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Florida's new law, House Bill 433, preempts

Friday, September 20, 2024

New OSHA rule aims to protect Florida workers from deadly heat

A new federal proposal to protect workers from extreme heat is being hailed as a potential lifesaver by labor advocates, even as Florida faces …

The 340B program was launched in 1992 when Congress empowered the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to encourage pharmaceutical companies to reduce outpatient drug prices for hospitals serving low-income populations. (jarmoluk/Pixabay)

FL patients face uncertain future amid prescription drug program challenges

The 340B Drug Pricing Program, designed to provide discounted medications to safety-net hospitals and clinics serving low-income populations…

AT&T is experiencing a regional strike of more than 17,000 AT&T technicians, customer service reps, and others who install, maintain and support AT&T residential and business wireline telecommunications networks. (Foundry/Pixabay)

Union workers voice concerns over AT&T's 'bad faith' bargaining

AT&T customers may experience service disruptions as the worker's union, Communications Workers of America, initiates a strike to try to continue …

Florida has one of the highest uninsured rates for children in the nation. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Roadblocks to health persist for kids in FL

Health insurance prospects for Florida kids are not improving, despite pushes to increase coverage rates in the state. Florida continues to deny …

Florida tiene una de las tasas de ni�os sin seguro m�s altas del pa�s. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Obstáculos a la salud persisten para los niños en FL

Las perspectivas de seguro médico para los niños de Florida no están mejorando, a pesar de los esfuerzos para aumentar las tasas de …

Gov. Ron DeSantis approved $1.25 billion in the state budget for teacher pay. The average teacher salary in Florida, according to the National Education Association, is $53,098, more than $16,000 below the national average of $69,544. (Yan Krukau/Pexels)

Florida educators rally at convention to address 'critical challenges'

Florida took center stage at the American Federation of Teachers national convention in Houston this week, as educators rallied to support and …

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are currently 8.5 million job openings in the United States but only 6.5 million unemployed workers. (Pixabay)

FGCU launches free workshops to foster equity, retain workers

Amid nationwide labor shortages and high turnover, employment experts say fostering an equitable workplace is key to finding and retaining workers…

Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP reached a record high of nearly 94.5 million in April 2023. The federal government prohibited states from removing people from their rolls during the COVID-19 public health emergency. (Pixabay/192635)

Report: Florida among top states for children losing health coverage post-COVID

After Texas, a new report shows Florida has seen the second-largest decline in the number of children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health …

In 2019, Walmart launched Walmart Health Centers. After five years, the company is now closing its venture. (Pixabay/jarmoluk)

Florida Health Centers step up as Walmart closes rural health-care services

Last week, Walmart became the latest major retailer to retreat from providing direct health-care service by announcing closures of all its health …

La inscripci�n en Medicaid y CHIP alcanz� un r�cord de casi 94.5 millones en abril de 2023. El gobierno federal prohibi� a los estados eliminar a personas de sus listas durante la emergencia de salud p�blica de COVID-19. (Pixabay/192635)

Informe: FL entre los estados con más niños que pierden cobertura médica post-COVID

Un nuevo informe muestra que Florida, después de Texas, ha experimentado la segunda mayor disminución en el número de niños …

Nov. 1 is the first day you can enroll, re-enroll or change health plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The dates for changes are mid-Sept through early December for employer-sponsored coverage, and from Oct. 15-Dec. 7 for Medicare. (Edar/Pixabay)

Avoid last-minute crush of choosing a health plan

When it comes to open enrollment and navigating the many health care options, experts say starting your research sooner rather than later is the best …

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Florida's average cost of center-based child care for a toddler in 2021 amounts to 26% of a single mother's income in the state. (Pixabay)

Report: Child Care Costs Push FL Parents to Breaking Point

New data ranks Florida 31st in the country for overall child well-being, however, it showed parents are tapped out on child care costs. The Annie E…

In the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 federal legislation provided states with significant funding to ensure continuous Medicaid coverage of individuals enrolled in the program. But that is ending. (Pixabay)

FL Group Works to Keep Eligible People on Medicaid

As Florida "unwinds" from the COVID-19 public health emergency and returns its Medicaid program to pre-pandemic rules, there's a possibility that …

The Employee Organizations Representing Public Employees Bill would change how union dues and fees are collected for some public employees in Florida. (Pixabay)

Could Legislation Targeting Public-Sector Unions Threaten Academic Freedom?

