement Plaque to Larry Prettyman.



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Public Hearing Notice

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 6th, 2015 at 4:00p.m. at the Association of Local Governments board room at 375 S. Carbon Ave, Price, UT. Members of the public who would like to participate by telephone may call 435 637-5444, dial 0 and ask the receptionist for extension 8098.



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DOJ Suing University in Oklahoma for Firing Transgender Professor

In December, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Department of Justice would be taking the position that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also protects transgender workers in its protections against sex discrimination. Monday they announced action because of this position, filing a lawsuit against Southeastern Oklahoma State University and the Regional University System of Oklahoma for violating Title VII.



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Unemployment in Pittsburgh region remains at 5.2 percent

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area remained stagnant from January to February at 5.2 percent, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Unemployment shrank by 500 people while the total labor force rose by 1,900 people in the area.



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Jos. A. Bank laying off 122 after Men's Wearhouse merger

A. Bank Clothiers says it is laying off 122 workers at its Maryland headquarters nearly one year after announcing its acquisition by Men's Wearhouse. The company revealed the plan Monday in a filing with the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.



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Cilantro Mexican Grill to pay over $100k to underpaid workers

Cilantro Mexican Grill is forced to pay over $100,000 in wages and damages to some of its employees after a U.S. Labor Department investigation. Investigation showed that the restaurant chain paid cooks and servers straight time instead of legally-required time and a half when they worked over 40 hours per week.



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The Absence of Evidence for Structural Change: Growth in Lawyer...

There have been a lot of doom-and-gloom reports about layoffs and collapsing job opportunities for lawyers. As we've noted before , the relevant question for valuing legal education is the boost to earnings from the law degree across occupations, not the more specific question of what is happening to lawyers, or even more specifically, big law firms.



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Jos. A. Bank laying off 122 at Maryland headquarters 1 year after buyout by Men's Wearhouse

Retailer Jos. A. Bank Clothiers says it is laying off 122 workers at its Maryland headquarters nearly one year after announcing its acquisition by Men's Wearhouse.



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Jos. A. Bank laying off 122 after Men's Wearhouse merger

Retailer Jos. A. Bank Clothiers says it is laying off 122 workers at its Maryland headquarters nearly one year after announcing its acquisition by Men's Wearhouse.



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Jos. A. Bank laying off 122 after Men's Wearhouse merger

Retailer Jos. A. Bank Clothiers says it's laying off 122 workers at its Hampstead headquarters nearly one year after announcing its acquisition by Men's Wearhouse.



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Region's jobless rate rises to 6.2%

The unemployment rate in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area rose to 6.2 percent in February, from 6 percent the month before, largely because the labor force - the number of people working or looking for work - rose by 1,500. According to a report released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry, among people who live in the area defined by Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties, 900 more were working and 500 more were unemployed in February than in January.



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York County's unemployment rate drops to 4.8 percent in February

York County's unemployment rate improved to a seasonally adjusted 4.8 percent in February, as local governments added 300 jobs and employers in healthcare and education added 600 positions, the state Department of Labor & Industry said Tuesday. Meanwhile, Adams' County's unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in February.



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Workplace Anxiety and the ADA

For employers, weighing an employee's health issues with workplace concerns, such as employee safety and productivity, often requires a delicate balance. The challenge may be even greater when handling issues related to mental health.



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A 'Forceful' Call to Rescue Democracy: Peter Richardson on Robert Scheer's New Book

Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer's new book, " They Know Everything About You: How Data-Collecting Corporations and Snooping Government Agencies Are Destroying Democracy ," continues the important work on the abuse of power he began five decades ago, writes Peter Richardson at The National Memo. "For democracy," [Scheer] claims in the book's first sentence, "privacy is the ball game."



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Feds delay health benefit summary requirements

The U.S. Department of Labor said Monday that it has delayed a deadline for providing new summary of benefits and coverage statements to group health plan members under federal health care reform rules. The health care reform law requires group health plans and health insurers to provide summaries of benefits and coverage that "accurately the benefits and coverage under the applicable plan or coverage" during open enrollment periods.



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Fmr. VA Employee: Amount of Narcotics Meds from Tomah is "Irrefutably Unsafe"

Whistleblowers and family members of veterans who died at a Tomah Department of Veterans Affairs medical center said they want lawmakers to enforce accountability and reform the hospital. A pair of U.S. House and Senate committees heard testimony Monday on allegations of narcotic over-prescribing practices and retaliatory behavior at the Tomah VA hospital.



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Whistleblowers, families ask for accountability at Tomah VA

Whistleblowers and family members of veterans who died at a Tomah Department of Veterans Affairs medical center say they want lawmakers to enforce accountability and reform the hospital. A pair of U.S. House and Senate committees heard testimony Monday on allegations of narcotic overprescribing practices and retaliatory behavior at the Tomah VA hospital.



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WHL Bill Passes Out of House Labor Committee

The bill which would exempt players in the WHL on Washington based teams from state labor laws was passed by the Washington State House Labor Committee by a 5-2 vote this morning and now heads to the House floor. The bill had previously passed unanimously through the State Senate.



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Members of EEOC workplace harassment task force selected

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Monday announced the membership of a Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace that will reflect a wide range of perspectives. The task force , which was announced by EEOC Chair Jenny R. Yang in January, will examine the problem of workplace harassment in all its forms and look for ways by which it might be prevented and addressed, the EEOC said in a statement.



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Testimony blasts pain practices at Tomah VA

House and Senate committees heard testimony on Monday, regarding the opiate painkiller scandal at the Tomah Veterans Administration Medical Center.



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Douglas County fined for violating child labor laws

A federal agency has fined Douglas County for violating child labor laws by letting four teenagers load a wood chipper last summer. The U.S. Department of Labor issued $3,100 in fines after discovering that four underage employees operated a wood chipper while temporarily working on a maintenance crew for the county engineer.



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Supreme Court Sends UPS Pregnancy Accommodation Case to Trial

The U.S. Supreme Court handed a defeat to United Parcel Service this week. At issue was whether UPS violated the Pregnancy Discrimination Act by requiring a pregnant woman with lifting restrictions to go on leave during her pregnancy, while workers in certain other categories were allowed light duty.



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Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds a Narrow Definition of 'Whistleblowers'

On Friday, March 27, 2015, the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld a Court of Appeals decision that in order to be a "whistleblower," an employee must "blow the whistle" to someone aside from the perpetrator of the alleged illegal activity about which the employee is blowing the whistle. , had been accepted for review by the Supreme Court because it involved the unique scenario of the alleged illegal actor also being the owner of the whistleblower's employer.



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Supreme Court to hear Eighth Amendment cases

Carr [SCOTUSblog backgrounder], consolidating them for oral argument. These cases examine whether the Eighth Amendment [text] right to an "individualized sentencing" was violated by the decision not to sever the sentencing phase of a co-defendant's trial.



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Barron company facing penalties from OSHA

Once again, workers were exposed to dangerous amputation hazards while fabricating metal products because safety mechanisms were not in place at Koser Iron Works Inc. Responding to a complaint, inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found during an inspection initiated on Oct. 1, 2014, two willful, four repeated and 12 serious safety violations, including lack of training and personal protective equipment. The agency has proposed fines of $102,180 for the Barron-based company.



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Labor Dept. Employee Under Review After Tweet Saying Christians 'Vote for Nazis'

An economist at the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics is undergoing a review after she apparently sent out a tweet claiming that Christians "vote for Nazis." "People in the red states vote for nazis to govern, and then call themselves Christian, it will not end well for them.



