Voters in four states will decide the fate of ballot questions Nov. 5 proposing to raise the minimum wage, while voters in two other states will resolve related issues.   Here is a breakdown of what’s happening where on the ballot.  Arizona  Arizona’s ballot proposition would require tipped workers to be paid 25% less than the minimum wage of $14.35 per hour.  Under current Arizona law, tipped employees are paid $11.35 per hour, $3 less than the minimum wage.   This is the case so long as the employees make at least $2 per hour in tips; otherwise, they will be paid the lawful minimum wage.    “They’re creating a fake problem to enrich their own interests.” Tipped workers in Arizona are taking a stand against Proposition 138 deemed the “Tipped Worker Protection Act.” Read why here: https://t.co/mcSpLQXqc0— Center for Work and Democracy at ASU (@CWD_ASU) October 18, 2024 If Arizona voters approve Proposition 138, also known as “The Tipped Workers Protection Act,” employers will be allowed to pay tipped employees $10.77 an hour instead of $11.35 if those same workers make $2 more an hour than the minimum wage (currently $14.35).   Some argue that voter approval of the measure would help maintain high standards in the restaurant industry, increasing incomes for workers and motivating them to do better, as noted on the Arizona secretary of state’s website.  Others claim the proposition is intended to raise the profits of greedy corporations while neglecting the poor.   Who does Arizona Prop 138 really help: servers or restaurateurs? To find out, @ChrisandJoeKTAR debate its impact on restaurant servers, owners and — ultimately — consumers.FULL SEGMENT: https://t.co/PAX6Knmz5w pic.twitter.com/PSsnUBXzwB— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) October 17, 2024 Eric Stafford, a Democrat candidate for state Senate, argues that the “confusing” ballot measure is “anything but a Tipped Workers Protection Act” and urges Arizona residents to vote “no,” as highlighted in a different section of the state website.   Missouri  Missouri’s Proposition A would raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour and require employers to provide earned paid sick leave, according to Missouri’s Office of Secretary of State.  Missouri OfficeDownload The minimum wage in Missouri currently is $12.30 an hour, according to Minimum Wage Facts and Analysis.   Voting “yes” would be to implement the changes and raise the minimum wage, and voting “no” would be to keep things the same, according to the state website.   Prop A has the support of unions, worker advocacy groups, civil rights groups, and social justice organizations, according to a description of the ballot initiative.   “We believe full-time work deserves better than poverty,” Richard Von Glahn, campaign manager for Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages, told the Missouri Independent. “But [the] current minimum wage—that’s what it leads to.”    Opposers of the measure include the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, which warns of the impact on employers.   “Proposition A ties the hands of employers, particularly small businesses, who are already offering competitive wages and benefits to attract and retain talent,” Brian Hammons, chairman of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said in a release.   Alaska   Voters in Alaska will approve or reject Ballot Measure 1, which would raise the minimum wage by over $3, to $15 an hour, and require employers to provide earned paid sick leave, much like the ballot question in Missouri.   Alaskans can't afford Ballot Measure 1. ? It would add at least $16.5M in extra labor costs to the struggling seafood industry, already hit by a 50% labor cost increase in 2 years. ? Vote NO on BM1! #NoOn1AKLearn More: https://t.co/kOfn4EQvna pic.twitter.com/7qqcp7neww— Alaska Chamber (@alaskachamber) October 19, 2024 The minimum wage in Alaska has been $11.73 per hour since January, according to the Alaska Beacon.  Measure 1 is described on the state website as a move to “protect workers from practices that violate their constitutional rights.”   Nebraska    Nebraska voters also will decide whether to require businesses to offer earned paid sick leave for employees, as proposed by Initiative 436 on the ballot.   As a local small business owner, Amelia supports Initiative 436 for paid sick leave because she recognizes that all Nebraskans need time to care for themselves or a family member without missing pay. Providing paid sick leave is good for business. #VoteFOR436 pic.twitter.com/zjLxvfeZqv— Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans – Initiative 436 (@PaidSickLeaveNE) October 19, 2024 A vote “for” the initiative would be to entitle employees to use up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year if the employer has fewer than 20 employees.   If the employer has over 20 employees, the worker would get 56 hours of paid sick leave a year, according to the legal description of the ballot question.   Massachusetts   In Massachusetts, voters will decide Question 5, which would increase the minimum wage for tipped employees to meet the state’s general standard.    The minimum wage in Massachusetts is $15 per hour, more than twice as high as the federal minimum wage of $7.25. The minimum wage for tipped employees is $6.75, according to Workstream.   Protect Local Restaurants – Vote NO on Question #5As the November election draws near, we want to address an issue that could drastically change the restaurant experience for both guests and staff.  Ballot Question #5, while appearing to support workers, could lead to serious… pic.twitter.com/IXAwlHlFQJ— Randy (@randygreenstein) October 22, 2024 Voting “yes” is in favor of increasing the wage for tipped workers to $15 over five years, requiring employers to abide by it. Voting “no” is to keep things the same, according to the state’s website.    California   Voter approval of the Golden State’s Proposition 32 would increase the minimum wage to $18 an hour, according to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office.   California Democrats are proud to stand with the people on these crucial propositions! ?? Here's where we stand:? YES on Prop 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 32, 33, 35? NO on Prop 36Learn more at https://t.co/d6nJy5C7a4 #Organize2Win #CADEM #Vote2024 #PropPositions pic.twitter.com/LvXFNgb5qd— California Democratic Party (@CA_Dem) October 8, 2024 California’s minimum wage is $16 per hour. Raising it not only would boost workers’ incomes but increase costs for businesses, lower profits for some businesses, and spark changes in the job market, according to the state Legislature’s website.     For a recent petition by the Economic Policy Institute, a union-funded organization, over a hundred economists said they support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by this year. The move would result in $121 billion in higher wages for 39.7 million low-wage workers, benefiting their families and communities, according to the institute.   The Congressional Budget Office is among analysts arguing that raising the minimum wage prompts low-wage workers to become jobless, hurting rather than helping them. CBO does conclude that such measures could help some workers, according to its website.   The post Voters in 4 States Will Decide on Raising Minimum Wage  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Molly Jong-Fast is Worried About Ending Up in 'The Camps'

