Author: staff
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s high court refused on Friday to restore a law that would have severely restricted abortion, thereby preserving the legality of the procedure in the state. The decision serves as a setback for Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and ensures that Iowa remains distinct from other conservative states with stringent abortion regulations. In a rare 3-3 ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld a district court’s 2019 decision that had halted the implementation of the law. This recent ruling comes approximately a year after both the state court and the U.S. Supreme Court declared that women do…
A vast majority of unionized UPS workers in New York voted on Friday to authorize a strike, potentially leading to a work stoppage if an agreement between the package delivery company and Teamsters cannot be reached before their contract expires next month. The Teamsters announced that 97% of the unionized workers supported the authorization, which was sought to strengthen their bargaining power during negotiations with UPS. However, it is important to note that a positive vote does not guarantee an immediate strike. Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien emphasized that if the corporation fails to honor the contract that their hardworking…
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank’s move to raise interest rates for the eighth consecutive time and its commitment to persist until high inflation is controlled has been commended by the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. Kristalina Georgieva, in her statement on Friday, expressed the IMF’s approval of the ECB’s decision to increase rates by a quarter-percentage point and its President Christine Lagarde’s assurance that there are no plans to halt the process. The ECB aims to bring down inflation from 6.1% to its target of 2%. Georgieva emphasized the need for continued monetary policy tightening…
According to the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Amazon has reinstated a union organizer who was previously fired. This action came after the organizer, Jennifer Bates, lodged a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. Bates, who had testified before a Senate committee about income inequality, was terminated while recovering from work-related injuries at an Amazon facility in Bessemer, Alabama. The union claimed that Amazon had refused to make necessary workplace adjustments for Bates, who had been vocal about workplace safety concerns within the company. In a prepared statement released by the union, Bates expressed her belief that this…
ATLANTA (AP) — The commercial launch of a new reactor at a nuclear power plant in Georgia has encountered another setback, pushing its operation by at least an additional month. Georgia Power Co. announced on Friday that Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle, situated southeast of Augusta, is facing an issue with its hydrogen system, which is responsible for cooling the main electrical generator. The company now projects that the reactor will commence reliable electricity transmission to the grid in July, missing the most recent deadline set for June. It’s important to note that the generator is not integrated into the…
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A massive gathering of Vegas Golden Knights supporters, numbering in the tens of thousands or possibly more, is anticipated in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip this Saturday. The occasion is a grand celebration and rally commemorating the team’s historic achievement of winning their inaugural NHL championship, the Stanley Cup. Las Vegas law enforcement authorities have made necessary arrangements in preparation for the event, expecting a crowd of up to 100,000 individuals to converge along Las Vegas Boulevard. This jubilant gathering is being likened to the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacles that have attracted…
TOKYO (AP) — On Friday, Japan’s parliament made a significant change by raising the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16, marking the first adjustment in over a century. This modification, one of the lowest age limits globally, was implemented in response to increasing demands for the protection of children and women. The alteration of the sexual consent age was part of a broader overhaul of legislation concerning sex crimes. Additionally, Parliament passed a new law aimed at raising awareness about LGBTQ+ issues. However, activists criticized this law for failing to ensure equal rights for sexual minorities. Japan has…
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — The general manager of a television news station in western Michigan has issued an apology after a memo was sent to the staff, instructing them to reduce coverage of LGBTQ+ events during Pride Month due to concerns about potential division. According to the Detroit Free Press, which obtained a copy of the memo, it requested that the WOOD-TV staff assess the newsworthiness of Pride events. The memo acknowledged the conservative nature of West Michigan and expressed the need to recognize that certain stories related to LGBTQ+ issues could be controversial and polarizing within the community.…
In an announcement made on Friday, the White House revealed that Dr. Mandy Cohen, a former North Carolina official, has been appointed as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This decision marks a departure from the recent appointments, as Cohen brings valuable experience in leading government agencies. She served as the secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services from 2017 until last year, and prior to that, she held positions in health-related roles at two federal agencies. President Joe Biden expressed confidence in Dr. Cohen, describing her as one of…
When we last witnessed Tyler Rake in “Extraction,” he met his demise, teetering off a bridge in Bangladesh with a fatal bullet wound to his neck. However, Netflix defies death. In “Extraction 2,” Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as the downtrodden yet formidable gun-for-hire, Rake. Netflix deserves gratitude for this impressive resurrection, as this franchise delivers an exhilarating cinematic experience. Arriving two years after the unexpectedly captivating first installment, the sequel finds Rake embroiled in a conflict between two rival drug dealers. He navigates treacherous betrayals, poses questions like “How many hostiles onsite?” and hurls an inexhaustible supply of grenades.…