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☆ There's a conservative 'great migration' from blue states — and one place is the big winner
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Conservatives are fleeing blue states in favor of red states. Conservatives are fed up with the cost of living, and the politics, in blue states. AdvertisementConservatives are flocking en masse from blue states to one Republican stronghold in particular: South Carolina. Chabot said blue states need to take a page out of red states' playbook. "And so if these blue states want to get better, then they need to look at what red states are doing to retain their populations and their businesses."

Persons: —, Paul Chabot, he's, Chabot, Brad Liles, homebuyers, Zillow, Washington state's, It's, Lina Brock Organizations: Service, Republican, Wall Street, The State, New York Times, Washington, Times, Furman University, Forbes, Census Bureau Locations: Carolina, South Carolina, North Carolina , Georgia, New York , California, Florida, Virginia , Pennsylvania, Texas , New Jersey, Maryland, Texas, California, Washington, Oregon, Democratic, Spartanburg, Greenville , South Carolina, United States, Greenville, Black, —

☆ Uber and Lyft are threatening to leave Minneapolis over a ride-hailing proposal supporters say would guarantee drivers earn the city's minimum wage
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The conversation around ride-hailing driver pay has been heating up across the country over the past year. AdvertisementLoren Balazs, a full-time driver in Minneapolis, told BI he's worried the city council's proposal would hurt his ride-hailing business. The study estimated that a minimum pay rate of $1.21 per mile and $0.49 per minute would guarantee drivers earned the city's minimum wage. AdvertisementThe debate over minimum pay for ride-hailing drivers has been building in Minneapolis for over a year. Tim Walz vetoed a bill that would have established minimum pay standards for Uber and Lyft drivers.

Persons: —, Erin Hatton, Jacob Frey, Lyft, Lyft haven't, Uber, behemoths wouldn't, aren't, Axios, Alexandrea Ravenelle, Sergio Avedian, Guy, Austin, Avedian, Joe Pierce, he'd, Loren Balazs, Sheri Wegner, they'll, Mayor Frey, Tim Walz Organizations: Service, Business, University at Buffalo, Minneapolis City Council, Minneapolis, New, Seattle, Minnesota, University of North, Star Tribune, Minnesota Gov, Uber, Minneapolis City Locations: Minneapolis, Minneapolis ? Minnesota, New York City , Washington, California, Chicago and Massachusetts, Washington, Seattle, Minneapolis . Washington, Alexandrea, University of North Carolina, Minnesota, Twin Cities

☆ Elon Musk's SpaceX was reportedly fined $3,600 following the 'near amputation' of a worker's foot
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

SpaceX has been fined $3,600 over an accident at its Washington state facility. The incident resulted in the “near amputation" of a worker's foot, Reuters reported. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementElon Musk's SpaceX was fined $3,600 after an employee nearly lost a limb at one of its facilities this month. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Elon Organizations: SpaceX, Reuters, Service, Business Locations: Washington, Redmond

Republican Kris Kobach’s action was his latest move to restrict transgender rights, following his successful efforts last year to temporarily block Democratic Gov. It’s also part of a trend of GOP attorneys general asserting their authority in culture war issues without a specific state law. Kobach maintains that failing to disclose when a child is socially transitioning or identifying as non-binary at school violates a parents' rights. But Kobach didn't cite Kansas law in his letters to the state school boards association, the Topeka school district and the Kansas City, Shawnee Mission and Olathe school districts in the Kansas City area. But they also look outward, and Kobach's letters weren't the first to issue warnings not grounded in a specific state law.

Persons: they're, Kris Kobach’s, Laura Kelly’s, It’s, Kobach, general's, “, ”, Jordan Smith, Smith, Sen, Renee Erickson, Erickson, ” Kobach, Ken Paxton, it's, Tom Alonzo, Michelle Hubbard, ” Hubbard, ___ Mulvihill Organizations: Democratic, Kansas City, Kansas Association of School Boards, Movement Advancement, Wichita, Shawnee Mission, Seattle Children’s Hospital Locations: TOPEKA, Kan, Kansas, Topeka, Kansas City, Shawnee, Olathe, Wichita, “, Texas, Washington, Georgia, Kansas City , Kansas, Cherry Hill , New Jersey

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A “whistling sound” was heard on a previous flight of the Boeing 737 Max 9 whose door plug blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight last month, an attorney representing passengers in a lawsuit said in new court documents. On Wednesday, he filed an amended complaint that adds 18 additional passenger plaintiffs and includes the new allegations concerning the previous flight. He did not specify who they were and declined to confirm whether they were passengers or crew members on the previous flight. He also declined to specify when the previous flight occurred. She cautioned, however, that the pressurization light might be unrelated to the door plug blowout.

