Mar Galcerán‚ an advocate for inclusivity‚ made history as Spain’s first legislator with Down syndrome. The 45-year-old voted to Valencia’s regional assembly‚ reflects on her path‚ and emphasizes the importance of being recognized for more than just her impairment. Galcerán’s political career began at the age of 18 when she joined the conservative People’s Party (PP)‚ enticed by its traditionalist values. Years of dedication paid off in May‚ when she secured the 20th slot on the PP’s candidate list for Valencia’s regional elections‚ resulting in her historic feat. Carlos Mazón‚ the regional PP leader‚ celebrated her victory on social media‚ calling it “great news for politics‚ overcoming barriers.” Galcerán’s victory places him among the few people with Down syndrome to have entered politics‚ emulating the historic triumphs of Éléonore Laloux in France and Fintan Bray of Ireland.  Ángela Bachiller: a legacy of inclusion In 2013‚ Ángela Bachiller became Spain’s first city councilor with Down syndrome in Valladolid. Galcerán now follows in her footsteps. According to Agustín Matía Amor of Down España‚ Galcerán’s achievement is significant as she may be the first in Europe to join a regional or national parliament. Matía Amor stresses Galcerán’s journey as a reflection of decades of dedicated work to enhance the status of those with Down syndrome. Galcerán’s achievement‚ which includes over 20 years as a civil servant in Valencia and leadership at Asindown‚ an organization that supports families with Down syndrome children‚ exemplifies true inclusion and societal growth. Mixed reactions and social media scrutiny While the Spanish media praised Galcerán’s swearing-in last September‚ her online reception was mixed. She acknowledges receiving support and doubt on social media‚ saying‚ “There are individuals who support me. However‚ others believe I am incapable. However‚ they are folks who are unfamiliar with me or my background. Navigating this new duty‚ Galcerán professes a desire to learn and perform well to benefit Valencians and people with diverse capacities. She understands the importance of her work and strives to eliminate prevailing biases toward people with Down syndrome. “I want people to see me as a person‚ not just for my disability‚” she asserted. Inspire change‚ challenge prejudice Galcerán sees her role in the regional parliament as a catalyst for change. Through her commitment to inclusive policies and years of service‚ she hopes to create a shift in social views. Her journey acts as a beacon‚ demonstrating the potential for people with Down syndrome to make important contributions to the political environment. In her own words‚ she expresses her goals: “I want to learn how to do it well‚ for Valencianos‚ and more importantly‚ for those of us who have different abilities.” Galcerán’s remarkable feat is more than a personal triumph; it represents a step toward a more open and understanding society.The post Mar Galcerán shatters stereotypes as Spain’s first parliamentarian with Down syndrome first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'We need a better system to help these people get on their feet and to be safe and healthy'