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Jos. A. Bank laying off 122 at Hampstead headquarters

Jos. A. Bank is laying off 122 employees at its Hampstead headquarters by the end of the year, the first significant local job reductions since the men's clothier was acquired by rival Men's Wearhouse last year. The layoffs, which will take place between May 29 and the end of the year, were disclosed to the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.



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Supreme triangulation

The jury did not buy her story that the firm's male partners had mistreated and fired her because of her sex. Earlier last week, the Supreme Court issued a less-noticed but potentially more consequential Peggy Young , a former driver for United Parcel Service , was rebuffed in 2006 when, on her doctor's advice, she asked to be relieved from heavy lifting during her pregnancy.



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Still Waiting for Those New Proposed FLSA Overtime Regulations

You may recall that over a year ago, President Obama directed the Secretary of Labor to "modernize and streamline" the existing Fair Labor Standards Act overtime regulations , specifically with respect to the "white collar" exemptions. The FLSA's white collar exemptions apply to covered executive, administrative, professional, and outside sales employees.



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Jos. A. Bank to lay off 122 at Hampstead headquarters

Jos. A. Bank will lay off 122 employees from its Hampstead corporate location by the end of the year in the first large-scale job cuts made public since rival Men's Wearhouse Inc. purchased the clothing retailer last year.



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State closer to fake service animal crackdown

A bill that makes it a misdemeanor to pass your pooch off as a service dog passed the House on Friday and has its first committee stop in the Senate this afternoon. HB 71 received a unanimous vote on the House floor on Friday, after breezing through three committees with unanimous votes.



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EEOC backs Mount de Sales band director in discrimination case

A federal agency says it's found reasonable cause to believe that Mount de Sales Academy discriminated against a gay teacher. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a Jan.30 determination in a complaint filed by Flint Dollar.



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Food warehouse to pay nearly $200k in fines, fix safety flaws

Unicold Corp. has agreed to pay $197,000 in penalties and to make health and safety improvements at its refrigerated food warehouse in Honolulu's airport area. The agreement ends two years of litigation between the Honolulu-based company and the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as the Hawaii state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.



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ERISA: 6 New Trends in DOL Enforcement Actions

The U.S. Department of Labor and the Employee Benefits Security Administration just issued a "Fact Sheet" describing Fiscal Year 2014 civil and criminal enforcement activity under ERISA. . In 2014, DOL closed 365 criminal investigations: that is about 30% more than 4 years earlier.



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Jos. A. Bank to lay off 122 at Hampstead headquarters

Jos. A. Bank occupies about 900,000 square feet of real estate in Carroll County, including this building at 500 Hanover Pike in Hampstead. Jos. A. Bank will lay off 122 employees from its Hampstead corporate location by the end of the year in the first large-scale job cuts made public since rival Men's Wearhouse Inc. purchased the clothing retailer last year.



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'Conflicted' Advice Costs $17 Billion a Year, Says Trial Lawyers

WASHINGTON "Conflicted advice" has cost consumers $80 billion in the five years since the Dodd-Frank Act passed, according to a trial lawyers' association. Inaction by the Securities and Exchange Commission on a fiduciary standard has cost American investors $17 billion per year, according to the report by the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association , Norman, Okla.



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Cabbies protest bills that would allow ride-share services

Cab drivers and public-safety advocates gathered outside the state capitol and the Grant Sawyer State Office in Las Vegas today to protest proposed legislation to legalize ride-share services like Uber. The protests dovetailed with the hearing of two bills, SB439 and SB440, that would set guidelines for companies using smartphone applications to connect passengers with ride services.



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Union Workers Gather At Spring Training To Support Underpaid Minor Leaguers

Hoping to bring awareness to the conditions under which minor-league players work, and more specifically the wages they earn, which often falls below minimum wage, the United Food and Commercial Workers' union and its allies are gathering at four different spring training games this weekend to show support and provide information to questioning fans. According to Ted Berg of USA Today Sports , the union had scheduled rallies at games in Tampa and Lakeland, Fla.



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Supreme Court To Decide if Employees Can Avoid Repaying Insurance Plan By Spending The Money

I am a senior editor at Forbes, covering legal affairs, corporate finance, macroeconomics and the occasional sailing story. I was the Southwest Bureau manager for Forbes in Houston from 1999 to 2003, when I returned home to Connecticut for a Knight fellowship at Yale Law School.



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Most minor league players earn between $3,000 and $7,500 for a five-month season

Hoping to bring awareness to the conditions under which minor-league players work, and more specifically the wages they earn, which often falls below minimum wage, the United Food and Commercial Workers' union and its allies are gathering at four different spring training games this weekend to show support and provide information to questioning fans. According to Ted Berg of USA Today Sports , the union had scheduled rallies at games in Tampa and Lakeland, Fla.



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Olney students gain deeper understanding of Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks Middle School eighth-grader Michael Manago and his classmates examine materials from the ìCivil Rights Act of 1964” exhibit at Library of Congress. Students from Rosa Parks Middle School in Olney take in the ìCivil Rights Act of 1964” exhibit at the Library of Congress.



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Everything Must Go? Dealership's Service Advisors Not Exempt from Overtime

Classifying employees as exempt or non-exempt can prove to be an arduous task for some employers. For others, however, the classification is easy, particularly where the state or federal authorities expressly spell out the employees at issue.



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Sen. Casey demands release of John Hopkins black lung report

U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, Jr. is demanding to see the findings of Johns Hopkins internal review of a controversial radiology program that for years reviewed x-rays of coal miners on behalf of coal companies and rarely found miners to have serious black lung disease - decisions that helped prevent them from obtaining much-needed financial support. "My constituents and coal miners and their families who have suffered the effects of black lung and the wrongful denial of black lung benefits claims are waiting for answers," wrote Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, in a letter to Johns Hopkins Medicine CEO Dr. Paul Rothman Friday.



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Read Full Article

Hoping to bring awareness to the conditions under which minor-league players work, and more specifically the wages they earn, which often falls below minimum wage, the United Food and Commercial Workers' union and its allies are gathering at four different spring training games this weekend to show support and provide information to questioning fans. According to Ted Berg of USA Today Sports , the union had scheduled rallies at games in Tampa and Lakeland, Fla.



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Union Workers Gather At Spring Training To...

Hoping to bring awareness to the conditions under which minor-league players work, and more specifically the wages they earn, which often falls below minimum wage, the United Food and Commercial Workers' union and its allies are gathering at four different spring training games this weekend to show support and provide information to questioning fans. According to Ted Berg of USA Today Sports , the union had scheduled rallies at games in Tampa and Lakeland, Fla.



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Government Economist Who Called Christians 'Nazis': I Was Hacked

What to do if you're a government economist who was publicly embarrassed after tweeting that Christians who support Religious Freedom Restoration Acts are Nazis? Why, pull out the Weiner defense and claim you were hacked! U.S. Department of Labor economist Elizabeth Ashack drew widespread condemnation for a tweet saying that "people in the red states vote for nazis [sic] to govern, and then call themselves Christian, it will not end well for them."



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Ira Financial Group Sees Strong Demand for Self-Directed Ira LLC From...

Self-directed IRA LLC for peer-to-peer lending gaining popularity as a strong alternative asset investment category in 2015. Self-directed IRA LLC for peer-to-peer lending gaining popularity as a strong alternative asset investment class in 2015 With the lack of financing opportunities available to some individuals and small businesses, IRA Financial Group's peer-to-peer lending self-directed IRA LLC solution will allow hard money lenders to make loans and defer the tax IRA Financial Group, the leading provider of self-directed IRA LLC solutions, announces the introduction of the special "checkbook control" IRA LLC solution for peer-to-peer lending investors.