Persons: Mark Lindquist, Lindquist, “, ”, Max, Jennifer Homendy Organizations: Boeing, Max, Alaska Airlines, Court, Associated Press, AP, National Transportation Safety, NTSB, Alaska, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: PORTLAND, Portland , Oregon, Washington state's King County, Max, Alaska, United

☆ Proposed Kroger, Albertsons merger will take more time to close as scrutiny continues
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Supermarket chain Kroger's proposed acquisition of rival Albertsons is now expected to close in the first half of Kroger's fiscal year 2024 instead of early this year. Kroger, Albertsons and C&S Wholesale Grocers said they are in "active and ongoing dialogue" with the Federal Trade Commission and individual state attorneys general, according to the joint statement. In a bid to close the proposed $24.6 billion deal, Kroger agreed in September to divest 413 stores and eight distribution centers to C&S for $1.9 billion. With regulatory approval, the merger may require C&S to purchase an additional 237 stores from Kroger and Albertsons, Kroger said last year. Washington state's attorney general filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to block the proposed merger, calling it "harmful" for shoppers and workers.

Persons: Rodney McMullen, Kroger, —, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: Albertsons, Antitrust, Consumer, Capitol, S Wholesale Grocers, Federal Trade Commission, Kroger, Safeway, Acme, Washington, & $ Locations: Washington, Sens, Alexandria

☆ 2 manatees named Romeo and Juliet that have lived in a tank at a Florida theme park since 1956 will finally be freed after pressure from activists
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Two manatees will be released from a Miami aquarium that has held them since 1956. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is helping to relocate Romeo and Juliet, both in their 60s. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The aquarium did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, nor did a spokesperson from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Persons: Romeo, Juliet, —, Urgent Spears, Seaquarium, Lolita Organizations: and Wildlife Service, USDA, Service, Miami, Guardian, Urgent, ABC, US Department of Agriculture, ABC News, KOMO, Business, Fish and Wildlife Service Locations: Miami, Florida, Washington state's, SeaWorld

A judge granted Oregon State and Washington State a preliminary injunction Tuesday in their legal battle with 10 departing Pac-12 schools, giving the Pacific Northwest rivals control of the conference and millions of dollars in assets. “Oregon State and Washington State will be the sole members of the board,” Libey said, ruling quickly after hearing arguments for about 2 1/2 hours. Political Cartoons View All 1247 ImagesThe outgoing Pac-12 schools said they will appeal the ruling. Washington State athletic director Pat Chun and university president Kirk Schulz attended the hearing, along with Barnes. The clock is ticking for Oregon State and Washington State to make definitive plans for next season.

Persons: Jayathi Murthy, Scott Barnes, Gary Libey, ” Libey, “ Nothing's, “, Pat Chun, Kirk Schulz, Barnes, Chun, Schulz, George Kliavkoff, Eric MacMichael, Libey, ” MacMichael, we’re, Ralph D, Russo Organizations: Oregon State, Washington State, Oregon, ”, Court, Washington State's Pullman, Washington, UCLA, Big, USC, Washington Supreme, ACC, NCAA, AP Locations: Pacific Northwest, Whitman County, Washington State's, Oregon, Southern California, Washington, ”

The U.S. consumer agency, which enforces federal antitrust law, and 17 states filed their lawsuit against Amazon in Seattle federal court on Tuesday, asking a U.S. judge to consider an injunction and other penalties to combat alleged unlawful conduct. The FTC's lawsuit is related to but broader than a series of private consumer cases filed in recent years against Amazon that are pending in the same U.S. federal court. The private antitrust cases offer an early window into some of the legal arguments Amazon could be expected to make to challenge the FTC's lawsuit. Generally speaking, U.S. judges are "wary of using antitrust law to punish low-pricing behavior," said antitrust scholar Sean Sullivan of the University of Iowa's law school. Sullivan said it is not always a clear line between "good low pricing" — based on market competition — and "bad low pricing" that helps a company acquire or maintain market power.

