Last year, California’s Reparations Task Force issued a report that suggested paying Black residents hundreds of billions of dollars to address past racial injustices. Now, the California legislature is taking the first steps to act on the proposal; setting aside $12 million for reparations payments. However, some reparations proponents say this simply isn’t enough. Modest New Proposals British Library/Unsplash Compared to the hundreds of billions in spending recommended by the Reparations Task Force last year, the $12 million set aside in the new state budget is measly – representing less than $6 for every Black Californian. The diminished sum is…
Author: Tom Williams
Cities across the world have begun bidding to host the quadrennial Gay Games – an LGBTQ+ sports event that has been a staple of LGBTQ+ activism for over 40 years. The international cities bidding to host the games in 2030 include Denver, Vancouver, Taipei, and Cape Town. Representatives for these locations will make their case at the annual general assembly of the Federation of Gay Games in Washington D.C this October. What Are The Gay Games? Margax Bellott/Unsplash The Gay Games, which has also been nicknamed the Gay Olympics, is an international sporting event held in a different city every…
In April, the minimum wage for fast-food workers in California increased from $16 to $20 per hour; a move that was celebrated by labor unions and progressive activists, but stoked fears of job losses and economic downturn. New statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the fast-food industry has gained over 10,000 workers in California since the implementation of the increased minimum wage. The Statistics in Full H. Hümâ Yardim/Pexels According to new data, California added more jobs in the fast-food industry for every month this year, including after the implementation of the new minimum wage legislation.…
A major ice cream manufacturer in the United States has recalled their products across the country, just as peak Summer temperatures hit. Maryland’s Totally Cool Inc., which is responsible for manufacturing some of the most popular ice cream products in the US, has recalled products due to a risk of contamination with the potentially fatal listeria monocytogenes bacterium. What is Listeriosis? Irene Kredenets/Unsplash Listeria monocytogenes are organisms that can cause potentially fatal infections among the elderly, very young and those who are immuno-compromised. Among healthy adults, Listeria infections can still cause headaches, stiffness, diarrhea, and nausea. For pregnant women, it…
Almost 300 canned coffee products have been recalled after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cited a risk of serious illness and death stemming from the company’s manufacturing process. The company facing the recall, Snapchill LLC is based in Wisconsin and sells coffee under a variety of brands in cans ranging from 7 to 12 oz. What is The Risk? Demi DeHerrera/Unsplash The Snapchill products are being recalled because of the risk of botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says symptoms of botulism include breathing difficulties and muscle…
America’s second-largest automobile manufacturer, Ford Motor, said on Tuesday that it would recall 668,000 F-150 pickup trucks from the 2014 model year worldwide. The recall was prompted because vehicles could unexpectedly downshift into first gear, leading to drivers losing control – with this fault causing at least one serious accident. Extent of The Problem Revealed Wikimedia Commons Ford Motor told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a loss of signal could cause a transmission downshift regardless of the speed of the vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said one owner _”_experienced an unexpected downshift causing his vehicle…
Popular dog treat provider TDBBS has recalled over 3,500 bags of three different products owing to the potential presence of foreign metal objects in the food. The voluntary recall concerns green tripe dog treats that were available in stores and online between February 2024 and May 2024. TDBBS Working With FDA Ayla Verschueren/Unsplash The recall of TDBBS products sold online and via retailers is voluntary and being conducted by the pet food provider in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Currently, the recall is limited to three different-sized servings of green tripe treats. TDBBS is reportedly working with…
Over 100 million Americans have faced heat alerts this weekend, while flood warnings have been put in place elsewhere. More than a million people in the Upper Midwest were under flood warnings on Sunday morning, and flooding led to evacuations and rescue missions in South Dakota and Iowa. “Catastrophic” Flooding Chris Gallagher/Unsplash In Iowa, many rivers have seen flooding levels rise above those recorded in the 1993 flood that killed 50 in the Midwest. Iowa Governor, Kim Reynolds, had described the current situation as “catastrophic”. On Facebook, Reynolds, said she had “issued a Disaster Proclamation for Sioux County and directed…
Three popular types of applesauce pouches aimed at children remained on shelves across the US for weeks despite containing 200 times the recommended lead limit. Lead poisoning can lead to lifelong severe health problems and the news of lead-tainted applesauce has understandably alarmed parents across the US. Dollar Store Condemned By FDA For Failures Peter Bond/Unsplash The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed in a letter to Dollar Tree that the company had failed to remove the contaminated applesauce products in a sufficiently timely manner. The June letter revealed that health officials had found recalled pouches on shelves over eight…
A pro-social justice Christian group, Faithful America, have petitioned Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to resign. They represent one of many groups who are concerned that Alito has compromised his impartiality and can no longer be trusted to rule fairly. Alito’s Controversial Comments Wikimedia Commons Alito courted controversy after a secret recording caught him saying the U.S. should return to “a place of Godliness.” Filmmaker Lauren Windsor caught the remarks at a dinner event. Following the publication of the remarks, some have wondered whether Alito’s personal beliefs may be unduly influencing his judgment. Support For The Petition Surges Elizabeth Jenkins/Flickr…