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Senator Demands Release of Hopkins Black Lung Report

"My constituents and coal miners and their families who have suffered the effects of black lung and the wrongful denial of black lung benefits claims are waiting for answers," wrote Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, in a letter to Johns Hopkins Medicine CEO Dr. Paul Rothman Friday. "In the interest of full disclosure and transparency, I strongly urge you to publicly release the findings of your review."



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California fair pay bill could benefit Silicon Valley Latinas

When manufacturing engineer Julissa Ramirez was looking for a job in Silicon Valley about three years ago, she got a stark reminder of the pay gap between men and women. Most companies she applied to offered her "a lot less" than her husband's salary, also an engineer but without a masters degree like the one she holds, she said.



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Federal Government Economist Tweets: Indiana Christians - Nazis'

Since 1998, Elizabeth Ashack has worked as an economist for the US Department of Labor. Sunday, using her Twitter account, this government employee wrote "people in the red states vote for nazis to govern, and then call themselves Christian."



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Let them eat cake in Indiana?

Michael Sean Winters of the National Catholic Reporter offers his take on the Indiana mistake - hoping that the same legilstuare that passed its religious freedom act will pass an anti-discrimination act for gays and lesbians. . You can read his thoughts at The parallel here is not Hobby Lobby, it is Don't Ask, Don't Tell.



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Premier calls for external review on sexual harassment policies

Davis was responding to a question from NDP House Leader Lorraine Michael about a story in The Weekend Telegram regarding sexual harassment. The Telegram has been reporting on Valerie Penton's story.



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Young v. UPS Calls for a Review of Accommodations Offered to Pregnant Employees

On March 25, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a plaintiff can demonstrate at least a genuine dispute as to whether an employer violates the Pregnancy Discrimination Act by accommodating certain categories of injured or disabled employees, but not pregnant women. In Young v.



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Harry Reid says whistleblowerslobbing accusations at himare - a bunch of whiners'

Harry Reid says whistleblowers lobbing accusations at him are 'a bunch of whiners' Washington Times (DC), by David Sherfinski & Stephen Dinan



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Case Underscores Women's Fight for Equality

Abandon hope all ye women who enter the workplace expecting justice, or just a break. Fifty years after women began agitating, litigating and lobbying to end sexual harassment and gender discrimination, things are a bit better, but the struggle is far from over.



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Tomah VA Congressional Hearings Today

It takes place at 1pm this afternoon at the Cranberry Country Lodge. Congressman Ron Kind will be there.



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With Fiduciary Rules Pending, Get Your Compliance Act in Order -- Now

How Wells Fargo Serves the Ultra-Rich Ultrahigh-net-worth investors can have complex needs. That's why Abbot Downing, Wells Fargo's group serving investors with $50 million or more, has family historians and psychologists on staff.



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Don't "Dabble" in Employee Benefit Plan Auditing

For years, U.S. Department of Labor Chief Accountant Ian Dingwall has been advising employee benefit plan administrators to avoid using auditors who "dabble" in employee benefit plans. During this period, the DOL has consistently found that approximately one third of the employee benefit plan audits the agency reviews are deficient , and points to the firms that perform fewer than five of these audits as the most common offenders.



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Lesser-Evilism We Can Believe In

Should we put government in the hands of a party determined to subvert it, or a party - however flawed - that believes it still has a role to play in securing the common good? This article is part of The Nation 's 150th Anniversary Special Issue . Download a free PDF of the issue, with articles by James Baldwin, Barbara Ehrenreich, Toni Morrison, Howard Zinn and many more, here .



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Tonight: Columbus City Council to take up $12 million street contract

Less than a month after announcing its aggressive street-resurfacing plan Columbus is getting started on remaking 109 city streets. The Columbus City Council is expected to approve about $12 million in street resurfacing contracts at its meeting today at 5 p.m. at City Hall.



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Mortgage employment highest among non-banks

Mortgage Daily said of the 577,800 jobs in the mortgage industry in the fourth quarter 2014, the highest percentage was non-bank related employment. Mortgage jobs in banks were 228,200; 61,400 in credit unions; 288,100 were with non-bank companies.



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Proposed FLSA Exemption Changes Still In Limbo

Employers await with bated breath the release of the U.S. Labor Department's proposed new definitions for the federal Fair Labor Standards Act's Section 13 executive, administrative, professional, outside-sales, and derivative exemptions. Apparently, they will just have to keep waiting for how long, the U.S. Labor Department will not say.



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SEC Whistleblower Investigation Leads to Concern Over Protecting Confidential Information

A recent article from the Wall Street Journal indicates that the Securities & Exchange Commission began a formal inquiry into whether corporations are setting up their confidentiality agreements in ways that prevent their employees from reporting violations of securities law to the SEC. This article is just the most recent report of significant concerns about corporations trying to escape liability of violations, and it appears that the SEC is now ready to act on those concerns.



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Federal Eye: Lawmaker seeks ouster of Commerce Department inspector general

A top Democrat this week will ask President Obama to fire the Commerce Department's inspector general after a congressional probe uncovered a pattern of alleged misconduct, including retaliation against whistleblowers and the hiring of a suspected girlfriend. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson , the ranking Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, called for Todd Zinser's ouster during floor remarks Thursday.



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From the Editor: Banks' Fiduciary Opportunity

How Wells Fargo Serves the Ultra-Rich Ultrahigh-net-worth investors can have complex needs. That's why Abbot Downing, Wells Fargo's group serving investors with $50 million or more, has family historians and psychologists on staff.



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Hospital has second consecutive strong month

March is shaping up to be the busiest month in the Emergency Room at Newberry County Memorial Hospital, according to Bob Hetrick, member of the finance and compliance committee. Hetrick said that February was also a strong month for the hospital, with there being a little over $5 million in total operating revenue for the month.



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Young v. UPS and lifting guidelines for pregnant workers

In 2006, UPS driver Peggy Young became pregnant and asked for lighter-duty work that would comply with her doctor's advice to limit lifting . UPS denied her request.



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Public Invited to Potomac Yard Development Meeting on Tuesday

The public is invited to the Potomac Yard Metrorail Implementation Work Group meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers located in City Hall at 301 King Street. There will be an Open House prior to the meeting from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Workroom, also located in City Hall.



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From the Editor: Banks' Fiduciary Opportunity

Advisors on the Move: Merrill Loses Billion-Dollar Advisor, Lures Teams With $800M The wirehouse lost one of its biggest producers, but pulled in two teams from rivals RBC and UBS. Meanwhile, Baird lured away a $260M team from Morgan Stanley.



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Alexandria To Host 22nd Annual Earth Day April 25th

Alexandria will host the 22nd Annual Alexandria Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr., on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year's theme is "It's Your Turn to Lead!" highlighted by the Fifth Annual Upcycling Showcase. The showcase features students from the Alexandria City Public Schools showing their upcycling creations based on the theme by modeling fashions created by them from upcycled materials, as well as their music, dance, literature and visual arts.



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Top Obama Economist Calls Republicans 'Nazis' Over Religious Freedom Law

An economist with the U.S. Department of Labor who has a history of speaking to the press on behalf of the Obama administration took to Twitter to vent about Indiana's new religious freedom law enacted late last week. "people in the red states vote for nazis to govern, and then call themselves Christian, it will not end well for them.



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Dinosaur BBQ suit over tipped worker pay

A New York City law firm has filed a class action lawsuit which claims Dinosaur BBQ has not paid its tipped workers fair wages. The suit filed by Fitapelli & Schaffer, LLP alleges that the owners of the BBQ chain ignored the "tip credit" provision" of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law.



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Don't "Dabble" in Employee Benefit Plan Auditing

For years, U.S. Department of Labor Chief Accountant Ian Dingwall has been advising employee benefit plan administrators to avoid using auditors who "dabble" in employee benefit plans. During this period, the DOL has consistently found that approximately one third of the employee benefit plan audits the agency reviews are deficient , and points to the firms that perform fewer than five of these audits as the most common offenders.