Persons: Mike Segar, David Balto, Diane Hazel, Foley, Lardner, Hazel, Tom Cotter, David Zapolsky, Zapolsky, Lina Khan, Ricardo Martinez, Martinez, George W, Bush, Sean Sullivan, Sullivan, Mike Scarcella, Leigh Jones Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Federal Trade, Amazon.com, Amazon, Reuters, FTC, U.S, University of Minnesota Law School, District, University of, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, Seattle, Washington, Mt, Rainier

21 Washington State withstood a late rally to upend No. 14 Oregon State 38-35 on Saturday in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both teams. Ward's TD run on the next possession gave Washington State a 14-0 lead. Deshaun Fenwick led Oregon State with 101 rushing yards and touchdown runs of 38, 9 and 4 yards. Washington State: Has a week off before traveling to No.

Persons: — Josh Kelly, Cameron Ward, Uiagalelei, Jack Velling, Ward, Kyle Williams, Ward's, Lincoln Victor, Kelly, Deshaun Fenwick, Damien Martinez Organizations: Washington State, Oregon State, Cougars, Beavers, Washington, Fresno State, FBS, THE, Wisconsin, Oregon, UCLA, AP Locations: Oregon, Washington State, Fresno, Washington, Utah

A judge granted a request by Oregon State and Washington State for a temporary restraining order on Monday to prevent departing Pac-12 members from meeting until it can be determined who has the right to make up the disintegrating conference's board of directors. Oregon State and Washington State want full control over decision making for the conference as the only schools committed to the conference beyond the current school year. Oregon State and Washington State contend that eight schools —- Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Stanford and California — forfeited their right to be on the board when they announced their intentions to join other conferences next year. Political Cartoons View All 1152 ImagesThe departing schools dispute what constitutes formal notification of departure from the conference. There were no attorneys for any of the departing schools present for the hearing in a courtroom not far from Washington State's Pullman campus.

Persons: Gary Libey, George Kliavkoff, California —, Mark Lambert, Lambert, Kliavkoff, Ralph D, Russo Organizations: Oregon State, Washington State, Court, Pacific, California, USC, UCLA, Big Ten, Washington State's Pullman, AP Locations: Whitman County, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State , Colorado , Utah , Oregon, Stanford, Washington State's

SATUS, Washington, July 22 (Reuters) - A fast-growing wildfire forced residents to evacuate a rural stretch of southern Washington state's Klickitat County on Saturday after it burned more than 30,000 acres in less than 24 hours. The Newell Road Wildfire has already destroyed several structures in the area and is threatening homes, farms, crops and livestock, solar and wind farms and a natural gas pipeline, county emergency officials said. Firefighters from across the area have descended on the blaze that is burning just north of the Columbia River, which marks the state's border with Oregon. Officials have not said what caused the fire, and there have been no reports of injuries or deaths. Reporting by Matt McKnight in Satus, Washington; Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Matt McKnight, Jonathan Allen, Paul Simao Organizations: Firefighters, Thomson Locations: Washington, Klickitat County, Bickleton, Portland , Oregon, Columbia, Oregon, Satus , Washington, New York

[1/5] A killer whale member of the Bigg's orca T65B pod is seen in the Salish Sea near Eastsound, Washington, U.S., July 7, 2023. While the interactions may be frightening, they have also spawned a popular social media trend that humorously suggests killer whales are rising up to attack wealthy yacht owners. Dr. Michael Weiss, research director of the Center for Whale Research, has another theory for the orcas’ behavior – it’s a fad. "We've seen killer whales do fad-like behavior, and other cetaceans have fads. In 1987, Washington’s Southern Resident orcas suddenly began wearing dead salmon on their heads, like hats.

