NEWS ROUNDUP
Mad Matt’s biblical warfare ● Social Security tune-up ● $4 million/hour
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
THIS WASHINGTON
LOCAL
► In today’s Spokesman-Review — School board set to adopt budget that includes large cuts in staff — Capping a summer of conversation and revision, the Spokane Public Schools board of directors is poised to adopt a $461 million balanced budget for the upcoming school year. The budget is a reflection of changes in the state funding model following the landmark McCleary court decision, which led to large cuts at almost every district in the state.
► From KIRO — Seattle teachers rallying along I-5 in support of negotiating better contracts — Seattle teachers are rallying along I-5 this morning, asking for support in negotiating better contracts this school year. The contracts are initially due in one week. The teachers will be using the visibility of a spot over I-5 to grab attention from people traveling in and out of Seattle.
BOEING
► In the PS Business Journal — Boeing delivers three KC-46 tankers to Air Force as production ramps up — Boeing delivered three KC-46 aerial refueling tankers to the Air Force this month and expects to hand over three per month for the rest of the year. The company has delivered 16 KC-46 tankers overall as production ramps up, a spokesman said.
► From Bloomberg — Pilot turns self-styled whistle-blower after 737 Max crash — For months, he said, he voiced concerns about potential risks of the 737 Max flight control feature.
THAT WASHINGTON
ALSO at The Stand — Protect Social Security Administration workers to protect your benefits
► From Telemundo — Trump defends immigration raids in Mississippi to deter illegal immigration — Immigrant rights advocacy groups, including the AFL-CIO, the Hispanic Federation, and other civic groups, have also condemned the raids. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said that the raids are only intended to sow fear and ingratiate themselves with divisive elements of the country, and that the only “crime” of those arrested “is to work hard for a better life.”
► In the NY Times — Trump’s push to bring back jobs to U.S. shows limited results — Foreign investment in the United States grew at a slower annual pace in the first two years of Trump’s tenure than during Obama’s presidency, according to Commerce Department data released in July. Growth in business investment from all sources, foreign and domestic, accelerated briefly after Trump signed a $1.5 trillion tax-cut package in late 2017 but then slowed. Investment growth turned negative this spring, providing a drag on economic output.
► In today’s NY Times — This drug will save children’s lives. It costs $2 million. (editorial) — Safety, innovation and affordability need not be mutually exclusive goals for cutting-edge treatments.
► In today’s Washington Post — How a McConnell-backed effort to lift Russian sanctions boosted a Ky. project — A spokesman said the Senate majority leader did not know the measure would help a company building an aluminum mill in an impoverished part of his home state.
NATIONAL
► In today’s Dallas News — 58 arrested, fined outside American Airlines HQ in catering workers protest — Fort Worth police arrested, released and fined 58 catering workers and other protesters who blocked traffic to American Airlines’ headquarters Tuesday. The arrests were part of a coordinated demonstration of civil disobedience on behalf of 11,000 airline catering workers across the country who are bargaining for better wages and benefits from their employer, LSG Sky Chefs. About 600 supporters showed up at the protest, including catering workers at DFW International Airport along with union members from other airports and local supporters such as American Airlines mechanics.
► From Varierty — Barstool Sports founder threatens to fire employees engaged in unionizing, Which is against the law. — Dave “El Presidente” Portnoy, founder of media company Barstool Sports, says he really hates unions. Now he’s made explicit threats to fire employees who engage in union-organizing activity — which, even if Portnoy is “joking,” has drawn scrutiny of what would represent violations of federal labor laws.
If you’re a boss tweeting firing threats to employees trying to unionize, you are likely breaking the law &can be sued,in your words, “on the spot.”
ALL workers in the US have the protected freedom to organize for better conditions.
See @NLRB &union orgs like @AFLCIO for tips. https://t.co/bU7WlHrp1d
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 13, 2019
► From Press Progress — A&W tells anti-union conference it keeps a secret ‘watch list’ to make sure workers don’t unionize — Fast food giants tell anti-union conference they monitor “high risk” restaurants fearing the spread of unions in the service sector.
INCOME INEQUALITY
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 10 a.m.