Tag: USA
States consider reforms to help domestic workers move out of shadows
Many domestic workers get stuck in jobs that pay them low wages, subject them to long hours and sometimes even expose them to physical abuse. And because many are undocumented, they don't, or can't, speak up. But some states are trying to change that....
N.Y. senator leads call to reform sexual assault procedures in U.S. military
There's been a controversy brewing around the way the military handles sexual assault allegations. It's been amplified by recent controversies that have enveloped top military leaders who are supposed to oversee the military's handling of sexual harassment cases....
Undocumented immigrant caregiver tells story from inside invisible workforce
Immigrants are often said to do the work Americans don't want to do. In the case of domestic workers, people who clean houses and care for the sick or elderly, that's certainly true, with most of those roles filled by immigrants. Now, with the process of a path to legalization, many domestic workers are looking for better conditions....
Federal report shows EPA regulations produce more economic benefits than costs
The White House's nominee for director of the Environmental Protection Agency is tied up in politics, so the Obama administration is pushing back. It recently released a report that says economic benefits from the EPA's regulations vastly outweigh the costs it imposes....
American diplomat expelled from Russia for spying evokes memories of Cold War
The arrest and expulsion of U.S. diplomat Ryan Fogle by Russian authorities reads like a Cold War-era novel. He was wearing a bright blonde wig, he had bundles of cash and instructions for how to create an untraceable email address. But where the U.S.-Russian relationship goes from here remains unknown....
Hispanics going to college in record numbers, but graduation numbers still lag
Hispanics are making up an increasing portion of the population and are becoming an increasingly large portion of the college student population as well. But as Hispanics break records for enrollment, they still lag when it comes to finishing their four-year degrees....
Meat processing across the Midwest largely done by immigrants
The meat that Americans eat for dinner is usually processed, in large plants in the Midwest, by an immigrant. When one immigrant leaves the plants, for a better life, hopefully, another immigrant often steps in. Immigration reform has the potential to dramatically alter that dynamic....
Farmers in Pennsylvania taking proceeds from fracking and investing in solar
Farmers around Pennsylvania, and indeed around the country are increasingly taking the money they make opening their land up to fracking and investing in renewable energy. Specifically, a number of farmers have chosen to plow their windfall into solar panels....
Firestorm brews over IRS targeting of right-wing groups for additional scrutiny
Late last week, an IRS official apologized for her department targeting right-wing groups for additional scrutiny. Over the weekend, various media outlets got a look at a pending inspector general report. The report is expected to be released publicly this week, but the controversy is already swirling....
New York's Museum of Modern Art reconsiders decision to raze neighbor
New York City's Museum of Modern Art is a popular stop for locals and visitors. The nearby Museum of American Folk Art isn't as well-known, but it's design is celebrated. That's why so many people were surprised when MoMA indicated it was going to tear the building down....
