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☆ Factbox-Biden Administration, Texas Battling Over Border Policies on Multiple Fronts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Those cases could ultimately determine how much power, if any, states possess to police international borders when they disagree with federal immigration policies. The Biden administration has sued to strike down the law, claiming it interferes with the federal government's exclusive powers to police the border and enforce immigration laws. In defending the law, Texas will have to contend with a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down key provisions of an Arizona immigration law. Texas in its lawsuit claims that by destroying the wire, federal agents are violating the state's property rights. Days after four migrants drowned in the river last July, the state installed the string of buoys, prompting a lawsuit by the Biden administration.

Persons: Daniel Wiessner, Greg Abbott, Joe Biden, Abbott, Biden, Alexia Garamfalvi, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Republican Texas, Democrat, Supreme, Biden, U.S . Customs, Border, . Border Patrol, U.S, Circuit Locations: Mexico, Texas, U.S, Arizona, Rio Grande, Eagle, , Texas, Mexico . Texas, New Orleans, Rio, Albany , New York

☆ US Court Blocks Florida Law Barring Chinese Citizens From Owning Property
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Daniel Wiessner(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court has blocked Florida from enforcing a ban on Chinese citizens owning homes or land in the state against two Chinese nationals who were in the process of buying property when the law was adopted. Circuit Court of Appeals said on Thursday the individuals were likely to prevail on claims that Florida's ban violates a federal law governing real estate purchases by foreign nationals. A Florida federal judge in August had declined to block the law, prompting an appeal by the plaintiffs. Lawmakers in several Republican-led states including Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama are considering similar restrictions on Chinese citizens owning property. It also bars most citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia and North Korea from owning property near military installations and infrastructure such as power plants and airports.

Persons: Daniel Wiessner, Ashley Moody, Bethany Li, Li, Ron DeSantis, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Circuit, Appeals, Republican, Constitution, Asian American Legal Defense, Education Fund, Chinese Communist Party Locations: Florida, Atlanta, Texas , Louisiana, Alabama, China, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Albany , New York

☆ US Court Will Reconsider Forcing Texas to Remove Rio Grande Migrant Barrier
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Daniel Wiessner(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday said it would reconsider a recent decision requiring Texas to remove a 1,000-foot-long (305-meter) floating barrier it had placed in the Rio Grande river to deter migrants from illegally crossing the border with Mexico. That ruling was a setback for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, who has strongly criticized Democratic President Joe Biden's handling of record numbers of migrants crossing the border illegally. Abbott's office, the office of Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The floating barrier is part of Abbott's broader effort to deter and punish illegal border crossings, collectively known as Operation Lone Star. All of those initiatives have spawned court battles between Texas and the Biden administration and civil rights groups.

Persons: Daniel Wiessner, panel's, Biden, Greg Abbott, Joe Biden's, Ken Paxton, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S, Circuit, Texas, Republican, Democratic, Republican Texas, U.S . Department of Justice, Lone Star, Democrat Locations: Texas, Rio, Mexico, New Orleans, Lone Star . Texas, Albany , New York

[1/2] Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan testifies before a House Financial Services Committee hearing titled: "Holding Megabanks Accountable: An Examination of Wells Fargo's Pattern of Consumer Abuses" in Washington, U.S. March 12, 2019. Sloan in the lawsuit filed in California state court says Wells Fargo canceled stock awards and withheld a bonus he had earned before stepping down. Wells Fargo in a statement said that "compensation decisions are based on performance, and we stand by our decisions in this matter." Sloan led Wells Fargo from 2016 to 2019, when he became the second chief executive to step down over claims that the bank had opened millions of unauthorized consumer accounts. Sloan accused Wells Fargo of breach of contract and, along with the $34 million, is seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress and punitive damages.

