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Here’s where the minimum wage is increasing this year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

New York (CNN) — For anyone working a minimum wage job in this new year, they will be paid more in 22 states and in at least 40 cities and counties across the country than they were in 2023.The higher hourly rates are due either to scheduled increases or lawmakers having indexed the minimum wage in their jurisdiction to inflation, most typically using the Consumer Price Index as their gauge.As of January 1, seven states and the District of Columbia will have minimum wages of $15 or more, up from just four states plus DC last year. The newcomers to the category are Maryland, New Jersey and most of New York State (with the exception of New York City, Westchester and Long Island, which already had a $15 minimum in place and where the minimum wage is increasing to $16 in 2024).The highest state minimum wage in 2024 will be Washington state, at $16.28, up from $15.74. A close second is California, which is raising its minimum to $16 from $15.50 on January 1.The state ...

Israel’s Supreme Court overturns a key component of Netanyahu’s polarizing judicial overhaul

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday struck down a key component of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious judicial overhaul, a decision that threatens to reopen the fissures in Israeli society that preceded the country’s ongoing war against Hamas.Those divisions were largely put aside while the country focuses on the war in Gaza, which was triggered by a bloody cross-border attack by Hamas. Monday’s court decision could reignite those tensions, which sparked months of mass protests against the government and had rattled the cohesion of the powerful military.There was no immediate reaction from Netanyahu.In Monday’s decision, the court narrowly voted to overturn a law passed in July that prevents judges from striking down government decisions they deem “unreasonable.” Opponents had argued that Netanyahu’s efforts to remove the standard of reasonability opens the door to corruption and improper appointments of unqualified cronies to important positions.The law w...

New eaglet hatches at Southwest Florida eagle nest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (WSVN) — The iconic Southwest Florida Eagle Cam captured the newest addition, E23, which made its debut just after 7 a.m., Sunday. The joy was tinged with sorrow as officials confirmed the loss of the eaglet from the second egg, F23, which showed signs of distress on Friday.F23 laid two eggs a few days apart in late November, marking a significant event for the eagles and their dedicated viewers. Live pictures now reveal Mama Eagle proudly caring for her surviving eaglet.This marks the 12th season of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, providing enthusiasts with an uninterrupted, around-the-clock view of Florida’s beloved eagles, courtesy of Dick Pritchett Real Estate. Despite the bittersweet turn of events, the live coverage continues, allowing viewers to witness the growth and development of E23 in the Eagles’ nest.

Mayor Wu presides over City Council swearing in ceremony

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu administered the oath of office to new and returning members of the Boston City Council during a New Year’s Day ceremony.The emotional ceremony took place at the Great Hall at Faneuil Hall, and saw five new members sworn in to the 13-member body. Ruthzee Louijeune was elected president.“Being president of the body is such an honor and it has its challenges as well. You’re no one’s boss, you’re just trying to guide the council in the right direction.” Wu said, “I’m excited to see the ways they come together and that we get to work with them on the big issues the city is still facing… I sense the level of dedication and partnership just wanting to make sure we move things forward for the city of Boston’s residents.”

Column: It’s a new year. Is this a new future for the Chicago Bulls?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

The passage of a year always shifts perspective. That couldn’t be more true for the Chicago Bulls as they enter 2024.The Bulls exited 2023 in nearly identical form to the way they entered it. On Jan. 1, 2023, the Bulls were 16-20. Today, they enter the new year with a 15-19 record. On paper, this status feels the same — sitting four games under .500, clinging to the 10th spot in the East to remain in play-in contention. Yet the energy around the team could not be more different a full year later.Last season, the Bulls teetered around the .500 mark until Nov. 9, after which point they tumbled as low as 12th in the East before stumbling into 2023. It wasn’t dramatic, just the humdrum drone of an underperforming roster.This year took a different tone. The lows came first — a players-only meeting fueled by an opening night blowout, a five-game losing streak on the road, and a 5-14 start to the season, the worst since 2018. But that only made the highs more redemp...

