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Illinois workers can begin earning time off under Paid Leave for All Workers Act starting Jan. 1

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Workers in Illinois will begin earning paid time off on Jan. 1 under the Paid Leave for All Workers Act.The new law allows workers to earn up to 40 hours of paid leave over a 12-month period. Workers will accrue one hour of leave for every 40 hours worked.Gov. JB Pritzker signed the legislation in March, making Illinois the third state in the nation and first in the Midwest to mandate paid leave for any reason.“Illinois is the most pro-worker state in the nation, and the Paid Leave for All Workers Act is a prime example of those values translating into action,” Pritzker said in a news release issued Wednesday. “Starting Jan. 1, I couldn’t be prouder that Illinois is officially becoming the first state in the Midwest to mandate paid leave for any reason. "From raising the minimum wage to enshrining the right to collective bargaining in our state constitution, my administration will continue to support and protect Illinois’ workforce at every turn.""The Paid Leave ...

The cities, states with the most expensive utility bills in the US: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

(KTLA) — Utility bills are a big part of every household budget and can vary from month to month based on factors like the weather, wholesale energy prices, and, of course, how much water, electricity and natural gas you use.A new report from doxoINSIGHTS has ranked every U.S. state and major city based on the average cost of utility bills.After reviewing the utility bills of users at Doxo.com (the service helps users pay and manage their bills in one location), the report determined the average U.S. household pays $351 each month in utilities, or $3,327 a year. While high, there are three other categories Americans spend more on: mortgage payments, rent, and auto loans. Heating your home this winter: Where will it cost the most? The report found residents in Hawaii spent the most on their utility bills, on average, at $633 per month. That was followed by Maine ($500/month), New Jersey ($467/month), Connecticut ($463/month) and Vermont ($428/month).On the opposite end of the list,...

New treatment for food allergies in kids moves closer to finish line

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

(The Hill) – An existing asthma treatment shows promise for reducing food allergies in children and is one step closer to approval that could come by the end of March.  Early data from a federally funded clinical trial showed children who received injections of the monoclonal antibody omalizumab could consume higher doses of peanut, egg, milk and cashew without allergic reactions compared to those who received a placebo. Omalizumab, marketed as Xolair and developed by Genentech and Novartis, has been on the market since 2003 as a treatment for allergy-induced asthma, chronic hives and an inflammatory sinus disease called chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.  More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch The companies last week announced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing an application on a priority review basis for Xolair to be used to reduce reactions, including anaphylaxis, in cases of accidental exposure to foods. If approved, Xolair would b...

Coaldale Connection newsletter keeping citizens up to speed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterThe Coaldale Connection is a newsletter that connects the people with government in Coaldale.“The purpose of the newsletter is to inform the community about upcoming events, what’s happening with Council, and educate residents about municipal issues affecting Coaldale,” said Jonathan Wensveen, Manager of Government Relations for the Town of Coaldale. “It gets published once a month.”Wensveen says that various Town staff, including himself, contribute to the newsletter each month by submitting content to him and then he assembles it. The newsletter’s target audience is Coaldale residents, Wensveen says, and the response has been generally positive, with more and more residents joining the newsletter mailing list each month.“It has had the impact of keeping Town residents informed about issues and/or community events they may not otherwise know about,” said Wensveen. “The newsletter is just one way, among...

Southern Alberta man jailed for recent crime spree

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

By Delon ShurtzSouthern Alberta NewspapersA 51-year-old southern Alberta man who went on a crime spree earlier this year, is a menace to society, a judge said on Dec. 20.Justice Gregory Maxwell made the comment after Peter Conrad Bissonette pleaded guilty in Lethbridge court of justice to nearly a dozen criminal offences, primarily business thefts occurring around southern Alberta between August and October.Maxwell agreed with a recommendation by the Crown and defence for a seven-month jail sentence, but did so hesitantly given the offences and Bissonette’s lengthy criminal record.“We’re not talking about simple thefts, we’re talking about sophisticated, thought-out thefts, often that require some preparation in bringing tools,” Maxwell said.“The reality is, Mr. Bissonette represents a menace to society and these commercial businesses, and we’re not talking about insignificant thefts. Multiple thefts over a thousand dollars in total value, none of which is recovered and none of whic...