Harris Isn't Campaigning; She's Holding Concerts

Earlier this month, the Department of Justice announced the sentencing of U.S. Army soldier Pfc. Cole Bridges. He pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in 2023 and received a 14-year federal prison sentence for attempting to assist ISIS.To the lay reader, the Justice Department’s statement appears to be another example of the FBI’s steadfast commitment to combat terrorism. But a deeper look into the bureau’s history of counterterrorism investigations reveals patterns of entrapment, presenting this case as another instance in which the federal government’s actions could be seen as questionable under the guise of national security.Rather than simple outreach, the FBI encouraged Bridges’ radicalization as part of its six-year ISIS investigation.The FBI “playbook” for its counterterrorism investigations is straightforward and rarely contravened.First, identify a vulnerable person. The individual may be emotionally disturbed, financially indigent, lonely, low-intelligence, or (increasingly) juvenile. The FBI uses confidential human sources to identify these targets. CHSs serve as paid informants for the bureau and are only compensated for contributing to successful counterterrorism cases and arrests.Second, foster a relationship with the newly acquired terrorism subject. Confidential human sources learn the subject’s vulnerabilities and groom him to embrace his worst ideas — regardless of his ability to act on them.Third, introduce the subject to an FBI undercover employee or online covert employee and encourage him to engage in a violent act he is neither predisposed toward nor capable of achieving.Fourth, arrest the subject for providing material support to terrorism or another federal crime that could be construed as violent.The public’s view of the FBI as a bastion of objectivity in America’s domestic anti-terrorism efforts is increasingly at odds with reality. Notably, a May 2014 study by Project SALAM highlighted that between 2001 and 2010, an overwhelming 94.2% of all Department of Justice terrorism-related convictions were categorized as “pre-emptive prosecutions.” These cases often centered on the defendants’ perceived ideologies rather than any concrete criminal activity, suggesting a troubling reliance on unconstitutional “pre-crime” investigations by the FBI. This raises significant concerns, to say the least, about the validity and fairness of the bureau’s counterterrorism tactics.Perverse incentivesThe FBI playbook sometimes backfires. But by the time these schemes are exposed, the FBI has already benefited from promoting its “successful” operations. Its employees advance their careers, and the wrongly accused endure long, unjustified prison sentences.Let’s reconsider Cole Bridges’ story. In 2019, Bridges expressed support for ISIS on social media. At 19 years old, he was too young to recall more prominent terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda or Boko Haram. Instead, he latched onto the latest ideology promoted in popular culture.By 2019, ISIS no longer posed a significant threat to the American homeland. Bridges’ actions point to his immaturity, low intelligence, and possible emotional instability. His online behavior made him a prime target for recruitment by an FBI informant.Bridges’ enlistment in the military raises additional concerns. The U.S. Army performs background checks on new recruits, looking at social media activity and criminal records. Yet no red flags appeared that would have disqualified Bridges from joining. Did the Army overlook crucial details during its vetting process? Did the FBI and Department of Justice fail to disclose an ongoing counterterrorism investigation? Or worse, did the FBI and the Army collaborate to ensure Bridges’ successful enlistment to build a case against him?If the answer to either of the latter two questions is yes, it raises another question: Did an FBI informant encourage Bridges to enlist?The FBI stuck with its standard playbook when Bridges was assigned to the Third Infantry Division. An undercover FBI agent posing as an ISIS supporter began communicating with him online. Bridges fell for the trap. Despite being from Ohio, living in Georgia, and having no clear knowledge of New York City’s vulnerabilities, he provided the agent with guidance for a potential