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Government Economist: Christians Are 'Nazis' For Religious Freedom Act

A government employee has been caught calling "red state" Christians "nazis" for their support of Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Celebrities, journalists and even Hillary Clinton have attacked the law that was modeled on the federal RFRA signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993.



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Suspended East Syracuse fire chief: 'I'm not walking away without a fight'

Robert Russell, the East Syracuse fire chief who has been suspended from his post pending a hearing. (Photo by Elizabeth Doran Robert Russell, the East Syracuse fire chief suspended by the village, has now been served papers banning him from setting foot in the village's two fire stations or on the property.



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Health Care Educator Positions Are On The Rise In Dallas

As technology advances health care, the need for skilled, well-educated people to teach others is a necessity. Whether teaching in a formal classroom at an allied health institution, at a hospital as part of continuing education to develop new and advanced skills, or out in the community raising health awareness, health care educators are vital to the collective health of the world.



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Jefferson County's unemployment continues decline in February

The current total is an improvement from January's 5.4 percent in Jefferson County, and a major boost from the year-over-year number of 7.8 percent unemployment in the same month last year, according to the most recent data from the Alabama Department of Labor. Alabama improved statewide, seeing unemployment drop to 5.8 percent, down from 6.3 percent in January.



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Slott: R.I.P., Stretch IRA? Here Are Alternatives

Advisors on the Move: Merrill Loses Billion-Dollar Advisor, Lures Teams With $800M The wirehouse lost one of its biggest producers, but pulled in two teams from rivals RBC and UBS. Meanwhile, Baird lured away a $260M team from Morgan Stanley.



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The Coalition of Collective Investment Trusts (CCIT) Announces Awareness Week Plans

"We are excited to be working with the Coalition and its member companies in advancing this CIT Awareness Week," said , Partner with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, which serves as counsel to the CCIT. "This initiative is an important step toward achieving the Coalition's goal of providing education about collective investment trusts and adding in a meaningful way to the dialogue about them."



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Slott: R.I.P., Stretch IRA? Here Are Alternatives

How Wells Fargo Serves the Ultra-Rich Ultrahigh-net-worth investors can have complex needs. That's why Abbot Downing, Wells Fargo's group serving investors with $50 million or more, has family historians and psychologists on staff.



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Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska Join Texas as Plaintiffs

"The Obama Administration's attempt to force employers to recognize same-sex marriages would have put state agencies in the position of either violating Texas law or federal regulations. We are pleased that the Department of Labor's effort to override our laws via federal rulemaking has been halted, and we will continue to defend our sovereignty in this case."



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Protecting sources in the data retention age

On Thursday night the Senate voted in favour of the data retention legislation which means telecommunications companies will be forced to keep their customers' phone and internet records for two years. Media Watch has been criticised by a representative of the Media Direct whistleblower website over our program that provided advice for people wishing to leak information to the media without being traced.



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Lawmaker seeks ouster of Commerce Department inspector general

A top Democrat this week will ask President Obama to fire the Commerce Department's inspector general after a congressional probe uncovered a pattern of alleged misconduct, including retaliation against whistleblowers and the hiring of a suspected girlfriend. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson , the ranking Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, called for Todd Zinser's ouster during floor remarks Thursday.



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Congressional committees hold Tomah VA hearings today

UNDATED Members of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs will hear testimony on Monday, as they look into the practices at the Tomah VA Medical Center, allegations of over-prescribing opiates to veterans, and retaliatory behavior toward whistleblowers at the facility. The joint hearing is scheduled to get underway held at 1:00 p.m. at Cranberry Country Lodge in Tomah.



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Port Angeles man sentenced to prison after collecting nearly $200,000 in dead grandmother's benefits

A Port Angeles man who collected nearly $200,000 by claiming his grandmother was still alive years after her death has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. Morgan Michael Hopkins, 43, pleaded guilty to theft of public funds in connection with his scheme to collect and use survivor benefits owed to his grandmother, said acting U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.



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Does the NSW Premier have a mandate to privatise the poles and wires?

As the Government attempts to get its controversial metadata legislation through the Senate, Communication's Minister Malcolm Turnbull reassures whistleblowers, saying there is nothing to fear.



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miEdge and SourceMedia's Benefits Group Partner On Ground-Breaking Insurance Carrier, Broker Rankings

"miEdge is the first BI company to develop an independent ranking system based on information contained in form 5500s," said miEdge Founder and CEO Mark Smith. NEW BOSTON, NH, March 30, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- miEdge , the premiere provider of form 5500 business intelligence data solutions, has entered into a partnership with SourceMedia's Benefits Group under which miEdge is producing a series of exclusive rankings for SourceMedia's Employee Benefit Adviser and Employee Benefit News brands.



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GoLocalProv | Business | Smart Benefits: New FMLA Spouse Definition Now In Effect

On February 25, the Department of Labor issued a Final Rule revising the definition of spouse under the Family and Medical Leave Act and it took effect last Friday. Following the Supreme Court decision in United States v.



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Concerned Home Care Providers Inc LLC LLC v. Cuomo

CONCERNED HOME CARE PROVIDERS, INC., American Chore Services, Inc., dba City Choice Home Care Services, Community Home Care Referral Service, Inc., Eagle Home Care, LLC, Pella Care, LLC, and Platinum Home Health Care, Inc., Plaintiffs-Appellants, St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children, Plaintiff, v. Andrew M. CUOMO, and Nirav R. Shah, Defendants-Appellees.



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Trips secret out This IAS officer likes taking his office for a ride

Showing brazen disregard for service rules, a Punjab IAS officer went to Leh and stayed there for six days, to "attend" a training course that never happened. Organised by National Productivity Council , the course on "team performance for achieving excellence", planned for July 7 to 11, 2014, was postponed, but the officer showed participation and claimed Rs 1.86 lakh from the government for his six-day trip.



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OSHA to Hold Meeting of the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has scheduled a meeting of the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee for April 20-21, 2015, in Washington, D.C. The tentative agenda will include remarks from Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels, public comments and the Best Practices and Corporate Culture Work Group will give a presentation on April 21. The committee will meet from 1 4 p.m. ET, April 20 and 9 a.m. 4 p.m., April 21 in Room S-4215 A-C, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20210. Comments and requests to speak may be submitted electronically at http://ift.tt/MjwdZ7, the Federal eRulemaking Portal, by mail or facsimile.



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Congressional committees to hold Tomah field hearing

Members of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on VeteransA' Affairs will hear testimony on Monday, as they look into the practices at the Tomah VA Medical Center, allegations of over-prescribing opiates to veterans, and retaliatory behavior toward whistleblowers at the facility.



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5 Provisions to Reduce ERISA Litigation Risk

In a number of recent cases, courts have reminded litigants and practitioners that the focal point of any lawsuit under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 for benefits purportedly owed under the terms of an employee benefit plan is the plain language of the plan itself. As the U.S. Supreme Court has noted on a number of occasions, "The plan, in short, is at the center of ERISA."



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Harry Reid calls whistleblowers 'a bunch of whiners'

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, has been accused by several whistleblowers of trying to use political pressure to push through casino investor visa approvals. Mr. Reid called the whistleblowers "a bunch of whiners."



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Viet Nam progress in Davis Cup

Nguyen Hoang Thien beat Phillip King 6-1, 6-0 before Ly Hoang Nam defeated Hei Yin Andrew Li 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the singles matches. Distinguished scientists and experts in the field of urban planning raised many challenges at a conference yesterday to review Ha Noi's urban tree planning.