Some 99% of American companies are small businesses‚ and 100% of businesses started out small‚ but a recently finalized rule from the Biden administration’s Labor Department will make it harder for small businesses to start‚ grow and succeed. As of last May 1‚ a White House news release pointed out‚ “Young firms‚ which often start small with few employees‚ are a driving force in job creation.” That’s been particularly true since the COVID-19 pandemic‚ as small businesses with fewer than 50 employees have accounted for a growing share of new jobs. But a new Biden administration rule that significantly restricts the ability of businesses to hire contractors (also known as independent workers‚ freelancers or gig workers) will instead drive out small-business job creation. That’s because small businesses rely heavily on contractors‚ both to help them grow and to maintain day-to-day operations. But the new rule significantly restricts the ability for companies to hire contractors. Businesses with four or fewer employees use 6.7 contractors‚ on average. That’s how they compete with bigger companies and how they expand over time. Imagine a small landscaping company that has three employees and contracts with a half-dozen others for services‚ such as tree removal‚ stonework and lighting installation. If the company owner had to treat those contract workers as formal employees‚ he would have to be in charge of‚ and liable for‚ the work they perform (even though he’s not an expert in‚ and does not supervise‚ their services); would have to restrict their hours; and provide various employee benefits and tax payments. Under the Labor Department’s recently finalized rule that’s scheduled to take effect March 11‚ at least some of the factors specified in the rule would signal that these landscape service contractors should instead be treated as employees. Since it’s unlikely that the owner could provide those contractors with enough work and because they likely want to have control over their work‚ it’s likely that the owner would have to cut ties with those contractors and stop offering their services. But offering fewer services will make it harder to compete with bigger companies who have the scale and resources to employ specialized workers in-house. The more restrictive definition of independent contracting is likely to hurt not just small businesses‚ but their current employees as well. For example‚ one of the easiest ways for companies to provide paid family leave to employees with minimal disruptions is to hire independent contractors to fill in for them. But under the new rule‚ performing work that’s integral to the employer’s business indicates employee status‚ which would make it more difficult and costly to provide paid family leave. The administration estimates that its rule will affect 35% of businesses‚ or 2.8 million in total‚ that engage with independent contractors‚ but that’s almost certainly an underestimate. A 2021 survey by Gusto‚ a provider of payroll and human resources services used by more than 200‚000 small and medium-sized businesses‚ found that 62% of businesses said that their company’s success was dependent on independent contractors or that it would be much harder to have a profitable business without independent contractors‚ and 90% of businesses said they plan to maintain or increase their use of contractors in the future. In addition to constraints the rule will place on small businesses’ use of contractors‚ the rule is utterly confusing and ambiguous. While big businesses often have lawyers and “compensation‚ benefits‚ and job specialist analysts” to interpret the 106-page rule and try to determine the status of each of their employees and contractors‚ it will be far more difficult and costly for small businesses to attempt to understand and comply with the rule. Whereas the current rule requires businesses to look at just two core factors in most cases—the business’s control over the work and the worker’s opportunity for profit or loss—the proposed rule contains six factors‚ as well as multiple (and potentially conflicting) factors within factors. Moreover‚ whereas the current rule prioritizes two core factors‚ the new rule ensures subjectivity and confusion by specifying that “no one factor or subset of factors is necessarily dispositive.” In other words‚ there’s no way for employers to know whether they’ve made the appropriate determination unless they’re charged with improperly classifying workers and have to defend their rationale. Even then‚ reasonable-minded investigators of worker-classification violations could come to different conclusions depending on the weight they apply to each factor. Already‚ Sen. Bill Cassidy‚ R-La.‚ introduced a Congressional Review Act‚ or CRA‚ to repeal the new independent contractor rule‚ but to take effect‚ that CRA would presumably require enough votes to override a presidential veto. To provide a permanent and comprehensive solution‚ including much-needed clarity on independent contractor status‚ Congress should establish a bright-line and consistent test to unambiguously determine who is an “employee” and who is an “independent contractor.” That definition should be the same across employment‚ tax‚ labor‚ pension‚ and health care laws. Where ambiguity exists‚ the choice should be left to workers and employers to decide their preferred status. The 21st Century Worker Act would provide such clarity and consistency across federal law while prioritizing the freedom and opportunities for millions of small businesses and tens of millions of independent workers to run their businesses and earn their livelihoods in the ways that work best for them. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post New Biden Labor Dept. Rule Likely to Hurt Millions of Small Businesses‚ Independent Contractors appeared first on The Daily Signal.

WEF Theme Is 'Rebuilding Trust' - Now Eat the Bugs

Brickgate: Woman Who Claimed She was Hit With a Brick Charged With Theft of GoFundMe Money

Welcome to 2024‚ where a unique and lovable cat at a Virginia shelter is capturing hearts with his quest for a healthier life and a forever home. Meet “One Frosty Too Many‚” affectionately known as Frosty‚ a charming gray-and-white cat with striking golden eyes. Tipping the scales at 28.5 pounds‚ Frosty’s size is as notable... The post Cat tipping the scales at 28 lbs named “One frosty too many” finds perfect owner to care for him appeared first on Animal Channel.

