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New government rule restricts who can be considered an independent contractor

Jan 10, 2024
The likely outcome of the rule is to designate more people as employees. That has some employers through the gig economy worried.
The new Biden administration rule could put more pressure on app-based gig economy companies, such as Uber, that relies heavily on independent contractors.
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Some U.S. manufacturers are still benefiting from Trump-era tariffs

Jun 16, 2023
The Biden administration hasn’t removed Trump’s tariffs on steel or aluminum — to the benefit of some U.S. manufacturers.
"Everyone kind of expected when President Biden came into office that that the China tariffs would go away," said customs broker Gretchen Blough. "But everything's still in place."
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Federal money withheld from "sanctuary cities" back in play

Apr 29, 2021
For some jurisdictions, the grant money is the biggest source of federal law enforcement funding.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

New rule lets companies treat some employees as gig workers

Jan 7, 2021
Usually there are lots of benefits and protections that come with being an employee instead of a gig worker, like being paid the minimum wage.
An Uber Eats delivery worker rides an electric scooter in Manhattan in 2020.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

What we know about the latest plan for more COVID relief

Direct payments in the range of $600 and extra unemployment benefits around $300 per week are on the table.
"What we really need in this package is a bridge to when the weather is warmer and the vaccines are disseminated," says Marc Goldwein, senior vice president and senior policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

DACA ruling protects recipients and allows for new applicants

Dec 9, 2020
But Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status is still temporary, and offers no clear path to citizenship.
People hold signs during a rally in support of the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of the DACA program in San Diego, Calif., on June 18, 2020.
Sandy Huffaker/AFP via Getty Images

GM makes U-turn in Trump's fight over California emissions

GM had previously sided with the Trump administration in a legal fight over California setting its own emissions standards.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra speaks to the news media before the automobiile maker's annual meeting of shareholders at GM world headquarters June 12, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Federal court blocks Trump's cuts on food stamps

The Trump administration's plan would have ended food stamps for nearly 700,000 unemployed people.
A sign alerting customers about SNAP food stamps benefits is displayed at a Brooklyn grocery store on Dec. 5, 2019 in New York City.
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What does a census undercount mean for state and local governments?

Those most in need of federal funding could be left out of the census count.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images