Category: Opinion

The Great Resignation: Why Millions of Workers Are Quitting Their Jobs : NPR

People are leaving their jobs in search of more money, more flexibility and more happiness. A record 4 million workers quit just in April.

As pandemic life recedes in the U.S., people are leaving their jobs in search of more money, more flexibility and more happiness. Many are rethinking what work means to them, how they are valued, and how they spend their time. It’s leading to a dramatic increase in resignations — a record 4 million people quit their jobs in April alone, according to the Labor Department.

In normal times, people quitting jobs in large numbers signals a healthy economy with plentiful jobs. But these are not normal times. The pandemic led to the worst U.S. recession in history, and millions of people are still out of jobs. Yet employers are now complaining about acute labor shortages.

Source: The Great Resignation: Why Millions of Workers Are Quitting Their Jobs : NPR

#China #Uyghurs #News #Reuters

U.S. bans China solar panel firm over forced labor – YouTube

The Biden administration on Wednesday ordered a ban on U.S. imports of a key solar panel material from Chinese-based Hoshine Silicon Industry over forced labor allegations, two sources briefed on the matter said.

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White farmer wins temporary halt to program for Black counterparts

WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Florida halted the Biden administration’s new debt-relief program for minority farmers on Wednesday.

Judge Marcia Morales Howard, an appointee of President George W. Bush, temporarily blocked the Agriculture Department from implementing a $4 billion program aimed at helping distressed minority farmers on the basis that it likely violates white farmers’ rights to equal protection under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. That argument was backed by several former aides in the Trump White House.

Howard ordered the Agriculture Department not to issue payments under the program for “socially disadvantaged” farmers until she can rule on the merits of the case. She wrote that the program, which is embedded in President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan law, is “significantly likely” to violate the constitutional rights of the plaintiff, a white farmer named Scott Wynn.

Her order creates a nationwide injunction against the debt-relief program.

Earlier this month, in a similar case, a Wisconsin judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking implementation of the program, which covers up to 120 percent of the debts of farmers who are members of groups that have historically been discriminated against based on their race or ethnicity. Across the country, several white farmers have filed lawsuits, at least one of which is backed by America First Legal, a group founded by former Trump White House aides.

“The government must not be allowed to use its awesome authorities to punish, harm, exclude, prefer, reward or damage its citizens based upon their race or ethnicity,” Stephen Miller, a former White House aide and the head of America First Legal, said in a statement in conjunction with one of the other cases.

Civil rights advocates have expressed concern that other Agriculture Department programs aimed at redressing past discrimination — as well as federal programs outside the scope of farming — could be at risk if federal courts find that the American Rescue Plan’s program for socially disadvantaged farmers is unconstitutional.

Source: White farmer wins temporary halt to program for Black counterparts

Uber driver arrested in shooting that left 1 passenger dead, another injured

By Antonio Planas

Police arrested an Uber driver accused of fatally shooting one passenger and wounding a second early Wednesday in Atlanta, according to authorities.

Nigel Nembhard, 36, was in custody at the Fulton County Jail on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault, the Atlanta Police Department said Thursday morning in a statement.

A spokesperson for Uber confirmed Nembhard was a driver for the company.

“What police are reporting is deeply concerning,” the rideshare service said Thursday afternoon in a statement. “We’ve banned the driver from the app and will work with law enforcement on their investigation.”

Uber has a no firearms policy, according to the company.

The man killed in the shooting was identified as 34-year-old Kevin Leonard Fulton, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office. Although an autopsy had not yet been performed on him Thursday afternoon, Fulton was shot in the torso, the office said.

The shooting, which occurred shortly before 5 a.m. ET at a Chevron gas station, followed a dispute inside the vehicle between the two male victims and the driver, according to police.

