Female congressional candidate leaves race after sexual harassment allegations resurface

A protester holds a sign up during a #MeToo demonstration outside Trump International hotel in New York City, NY, U.S., December 9, 2017. A Democratic candidate hoping to flip a hotly contested congressional seat in Kansas has dropped out of the race after allegations that she sexually harassed a male subordinate resurfaced amid her campaign.

Increase in lawsuits on sex-based workplace harassment

More than 3,500 federal civil lawsuits related to harassment in the workplace have been filed so far this year, an increase over 2016, according to Lex Machina, a Menlo Park analytics firm that tracks litigation. Federal data show that the number of sex-based-harassment complaints filed in 2016 increased from the prior year.

#MeToo movement challenged by cascade of allegations

The criticism came swiftly last week after Atlantic magazine published a writer's account saying that Sen. Al Franken "groped" her in 2009 by putting his hand on her waist during a photo op, "grabbing a handful of flesh" and squeezing at least twice. "And this is your definition of a grope? Come on! This accusation trivializes real predation and abuse.

Capitol Report: Here’s the bill taxpayers have footed for Congressional misconduct cases

The congressional office where the woman who reportedly settled with Rep. John Conyers launched her sexual harassment complaint has paid more than $17 million in settlements for a variety of cases since the late 1990s, according to recently released information. Late Monday, BuzzFeed News reported that the Michigan Democrat settled a wrongful dismissal complaint in 2015 with a former employee, who alleged she was fired since she wouldn't "succumb to [his] sexual advances."

Chariot fined for discriminating against wheelchair users

Chariot , the private bus startup owned by Ford Motor Company, which has been having a rough time navigating San Francisco's political scene lately, settled a dispute with the U.S. Department of Justice, agreeing to pay $50,000 and initiate a series of reforms to amend discriminatory practices against people with disabilities.

Tennessee jobless rate below 5 percent in every county for first time

Economic development officials across Tennessee shared virtual high-fives Thursday as unemployment rates in all 95 counties dropped below 5 percent for the first time. Many of them were in Gatlinburg for the 64th annual Governor's Conference on Economic and Community Development.

Stopping hate crimes against transgender Americans

It's compelling and important news that Attorney General Jeff Sessions is so concerned about the killing of a transgender Iowa high school student that he has sent an experienced federal hate crimes lawyer to help prosecute the man charged in the murder. This act of compassion also begs a question: Why isn't Sessions more concerned about violence against transgender people while they are still alive? There have long been concerns about Sessions' stance on the civil rights of gay and transgender Americans.

California Corporate Whistleblower Center Now Urges a Nursing Home…

One of our top targets are healthcare companies in California that are gouging Medicare with medically unnecessary procedures, or medical treatments that never took place" WASHINGTON, DC, USA, October 10, 2017 / EINPresswire.com / -- The California Corporate Whistleblower Center says, "We are urging a manager or a nurse at a California based nursing home, skilled nursing facility, a rehab center, a dialysis center or a company providing hospice services to call us anytime at 866-714-6466-if they can prove their employer is involved in significant Medicare overbilling. One of our top targets are healthcare companies in California that are gouging Medicare with medically unnecessary procedures, or medical treatments that never took place.

Trump order to ease insurance rules

Stymied in his efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, President Donald Trump is poised to issue an order that could ease some federal rules governing health insurance and make it easier for people to band together and buy coverage on their own, administration officials said Saturday. One official said the directive could move the president a step closer to one of his long-standing goals: allowing consumers to buy health insurance across state lines.

Details emerge on Trump’s plan to sell insurance across state lines

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order next week that will allow people to buy lower-cost health insurance that can circumvent some of the mandates created under Obamacare. Additional details of the executive order, which is being billed as a move that would allow insurance to be sold across state lines, were reported Saturday by the Wall Street Journal .

Reform Movement Condemns DOJ Discriminatory Guidance on Transgender…

On Wednesday, October 4, the Department of Justice issued a memorandum stating that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not protect transgender employees in their places of work. In the memorandum, Attorney General Jeff Sessions wrote, "Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination encompasses discrimination between men and women but does encompass discrimination based on gender identity per se , including transgender status."

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Reacts To Latest DOJ Assault On LGBTQ Community

Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, issued the following statement "The text of Title VII, federal case law, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission all support interpreting and applying Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination to cover the stark discrimination faced by transgender individuals. Transgender individuals are among some of our nation's most vulnerable communities and they experience discrimination in virtually every area of life based on their sex.

3 black detectives claim NYPD didn’t promote them because of race

Three black detectives in the New York Police Department's intelligence division filed a federal lawsuit against the department on Monday, saying they were denied promotions because of their race and less-qualified white officers were promoted instead. The detectives joined the unit, which is responsible for investigating terrorism and other crimes, in 2001.

Texas Federal Court Deals Yet Another Blow to USDOL’s Overtime Rule

A federal judge in Texas struck down the controversial Obama-era change to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act that was intended to substantially raise the minimum salary threshold required for employees to qualify for the "white collar" exemptions. This signifies another setback for the so-called "overtime rule".