October 23, 2020 Media Brief
Labor
Forbes: Uber and Lyft lose appeal against California labor law
A California court of appeals upheld an injunction against Uber and Lyft on Thursday and asked the ride-hailing companies to classify their drivers as employees under California’s A.B. 5 law within 30 days, if voters decide against a ballot measure on Nov. 3rd — backed by the two companies — that could exempt them from the state’s labor law.
Orange County
Voice of OC: County’s unemployment rate remains high as potential second Coronavirus wave looms
Orange County’s unemployment rate is hovering around 9 percent as the coronavirus pandemic’s economic fallout continues to be felt by residents across the county — and before a potential second wave this winter.
Daily Pilot: For fifth year in a row, hate crimes rise in Orange County — and by 24%
From slurs to physical confrontations, hate crimes in Orange County rose in 2019 for the fifth year in a row, and by a huge leap, 24%.
OC Register: School districts are making sure they have enough substitute teachers
Though it had only a small number of teachers who decided to not return to classrooms, the Capistrano Unified School District, Orange County’s largest with 54,000 students, this school year raised its daily pay for substitute teachers to $175 from $125.
California
KTLA: ACT testing company must pay 16 million to students for flagging disabled individuals
College admissions testing company ACT Inc. has agreed to pay out $16 million to California students with disabilities who alleged their rights were violated when the company flagged their disability status to colleges and excluded them from a beneficial recruitment program, according to a settlement announced Thursday.
KTLA: 350k debit cards for unemployment benefits frozen over fraud fears
Faced with a deluge of fraudulent unemployment claims, California officials said Thursday that 350,000 of the debit cards they issued containing benefits have been frozen because of suspicious activity, including a high number of claims at a single address.
Nation
AP News: FDA approves first COVID-19 drug, antiviral remdesivir
US regulators on Thursday approved the first drug to treat COVID-19: Remdesivir, an antiviral medicine given to hospitalized patients through an IV.
AP News: Trump, Biden frame closing appeals for sprint to election
Their final debate behind them, President Donald Trump and Democrat nominee Joe Biden are packaging their divergent personal styles and policy prescriptions into closing messages for the final sprint to Election Day.
Publication Date: October 23, 2020
