Tag Archives: employment

Driving for Change

A recent settlement between the state of Massachusetts and two leading transportation platforms, Uber and Lyft, promises a wage increase and enhanced benefits to its drivers. In addition, the settlement halts the attempt of the two companies to propose an intended 2024 ballot question that would support the classification of drivers as independent contractors, with limited benefits and without the guarantee of minimum wage. The initiative to essentially change employment laws in the state of Massachusetts was initially countered by the state with its own ballot question that would allow drivers the opportunity to unionize.

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Change Their Tune

Among her various roles as a singer, songwriter, and television personality, Kelly Clarkson has also recently emerged in the headlines due to her rapid weight loss transformation. With a healthier approach to life, Clarkson has worked toward trimming additional layers of concern, such as an ongoing lawsuit with her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. The two parties were scheduled to attend a bench trial on August 27, however, following their settlement, they have asked the court to dismiss all pending cases. The dispute between the former couple originated with Blackstock’s claim that he was owed unpaid commission as Clarkson’s manager.

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A Student’s Fight

To effectively illustrate the practical application of an educational theory or concept, teachers may often incorporate tangible or realistic examples. On May 2, 2022, a former science teacher at Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico brought two swords into the classroom to demonstrate a lesson on metal and melding. Rather than simply showing the swords to the class, the teacher instructed the students to duel with one another. The two weapons were katana- and rapier-style swords and did not resemble props. The level of probable danger might not have been anticipated, as one student was injured.

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Fight for Freedom

In Texas, a newly introduced TikTok ban and its apparent subsequent restraints on the ability to exercise full academic freedom is the subject of a recent lawsuit filed by the group, The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. Academic freedom not only affords the opportunity for professors to conduct research and teach an array of topics and ideas without the fear of censure, but also allows students to engage in thought processes and debates without the anxiety of potential retaliation. The lawsuit names Texas Governor Greg Abbott and additional state entities and public university personnel as defendants.

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A Striking Resemblance

The fear that artificial intelligence (AI) may compromise or replace individual creative expression has sparked an ongoing strike on behalf of the Writer’s Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The rise in AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, function to manipulate and reconfigure human writing. In an industry that relies on the development of unique ideas, fresh content, and effective acting for movies and television, such an AI tool presents a possible or likely threat to future earned projects and potential income.

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