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Labor Dept. economist deletes tweet calling Christians 'Nazis' over Indiana law

It seems that Elizabeth Ashack, an economist with the Department of Labor, doesn't think too highly of Christians or conservatives. She made her feelings known in a tweet comparing Christians and conservatives to Nazis , but apparently fearing backlash, deleted the message.



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PILOT Questions

I hope you doing well. My purpose in writing this letter is to ask a couple of questions regarding PILOT property tax exemptions.



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'TXT L8R' Social Media Contest Offers $5,000 Scholarships

Indiana high school and college students have a choice: Use their smartphones behind the wheel and make a tragic mistake, or engage their social media followers to "Drive Now. TXT L8R."



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Obama Gets Chemical Safety Board Chief to Resign

The head of a U.S. industrial oversight agency who was dogged by congressional criticism has resigned at President Barack Obama's request, the White House said. U.S. Chemical Safety Board Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso stepped down on Thursday, a week after a bipartisan group of lawmakers asked Obama to fire him.



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19 high-paying jobs for people who don't like stress

Career-information expert Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D. , compared average salaries and stress levels of the 767 occupations identified by the US Department of Labor to identify jobs with that perfect combination of high pay and low stress, and it turns out there are plenty. The stress tolerance for each job is a rating on a scale from zero to 100, where a lower rating signals less stress.



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New program helps put juvenile offenders on path

Isaiah Batie, 18, center, says the Positive Pathways Program has made a big difference in his life. He says the program works because of Rachel Fulcher, P3 program coordinator, left, and Hannah Hansen, a P3 coach, are great to work with.



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Paid for two-hour delay? What's up with Red Lion teacher grievance

When the Red Lion Area School District asked teachers to make up conferences canceled last month because of a two-hour delay, the union filed a grievance asking they be paid extra for that time. The grievance also called for teachers to be compensated for any financial losses they might experience by having to hold the meetings.



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Suppressive Persons: 'Going Clear,' Scientology, and the Appeal of Absolutism

Here in America 2015, we love our heroes and villains. We've loved them in the America of pretty much every other year too, of course.



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Missouri city settles lawsuit filed by court administrator

An eastern Missouri's former municipal court administrator will receive $70,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging she was fired partly because of a cancer-related disability. Coreen Conroy said in a lawsuit against Dardenne Prairie that after she was subjected to ridicule after she had kidney surgery in 2010 following a cancer diagnosis.



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Lawsuit claims Dinosaur BBQ is not paying its tipped workers fairly

A New York City law firm has filed a class action lawsuit which claims Dinosaur BBQ has not paid its tipped workers fair wages. The suit filed by Fitapelli & Schaffer, LLP alleges that the owners of the BBQ chain ignored the "tip credit" provision" of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law.



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Bay County Holding Emergency Meeting Regarding Spring Break

The Bay County Board of County Commissioners will hold an Emergency Public Meeting in order to consider amendments to ordinances limiting alcohol sales after 2 a.m. in the unincorporated areas and may take other actions regarding Spring Break. The public meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, 2015 in the Bay County Government Center located at 840 West 11th Street, Panama City, FL.



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What People Don't Realize About Being Invisibly Queer Or Disableda

When you have a disability that doesn't require you use noticeable assistive devices such as wheelchairs or crutches, you are essentially invisible. Chronic pain, mental illnesses, diabetes; these are just a few examples of Since people can't tell what you are at first glance, they're more likely to show their ignorance, making insensitive statements and assuming things that aren't true.



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Regents approve $8.9 million capital budget

Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents approved an $8.9 million capital budget for 2015-2016 at its regular meeting March 17. This budget includes investment in health-related programs, the Honors College and student housing renovations. The focus area for 80 percent of this budget is improvement of academic and other facilities.



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Paddlers club creating unique recreation opportunity

When Matt Deneen approached Elizabethtown City Council last year, it was to change policy to allow more access for paddlers at Freeman Lake. Since the council meeting, Deneen and members of the recently formed Elizabethtown Paddlers Association have worked to give even more access to the lake, especially for those with disabilities.



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Field hearing set for Tomah

U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wausau, says whistle blowers, insiders and employees will testify Monday at a congressional hearing on the Tomah VA opiate abuse scandal. MIKE: SEVERAL MEMBERS OF WISCONSIN'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WILL BE IN WESTERN WISCONSIN TOMORROW FOR A HEARING ON THE SITUATION AT THE V-A HOSPITAL IN TOMAH.



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Weld County job gains continue in February

And the number of jobs in those industries is up by 100 in February 2015. Trade, transportation and utilities jobs grew by 1,800 over the year but is down by 100 in the month.



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Selectmen want numbers crunched on police station project

Echoing concerns raised by the chief of police at Town Meeting earlier this month, selectmen March 24 asked for a closer look at the financial impact of moving forward more quickly with plans to renovate the Forbes Municipal Building. "We know this work needs to be done," said Selectman Denny Drewry.



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West Shore road-construction projects to begin Monday

According to PennDOT, commuters in eastern Cumberland County will run into a number of road-repair projects starting Monday. Construction is set to begin Monday on several West Shore roads, and though no major delays are expected, commuters may run into some occasional traffic restrictions.



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Move to create respectful workplaces draws respect

Pierre Battah is Information Morning's Workplace Specialist. Battah & Associates is a management consulting firm specializing in Human Resource Management.



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Injunction granted against FMLA benefits for same sex couples

A Wichita Falls federal district judge on Thursday granted Attorney General Ken Paxton's request to temporarily stop the federal government from revising the Family and Medical Leave Act to include federal employees in same-sex unions. Paxton and attorneys general from Arkansas, Louisiana and Nebraska who sued the federal government "have demonstrated that irreparable injury would occur" if the change went into effect Friday, as scheduled, Judge Reed O'Connor said in his order .



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City of Birmingham Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting of April 14, 2015

The following appeals will be heard: Appeal No. 15-06: The owners of the property known as 645 S. Eton requests the following variance to allow for the use of the property as auto sales agency in the MX District: A. Chapter 126, Article 2, Section 2.39, Commercial Permitted Uses of the Zoning Ordinance does not permit the operation of an auto ... (more)



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Village of Franklin - Planning Commission Public Hearing

If you have any input or comments regarding the matter listed above, you are invited to attend the meeting or submit your written statement to the Village Clerk's office, Village of Franklin, 32325 Franklin Road, Franklin, MI 48025, 626-9666.



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Be a champ survivor

Q : My dad is 61 and terrified that he's going to lose his job to a younger person. I want to help, but don't know what to say to him.



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Senator Tammy Baldwin Speaks Out on Tomah VA Scandal

A field hearing on prescription opiate abuse at the Tomah Veterans Affairs Medical Center is set for Monday. Leading up to the hearing some Wisconsin lawmakers have been under fire for not doing enough to stand up to the VA.



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Port Angeles man sentenced to prison after collecting nearly $200,000 ...

A Port Angeles man who collected nearly $200,000 by claiming his grandmother was still alive years after her death has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. Morgan Michael Hopkins, 43, pleaded guilty to theft of public funds in connection with his scheme to collect and use survivor benefits owed to his grandmother, said acting U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.



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Oklahoma Capitol Boxscore for Sunday, March 29, 2015

A governor's panel issued a report Friday including a series of recommendations for improvements in services to people with disabilities. Coming up with a system to prioritize a waiting list for services.



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Watchdog says senior Homeland official broke no laws

In this July 25, 2013 file photo, Alejandro Mayorkas, then-President Obama's nominee to become deputy secretary of the Homeland Security Department, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. A new inspector general's report has concluded that Mayorkas, now the No.



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Behind construction's racial divide

" Blacks missing out on construction jobs " doesn't tell the whole story. While 13% of construction workers in the city are black, among unionized workers it's 21.3%, according to an Economic Policy Institute study.



