Thousands

Social Security Fairness Act Set to Become Law, Ending Penalties for Thousands of Connecticut’s Public Workers

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate passed a significant piece of legislation, the Social Security Fairness Act, in the final hours of the session, which now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature. The bill seeks to amend long-standing grievances regarding the deductions from Social Security benefits for numerous public service workers, including educators and first responders in Connecticut. For years, advocates for public service workers have pushed to overturn the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which they argue disproportionately impact those who receive pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security. The … Read more

Thousands of Drone Sightings Spark Dialogue on National Security and Regulatory Frameworks

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JACKSON, Miss. — In recent weeks, the FBI has received over 5,000 tips related to drone sightings, prompting a review by several federal agencies. Consequently, a joint statement affirmed the sightings have revealed no threats that would compromise national security or public safety. As drone technology becomes more integrated into daily life, such events raise both concerns and awareness among the public. Michelle Hanlon, Executive Director of the Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law, is keeping a close eye on developments. She acknowledges the anxiety surrounding unexplained … Read more

Trial Date Set for Man Accused of Stealing Thousands in Diesel from Newton Co-Op

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NEWTON, Iowa — A Pleasant Hill man is facing charges in a case involving the theft of over $2,000 worth of diesel fuel from a Newton-based business. Authorities have scheduled a jury trial for December 9 for 32-year-old Keiny Carreras Rodriguez, who is charged with multiple felonies including second-degree theft, identity theft, and unauthorized use of a credit card. District Court Judge Steven Holwerda set the trial date following the allegations against Rodriguez, relating to incidents that reportedly took place between late August and early September this year. According to Newton Police Captain Chris Wing, … Read more

Federal Judge Blocks Biden’s Expanded Overtime Rule, Impacting Thousands in Academia and Beyond

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WASHINGTON — A recent federal court decision in Texas has nullified a Biden administration regulation intended to broaden overtime pay for approximately four million salaried employees, including numerous workers at higher education institutions. The rule, which was struck down just weeks before its second phase was poised to be enacted, had sought to increase the salary threshold for overtime eligibility, sparking a heated debate over its potential impacts on jobs and educational costs. District Judge Sean D. Jordan, a Trump appointee, ruled against the regulation, thereby reverting the overtime salary threshold to $35,568, down from … Read more