Source: Uber driver arrested in shooting that left 1 passenger dead, another injured

Source: Revs. Jesse Jackson, William Barber arrested in protest urging Manchin to nix filibuster | TheHill

Revs. Jesse Jackson, William Barber arrested in protest urging Manchin to nix filibuster | TheHill

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and social justice activist the Rev. William Barber were arrested Wednesday during protests to urge Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to end the filibuster and pass a sweeping voting rights bill, according to CNN.

Jackson, a civil rights icon, and Barber, a social justice activist, were two of 21 people overall who were arrested this week near the U.S. Supreme Court for obstructing and crowding, according to the network.

Barber participated in the “Moral March on Manchin and McConnell” rally with the nonprofit organization group the Poor People’s Campaign at the steps of the Supreme Court. The demonstration aimed to put pressure on Manchin and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to end the filibuster.

Source: LIVE UPDATES: Surfside, Florida apartment building collapse leaves 1 dead, 99 unaccounted for

Rudy Giuliani suspended from practicing law in New York state – CNNPolitics

Rudy Giuliani, the former personal lawyer for former President Donald Trump who once held one of the legal profession’s most prestigious jobs, was suspended Thursday from practicing law in New York state by an appellate court that found he made “demonstrably false and misleading statements” about the 2020 election.

Source: Rudy Giuliani suspended from practicing law in New York state – CNNPolitics

June 24, 2021

LIVE UPDATES: Surfside, Florida apartment building collapse leaves 1 dead, 99 unaccounted for

Rescuers in Surfside, near Miami, are searching for survivors after an apartment building partially collapsed

FAST FACTS

At least 1 person is confirmed dead, and 99 unaccounted for

Gov. DeSantis said rescuers ‘still have hope’ they will find more survivors as they continue sorting through the rubble

President Biden has spoken with local officials about the catastrophe

June 24, 2021

Windows 11: What to expect

A build of the expected Windows 11 that leaked last week provides a hint of what Microsoft might announce at a Windows event Thursday.

Analysts will be listening for signs of any business model updates.

Refreshing the 35-year-old operating system can result in additional revenue growth for the world’s second-most valuable public company, behind only Apple. Over time, the new Windows will likely be widely adopted as millions of consumers and office workers make the upgrade from Windows 10, the top PC operating system.

Source: Windows 11: What to expect

June 24, 2021

Stock Market Today: Dow, S&P Live Updates for Jun. 24, 2021 – Bloomberg

Asian stocks were broadly steady Thursday after U.S. shares moved in narrow ranges as traders digested commentary from Federal Reserve officials on the outlook for stimulus. Treasuries held a retreat.

Stocks were little changed in Japan, climbed in Hong Kong and edged lower in China, where the central bank increased its injection of short-term cash into the financial system. U.S. futures advanced, following a modest drop in the S&P 500 despite gains among firms that benefit from economic reopening. A rally in Tesla Inc. helped the Nasdaq Composite eke out another record. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield remained below 1.50%.

Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan, who’s penciled in a rate hike next year, said the economy will likely meet the Fed’s threshold for tapering asset purchases sooner than people think. His Atlanta counterpart Raphael Bostic said the central bank could decide to slow such purchases in the next few months. Neither are currently voting members of the Fed’s rate setting committee.

The dollar was little changed, while the yen held a slump, in part as the rebound from the pandemic dents the allure of haven currencies. Traders were monitoring for any impact from news that the U.S. is poised to bar some solar products made in the Xinjiang region over alleged human rights abuses.

Source: Stock Market Today: Dow, S&P Live Updates for Jun. 24, 2021 – Bloomberg

Tornado confirmed in Cranberry area

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF0 tornado touched down in the Cranberry/Seven Fields area along the border of Butler and Allegheny counties following Monday afternoon’s storms.

The estimated wind speed was 70 mph in the tornado near Mt. Pleasant and Dean roads, according to the National Weather Service.

It happened around 2:52 p.m.

A playground off of Mt. Pleasant Road helped a survey crew from the National Weather Service rate the EF-0 tornado that touched down.

NWS Meteorologist Fred McMullen said much of the damage from this tornado was confined to trees.