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Late vets' family members to have their say about VA care

A construction contractor will relive the "most painful day" of his life when his veteran son died at a Wisconsin Veterans Affairs' center. A widow will recount receiving bags of pills in the mail for a husband who hadn't been home for months.



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Woman who stabbed Martin Luther King Jr. in 1958 dies at 98

Izola Ware Curry is escorted by a police officer after her arrest for stabbing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in New York in 1958.



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This Week in the War on Women

This week was not so much a week of new battles as a week of old battles rethought. And re-fought.



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NTI case is in the hands of justice with decision on April 1, 2015

"There are many disabled workers who want to work for a living. Some may want to just get by; however, others want to work to support their families," Alan Hubbart, CEO, of the National Telecommuting Institute.



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Ex-Henderson officer says anti-Muslim discrimination drove him to retire

Darrell Wade is shown with his wife Gail Evans-Wade during an interview at their home near South Eastern Avenue and Coronado Center Drive in Henderson on Monday, March 23, 2015. Wade, who is Muslim, says he retired early because of religious discrimination.



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Multiple factors influence higher rural wages

Higher average wages in two small rural northeastern Louisiana parishes over the past 10 years may not entirely represent increases in individual personal incomes but could also be a function of outward migrati Multiple factors influence higher rural wages Higher average wages in two small rural northeastern Louisiana parishes over the past 10 years may not entirely represent increases in individual personal incomes but could also be a function of outward migrati Check out this story on thenewsstar.com: http://tnsne.ws/1bF3dzd Higher average wages in two small rural northeastern Louisiana parishes over the past 10 years may not entirely represent increases in individual personal incomes but could also be a function of outward migration from those parishes.



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Enter the a Drive Now, TXT L8Ra contest and win a $5,000 scholarship

High school and college students can do one of two things with their phones: Either text and drive or enter 'Drive Now. TXT L8R' and earn a $5,000 scholarship! Lt.



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Feds offer job search assistance to Ala. mill workers

The U.S. Department of Labor is offering more than $800,000 to help former International Paper workers find new jobs. The Decatur Daily reports the funding is meant to help the 1,100 employees who worked at a now-shuttered International Paper plant.



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Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska Join Texas as Plaintiffs

"The Obama Administration's attempt to force employers to recognize same-sex marriages would have put state agencies in the position of either violating Texas law or federal regulations. We are pleased that the Department of Labor's effort to override our laws via federal rulemaking has been halted, and we will continue to defend our sovereignty in this case."



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RFRA Opponents Showing More Of Their Backside

The manipulation of public opinion through false information has no bounds. I've said before that I believed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act legislation was totally unnecessary; however, the fact remains RFRA never was characterized as representing government-sanctioned discrimination against any group of people, in particular gays, until the debate came to Indiana after 19 states had already enacted state RFRA laws modeled after the version passed by Congress more than two decades ago.



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Arkansas 'right to discriminate' bill clears Senate, may soon head to governor's desk

Arkansas is apparently jealous of all the attention Indiana is getting , so it's back for another whack at LGBT hate. They enacted a different hate law last month that prohibited any jurisdictions from passing nondiscrimination protections for LGBT folks.



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Nebraska tops in the nation for low unemployment

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nebraska's seasonally adjusted jobless rate dropped to 2.7 percent, 0.2 percent lower than North Dakota. In a news release, Department of Labor Commissioner John Albin called the ranking "an important milestone for our state that coincides with continued employment growth and strong workforce participation."



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The Unexpected Burden of Pregnancy at Work

When Latavia Johnson discovered she was expecting, she didn't know she was in for an unpleasant surprise at work. Newly hired at a Granite City, Illinois Walmart, she tried to follow medical advice and ask her managers for a job that didn't involve heavy lifting - it seemed a simple enough request, since her job was decorating cakes.



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Millions of Americans work successfully with mental illness

Mental illness is among the least talked about issues in the workplace, experts say, but millions of Americans live and work successfully while dealing with it. Investigators are looking into the medical history of Andreas Lubitz, the 27-year-old co-pilot who investigators believe steered Germanwings Flight 9525 into the French Alps, killing himself and the other 149 people on board.



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Parkland School District feasibility study to explore full-day kindergarten

The Parkland School Board on Tuesday approved a feasibility study that, among other things, will consider the Troxell building's future. (Precious Petty The Parkland School District is exploring the possibility of establishing an early childhood literacy center to house a full-day kindergarten program.



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ADA and e-commerce: What retailers should know

We are or should be familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act's requirements for accommodating the physically disabled. Wheelchair ramps, handicap stalls, handicap parking, lifts, and other items designed to assist the physically disabled are commonplace.



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Island Lake board settles disputes with two former employees

Ex-Water Department Supervisor Neal DeYoung will get a roughly $21,511 check from the village. Additionally, former Finance Director John Little will get an estimated $2,750 payout.



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ADA Interactive Process: It Sounds Easy, So Why Is It Hard?

The process for identifying reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act boils down to conversations between employers and employees with disabilities to identify accommodations. How hard can that really be? Be prepared in case things turn south, management attorneys recommend.



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UMN human research protections get regent approval

Dan Markingson, shown here in Los Angeles in August 2001, committed suicide in 2004 after enrolling in a clinical trial of an antipsychotic drug at the University of Minnesota. The board of regents expressed confidence in University of Minnesota leaders Friday while approving a plan for vast improvements in the protection of human research subjects.



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Sen. Grassley: DHS Must Hold Top Official Accountable for Acts of Democrat Favoritism

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is calling on Department of Homeland Security Sec. Jeh Johnson to hold Deputy DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas accountable for his actions while director of USCIS - granting EB-5 visa benefits to Democratically connected foreign investors. Earlier this week the DHS Inspector General released a report investigating allegations by numerous whistle-blowers.



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Larry Wilmore Knows The Real Reason Men Call Women 'Sluts'

Referencing a college student's infamous tweet that branded 13-year-old baseball star Mo'Ne Davis a "slut," Wilmore called for widespread recognition that the term "slut" has nothing to do with a woman's actions -- or perceived actions. Back in my day, a slut was a girl who developed faster than you both physically and emotionally, she dabbled in healthy sexual experimentation, which was intimidating, or she refused to have sex with you, which was frustrating.



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Federal court grants preliminary halt to Obama same-sex 'spouse' definition

A federal district court has granted a request from Texas , Arkansas, Louisiana, and Nebraska today for preliminary injunction on the Obama White House attempt to revise the definition of " spouse " in law. The Obama Administration's effort to change the definition would have monumental impact on the Family and Medical Leave Act .



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Indiana's 'TXT L8R' social media contest offers $5,000 scholarships

Indiana high school and college students have a choice: Use their smartphones behind the wheel and make a tragic mistake, or engage their social media followers to "Drive Now. TXT L8R."



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Celebrating 25 years of the ADA - Part 1 of a series

FORT WAYNE, Ind. 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA.



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Recall effort in Hinsdale targets Select Board chairwoman

HINSDALE >> Residents utilized a new authority by submitting a petition that triggered a future recall election aimed at Select Board Chairwoman Bonnie Conner, whose name alone will be on the ballot. David Kokindo, a former Selectman, said he signed the petition because Conner ended the public comment period before weekly Select Board meetings and "there's an awful lot of things going on in our town that [residents] don't know anything about."



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Slight uptick in LI jobs

Long Island employment rose 1.4 percent in February as compared with a year ago, according to the latest numbers from the state Department of Labor.



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will ensure the right to discriminate

Indiana has the distinction of becoming the first state this year to enact a "right to discriminate" law, otherwise known as a religious "freedom" law, after Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed the legislation in a private ceremony Thursday. It's only fitting that a chosen few people got to witness the signing because that's exactly who the law will benefit-a chosen few.