Persons: Tim Sloan, Erin Scott, Sloan, Wells, Wells Fargo, Sloan's, David Lowe, Francoise Brougher, Daniel Wiessner, Diane Craft Organizations: Wells, Financial, REUTERS, Former Wells Fargo & Co, Federal Reserve, Tesla, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, California, Wells, Wells Fargo, Sloan's San Francisco, Albany , New York

Asylum-seeking migrants walk in the Rio Grande river between the floating fence and the river bank as they look for an opening on a concertina wire fence to land on the U.S. soil in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 1 (Reuters) - Texas must remove a 1,000-foot-long (305-meter) floating barrier it placed in the Rio Grande river to deter migrants from illegally crossing the border with Mexico, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday in a victory for President Joe Biden's administration. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision declined a request by the Republican-governed state to reverse a federal judge's decision ordering it to move the string of buoys placed in the Rio Grande in July near Eagle Pass, Texas. Judge Don Willett, a Trump appointee, disagreed with his colleagues in the ruling that the portion of the Rio Grande where the buoys were placed was navigable. On Thursday, a federal judge rejected a bid by Texas to block federal immigration authorities from destroying the wire fencing.

Persons: Go Nakamura, Joe Biden's, David Ezra, Greg Abbott, Abbott, Biden, Don Willett, Willett, Donald Trump, Daniel Wiessner, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: REUTERS, Circuit, Appeals, Republican, 5th Circuit, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers, Texas, Democrat, Trump, U.S . Justice, Thomson Locations: Rio Grande, Eagle Pass , Texas, U.S, Texas, Rio, Mexico, New Orleans, Eagle, , Texas, San Antonio, Albany , New York

A Wells Fargo logo is seen in New York City, U.S. January 10, 2017. And they often work unpaid overtime because of chronic understaffing at Wells Fargo branches, according to the lawsuit. Wells Fargo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Michael Scimone, a lawyer for Perez, said Wells Fargo has consistently classified workers as exempt from overtime pay even though they are not managers and lack any decision-making authority. “Companies like Wells Fargo should know better than to withhold overtime pay from workers like Ms. Perez," Scimone said in a statement.

Persons: Stephanie Keith, Wells, Wells Fargo, Sabrina Perez, Perez, Michael Scimone, Scimone, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics . Wells Fargo, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Fargo & Co, Senior, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics ., Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, San Francisco, Wells Fargo, Albuquerque , New Mexico, Wells, Albuquerque, Alaska, Albany , New York

[1/2] Migrants, most from Venezuela, stand near razor wire while surrendering to authorities after wading across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico, in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. October 5, 2023. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday rejected a bid by Texas to block federal immigration authorities from destroying razor wire fencing that the state placed along the border with Mexico to deter illegal border crossings. Moses denied the state's motion to block federal officials from destroying the wire fencing pending the outcome of the state's lawsuit filed in October. The judge last month had ordered the federal government to temporarily refrain from cutting or removing the razor wire while she considered the state's motion. A federal judge at the Biden administration's request in September ordered the 1,000-foot (305-meter) barrier removed, but an appeals court allowed it to remain in place temporarily while Paxton's office pursues an appeal.

Persons: Adrees Latif, Alia Moses, Biden, Moses, Ken Paxton, “, ” Paxton, Greg Abbott, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Department of Justice, Republican, Texas National Guard, Lone Star, Republican Texas, Customs, Border Protection, Biden, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Rio Grande, United States, Mexico, Eagle Pass , Texas, U.S, Texas, Del Rio , Texas, Rio, Albany , New York

A Tesla sign is pictured outside the Tesla Gigafactory 2 in Buffalo, New York, U.S., February 13, 2022. A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional official on Friday tossed out a complaint filed in February by Workers United, a union seeking to organize workers at Tesla's Buffalo, New York "gigafactory." Workers United claimed that within days of announcing a union campaign earlier this year, Tesla fired dozens of workers from its Autopilot department. Tesla and Workers United did not immediately respond to requests for comment. President Joe Biden said this month that he supported the union's efforts to organize workers at Tesla and Toyota.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Tesla, Kayla Blado, Blado, Joe Biden, Elon Musk, tweeting, Daniel Wiessner, Aurora Ellis, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: REUTERS, Tesla Inc, National Labor Relations Board, Workers United, Workers, United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit Three, Tesla, Toyota, NLRB, Thomson Locations: Buffalo , New York, U.S, New York, Tesla's Buffalo , New York, Buffalo, Florida, Fremont , California, Albany , New York