Union leaders and public-sector workers say bills advancing in the Florida Legislature, if passed, will strip them of their representation and could …

El Proyecto de Ley de Organizaciones de Empleados que Representan a los Empleados P�blicos cambiar�a la forma en que se recaudan las cuotas y tarifas sindicales para algunos empleados p�blicos en Florida. (Pixabay)

¿Podría legislación para sindicatos amenazar la libertad académica?

Los líderes sindicales y los trabajadores del sector público dicen que los proyectos de ley que avanzan en la Legislatura de Florida…

The 2023 regular session of the Florida Legislature begins Tues., March 7. There are Republican supermajorities in both the Florida House and Senate. (Matt Johnson/Wikimedia Commons)

Floridians Want Lawmakers to End Culture Wars, Focus On 'People's Budget'

Florida's legislative session - which begins Tuesday - has already made headlines as a conservative majority pitches bills to expand gun rights…

With only 529,000 workers belonging to unions, Florida has among the lowest percentages of organized workers in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Labor Unions Push for More NLRB Funding

Labor groups are calling on the new Congress to build on last year's $25 million funding increase for the National Labor Relations Board, an agency …

A group of 40 Florida-based organizations has sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, urging the state to publish its plan for keeping people insured when the federal public health emergency expires. (Pixabay)

FL Child Uninsured Rate Stabilizes; Advocates Raise Future Concerns

While the Sunshine State ranks among the top 10 states with the highest rates of uninsured children, it did see more kids with health coverage during …

The pandemic-era American Rescue Plan temporarily increased the Child Tax Credit for most families from an annual total of $2,000 per child to $3,000 or $3,600 per child, depending on their age. (Pixabay)

Florida Groups Add Momentum to Extending Child Tax Credit

Florida advocates are hopeful, as Congress negotiates an omnibus bill which would continue corporate tax breaks, it will also extend and make …

On June 10, 2020, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) renounced jurisdiction over faculty employees at most religious educational institutions, which has resulted in faculty unions being disbanded at some of those schools. (Pixabay)

Florida University Uses Religious Exemption to Disband Faculty Union

Citing a religious exemption, Edward Waters University - a private, historically Black school in Jacksonville - has shut down its faculty union…

Orange County Convention Center food-service workers have been in negotiations with Sodexo since August. (Adobe Stock)

Orlando Food Service Workers Poised to Strike Beginning Today

Orange County Convention Center food-service workers have authorized a strike, and the window for that action opens today. Members of Unite Here …

El 10 de junio de 2020, la Junta Nacional de Relaciones Laborales (NLRB) renunci� a la jurisdicci�n sobre los empleados del profesorado de la mayor�a de las instituciones educativas religiosas, lo que ha provocado la disoluci�n de los sindicatos del profesorado en algunas de esas escuelas. (Pixabay)

Universidad de FL utiliza exención religiosa para disolver sindicato de profesores

Argumentando una exención religiosa, la Universidad Edward Waters -una escuela privada históricamente negra de Jacksonville- ha cerrado su …

Los trabajadores del servicio de comida del Centro de Convenciones del Condado de Orange llevan negociando con Sodexo desde agosto. (Adobe Stock)

Trabajadores de la industria de alimentación de Orlando dispuestos a ir a huelga

Trabajadores de la alimentación del Centro de Convenciones del Condado de Orange han autorizado una huelga, y la ventana para esa acción se …

According to the Department of Labor, there is a specific test to determine the economic independence of an independent contractor. The factors are the opportunity for profit or loss depending on managerial skill, investments by the worker and the employer, degree of permanence of the work relationship, nature and degree of control, extent to which the work performed is an integral part of the employer's business, and skill and initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Dept. of Labor Clarifying Definition of Independent Contractors

A new proposal from the U-S Department of Labor would clearly define what it means to be an independent contractor. Currently, the Department of …