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Starbucksa Race Relations Campaign Was Breeding Ground for Lawsuits, Experts Say

Starbucks' weeklong campaign urging employees to write "Race Together" on coffee cups to spark conversations about race relations was not only "absurd" and "irresponsible," according to some employment law experts, but also had the potential to open the coffee giant to liability. While Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz abruptly ended the campaign on March 22 after many criticized the effort, Schultz's idea-however well-intentioned-could have created a breeding ground for lawsuits alleging discrimination, harassment, a hostile work environment and wrongful termination, employment law experts told SHRM Online.



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Area around Calhoun County Courthouse to be repaired

Rockwell City is set to begin a reconstruction project to repair the streets, sidewalks and infrastructure around the Calhoun County Courthouse. The Messenger reports that a bid notice for the repair of a four-block area around the courthouse will be posted on April 8. According to City Clerk Kelly Schmidt , the city hopes to approve a contract by May 4. The area is plagued with potholes, cracks and poor drainage.



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Chuck Grassley, Senate Judiciary Committee...

Sen. Chuck Grassley is asking the Department of Justice 's Inspector General to investigate claims of nepotism and favoritism in an FBI surveillance program. The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman said in a March 26 letter to Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz that his concerns about the FBI 's Mobile Surveillance Team have grown over the past month.



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Yamaha V1 and Trailer for Sallisaw Giveaway

Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC, , a wholly owned tribal company of the Cherokee Nation, is seeking qualified bids for one brand new 2015 YAMAHA V1 for promotional giveaway at Cherokee Casino Sallisaw. The wave runner will be displayed at our Sallisaw property, from FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015-MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015 -- with the option to purchase at the time of the giveaway.



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RFP - Furniture for CNB Pawnee Building Conference Room

Cherokee Nation Businesses , a wholly owned company of the Cherokee Nation is seeking bids for furniture for the conference room in the Pawnee Building location in Tulsa, Oklahoma. All bids are due by Thursday, April 2, 2015 by 3 p.m. Bids may be submitted electronically via email to Talia E. Myres at talia.myres@cnent.com, mailed or hand delivered to Talia E. Myres at the Pawnee Building, Tech Ridge Office Complex, 9910 E 42nd Street, Suite 101, Tulsa, OK 74146.



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2015 Salem Towables SMT27DBUD for Roland Giveaway

Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC, , a wholly owned tribal company of the Cherokee Nation, is seeking qualified bids for one brand new 2015 SALEM TOWABLES SMT27DBUD for promotional giveaway at Cherokee Casino Roland. The vehicle will not be displayed at our property.



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Economist: More Lehigh Valley jobs are becoming full-time

Local economist Kamran Afshar speaks to the Lehigh County Bar Association about the state of the economy, including jobs lost during the recession and new jobs created Thursday at the Barristers' Club in Allentown. Local economist Kamran Afshar speaks to the Lehigh County Bar Association about the state of the economy, including jobs lost during the recession and new jobs created Thursday at the Barristers' Club in Allentown.



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What retailers need to know about e-commerce and the ADA

We are or should be familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act's requirements for accommodating the physically disabled. Wheelchair ramps, handicap stalls, handicap parking, lifts, and other items designed to assist the physically disabled are commonplace.



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Recall effort in Hinsdale targets Select Board chairwoman

HINSDALE >> Residents utilized a new authority by submitting a petition that triggered a future recall election aimed at Select Board Chairwoman Bonnie Conner, whose name alone will be on the ballot. Supporters of the move to oust Conner say it marks the first time a Massachusetts municipality has ever exercised a recall option, when as many as 40 percent of state municipalities have recall laws on the books.



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February Unemployment Drops to 5.5 Percent in Arkansas

Figures out today for February show a decline of one-tenth of a percentage point from January to 5.5 percent. That's according to labor force data produced by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and released today by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services .



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EEOC Readies Wellness Incentives Rule; Congress Responds

Confusion over the use of financial incentives in worksite wellness programs may be heading toward some clarity, depending on proposed regulations to be issued shortly by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission . On March 20, 2015, the EEOC voted to send a notice of proposed rulemaking on the interplay of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Affordable Care Act with respect to employer-sponsored wellness programs to the Office of Management and Budget for clearance.



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Howa s the Market?

Recently, rural properties in California have had a harder time qualifying for homeowner's insurance. After the big fires in 2014 , many insurance companies have declined new requests for coverage and even opted not to renew existing policies.



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Supreme Court Revives Pregnancy Discrimination Act Claim

A Pregnancy Discrimination Act case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on March 25, 2015, may be overshadowed by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, enacted in 2008 and in effect since Jan. 1, 2009. The Supreme Court decision shows that if employers offer benefits such as light duty to one group of employees, the businesses need to consider whether they are required to provide those benefits to pregnant employees, as well, according to Sally Barron, an attorney with Fisher & Phillips in Memphis, Tenn.



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OSHA will hold meeting of the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has scheduled a meeting of the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee for April 20-21, 2015, in Washington, D.C. The tentative agenda will include remarks from Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels, public comments and the Best Practices and Corporate Culture Work Group will give a presentation on April 21. The committee will meet from 1 - 4 p.m. ET, April 20 and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., April 21 in Room S-4215 A-C, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20210. Comments and requests to speak may be submitted electronically at http://ift.tt/MjwdZ7 , the Federal eRulemaking Portal, by mail or facsimile.



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Andreas Lubitz's 'Illness' - Dark Implications For Disabled Workers

Among media accounts of Andreas Lubitz's "illness," The Wall Street Journal has been cautious. In their account, William Boston and Andrea Thomas refer to it as a "medical condition," without providing other details.



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Answering the questions raised by the DOL's fiduciary proposal

Since President Obama's public statement of support for the Department of Labor's fiduciary rule, the proposal rightly has been drawing a tremendous amount of attention. Considering the profound impact this rule could have on Main Street clients - potentially pricing millions of small and midsize investors out of quality, affordable financial advice - our industry has every reason to watch the developments surrounding the DOL's proposal with acute interest.



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Jobless rate drops again to 5 percent in February

Maine's unemployment rate dropped to 5 percent in preliminary estimates for February, which would be the lowest level since April 2008. The preliminary figures show a sharp decline in recent months, but eventual revisions to those estimates will likely show a less dramatic decrease in the unemployment rate for the month, according to the Maine Department of Labor.



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Is Your Company Prepared for the Leadership Drought?

The business community will see a significant change in the leadership landscape over the next five years - and it's a shift that has already started. Each day, 10,000 baby boomers reach retirement age.



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Hawaii County unemployment numbers edge up in February

When the economy took a hit in 2009, the Big Island saw an 8.8 percent unemployment rate at the beginning of the year, which then grew to a 11.2 unemployment rate by June. The economy finally started to recover in 2012, when the unemployment rate dropped to 6.6 percent that December.



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Bradley unemployment plunges to 5.9

They all went up [in unemployment] in January, and they all had declines to one degree or another in February. [Just like the increases in January] the decreases in February are also seasonal ... the majority of the counties will go down; in this case, they all went down."



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Brokers should be required to live up to their TV ads

The "fiduciary duty" of financial professionals sounds like some hopelessly dry and technical legal concept. But it isn't.



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Grand King Buffet workers can join collective lawsuit over pay, overtime, judge says

Marvin Sanchez Osorto and others filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids alleging that workers were paid weekly flat rates of $400 to $600 for putting in 65- to 72-hour work weeks. "Because these practices have the effect of paying some employees less than the required minimum wage and some employees less than the required overtime rate, as well as constituting a separate failure to maintain records, Plaintiff Osorto alleges that Defendant Grand King Buffet has violated the Fair Labor Standards Act for him and similarly situated plaintiffs," U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker wrote.