“When we rate tornados we rate on the worst damage. The worst damage is located where we’re standing,” he said. “The largest damage we have here at this playground off Mt. Pleasant Road is trees uprooted.”

McMullen said no one was injured and no lives were lost.

“We were able to issue a tornado warning,” he said. “Give time for people to take cover. They got the notification on their phone.”

McMullen said this is the first tornado of the year for Allegheny County and the second for western Pennsylvania.

“We average about four tornados across western Pennsylvania every year,” he said. “We’re halfway through with two in. Our tornado season can pretty much run to the rest of June and into July.”

Source: Tornado confirmed in Cranberry area

Inside the Petty, Career-Ruining Infighting at NY1

Onscreen, NY1 seems like a happy family, but a lawsuit exposed the tumult behind the scenes.

CNN’s Brian Stelter has built a career off anonymously sourced reports on behind-the-scenes media drama and his style of palace intrigue reporting is now happening to his own family, as his newscaster wife has been accused of workplace bullying by unnamed colleagues.

Stelter is married to NY1 traffic reporter and anchor Jamie Stelter, and her station has been plagued by a variety of issues, such as a lawsuit filed by five female anchors for age and gender discrimination that was settled last year.

CNN’S BRIAN STELTER DRAWS ONLY 656K VIEWERS FOR SMALLEST AUDIENCE OF 2021

Anonymous colleagues told Caitlin Moscatello of New York Magazine that Stelter is part of the problem in a piece headlined, “Inside the Petty, Vindictive, Career-Ruining Infighting at NY1” that was published on Monday.

Source: Inside the Petty, Career-Ruining Infighting at NY1

Source: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/ny1-news-lawsuit.html

Tennessee man is fifth to plead guilty in US Capitol riot – CNNPolitics

(CNN)A Tennessee man pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally demonstrating inside the US Capitol on January 6, becoming the fifth rioter to admit their guilt in the massive federal probe.

Bryan Ivey, 28, pleaded guilty to the single misdemeanor during a virtual hearing in DC District Court. The plea bargain doesn’t include a sentencing recommendation, and Ivey’s punishment will be decided by Judge Christopher Cooper on September 28. Technically, Ivey could face up to six months in jail on this charge, though it’s likely he gets much less or no jail at all.

Source: Tennessee man is fifth to plead guilty in US Capitol riot – CNNPolitics

June 22, 2021June 22, 2021

Yang concedes in NYC mayor’s race | TheHill

© Getty Images

Andrew Yang on Tuesday night officially dropped out of the New York City mayor’s race, capping off a bid that started with a wave of support but ultimately hobbled in the final stretch.

“I am not going to be the next mayor of New York City based upon the numbers that have come in tonight,” Yang said at an election watch party the night of the Democratic primary vote. “I am conceding this race, though we’re not sure ultimately who the next mayor is going to be. But whoever that person is, I will be very happy to work with them.”

Just got to podium. pic.twitter.com/poLHKnShE2

— Shant Shahrigian (@ShantRS) June 23, 2021

Source: Yang concedes in NYC mayor’s race | TheHill

‘Manifest’ Stars React to Cancellation After 3 Seasons — Josh Dallas | TVLine

‘Manifest’ stars Josh Dallas, Melissa Roxburgh and others are speaking up about NBC’s cancellation of the supernatural drama.

Manifest has officially reached the end of the runway, meaning those underlying questions about Flight 828 and everything that unfolded after its mysterious return will remain unresolved.

TVLine confirmed Monday that talks with Netflix and other potential suitors fell through, ending a week-long campaign to save the series following NBC’s cancellation after three seasons.

Source: ‘Manifest’ Stars React to Cancellation After 3 Seasons — Josh Dallas | TVLine

Source: Physicist to Tucker Carlson: Climate Change Is ‘Fiction of the Media,’ Not an ‘Existential Threat’

Physicist to Tucker Carlson: Climate Change Is ‘Fiction of the Media,’ Not an ‘Existential Threat’

‘There’s very little in terms of extreme weather that has changed over the last many decades,’ a former Obama administration official said.