attack on the city.Later, he offered the undercover agent advice on military maneuvers, fortifying encampments, and ambush techniques against U.S. Special Forces. Bridges, a cavalry scout, had no expertise related to U.S. Special Forces operations.When re-examining Bridges’ story through the lens of the FBI’s approach, the narrative shifts significantly from the one presented in the Department of Justice press release. Bridges is undoubtedly troubled. He is possibly emotionally disturbed, with delusions of grandeur. He even may have sympathized with violent jihadist ideology. But his susceptibility to a basic government entrapment strategy casts serious doubt on whether he was ever a legitimate or capable national security threat.A troubling trendThe FBI, constrained by the U.S. Constitution and committed to upholding civil liberties, cannot focus on First Amendment-protected speech, association, ideology, or religion. The critical factors are individuals’ capabilities, intentions, and legitimate opportunities to commit illegal acts.The bureau identified Cole Bridges as vulnerable and conditioned him to engage in activities with undercover assets that would never result in real harm. Instead, the bureau manufactured a plot that led to his inevitable arrest. Worse, the FBI jeopardized the safety of U.S. Army personnel by allowing Bridges to work and train with live firearms and ammunition for over a year, putting innocent service members at risk.Rather than simple outreach, the FBI encouraged Bridges’ radicalization as part of its six-year ISIS investigation. Upon discovering his online activities in 2019, the reasonable response would have been for an FBI special agent to warn Bridges about his path toward radicalization.Unfortunately, today’s FBI shows little thoughtful consideration. Instead, the agency focuses on identifying vulnerable targets for easy arrests, regardless of the collateral damage.This isn’t a defense of Bridges’ online statements, associations, or ideology. The fact is that America guarantees citizens the right to hold and express even abhorrent beliefs. A nation dedicated to these liberties cannot abide government-manufactured terrorism schemes. Sadly, as long as the FBI sticks with the playbook, it will continue the troubling trend of entrapping vulnerable Americans. And we all suffer the consequences.

It’s been a bit of a tin foil hat week in the Destiny 2 community as theories and fan-compiled data have suggested that Bungie is intentionally making some weapon perk rolls rarer than they should be. With evidence piling extremely high, Bungie has now addressed the perk-weighting accusations, saying that while it is not purposefully altering any perk drop rates, it is now “investigating a potential issue” that may be causing the discrepancies. Continue reading One of Destiny 2’s biggest myths appears to have been busted MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 The Final Shape review, Destiny 2 builds

One thing that’s been wonderful to see happen more and more recently has been games taking inspiration from more than one source. While Thrive Heavy Lies the Crown could be seen as solely a Manor Lords rival, there’s much more going on. It’s got Frostpunk 2-esque decision making, RTS combat straight out of titles like Age of Empires 4, and the fantasy feel of Heroes of Might and Magic 3. It’s something that’s a true blend, and it even has a multiplayer element. If that sounds like it’s your bag of bricks, you’ll be able to get your hands on it soon as its early access release date has been announced. Continue reading Ambitious new city builder Thrive Heavy Lies the Crown locks in launch date MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best strategy games, Best 4X games, Best RTS games

You'll Be SHOCKED That Using Doug Emhoff and Tim Walz As Examples of Masculinity Isn't Winning Over Men

Donald Trump Calls Out John 'Jello' Kelly in a Raucous Return to Mean Tweets

THIS Is Why Dems Are Pivoting to Hitler: Trump Gets RECORD Support With Black, Latino Men

First released on PC via Steam earlier this month, Softstar Entertainment's horror game "The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication" is now out on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch with a price of $24.99 for the digital version, while the physical edition costs $39.99.