Fire erupts at South Bay nursery on New Year's

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

SAN DIEGO — A large fire broke out at a South Bay nursery overnight Monday, sending heavy smoke into the sky.The fire was reported just before 1:30 a.m. at the Terra Bella Nursey on 302 Hollister St. Video from the scene during the early hours shows flames engulfing a pile of mulch in the area.According to San Diego Fire-Rescue, a total of 43 personnel from several agencies were dispatched to the scene to fight the fire, including eight engines and a helicopter. By the time crews arrived on scene, the fire in the mulch had spread to an adjacent pile of pallets.As of 7:45 a.m., the body of the fire appears to have been weakened, but crews remain on scene working to extinguish it in its entirety."We have crews from the San Diego Fire Department, our partners in Chula Vista as well as Imperial Beach that have been here for over six hours fighting this fire," SDFD Battalion Chief Tommy Charpentier told FOX 5 Monday morning."With the sun coming up, we were just able to get some heavy equ...

Zapatistas mark 30 years since their armed uprising in southern Mexico

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

OCOSINGO, Mexico (AP) — Members and supporters of the Zapatista indigenous rebel movement celebrated the 30th anniversary of their brief armed uprising in southern Mexico on Monday even as their social base erodes and violence spurred by drug cartels encroaches on their territory.Hundreds gathered in the remote community of Dolores Hidalgo in the preceding days to mark the occasion. Some 1,500 young Zapatistas donning uniforms — black balaclavas, green caps and red kerchiefs — stood in formation listening to speeches early Monday.Subcommander Moises — his nom de guerre — called for the Zapatistas to continue organizing themselves to fight to maintain their autonomy, freedom and democracy.“We’re alone, like 30 years ago, because alone we have found the new path that we are going to follow,” Moises said. He noted the continuing need to defend their communities from violence. “We don’t need to kill soldiers and bad governments, but if they come we’re going to defend ourselves.”In Novem...

Migrant crossings of English Channel declined by more than a third in 2023, UK government says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The number of migrants crossing the English Channel in 2023 fell by more than a third from the previous year, marking the first decline since current record-keeping began, the British government said. The 30,000 crossings recorded in preliminary figures made up 36% fewer than the more than 45,000 in 2022. But the number was the second-highest since 2018 — about 1,000 above the total in 2021.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made “stop the boats” one of his top priorities as his conservative government has pushed strict immigration laws to curb the flow of migrants who take perilous journeys from French to England, often in unseaworthy boats. Most of those who arrived on English soil by boat applied for asylum. The government has a large backlog in reviewing those applications.A union representative for border officers said the drop in recorded crossings was likely to be a “glitch” due to weather and other factors, and that larger numbers were expected this year.“We have h...

Colorado mother suspected of killing 2 of her children makes court appearance in London

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A Colorado mother suspected of killing two of her young children and injuring a third made an initial court appearance Monday in London, where she was arrested over the weekend.Kimberlee Singler, 35, appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court facing extradition to the U.S. on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, three counts of child abuse and one count of assault.Singler disappeared as Colorado police prepared to arrest her in the deaths of her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, who were found slain Dec. 19 during what was reported as a burglary. Singler had minor injuries and a wounded 11-year-old daughter was hospitalized for several day before being released. Missing foreign exchange student was victim of ‘cyber kidnapping’: Utah police Singler was initially treated as a crime victim and had cooperated with police. But officers could not locate her when they went to arrest her Dec. 26.Police nabbed her Saturday in the Kensington ...

Blackhawks routed by Stars, 8-1, to suffer 11th straight road loss

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Mason Marchment had three goals and an assist as the Dallas Stars routed the Chicago Blackhawks, 8-1, on Sunday night to complete a two-game set at American Airlines Arena and extend the Blackhawks' road losing streak to 11 games.Chicago, 0-10-1 on the road during that stretch, have the second-fewest points in the NHL with just 24.“My only hope from a game like (Sunday) is we just finally hammer it through our thick heads of how we’re going to need to play,” said Nick Foligno, a veteran on a young Chicago roster. “And that is not it. It’s just not who we are. That’s not a winning team. That’s just a team hoping.”Philipp Kurashev scored the lone goal for the Blackhawks. Connor Bedard, Chicago’s 18-year-old star, assisted on the power-play goal 39 seconds into the third period for his rookie-leading 33rd point.Petr Mrazek allowed six goals on 32 shots. He was replaced almost five minutes into the third period by Arvid Soderblom, who gave up two goals on 10 shots.Tyler Se...