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Universal paid leave is on track at the Legislature; workers and businesses remain divided

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:04 GMT

Minnesota is on track to become the first Midwestern state to provide nearly all workers with paid family and medical leave, a benefit that’s relatively rare in the U.S. but common worldwide.The Minnesota House passed legislation Tuesday creating a universal leave program on a 68-64 vote after six hours of debate. The Senate is expected to debate the bill in the coming weeks.If it becomes law, Minnesota would be the 12th state to have a mandatory leave program that would provide workers with a portion of their salary while they take up to 12 weeks off to care for themselves or a loved one. New parents also would be eligible for up to 12 weeks to recover from birth or bond with a new child.“My goal is to strengthen the safety net,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, the primary sponsor of the House bill, emphasizing Democrats’ motivation for pushing the legislation this session.“We all get sick. We all, at some point, will need to care for o...

Ask Amy: A woman with wheels wants to pay for travel

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:04 GMT

Dear Amy: I have traveled to meet a wonderful man that I am really anxious to get to know better. I paid for the first trip to visit him.He sent me a check for the upcoming second trip to visit him.I am so excited to see him on this next trip, but I’m hesitant to cash the check.I am leaning toward not cashing the check and just paying for this second trip on my own.The check is from his and his wife’s joint account, which they still share.I am a very independent woman. I work hard and have been a very private person since my divorce 18 years ago.I have no regrets in life, but feel if I cash this check, I will have one.I have no drama in my life. I worry that this ex will make drama.I do not need her in my business.How can I express myself and return this check on my next visit?— StumpedRelated ArticlesAsk Amy | Ask Amy: Vacation times are affected by interlopers Ask Amy | Ask Amy: A new diagnosis inspires important questions Ask Amy | ...

Word Game: May 7, 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:04 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — BOLDFACE (BOLDFACE: BOLD-face: A heavy-faced type.)Average mark 45 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 57 or more words in BOLDFACE?TODAY’S WORD — BOLDFACE bade bald bale bead blade bled bloc bode bola bold lace lade lead leaf load loaf lobe lode dale deaf deal decaf decal doable dole fable face fade fecal flab flea fled floc floe foal focal fold abed able abode aced adobe aloe cable cade cafe calf clad clef clod coal coda code coed cola cold coleTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words ...

Horoscopes May 7, 2023: Sydney Leroux, a leadership position will enhance your reputation

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:04 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Alexander Ludwig, 31; Sydney Leroux, 33; Breckin Meyer, 49; Amy Heckerling, 69.Happy Birthday: Take pride in what you do and say, and reach out to those who can help strengthen your chance to achieve your goals this year. A change at home geared toward activities that contribute to a healthy lifestyle will motivate you to become the poster child for your circle of friends. Striving for perfection and a leadership position will enhance your reputation. Your numbers are 7, 16, 22, 29, 35, 44, 47.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Look at the facts, consider what’s available and head in a direction that encourages you to offer positive suggestions instead of criticism. How you approach others will determine what you receive in return. Set high standards and stellar motives, and you’ll avoid interference. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Speak up, share your ideas and put together a schedule that will ensure you finish what you start. Pay attention to y...

Biden to deliver Howard University commencement speech later this month

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:04 GMT

President Joe Biden is expected to deliver the commencement speech at Howard University this month, a historically Black university in Washington. The commencement is scheduled for May 13.The White House confirmed to CNN that Biden will also give the keynote address at the United States Air Force Academy’s commencement in El Paso County, Colorado, on June 1. He disclosed that appearance last month at the White House when he presented the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the Air Force’s football team, the Falcons.“In a few weeks, I’ll be headed to your home turf for commencement,” the president joked at the time. “You’re going to get stuck with me being your commencement speaker.”Howard University, Vice President Kamala Harris’ alma mater, has received an ample amount of focus from the Biden administration since the pair took office in 2021. Last month, Harris delivered a fiery speech on abortion rights during a rally on the H...