Seg�n el Departamento de Trabajo, existe una prueba espec�fica para determinar la independencia econ�mica de un contratista independiente. Los factores son la oportunidad de obtener beneficios o p�rdidas en funci�n de la capacidad de gesti�n, las inversiones del trabajador y del empleador, el grado de permanencia de la relaci�n laboral, la naturaleza y el grado de control, la medida en que el trabajo realizado forma parte integral del negocio del empleador y de su habilidad e iniciativa. (Adobe Stock)<br />

El Departamento de Trabajo aclara la definición de contratistas independientes

Una nueva propuesta del Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. definiría claramente a los contratistas independientes. En la actualidad, la definici&#…

The U.S. Postal Service claims 60 million packages are processed each day in its system. (lPixabay)

Postal Workers Share Tips for Delivering Packages, Letters During Holiday Rush

The U-S Postal Service is hiring 28,000 seasonal employees ahead of the surge in end-of-year holiday letters and packages for facilities in Florida an…

Karla Hern�ndez-Mats, 42, has been president of the United Teachers of Dade since 2016, but has never held public office. She is now part of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist's ticket. (Karla Hern�ndez-Mats/Twitter)

Teachers Rally to Boost Profile of Hernández-Mats for Lt. Gov.

In the race for governor, Democratic nominee Charlie Crist picked the top teacher's union representative in Florida's largest public school district …

According to the Social Security Administration, Florida had the fourth highest number of people collecting Social Security in 2020. The top three were California, Texas and New York.(Adobe Stock)

Medicare, Social Security Called Essential to FL Seniors

As the midterm elections approach, Medicare and Social Security are top-of-mind issues for Florida seniors. A recent AARP poll found just 12% of …

The Florida AFL-CIO has been sending trucks into southwest Florida packed with relief supplies for victims of Hurricane Ian. (Florida AFL-CIO/Teamsters)

Relief Effort Continues in Aftermath of Hurricane Ian

For some in hurricane-ravaged southwest Florida, recovery has been relatively quick. However, as of the weekend, there were still some 69,000 …

La AFL-CIO de Florida ha enviado camiones al suroeste de Florida repletos de suministros de ayuda para las v�ctimas del hurac�n Ian. (Florida AFL-CIO/Teamsters)

Continúan los esfuerzos de ayuda tras huracán Ian

Para algunos de los damnificados por el huracán al suroeste de Florida, la recuperación ha sido relativamente rápida. Sin embargo…

More than 65 million people, or more than one in every six U.S. residents, collected Social Security benefits in January, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Nick Youngson/Pix4free)

Social Security Benefits Expected to Increase, But Challenges Remain

Social Security benefits could see their highest increase in several decades, but those advocating for beneficiaries say there is still plenty of …

A recipient of guaranteed income from Springboard to Opportunities' Magnolia Mother's Trust. The program gives $1,000 per month for 12 months to families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing. (Instagram/Springboard to Opportunities)

Guaranteed Income: Blueprint for a Stronger Safety Net

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for Florida News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

Florida Healthy Kids administers the Florida Healthy Kids program for children ages 5 through 18. (Pixabay)

FL Families Urged to Sign Up for KidCare as CHIP Marks Silver Anniversary

As a program to improve health-insurance access for children celebrates its silver anniversary, there are calls to ensure it remains strong for the …

Farmworker families in Apopka benefit from a food distribution hosted by the Farmworker Association of Florida. (Yesica Ramirez)

Grants Fund Emergency Supports for Florida Farmworker Families

Florida farmworkers are getting some much-needed support thanks to a grant from the Health, Environment, Agriculture, Labor Food Alliance (HEAL)…

Florida Forage Fish Research program fellow Kira Allen, from the University of Central Florida, explains her ecosystem model that explores the effects of climate change on Apalachicola Bay food webs. (Justin Grubich)

FL Research Tracks Impact of Drought, Sea-Level Rise on Forage Fish

Preliminary research shows less fresh water and higher sea levels could be changing the forage fish in Florida's famed Apalachicola Bay and the fisher…