Persons: Matt Mills McKnight, orcas, Deborah Giles, Giles, Olivia Hafey, Hafey, it's, Dr, Michael Weiss, Weiss, We're, Matt McKnight, Jane Ross, Mary Milliken, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Puget Sound, University of Washington’s, Harbor Laboratories, Southern, Center for Whale Research, Reuters, Washington’s, Thomson Locations: Eastsound , Washington , U.S, Matt Mills McKnight SEATTLE, . Washington, Portuguese, Washington’s San Juan Island, Seattle

☆ Some US cities have replaced fireworks with drone shows to reduce wildfires and noise pollution
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Some US cities have replaced fireworks with light shows performed by drones. Drone shows reduce the chance of wildfires and sound pollution. Lakewood, Boulder, and Castle Rock have opted for drone shows following the switch from other surrounding cities in Colorado last year. Some fireworks shows were canceled this year. Aside from noise pollution, fireworks are a leading cause of wildfires in many dry cities.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Ocean, Los Angeles Regional, Quality Control Board, Washington State's Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources, Coachella, Super Locations: California, Colorado, San Diego, La Jolla, Lakewood , Boulder, Angeles, San Francisco Bay, Washington

☆ Washington state plans to mandate Tesla's charging plug -official
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 23 (Reuters) - Washington state plans to require electric vehicle charging companies to include Tesla's plug if they want to be part of a state program to electrify highways using federal dollars, an official told Reuters on Thursday. Washington follows the move by Texas to mandate Tesla's technology, The North American Charging Standard (NACS), adding momentum to CEO Elon Musk's hope of making it the national charging technology. GM (GM.N), Ford (F.N) and Rivan (RIVN.O) have said they would embrace Tesla's NACS, shunning efforts by the Biden administration to make the Combined Charging System (CCS) the dominant charging standard in the United States. Buell said state officials are still trying to determine the right mix of NACS chargers based on current federal requirements. The plan by Washington may add pressure on other states and the federal government to adopt Tesla's NACS.

Persons: Elon Musk's, Tesla's, Biden, I’m, Tonia Buell, Kris Rietmann Abrudan, Buell, Jarrett Renshaw, Hyunjoo Jin, Peter Henderson, Daniel Wallis, Jamie Freed Organizations: Reuters, GM, Ford, Washington state's Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of Transportation, Thomson Locations: Washington, . Washington, Texas, United States

☆ Exclusive: Washington state plans to mandate Tesla's charging plug
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 23 (Reuters) - Washington state plans to require electric vehicle charging companies to include Tesla's plug if they want to be part of a state program to electrify highways using federal dollars, an official told Reuters on Thursday. Washington follows the move by Texas to mandate Tesla's technology, The North American Charging Standard (NACS), adding momentum to CEO Elon Musk's hope of making it the national charging technology. GM (GM.N), Ford (F.N) and Rivan (RIVN.O) have said they would embrace Tesla's NACS, shunning efforts by the Biden administration to make the Combined Charging System (CCS) the dominant charging standard in the United States. We want to provide access to as many makes and models as possible," said Tonia Buell, alternative fuels program manager at Washington state's Department of Transportation. The plan by Washington may add pressure on other states and the federal government to adopt Tesla's NACS.

Persons: Elon Musk's, Tesla's, Biden, I’m, Tonia Buell, Buell, Jarrett Renshaw, Hyunjoo Jin, Peter Henderson, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Reuters, GM, Ford, Washington state's Department of Transportation, Thomson Locations: Washington, . Washington, Texas, United States

It was inspired by the original wind phone set up in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, ten years earlier. The plaque reads: "This phone is for everyone who has ever lost a loved one. The phone is an outlet for those who have messages they wish to share with their friends and family. 'I NEED AN OUTLET'During a recent afternoon, Joelle's family paid a visit to the phone to celebrate her life. Erin Sylvester, Joelle's mother, said they sometimes have pizza parties and invite friends to join them.

Persons: Corey Dembeck, Matt Mills McKnight, Joelle, Sylvester, Joelle Rose, Dembeck, Joelle's, Erin Sylvester, it's, welling, Jonah, Erin, It's, that's, Andre Sylvester, Matt McKnight, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Washington state's, U.S . Army, Thomson Locations: Olympia , Washington , U.S, Wash, Washington, Olympia, Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, United States

☆ Amazon's worker safety hazards come under fire from regulators and the DOJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Katie Tarasov | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

In 2021, Amazon's injury rate was almost 1.5 times the industry average. Jennifer Crane works through pain at an Amazon warehouse in St. Peters, Missouri, after hurting her wrist in October. Amazon worker Jennifer Crane at her house outside St. Louis, Missouri, in 2022. OSHA also cited Amazon for 14 record-keeping violations, finding that the company failed to properly report worker injuries and illnesses. If you're rushing, you're going to make mistakes and someone's going to get hurt."

