Increase

Kansas Senate Votes to Increase Death Benefit and Expand Pension System Investments in Alternative Assets

by

In Topeka, Kansas, the state Senate has voted to increase the lump-sum death payment for retirees in the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS), as well as raise the maximum amount of the pension system’s portfolio tied to alternative private equity or infrastructure investments. The Senate voted 25-14 in favor of Senate Bill 172, which would raise the death benefit to $6,000 from the current $4,000. The cost of this adjustment over a 20-year period is estimated to be $108 million, to be covered by KPERS contributions and investment income. The death benefit has not … Read more

Littleton City Council Implements New Salary Increase Cycle for Appointed Officials

by

Littleton, Colorado – The Littleton City Council has approved salary raises for the city manager, city attorney, and presiding municipal judge, marking another increase in their compensation just five months after their previous raises. The council has also made a significant change to the city’s performance evaluation cycle, aligning it with the calendar year instead of the summer. Tracy Hooker, the Human Resources Director, explained that these recent raises were implemented to bridge the gap between the appointed members’ salary increases in 2023 and 2025. Previously, salary increases for appointed positions occurred during the summer, … Read more

New Year, New Laws: Illinois Implements Over 300 Changes, Including Minimum Wage Increase and Paid Leave for Workers

by

Chicago, Illinois – Over 300 new laws have recently gone into effect in the state of Illinois. These laws cover a wide range of topics, from minimum wage increases to gun control measures. Here are some of the key highlights: One of the significant changes is the increase in the minimum wage. Workers in Illinois will now earn $14 per hour, with tipped workers receiving $8.40 per hour. This is just the first step, as the minimum wage is set to rise to $15 per hour by 2025. Another important law is the Paid Leave … Read more

Egg Producers Hit with $53 Million Verdict for Conspiracy to Limit Supply and Increase Prices

by

Chicago, IL – A federal jury in Illinois has awarded $17.7 million in damages to several food manufacturing companies who filed a lawsuit against major egg producers over allegations of conspiring to limit the egg supply in the United States. The damages, which were automatically tripled under federal law to over $53 million, were the result of a jury ruling that the egg producers engaged in practices to restrict the domestic egg supply and increase prices during the 2000s. The specific timeframe identified by the jury for the conspiracy was between 2004 and 2008. Court … Read more