Companies Tesla Inc FollowNov 15 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) did not violate U.S. labor law by prohibiting workers at its flagship Fremont, California, assembly plant from wearing pro-union t-shirts, a federal appeals court has ruled. The electric vehicle maker adopted its uniform policy in 2017 amid an organizing campaign by the United Auto Workers union (UAW). President Joe Biden said last week that he supported the union's efforts to organize workers at Tesla and Toyota. Tesla's "team wear" policy required employees to wear black shirts imprinted with the Tesla logo. A three-judge 5th Circuit panel in March had affirmed the labor board's decision.

Persons: Tesla, Joe Biden, Elon Musk, tweeting, Daniel Wiessner, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Tesla, Tesla Inc, Circuit, Appeals, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, United Auto Workers union, UAW, U.S, Detroit Three, Toyota, Thomson Locations: Fremont , California, New Orleans, Albany , New York

The settlement is the largest ever for the Justice Department involving claims of discrimination based on citizenship, the agency said. It requires Apple to pay $6.75 million in civil penalties and $18.25 million to an unspecified number of affected workers. The Justice Department did not specify which Apple jobs were affected by the recruitment procedures or how Apple may have benefited from them. Along with the payout, Apple agreed to align its recruiting for PERM jobs with its normal practices. The company will be required to conduct more expansive recruitment and train employees on anti-discrimination laws, according to the settlement.

Persons: Mike Segar, Apple, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Deepa Babington Organizations: Apple Inc, Apple, REUTERS, U.S . Department of Justice, Justice Department, Justice, DOJ, The Justice, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York, U.S, PERM, Albany , New York

SpaceX logo and Elon Musk silhouette are seen in this illustration taken, December 19, 2022. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera in Brownsville, Texas said in a written order late Wednesday that administrative judges at the Justice Department who hear cases involving anti-immigrant bias were not properly appointed. Olvera blocked the department's case, which was filed in August, from moving forward pending the outcome of SpaceX's September lawsuit claiming the administrative case violates the U.S. Constitution. The Justice Department and SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. In its lawsuit, the company claims that administrative judges are appointed by the U.S. attorney general but have powers that should be reserved only for officials appointed by the president.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Elon, Rolando Olvera, Olvera, Musk, Daniel Wiessner, Jan Harvey Organizations: SpaceX, Elon, REUTERS, U.S . Department of Justice, U.S, District, Justice Department, . Constitution, The Justice Department, U.S . Senate, Thomson Locations: U.S, Brownsville , Texas, ., Albany , New York

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on infrastructure during an event at the Amtrak maintenance facility in Bear, Delaware, U.S., November 6, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 7 (Reuters) - A lawyer for the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday told an appeals court that a judge was wrong to block a rule imposing new restrictions on asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. The challenge to the rule was brought by immigrant advocacy groups represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Through September, 12% of migrants who had applied for an exception under the rule had received it, Boynton said. But two of them noted that federal immigration law appears to give the government broad discretion to consider any relevant factors in deciding who ultimately receives asylum protections.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Biden, Donald Trump, Brian Boynton, Boynton, Spencer Amdur, Amdur, Lawrence VanDyke, Daniel Wiessner, Deepa Babington Organizations: Amtrak, REUTERS, U.S, Circuit, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, Democrat, Republican, U.S . Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: Bear , Delaware, U.S, Mexico, Pasadena , California, Albany , New York

A family navigates the bank of the Rio Grande past razor wire while searching for an entry point into the United States from Mexico, in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. July 30, 2023. U.S. District Judge Alia Moses in Del Rio, Texas barred the Biden administration from cutting or removing the wire until at least Nov. 13, as she considers a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, accusing the U.S. government of illegally destroying state property. The concertina wire fencing was installed on private property by the Texas National Guard as part of Operation Lone Star, an initiative launched by Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott in 2021 aimed at deterring illegal border crossings. Texas, meanwhile, is separately defending its authority to install floating buoys in the middle of the Rio Grande to deter migrants. A federal judge at the Biden administration's request in September ordered the 1,000-foot (305-meter) barrier removed, but an appeals court allowed it to remain in place temporarily while Paxton's office pursues an appeal.