☆ Washington state purchases three-year supply of abortion pill
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 4 (Reuters) - Washington state's government said on Tuesday it had purchased a three-year supply of abortion pill mifepristone as a Texas judge mulls a nationwide ban on the medication's sale. The state's Democratic governor directed its Department of Corrections, which has a pharmacy license, to purchase the medication last month, a government statement said. "Health care should be decided by a patient and their doctor, not a judge in Texas," Washington Governor Jay Inslee said in a tweet, adding that the purchase ensured "continued access" for all patients in his state. loadingLegal fights over abortion rights have ramped up in the United States after a Supreme Court ruling last year that overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing the procedure. Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UPS cutting back on some jobs as Teamster labor talks loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Lisa Baertlein | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

With the move, UPS joins rival FedEx (FDX.N) and other major transportation companies in trimming jobs as the early pandemic's e-commerce shipping boom fizzles. But the stakes are higher at UPS, which is preparing for the largest North American private sector union contract negotiations later this year that will pit the world's largest package delivery firm against the powerful Teamsters union. The contract covering roughly 350,000 Teamsters-represented drivers, loaders, package sorters and other UPS workers expires on July 31. "This is not nationwide, but only in select parts of the country, in response to uneven demand," UPS said. According to the UPS labor contract, reassigned full-time workers could opt to leave or take another job.

There are "continued calls for violence directed at U.S. critical infrastructure," the agency warned last February, "as a means to create chaos and advance ideological goals." Law enforcement and utility companies, though, say they're working to resolve the open cases and prevent future attacks. Members of accelerationist groups have been charged with several plots in recent years to attack critical infrastructure. "The critical infrastructure element has become one of the core components of neo-fascist accelerationist movements in the US. "They don't really care who is doing the violence, who's doing the critical infrastructure attacks, Lewis said.

This year, women will hold all four of the top positions on the House and Senate Appropriations committees for the first time in history. “Oftentimes people say, you know, ‘We need to have women at the table.’ Well, women are the table.”Spending and debt fights loomOver the decades, these women have seen their share of spending fights. But I’m absolutely convinced that we have to stand together,” said Granger, who last week became the first female Republican to chair the House Appropriations Committee. Women, Murray said, are good communicators, and she and her colleagues can translate a big, complicated appropriations bill for everyday Americans. But as a 14-year House Appropriations staffer, she also intimately knows each of the top appropriators and recognizes the significance of this glass-ceiling-shattering moment.

In a note to employees, CEO Satya Nadella attempted to address the divergent outlook for different parts of the business. Nadella said the layoffs, affecting less than 5% of Microsoft's workforce, would conclude by the end of March, with notifications beginning Wednesday. Along with Amazon, Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) announced cuts of 11,000 jobs, while cloud-based software company Salesforce Inc (CRM.N) said it would cut 10% of its 80,000-member workforce. Under U.S. law, most employers are required to report staff cuts affecting 50 or more workers at a single location. But growth dropped to 35% in the first fiscal quarter of 2023, and the company projects more declines to come.

☆ Washington court paves way for Albertsons' $4 bln dividend, declines to review case
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Mike Scarcella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Washington Supreme Court made the decision after a lower court judge refused last month to issue a preliminary injunction against the dividend. The Washington attorney general's office in November sued to block the dividend, arguing that it would weaken Albertsons before Kroger's $25 billion purchase. The merger proposal will be reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission, which polices merger and acquisition activity for compliance with antitrust law. In a statement, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said his office was "surprised and disappointed the Supreme Court decided not to hear this case." Chief executives of the two grocers in November defended the $25 billion proposed tie-up at a hearing before a U.S. congressional committee.

☆ Here's how the US government is developing 5G for underwater Navy sensors and bomb disposal on land
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Clara Mcmichael | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US government is working to integrate 5G into technology that addresses environmental hazards. The Navy is working with an Energy Department subsidiary on 5G tech meant to detect marine life. This article is part of "How 5G Is Changing Everything," a series about transformational 5G tech across industries. The lab collaborates with other government agencies to weave the latest 5G technology into their operations and has worked on projects ranging from underwater sensors to land-based bomb-disposal robots. The Navy is particularly interested in working on 5G underwater, where it could enable faster data collection and analysis, more efficient environmental monitoring, and better communication with the Navy's underwater assets.

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