Peace on Earth…how?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

Dear Editor: With the daily destruction and devastation on the nightly news, it’s hard to envision the “Peace on Earth” we see on greeting cards. Centre stage is the war between Israel and Hamas. The war in Ukraine still rages. Almost forgotten is the Syrian conflict now more than a decade old. In fact, doesn’t it seem that the number and scope of conflicts is growing rather than shrinking? The prevailing loss of humanity we see in high definition seems in stark contrast to the prospect of peace.It is is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless as we see this. In truth, there are very few “at the table” to be a peacemaker directly. Yet, I submit there are multiple ways we can meaningfully respond. You see, we aren’t as removed as we think.Here are a few suggestions:1) Hire, house or help a local refugee in getting established. Invariably, these refugees in turn help those who remain in a war zone. If you don’t have funds, give your time to help direct refugees to resources.2) Advocate...

Conflict zone preventing access to Bethlehem

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

Dear Editor: Did you hear in the news that the celebration of baby Jesus will not be open to tourists that used to flock Bethlehem where Our Lord Jesus Christ was born due to the war between Israel & Hamas? Let’s keep Christ in Christmas.Paul Jones, Coaldale

Viva Vitality: Celebrate responsibly this holiday season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

By Taneil ZanideanThe holidays can be a time for family, friends, and celebration. Celebration can look different for everyone, but for many, it includes alcohol. It is important to consider the risks of alcohol use.If you drink too much alcohol on a single occasion, you may experience the following short-term effects: impulsive behaviour, drowsiness, aggressiveness and violent behaviour, slowed reaction time, slurred speech, double or blurred vision, flushed skin, nausea or vomiting, frequent urination, impaired memory loss or loss of memory, or impaired attention, concentration and judgement. Severe alcohol intoxication can lead to alcohol poisoning which can result in stupor, coma, respiratory arrest, and death. You can reduce the risk of the short-term effects and other alcohol-related harms by limiting the number of drinks you have on a single occasion, and the number of drinks you have per day and week over time.   This holidays season if you’re the party host: • Offer a selec...

Rent inflation starting to moderate, but at a very slow pace

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

The latest National Rent Report by Rentals.ca and Urbanation reveals that asking rents for all types of residential properties in Canada remained near record highs in November, with an average monthly rent of $2,174.While this figure was slightly lower than October’s record of $2,178, it marked only a modest 0.2 per cent month-over-month decrease.Despite the rental market still showing considerable year-over-year growth, the rate of increase has been gradually falling. In November, there was an 8.4 per cent year-over-year rent rise, following annual growth rates of 9.9 per cent in October and 11.1 per cent in September.“Rent inflation in Canada is slowly starting to moderate, a trend being led by a notable slowdown in rents in the country’s most expensive big cities of Vancouver and Toronto. Renters are adjusting to record high housing costs by shifting into less expensive markets,” Shaun Hildebrand, President of Urbanation, said.In terms of apartment types, studio apartments experi...

MacFarlane leaving Coaldale Public Library in the new year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterOn Dec. 8, Coaldale Public Library held a party to say goodbye to Head Librarian Dothlyn MacFarlane. She departed from her position at the library on Dec. 15, 2023 after six years to take a position as Associate Director at Chinook Arch Regional Library System.“It has been six wonderful years with some really good, great staff and support from both the library board and the Town of Coaldale administration, so it’s bittersweet, but I am also looking forward to the new challenge that the new position will bring,” said MacFarlane. “Bearing in mind it will give me the opportunity to maybe have a greater impact on southern Alberta. “MacFarlane says that she started at Coaldale Public Library in September 2017 and since that time, she has been able to modernize the library’s financial system and stablize staffing as well as install a new customer-focused circulation desk along with creating more quiet reading...