Persons: Adrees Latif, Alia Moses, Biden, Ken Paxton, Moses, Paxton, George W, Bush, Greg Abbott, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Texas, U.S, Republican, State of, U.S . Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Texas National Guard, Lone Star, Republican Texas, Customs, Border Protection, Biden, Thomson Locations: Rio, United States, Mexico, Eagle Pass , Texas, U.S, Texas, Del Rio , Texas, State of Texas, . Texas, Albany , New York

☆ US Appeals Court Tosses Lawsuit Over Texas Migrant Transportation Bar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Ted Hesson and Daniel WiessnerWASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. federal appeals on Friday sided with Texas Governor Greg Abbott on technical grounds over a 2021 executive order that restricted transport of migrants through the state, saying a lower court should dismiss a related legal challenge. Circuit Court of Appeals found that immigration advocates lacked the legal authority to sue Abbott over the transportation prohibition. The 5th Circuit found that Abbott's authority as governor barred the immigration advocates from challenging the executive order. A U.S. district court judge in September ordered Texas to move the barriers, but the 5th Circuit stayed that ruling pending an appeal by Texas. (Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington and Dan Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by David Gregorio)

Persons: Ted Hesson, Daniel Wiessner WASHINGTON, Greg Abbott, Abbott, Joe Biden's, Biden, Dan Wiessner, David Gregorio Organizations: U.S, Texas, Circuit, Appeals, Republican Locations: New Orleans, Rio, U.S, Texas, Washington, Albany , New York

Circuit Court of Appeals found that immigration advocates lacked the legal authority to sue Abbott over the transportation prohibition. Abbott, a Republican, has criticized Democrat Biden for failing to adequately secure the border and stepped up the state's response to record migrant arrivals in recent years. The 5th Circuit found that Abbott's authority as governor barred the immigration advocates from challenging the executive order. A U.S. district court judge in September ordered Texas to move the barriers, but the 5th Circuit stayed that ruling pending an appeal by Texas. Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington and Dan Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Greg Abbott, Abbott, Joe Biden's, Biden, Ted Hesson, Dan Wiessner, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Customs, Protection, U.S, Texas, Circuit, Appeals, Republican, Thomson Locations: Central America, Anzalduas, Rio Grande, United States, Mexico, Granjeno , Texas, U.S, WASHINGTON, New Orleans, Rio, Texas, Washington, Albany , New York

Schultz had met with a group of employees from Starbucks locations in Long Beach, California, to discuss concerns about working conditions. Lawyers for Starbucks Workers United, which is organizing the company's workers and filed a complaint on behalf of Hall, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Starbucks and Schultz have faced allegations of widespread illegal union-busting from workers, labor groups and Democratic lawmakers. Hall then asked Schultz about allegations of illegal labor practices in complaints pending at the NLRB, according to the filings. SenatorsStarbucks must disclose spending on response to union campaign, judge rulesReporting by Daniel WiessnerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Howard Schultz, Julia Nikhinson, barista, Brian Gee, Schultz, Hall, ” Gee, Gee, Jonathan Levine, Littler Mendelson, Gabe Frumkin, Barnard Iglitzin, Lindsay Parker Read, rehire, Daniel Wiessner Organizations: Starbucks, Health, Education, Labor, Capitol, REUTERS, Former Starbucks Corp, National Labor Relations, Madison Hall, Starbucks Workers, Workers, Democratic, NLRB, U.S . Department of Labor, Starbucks Corp, National Labor Relations Board, U.S, Senators Starbucks, Thomson Locations: Washington ., California, Los Angeles, Long Beach , California, U.S, Long Beach