Across town from show dogs, a labor to save suffering ones

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:04 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — On a recent afternoon at a Manhattan animal hospital and adoption center, a pit bull mix called T-Bone, rescued after being tied to a utility pole, gazed out at visitors from his tidy room. Trigger was recuperating from a stab wound, a large incision still visible on his side.Pert little Melanie had been abandoned at one of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ community veterinary clinics. Tip’s owner had been overwhelmed by six dogs and four cats. Friendly, retriever-like Rainbow, surrendered by someone who could not care for him, snoozed in the adoption office. While the Westminster Kennel Club crowns the cream of the canine elite on one of tennis’ most storied courts this week, the ASPCA’s facility across town will be tending to dogs that have had far darker lives. New York is home to both the United States’ most prestigious dog show and its oldest humane society, the ASPCA. Their histories connect: Some proceeds from the inau...

Bus drivers for 3 Mass. school districts set to strike

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:04 GMT

Bus drivers for three Massachusetts school districts are set to strike if a deal on a new contract isn’t reached.Bus drivers in Marlborough, Framingham, and Westborough will be on strike Monday morning if an agreement isn’t reached on a new contract, according to Teamsters Local 170.The districts say they won’t cancel classes and will provide alternate transportation to get kids to school if necessary.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

WHO says COVID emergency is over. So what does that mean?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:04 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization downgraded its assessment of the coronavirus pandemic on Friday, saying it no longer qualifies as a global emergency. The action reverses a declaration that was first made on January 30, 2020, when the disease had not even been named COVID-19 and when there were no major outbreaks beyond China.A look at what WHO’s decision means:WHY END THE GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCY?WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the pandemic has been “on a downward trend for more than a year, with population immunity increasing from vaccination and infection.” That, he said, has allowed most countries “to return to life as we knew it before COVID-19,” meaning that the worst part of the pandemic is over.Tedros said that for the past year, WHO and its emergency committee experts have been analyzing COVID-19 data to decide when the time would be right to lower its level of alarm. On Thursday, the experts recommended to Tedros th...

Wood, Jones lead Revolution to 2-0 victory over Toronto

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:04 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Bobby Wood scored a first-half goal, DeJuan Jones found the net in the second half and the New England Revolution dispatched Toronto FC 2-0 on Saturday night.Wood staked New England (7-1-3) to an early lead when he scored unassisted in the 19th minute.Jones added an insurance goal in the 62nd minute, scoring unassisted. Wood notched his third goal this season and Jones’ netter was his first.The Revolution, who kept pace with FC Cincinnati atop the Eastern Conference standings with the victory, entered the match with a 1-4-4 record in their last nine trips to Toronto.Toronto (2-3-6) was coming off a 1-0 victory over New York City FC. Toronto has just two wins in its last 17 matches. The two wins and 13 points over that span are league lows.Toronto took 20 shots to 10 for New England, but the Revs had a 6-5 edge in shots on goal.Djordje Petrovic totaled five saves to earn the clean sheet for New England, which entered play having won four one-goal matches. Se...

Gervon Dexter — once opposed to playing football — joins the Chicago Bears as a talented defensive tackle with untapped potential

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:04 GMT

If persistence is the intersection of optimism and grit, Lake Wales (Fla.) High football coach Tavaris Johnson leaned heavily on those traits every time he crossed paths with Gervon Dexter in the hallways of the school.Johnson, who is also a dean, was eager to see Dexter, a hulking freshman and talented AAU basketball player, on the football field. His initial efforts were met with the kind of box-out Dexter would use to corral rebounds easily.“I knew Gervon and I knew his family well,” Johnson said. “I played with a few of his uncles. He comes from a very talented family. The first thing I said to Gervon was, ‘Hey, a guy your size should be on the football field. You are a dream waiting to happen.’ He looks at me and he says, ‘Coach, I’m not playing football.’ I’m like, ‘What?!? You’ve got to be kidding me.’”Undeterred, Johnson kept a full-court press on Dexter into his sophomore year and he remained sing...