West News

Hawaii Says 30 Lahaina Fire Survivors Are Moving Into Housing Daily But 3K Still in Hotels

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said some 3,000 people displaced by Lahaina’s wildfires are still living in hotels more than seven months after the August blaze but that up to 30 people are moving to longer-term housing each day. Green told …

New $20 Minimum Wage for Fast Food Workers in California Began Monday

Most fast food workers in California will be paid at least $20 an hour began Monday, when a new law kicked in giving more financial security to an historically low-paying profession while threatening to raise prices in a state already …

Bird Flu Found in Michigan, Idaho Cows as Virus Spreads in US

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been discovered in dairy herds in Michigan and Idaho, indicating the virus is spreading into new US states. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories has confirmed the presence of bird flu in a Michigan herd that …

Oregon OSHA Fines Bend Contractor $103K for Repeated Fall Protection Violations

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division fined a Bend construction company $103,438 for repeatedly violating a requirement to provide protective systems to safeguard workers from fall hazards. The division cited Sky Ridge Construction LLC following an inspection that focused …

Cryptocurrency Asset Platform Settles with Oregon over Violations

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation reached a settlement agreement in principle with a cryptocurrency asset platform for violating state securities regulations. The group of affiliated companies known as Abra – Plutus Financial Holdings Inc., Plutus Financial Inc., Plutus Lending …

Berkeley to Halt Ban on Natural Gas Piping in New Buildings

The city of Berkeley, California, has agreed to halt enforcement of a ban on natural gas piping in new homes and buildings that was successfully opposed in court by the California Restaurant Association, the organization said. The settlement follows the …

Louisiana’s Temple Seeks Reform in Response to State Farm’s California Cuts

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple pointed to State Farm’s decision to non-renew policies in the California market as a warning for lawmakers to modernize Louisiana’s regulatory framework and address legal system abuse – or risk insurers leaving the catastrophe-prone state. …

Former California Insurance Agent Found Guilty of Taking $1.2M from Victims

Former licensed insurance agent Brett E. Lovett, 53, of Camarillo, California, was found guilty of 29 felony counts including grand theft, elder abuse, money laundering, and burglary after a 15-month California Department of Insurance investigation reportedly found he defrauded at …

California Beefing up Recruitment for Inspectors to Better Enforce Workplace Laws

California’s Department of Industrial Relations is beefing up a statewide effort to recruit inspectors and investigators throughout California to more thoroughly enforce labor and workplace laws. The DIR is hiring enforcement staff for Cal/OSHA and the Labor Commissioner’s Office under …

Hospitality Workers Ratify New Contract with 34 Southern California Hotels

Thousands of Southern California hospitality workers overwhelmingly ratified a new contract with 34 hotels after repeated strikes since the summer, their union announced. Workers won higher pay, increased employer contributions to pensions, and fair workload guarantees among other provisions of …

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