GOP Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona and several other Republicans are pushing legislation that would require abortion providers to do ultrasounds prior to performing an abortion.The measure would require an abortion provider or an agent under their supervision to "display the ultrasound images so that the pregnant woman may view them" and to describe the images‚ including "the dimensions of the embryo or fetus‚ cardiac activity if present and visible‚ and the presence of external members and internal organs if present and viewable." The pregnant woman may choose not to look at the ultrasound images as they are shown and described‚ the measure notes.The bill stipulates that the ultrasound would not be required "if the abortion is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder‚ physical illness‚ or physical injury‚ including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.""Any abortion provider in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce‚ who knowingly performs any abortion‚ shall comply with the requirements of this title‚" the text of the measure reads."The Biden Administration's heinous pro-abortion policies continue to incentivize women to end the lives of innocent‚ unborn American children. My legislation provides pregnant women a safe and intimate opportunity to rethink their abortion. This subtle but important process change can potentially save millions of unborn lives. Defending the right to life remains one of my top priorities in Congress‚" Biggs said‚ according to a press release.Cosponsors for the proposal include GOP Reps. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina‚ Andy Harris of Maryland‚ Rep. Matthew Rosendale Sr. of Montana‚ Alex Mooney of West Virginia‚ Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois‚ Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas‚ and Rep. Eric Burlison Missouri‚ according to the press release.But while GOP lawmakers push pro-life legislation‚ Vice President Kamala Harris is slated to embark on a pro-choice tour. "The Vice President's 'Fight for Reproductive Freedoms' tour will kick off with an event in Wisconsin on Jan. 22‚ the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade‚" the White House announced in December.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A former Kentucky teacher's aide admitted that she had sex with "multiple" teenage boys at the same time while working at an elementary school.Ellen Phillips‚ 38‚ pleaded guilty to attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual conduct in federal court in Lexington on Friday. Phillips faces a minimum of 10 years behind bars and a maximum of life in prison.Phillips engaged in sexual activity with multiple minors at the same time while working as a teacher's aide‚ according to her plea. The alleged sexual assaults occurred in Boyle‚ Garrard‚ and Rockcastle counties. The victims ranged from 14 to 16 years old‚ according to the plea agreement.She purportedly utilized social media to contact minors for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Phillips reportedly communicated with her victims through Facebook‚ Snapchat‚ and text messages. Phillips — formerly known as Ellen Shell — allegedly admitted to repeatedly attempting to convince a 15-year-old boy to sneak out of his house to meet up for sex on Dec. 22‚ 2022.Prosecutors claimed she used Facebook to try to get him to leave his house. When the boy said he couldn't leave his house‚ she reportedly offered him alcohol and oral sex to lure him to sneak out. She also allegedly offered the minor excuses to tell his mother so that he could leave his house‚ according to prosecutors. The minor did not meet up with the teacher's aide on that night. A mother of one of the victims said‚ "These boys are not aware of the laws that protect them and would not come forward because they thought they would be in trouble."The anonymous mother claimed that her son said the teacher's aide "brought them alcohol three to four times.""I can’t wrap my mind around the extent of what she’s done‚" she added. Phillips was arrested in April 2023 after two minors — both aged 16 — came forward to accuse her of raping them on three separate occasions between July 6 and Aug. 15‚ 2022.The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement‚ "The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood‚ a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse."Phillips is scheduled to be sentenced on April 26.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

King Henry II openly preferred Diane de Poitiers over his legitimate wife — and he treated his lover as an unofficial queen. The post The Controversial Story Of Diane De Poitiers‚ The Mistress Of King Henry II Of France appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Poltergeist actress Heather O'Rourke was just 12 years old in 1988‚ when she died from a bowel obstruction that her doctors had previously dismissed as Crohn's disease. The post How Did Heather O’Rourke Die? Inside The Heartbreaking Demise Of This Child Star appeared first on All That's Interesting.