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Duke Energy docks CEO Lynn Good's pay $600,000 for coal ash spill on the Dan River

The Duke Energy board says incentive payments to the company's top executives, including CEO Lynn Good, were reduced to hold them accountable for the spill on the Dan River. The massive coal ash spill on the Dan River cost Duke Energy Corp. CEO Lynn Good about $606,000 from her compensation package in 2014.



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Maryland adds 6,100 jobs in February

Maryland employers added 6,100 jobs in February, but the unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent as more people entered the labor force. The gains, reported Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor, were split fairly evenly between the public and private sectors.



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Spring job fairs to be held around Maine

Spring job fair season is underway around Maine, providing an opportune time for job seekers looking for work. The Department of Labor's network of 12 CareerCenters will be sponsoring or participating in several career fairs.



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April Programs for Job Seekers at the Lewiston CareerCenter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2015 Contact: Mary LaFontaine, Lewiston CareerCenter, 753-9094 Media Contanct: Julie Rabinowitz, Department of Labor, 621-5009 LEWISTON –The Lewiston CareerCenter is offering no-cost programs throughout April to help job seekers improve skills and get back into the workforce. "The Department of Labor offers programs and workshops throughout the state that can help our citizens in most need find a way out of poverty and into a good-paying job," said Governor Paul R. LePage.



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Greater Portland Job Fair April 1 at new CareerCenter Location

For Immediate Release: March 26, 2015 Contact: Mike Roland, Portland CareerCenter, 822-3300 Media Contact: Julie Rabinowitz, Maine Department of Labor, 621-5009 PORTLAND-At least 20 employers will be hiring at the Greater Portland CareerCenter Job Fair on Wednesday, April 1 from noon to 3 p.m. The CareerCenter is located at 151 Jetport Boulevard in Portland and is accessible on Portland Metro Route 5. "I encourage employers to use our CareerCenters to recruit employees, especially at our job fairs," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "For job seekers, CareerCenter workshops, job fairs and training programs can help put Mainers back to work or find new careers.



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Federal Judge Blocks Gay Workers in Four States From Taking Unpaid Leave To Care For Sick Spouses

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been in office less than three months, but he's already making a name for himself as one of the nation's biggest anti-gay bigots. Last month, Paxton sought to void the marriage of a 30-year lesbian couple, even though one of the women has ovarian cancer.



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Judge In Texas Hands Down Mean-Spirited, Last-Ditch Attempt To Strip Gay Couples Of Marriage Rights

Somewhere in a Texas hospital last night, a woman sat by her wife's bedside waiting for a doctor to tell her whether the person she had built her life with was likely to survive. Yet, despite the agony of caring for a sick loved one, this woman at least knew that she did not need to fear for her job, as a federal regulation forbade her employer from firing her for caring for her wife.



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Officials moving forward with plan to make city more accessible, connected

March 27 -- CUMBERLAND -- City officials are moving forward with a $480,000 plan to create a dedicated route that connects the Cumberland Amtrak Station on the Queen City Pavement to the trails that meet at the Western Maryland Railway Station . The marked route would also be compliant with current standards established within the Americans with Disabilities Act.



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Texas Beats Labor Dept. on FMLA Rule

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - A Texas federal judge halted implementation of a Department of Labor rule forcing anti-gay marriage states to recognize same-sex couples married in other states. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor granted Texas' motion for a preliminary injunction on Thursday.



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Replacement of Hotshots is 'highly doubtful,' says Prescott Fire Chief

Cindy Barks The Daily Courier PRESCOTT - The remnants of the City of Prescott 's wildland division would be "dissolved," under a new model that Prescott Fire Chief Dennis Light unveiled this week. While an earlier action by Light had already eliminated the Prescott Fire Department's separate wildland division, this week's proposal would largely do away with remaining aspects, such as the seasonal fuels reduction crew.



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Legions of Women Workers in U.S. Still Lack Minimum Wage and Labor Protections

In this Dec. 2014 photo, Eileen Merize, left, helps 93-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran Harold Utsler look through some of his paper work at her home in Katy, Texas near Houston. The Houston Chronicle reports Utsler is one of three veterans who live in Merize's home through the Medical Foster Program, which helps disabled elderly veterans live with "foster families" rather than in large nursing homes.



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Watchdog says senior Homeland official broke no laws

In this July 25, 2013 file photo, Alejandro Mayorkas, then-President Obama's nominee to become deputy secretary of the Homeland Security Department, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. A new inspector general's report has concluded that Mayorkas, now the No.



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Watchdog says senior Homeland official broke no laws

In this July 25, 2013 file photo, Alejandro Mayorkas, then-President Obama's nominee to become deputy secretary of the Homeland Security Department, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. A new inspector general's report has concluded that Mayorkas, now the No.



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Can You Talk About a Workers' Comp Claim on Facebook?

With Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, we do not lack for forums to share all of our troubles and joys with the world. Got injured at work? Post it on Facebook or Twitter.



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CT Labor Department: Cold To Blame for February Job Downturn

A jobs sign is seen on the front of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce building in this April 9, 2013 file photo. A jobs sign is seen on the front of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce building in this April 9, 2013 file photo.



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Watchdog says senior Homeland official broke no laws

A senior Obama administration official violated agency ethics policies but did not break any laws when he intervened in three visa cases involving foreign investors with ties to prominent Democrats, a government watchdog told Congress Thursday. The Homeland Security Department's now deputy secretary used his post as head of the department's immigration benefits-processing agency to expedite the paperwork in a program long riddled with problems and backlogs, the department's inspector general, John Roth, said.



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Watchdog says senior Homeland official broke no laws

In this July 25, 2013 file photo, Alejandro Mayorkas, then-President Obama's nominee to become deputy secretary of the Homeland Security Department, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington.



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Indiana now a 'right to discriminate' state-and what that means

Indiana has the distinction of becoming the first state this year to enact a "right to discriminate" law, otherwise known as a religious "freedom" law, after Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed the legislation in a private ceremony Thursday. It's only fitting that a chosen few people got to witness the signing because that's exactly who the law will benefit-a chosen few.



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State loses 3,700 jobs in February

A deep freeze in February resulted in more than frozen pipes, ice-dammed gutters and roadside spinouts. It also cost Connecticut residents some jobs, according to the latest labor report released today.



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Group launches campaign to halt 'ag-gag' legislation

Wisconsin-based Global Conservation Group announced today that they are launching a public awareness campaign in an effort to halt proposed " ag-gag " laws in Wisconsin, Colorado and Washington. The group says these bills attempt to silence whistleblowers working on factory farms and would make it a criminal offense to document or report cruelty to animals.



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The Triangle factory fire is a reminder of the importance of unions

Marchers rally to remember the 146 victims of the Shirtwaist factory fire of 1911, commonly called the Triangle Fire, during its 100th anniversary commemoration on Friday, March 25, 2011 in New York. They started coming out the windows at a quarter to five on a bright, sunny spring afternoon.



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Watchdog: Homeland Security Official Broke No Laws In Visa Cases Tied To Dems

A senior Obama administration official did not break any laws when he intervened in three visa cases involving foreign investors with ties to prominent Democrats, a government watchdog told Congress Thursday. But the senior official did violate ethics policies by giving the perception that Democratic party leaders got preferential treatment, Homeland Security Inspector General John Roth said.



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Syracuse area adds more than 1,000 jobs since last year

The Syracuse area added 1,200 jobs over the past year, with the biggest growth coming to the trade, transport and utilities sector. The leisure and hospital industry also added jobs over the year.



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