Democrats and their media lapdogs are rabidly hyping the bogus narrative that climate change is an imminent “existential threat” to mankind as part of a cynical move to promote left-wing agendas.

That’s the takeaway from a Fox News interview with physicist Steven Koonin, who offered scientific support to those who believe grifting climate alarmists are flippantly weaponizing this sham talking point to enrich and empower themselves.

“It’s a fiction of the media and the politicians who like to promote that notion,” Koonin said on Fox Nation’s “Tucker Carlson Today.”

Steven E. Koonin (born December 12, 1951)^[1] is an American theoretical physicist and director of the Center for Urban Science and Progress at New York University. He is also a professor in the Department of Civil and Urban Engineering at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering.^[2]

Source: wikipedia

Multiple Arrests Made After Leftists Target Ted Cruz at His Own Home

Unfortunately, there was a small group who [was] actually committing trespassing into private property in front of the residence of Ted Cruz.

About 50 @sunrisemvmt protesters outside of Ted Cruz Houston home today demanding Biden stop negotiations with the GOP and pass @AOC civilian climate corps plan. A few are on the lawn as the crowd sings “Whose side are you on?”

About a dozen police and security watching. pic.twitter.com/Iq6M5uCcC2

— Erin Douglas (@erinmdouglas23) June 21, 2021

Source: Multiple Arrests Made After Leftists Target Ted Cruz at His Own Home

Boy, 16, shot outside Greensburg apartment; police make 2 arrests | TribLIVE.com

A 16-year-old boy was shot Sunday outside a Greensburg apartment complex, and police arrested two people Monday, according to Capt. Shawn Denning.

Three people — Issac C. Morton, 20, of Greensburg, a woman and her brother — were walking into an apartment building when Jaron Malik Haten-McCoy, 17, of Greensburg and the 16-year-old boy got out of a car in the parking lot and confronted them, police said. Morton’s group went into the building when the woman told authorities Haten-McCoy shot at them, according to court papers.

Morton and the woman returned fire and called 911. Police said an entrance door at one of the buildings had numerous bullet marks on both sides.

Source: Boy, 16, shot outside Greensburg apartment; police make 2 arrests | TribLIVE.com

Source: Police-reform activists call for decrease in Pittsburgh police funding and increase in community investment

Police-reform activists call for decrease in Pittsburgh police funding and increase in community investment

The Coalition to Reimagine Public Safety gathered at the steps of the Pittsburgh City County building on June 19 to discuss their goals towards decreasing the Pittsburgh Police budget, and instead funneling those funds to invest in resources for numerous efforts to combat problems stemming from violence, homelessness, drug use, and mental health. The goal of these policy changes, the coalition said, is to make Pittsburgh more safe and livable for minority communities.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto took office in 2014, and the Pittsburgh Police budget during that year was $74 million. Since then, the Pittsburgh Police budget has increased almost 60% to a budget of $115 million according to a recent report conducted by the Abolitionist Law Center. This number equates to one-fifth of the city’s annual budget. The Coalition to Reimagine Public Safety conveyed at a press conference the desire to decrease the police budget, at minimum, by $40 million to put into other community investments.

Jasiri X, founder of 1Hood Media, discussed the structural and systematic violence that minority communities face, and that violent crimes are often a result of these issues. Without available resources to these communities, the issue cannot be resolved, Jasiri X explained.

Vice President Kamala Harris visits Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com

Vice President Kamala Harris has arrived in Pittsburgh for her daylong stay in the region as part of what is being dubbed “Child Tax Credit Awareness Day” by the Biden administration.

Air Force Two landed at Pittsburgh International Airport with the vice president just after 11 a.m.