[1/2] Starbucks workers attend a rally as they go on a one-day strike outside a store in Buffalo, New York, U.S., November 17, 2022. Federal law only allows NLRB members, who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, to be removed for "neglect of duty or malfeasance in office." The Buffalo store is one of more than 360 Starbucks locations in the U.S. to unionize since 2021. The labor board is currently considering more than 100 cases accusing Starbucks of unlawful conduct, including firing union supporters, barring organizing in stores and refusing to bargain with unions. An NLRB official dismissed Cortes' petition in May, saying no election could be held until cases accusing Starbucks of unfair labor practices at the Buffalo store were resolved.

Persons: Lindsay DeDario, Ariana Cortes, Cortes, Kayla Blado, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Starbucks Corp, U.S . National Labor Relations Board, Work Foundation, U.S . Constitution, Starbucks, NLRB, Senate, Democratic, Democrat, Buffalo, Thomson Locations: Buffalo , New York, U.S, New York, Washington ,, U.S ., Buffalo, unionize, Albany , New York

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last week, to allege rampant racial harassment at Tesla's flagship Fremont, California assembly plant. The judge ordered the second trial to determine damages after Diaz turned down a lower payout of $15 million. Tesla and lawyers for Diaz did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Orrick barred both sides from presenting new evidence or testimony at the second trial, which took place in March. Diaz claimed that Tesla's lawyers violated that directive by questioning him and other witnesses about alleged altercations between Diaz and other workers, which had not come up at the first trial.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Tesla, William Orrick, Owen Diaz, staving, Diaz, baselessly, Orrick, Daniel Wiessner, Lisa Shumaker, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Commission, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, California, San Francisco, Fremont , California, Fremont, Albany , New York

A Tesla Model 3 vehicle drives on autopilot along the 405 highway in Westminster, California, U.S., March 16, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Tesla Inc FollowOct 2 (Reuters) - In a victory for Tesla (TSLA.O), a judge has ruled that a group of vehicle owners must pursue claims that the company misled about its Autopilot features in individual arbitration rather than court. The ruling means Tesla will not have to face class action claims on behalf of much larger groups of vehicle owners. A fifth plaintiff who did not sign an arbitration agreement waited too long to sue, Gilliam ruled in dismissing that plaintiffs' claims. The company moved to send the claims to arbitration, citing the plaintiffs' acceptance of the arbitration agreement.

Persons: Mike Blake, Tesla, District Judge Haywood Gilliam, Gilliam, Andrew Kirtley, Kirtley, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Deepa Babington Organizations: Tesla, REUTERS, U.S, District, Thomson Locations: Westminster , California, U.S, Oakland , California, California, Los Angeles, Albany , New York

A Tesla Model 3 vehicle drives on autopilot along the 405 highway in Westminster, California, U.S., March 16, 2022. The ruling marks a significant victory for Tesla, as it means the company will not have to face class action claims on behalf of much larger groups of vehicle owners. A fifth plaintiff who did not sign an arbitration agreement waited too long to sue, Gilliam ruled in dismissing that plaintiff's claims. The company moved to send the claims to arbitration, citing the plaintiffs' acceptance of the arbitration agreement. Gilliam on Saturday rejected claims by the plaintiffs that the agreements signed by four of the plaintiffs were unenforceable.

Persons: Mike Blake, Tesla, District Judge Haywood Gilliam, Gilliam, plaintiff's, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Deepa Babington Organizations: Tesla, REUTERS, Tesla Inc, U.S, District, Thomson Locations: Westminster , California, U.S, California, Los Angeles, Albany , New York

REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 28 (Reuters) - A New York state judge on Thursday rejected a bid by Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N), DoorDash Inc and Grubhub Inc to block New York City's novel law setting a minimum wage for app-based delivery workers. The law will require companies to pay delivery workers $17.96 an hour, which will rise to nearly $20 in April 2025. App-based delivery workers are usually treated as independent contractors rather than company employees, so general minimum wage laws do not apply to them. They say city officials based the minimum wage law based on flawed studies and statistics. The companies allege the city's surveys of delivery workers were biased and designed to elicit responses that would justify a minimum wage.

