Month: April 2021

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Tuesday requiring federal agencies to pay contract workers a minimum wage of $15 per hour.  The order will affect hundreds of thousands of contractors, and comes weeks after Biden and Democrats in Congress attempted to raise the national hourly minimum wage to $15 as part of the American Rescue Plan. “

The White House said in a statement: “These workers are critical to the functioning of the federal government. This executive order will promote economy and efficiency in federal contracting … by enhancing worker productivity and generating higher-quality work by boosting workers’ health, morale and effort. It will reduce turnover, allowing employers to retain top talent and lower the costs associated with recruitment and training.”

Under the order, all federal agencies must pay contractors at least $15 per hour in new contracts by next April. The current minimum wage for federal contractors is $10.95 per hour and the tipped minimum wage is $7.65 per hour. The new executive order will also eliminate the tipped minimum wage for contractors by 2024; automatically adjust the minimum wage yearly due to rises in inflation, beginning in 2022; ensure a $15 minimum wage for federal contract workers with disabilities; and restore minimum wage protections to outfitters and guides on federal lands by revoking an order from former President Donald Trump.

Joe Biden Increasing Minimum Wage to $15 for ‘Hundreds of Thousands’ of Federal Workers

Via news.yahoo.com

The executive action underscores the president’s continued push for a $15 minimum wage, which…

04/27/2021 1:40 PM

 

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On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines on outdoor mask-wearing, saying that those fully-vaccinated may engage in outdoor activities, including running, hiking, and walking—without a mask—if they are alone or with members of their household. Attending small outdoor gatherings and dining outdoors without a mask are also considered safe, federal officials said. It’s been long established that outdoor contact poses significantly less risk in the spread of COVID-19 than indoors. 

The guidelines also state, however, that in situations where crowds are likely and social distancing presents a challenge, masking, even if fully vaccinated, is still recommended. 

The updated guidance comes as nearly half of the country reports being vaccinated with at least the first dose. However public health experts also ask for caution, as vaccination rates have slowed, and some areas of the country continue to see surges of the virus and its new variants.  

Fully vaccinated people can attend small-group outdoor activities without masks, CDC says

Via www.nbcnews.com

It’s unclear how much the new guidance will change people’s behavior, experts say.

04/27/2021 12:54 PM

 

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The Justice Department launched a wide-ranging “pattern or practice” investigation of Louisville’s police department on Monday, in the wake of last year’s police shooting death of Breonna Taylor.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference that the civil investigation into the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government and the Louisville Metro Police Department is to determine “whether LMPD engages in a pattern or practice of violations of the Constitution or federal law.” The investigation, he said, “will assess whether LMPD engages in a pattern or practice of using unreasonable force, including with respect to people involved in peaceful expressive activities” as well as if it “engages in unconstitutional stops, searches and seizures” or “unlawfully executes search warrants on private homes.”

Taylor was killed in her apartment by LMPD officers in March 2020 while they were executing a search warrant. Two Louisville detectives connected with the incident were fired in January, five months after Officer Brett Hankison was similarly dismissed for blindly firing 10 rounds into Taylor’s apartment during the search.

Under the probe, if the Justice Department concludes there is reasonable cause to believe there is a pattern or practice of constitutional or statutory violations, it will issue a public report and will “aim to work with the city and police department to arrive at a set of mutually agreeable steps” that can be taken to correct problems. If an agreement cannot be reached, the department has the authority to bring a civil lawsuit seeking injunctive relief to address violations.

Justice Department launches investigation into Louisville PD’s policing practices

Via www.nbcnews.com

That department has faced intense scrutiny in the year since officers killed Breonna Taylor…

04/26/2021 4:07 PM

 

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U.S. to share 60 million doses of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine with other countries

Via www.nbcnews.com

White House Covid adviser Andy Slavitt said in a tweet Monday that doses would be sent to other…

04/26/2021 4:04 PM

 

Editorial credit: Tobias Arhelger / Shutterstock.com