Ignoring Roma is sabotaging competitiveness – POLITICO

Ignoring Roma is sabotaging competitiveness – POLITICO

Consider Anca Gheorghe, a 23-year-old Roma woman from Romania. She attended a poorly resourced school with unqualified teachers and faced unfair discrimination, leaving her with limited opportunities. Left with virtually no other options, she joined an EU-funded vocational program to train as a hairdresser, hoping for financial independence. Yet, there are already enough hairdressers in … Read more

North Shore teachers strikes continue Thursday, two unions facing $50K fines

North Shore teachers strikes continue Thursday, two unions facing K fines

Beverly and Gloucester teachers’ unions were ordered to pay $50,000 fine Wednesday as contentious negotiations continue and their strike heads into its fourth school day Thursday. An Essex Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that the union must pay $50,000 if the strike continued past 6 p.m. and the fines will increase by $10,000 each day … Read more

IMF warns war and protectionism to hurt world economy – POLITICO

IMF warns war and protectionism to hurt world economy – POLITICO

“We have three main policy recommendations,” Koeva-Brooks said, highlighting that the first is “for central banks to pivot towards providing more support to activity where inflation is under control.” By contrast, she added that governments should tighten fiscal policy to draw a line under the emergency measures of the pandemic years, as well as enacting … Read more

Denver ballot has sales taxes, fur ban, police, collective bargaining

Denver ballot has sales taxes, fur ban, police, collective bargaining

Denver voters have another hefty ballot on their hands in the November election: Three double-sided pages await them in envelopes that began arriving over the weekend. Beyond school district matters, statewide amendments and propositions, congressional races and the U.S. presidency, Denver voters have nine citywide ballot questions that would change municipal code or the city … Read more

How a battle over wages in Venice highlights the complex reality overlooked by policymakers – POLITICO

How a battle over wages in Venice highlights the complex reality overlooked by policymakers – POLITICO

Consider Venice. Union leaders say the chains — which include such giants as Hilton Worldwide Brands and Star Hotels and have significant influence over two of the Veneto region’s most powerful employers’ federations — have refused their demands for higher wages since 2018, regularly derailing talks at the 11th hour to push for concessions that … Read more

How to use the paid family leave insurance program

How to use the paid family leave insurance program

Most Colorado workers are now eligible to receive at least part of their salaries while recovering from illness or caring for a baby, but people who are new to their jobs may not have protection from firing or demotion. Colorado’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance program has paid out about $420 million on 82,000 claims … Read more

David Cameron’s barefoot warrior bids for glory in California – POLITICO

David Cameron’s barefoot warrior bids for glory in California – POLITICO

Yet a win by a conservative outsider is hardly unprecedented, with movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger having served two terms as governor from 2003 to 2011.  Gove commented that Hilton “has the policy smarts and the drive” to take on the job. He noted that “of course it’s a blue state, but governor races are different, … Read more

Denver’s rising minimum wage squeezes restaurants, small businesses

Denver’s rising minimum wage squeezes restaurants, small businesses

Bobby Stuckey, the founder of the Front Range restaurant owner Frasca Hospitality Group, insists he’s a positive guy — but not when it comes to the impact Denver’s fast-increasing minimum wage is having on the industry he loves. As the local government mandate forces wage increases on an industry that already operates on thin margins, … Read more

Democratic VP candidate Tim Walz raises $3 million in Denver stop

Democratic VP candidate Tim Walz raises  million in Denver stop

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joked about his “interesting” first week as Kamala Harris’ running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket and criticized Donald Trump’s background on Wednesday during a Denver fundraiser that collected $3 million for the campaign. “This week has been interesting,” Walz told roughly 150 attendees in the backyard of the 33,000-square-foot Phipps … Read more

Why your coffee got so damn expensive – POLITICO

Why your coffee got so damn expensive – POLITICO

The coffee bush likes tropical climates and elevation, and grows in a belt around the equator. It is the cherries of the plant, which turns bright red when ripe, that are used to make the hot drink. They’re gathered, stripped, dried, roasted and finally ground and ready to use.  Sounds like hard work, doesn’t it? … Read more