Five deaths blamed on storms that dump snow, rain on California
At least five people have died in severe rain and snowstorms that blanketed parts of California with at least five feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains this week, besides triggering flooding and mudslides, officials said.
Los Angeles mayor to mediate in talks to settle first teachers’ strike in 30 years
Negotiators for 30,000 striking Los Angeles teachers and America’s second-largest school district have agreed to return to the bargaining table on Thursday, with Mayor Eric Garcetti acting as mediator, his office said.
Sixteen coal ash pits contaminating Texas groundwater: report
Sixteen coal ash pits in Texas are leaking contaminants into groundwater, including arsenic, boron, cobalt and lithium, according to a report released on Thursday by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP).
Los Angeles mayor offers to mediate talks to end teachers strike: union leaders
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has offered to mediate in renewed contract talks proposed for Thursday between negotiators for 30,000 striking teachers and the nation’s second-largest school district, union leaders said late on Wednesday.
Ex-Michigan governor says he will resign university post in Nassar fallout
Michigan State University’s interim president John Engler said on Wednesday he would resign following renewed criticism of how he handled the fallout from the sex abuse scandal involving sports doctor Larry Nassar.
Los Angeles teachers strike ‘bigger than a paycheck’
As Los Angeles teacher Diana Castillo picketed in the rain alongside her husband, brother and daughter, who all work for or attend district schools, she didn’t bring up the paychecks her family would be missing.
‘Grifters, weaklings, felons’: Christie on the Trump White House
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie sees the Trump White House as a rogues’ gallery of flawed people sidetracking the work of the U.S. president, according to excerpts of his forthcoming memoir posted on the news site Axios on Wednesday.
Cheers! Furloughed workers offered a free beer (or two)
Many furloughed federal workers are having trouble putting groceries on the table, but at least they can get a free beer, thanks to a Washington-area group who want to brighten the mood of those caught up in the long government shutdown.
Los Angeles teachers’ union head aims to resume talks ‘soon’ as strike stretches to third day
The head of the Los Angeles teachers’ union voiced optimism on Wednesday about jump-starting stalled labor talks, as a teachers strike disrupting classes for nearly 500,000 students in the second-largest U.S. public school system stretched into its thi…
U.S. shutdown taking toll on FDA, USDA inspection roles: experts
The partial government shutdown is taking a toll on key safety inspection duties performed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture, food safety experts said on Wednesday.