Persons: Arnd, Nicholas Moyne, Moyne, Uber, Daniel Wiessner, Chris Reese, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Uber Technologies, DoorDash Inc, Grubhub Inc, New York, Companies, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker, Thomson Locations: Davos, Switzerland, York, Moyne, United States, Albany , New York

Tesla has failed to investigate complaints of racist conduct and has fired or otherwise retaliated against workers who reported harassment, the EEOC said in the lawsuit. The lawsuit adds federal charges to discrimination claims by the state of California and lawsuits by Tesla employees. It follows the breakdown of settlement talks with the EEOC after Tesla announced that the agency had formally raised its concerns last year. The department alleges that Tesla discriminated against Black workers when making decisions about pay, promotions and work assignments. Tesla is also facing a class action lawsuit in California state court over the alleged mistreatment of Black factory workers.

Persons: Tesla, Charlotte Burrows, Stephen Lam, Burrows, ”, Owen Diaz, Diaz, Black, Daniel Wiessner, Leslie Adler, Daniel Wallis, Alexia Garamfalvi, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Tesla, U.S, Tesla Inc, Opportunity Commission, Motorists, REUTERS, California Civil Rights Department, Thomson Locations: Fremont , California, U.S, California, Fremont, Black, Albany , New York

Tipton, an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump, blocked the Biden administration from enforcing the $15 minimum wage in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, states that last year filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order. The minimum wage under federal law is $7.25 an hour, though many states set higher minimums. Four states and several cities have a minimum wage of at least $15. Only Congress can set minimum wages and adopt other employment policies unless it specifically grants those powers to federal agencies, Tipton wrote. In January, a federal judge in Arizona dismissed a similar challenge to Biden's executive order by five other Republican-led states.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Drew Tipton, Donald Trump, Biden, Tipton, Lynn Fitch, Daniel Wiessner, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: Moffett Federal, REUTERS, District, Democratic, Republican, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Mountain View , California, U.S, Texas, Victoria, Tipton, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, Arizona, Albany , New York

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, declined to block the rule, which took effect Jan. 30. The judge granted a petition by President Joe Biden's administration to dismiss the Republican-led states' lawsuit claiming the rule will jeopardize millions of Americans' retirement savings. Kacsmaryk in a 14-page opinion rejected the states' claim that the rule violates the federal law governing retirement plans. The rule still requires that financial considerations come first, and does not create "an overarching regulatory bias in favor of ESG strategies," the judge wrote. Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, in March rejected the Biden administration's claim that the states were improperly "judge shopping" by filing the lawsuit in Amarillo, where Kacsmaryk is the only judge.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Joe Biden's, Biden, Donald Trump's, Trump, Daniel Wiessner, Dan Whitcomb, David Gregorio, Lincoln Organizations: Major Economies, White, REUTERS, Companies Liberty Energy, Biden, U.S, District, Republican, U.S . Department of Justice, Liberty Energy Inc, Democrat, Trump, Thomson Locations: Energy, Washington , U.S, Texas, Amarillo , Texas, Utah, New Orleans, Amarillo

Sept 20 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (AZN.L) has been sued in the U.S. by a former senior director who claims the drugmaker refused to pay her nearly $130,000 in promised bonuses and stock options because she worked from home full-time. AstraZeneca, which is based in London and has U.S. headquarters in Delaware, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit claims AstraZeneca gave no prior notice that it would condition bonuses on whether employees reported to the office. Bodes accused AstraZeneca of breach of contract and failure to pay wages in violation of South Carolina law. She is seeking to recoup the money she claims she is owed along with other damages.

Persons: Elmarie Bodes, AstraZeneca, Bodes, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Matthew Lewis Organizations: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Companies, South, Thomson Locations: U.S, South Carolina, London, Delaware, California, Albany , New York

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