Local dignitaries greet VP Kamala Harris as she arrives in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/MGef9Vq9mI

— Debra Erdley (@deberdley_trib) June 21, 2021

Source: Vice President Kamala Harris visits Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com

Contractor charged in two western Pa. counties, woman says she is out nearly $10,000

Jason Pirl, 40, accused of taking money for projects and not completing the work

The contractor, Jason Pirl of Proline Painting, is now facing charges accused of taking money from multiple victims across two counties without doing the work.

Source: Contractor charged in two western Pa. counties, woman says she is out nearly $10,000

Fear shakes Mexico border city after violence leaves 18 dead

By The Associated Press

Fear has invaded the Mexican border city of Reynosa after gunmen in vehicles killed 14 people, including taxi drivers, workers and a nursing student, and security forces responded with operations that left four suspects dead.

While this city across the border from McAllen, Texas is used to cartel violence as a key trafficking point, the 14 victims in Saturday’s attacks appeared to be what Tamaulipas Gov. Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca called “innocent citizens” rather than members of one gang killed by a rival.

Local businessman Misael Chavarria Garza said many businesses closed early Saturday after the attacks and people were very scared as helicopters flew overhead. On Sunday, he said “the people were quiet as if nothing had happened, but with a feeling of anger because now crime has happened to innocent people.”

“It’s not fair,” said taxi driver Rene Guevara, adding that among the dead were two of his fellow taxi drivers whom he defended and said were not involved in crime.

The attacks took place in several neighborhoods in eastern Reynosa, according to the Tamaulipas state agency that coordinates security forces, and sparked a deployment of the military, National Guard and state police across the city.

Source: Fear shakes Mexico border city after violence leaves 18 dead

Cargo Is Piling Up Everywhere, And It’s Making Inflation Worse : NPR

A surge in imports is overwhelming transportation networks and testing supply chains, making life hard for small-business owners.

The record volume of cargo has overwhelmed longshoremen, truck drivers, warehouses and railroads. Vessels are waiting up to five days just to get into port, and it can take 10 more days for a container to be loaded on a train.

Source: Cargo Is Piling Up Everywhere, And It’s Making Inflation Worse : NPR

Iran’s president-elect says he won’t meet with Biden – POLITICO

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s president-elect said Monday he wouldn’t meet with President Joe Biden nor negotiate over Tehran’s ballistic missile program and its support of regional militias, sticking to a hard-line position following his landslide victory in last week’s election.

Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi also described himself as a “defender of human rights” when asked about his involvement in the 1988 mass execution of some 5,000 people. It marked the first time he’s been put on the spot on live television over that dark moment in Iranian history at the end of the Iran-Iraq war.

Source: Iran’s president-elect says he won’t meet with Biden – POLITICO

Source: US coronavirus: The states at risk of an aggressive and more dangerous Covid-19 variant. – CNN

US coronavirus: The states at risk of an aggressive and more dangerous Covid-19 variant. – CNN

.(CNN)Some states are making great strides in vaccinating their residents against Covid-19, but the ones that are not may soon be contending with a more transmissible variant, experts say.

About 45.1% of the US population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, CDC data showed, and in 16 states and Washington, DC, that proportion is up to half. But some states like — Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Wyoming — have fully vaccinated less than 35% of residents.

More than 500 days and 600,000 deaths since the first person in the United States was reported to have died from Covid-19, experts have upheld vaccines as the key to reopening the country safely and containing the variants, many of which are more transmissible.

Vice President Harris To Visit Pittsburgh Today – Beaver County Radio

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Pittsburgh today with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. The visit to comes as President Joe Biden’s administration pushes a massive infrastructure plan in Congress. The President originally unveiled his $2.3 trillion plan in Pittsburgh on March 31. He billed it as “a once-in-a-generation investment in America” that would also undo tax cuts for corporations under his predecessor former President Donald Trump. President Biden is hoping for a deal with Republicans who are resisting his big ideas and trimming the potential spending, but he also is trying to assure Democrats that he won’t leave behind their priorities.

Source: Vice President Harris To Visit Pittsburgh Today – Beaver County Radio