The 340B Drug Pricing Program is an outpatient drug program. (HeungSoon/Pixabay)

Community Health Centers Call for Added Protections

Community health centers are calling on state and federal lawmakers for added protections against drug manufactures for drastically cutting them out o…

In a new survey, 76% of bachelors'-degree students and 63% of associate-degree students cite emotional stress as a reason they've considered

Study: Florida’s Black College Students Need More Support

Barriers like financial constraints, family obligations and involvement with the justice system are preventing some Black Floridians from achieving …

Florida is among the states at greatest risk of children losing coverage through its Medicaid/CHIP programs, according to the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. (Pixabay)

Report: FL Children in Jeopardy of Becoming Uninsured

A new report found Florida kids in the Children's Health Insurance Program could be at most risk of losing health coverage when the official public-he…

Florida se encuentra entre los estados con mayor riesgo de que los ni�os pierdan la cobertura a trav�s de sus programas Medicaid/CHIP, seg�n el Instituto de Pol�ticas de Salud de la Universidad de Georgetown. (Pixabay)

Informe: Niños en riesgo de quedarse sin seguro médico en FL

Un nuevo informe muestra que los niños de Florida enrolados en el Programa de Seguro Médico para Niños (CHIP por sus siglas en ingl…

About 25% of former community-college students cited difficulty learning on their own, in an online environment, as a barrier to completing their coursework. (Wokandapix/Pixabay)

FL Community Colleges Zero In on Dropout Prevention

New research shows six in ten Florida community-college students drop out before they finish - even with good grades and only a few credits shy of gra…

Alrededor del 25% de los exestudiantes de universidades comunitarias mencionaron la dificultad para aprender por s� mismos, en un entorno en l�nea, como una barrera para completar sus cursos. (Wokandapix/Pixabay)

Colegios comunitarios en FL se concentran en prevención de abandono escolar

Una nueva investigación muestra que seis de cada diez estudiantes de universidades comunitarias de Florida abandonan los estudios antes de termin…

To qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, borrowers have had to meet a handful of requirements including working in a public-sector job, making 120 on-time student loan payments and participating in a qualified repayment plan. (Mikhail Nilov/Pexels)

More Student-Loan Forgiveness Urged as Repayments Set to Resume

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - As more than 200 organizations call on the Biden administration to extend the pause on student-loan repayments, some borrowers …

FL Health Groups Urge Senate Passage of Build Back Better

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Healthcare reform advocates are asking U.S. senators to pass the Build Back Better Act, saying it would provide a federal fix for …

Los sindicatos que representan a los trabajadores de Florida est�n preocupados por los llamados de los l�deres republicanos para sacar a Florida de los programas federales de seguridad para trabajadores. (danisampa / Pixabay)

Sindicatos de FL: Salirse de OSHA pondría en riesgo la salud y seguridad de millones

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- La batalla más reciente del gobernador Ron DeSantis con la administración Biden implica sacar de Florida a la agencia …

The third full week in October ushers in National Business Women's Week each year. (Pixabay)

National Business Women’s Week Highlights Need for Credit Equity

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After discovering the healing powers of eating natural, healthy foods, one Jacksonville woman sought to show her community what …

Through P-EBT, eligible schoolchildren receive temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards that are used to purchase food. (Oleg Magni/Pexels)

Florida OK'd for More than $1B in P-EBT Funding for Children

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- After weeks of pressure on Gov. Ron DeSantis to apply for a one-time pandemic food-stamp program, this week Florida became the …

According to the U.S. Census, on average, Black women were paid 63% of what non-Hispanic white men were paid in 2019. (Pexels)

A Call to Build Black Women's Futures by Canceling $50K in Student Debt

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- With Black women carrying more student loan debt than any other group, a national petition has been launched to cancel $50,000 …

According to Advanced Energy Economy, each dollar of public investment into electric vehicles generates $2.60 of direct private investment. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Electric Transportation Investment Would Boost FL Economy

MIAMI - Florida would benefit from the federal government's proposed $274 billion investment in electric vehicles and infrastructure, according to a …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 20, 2024

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FL: Livable Wages/Working Families