Florida’s minimum wage increases in 2018
The minimum wage increased in the Sunshine State by 15 cents to $8.25.
United States
Transgender individuals may now openly join the U.S. military
Starting today, transgender individuals may openly join the U.S. military, this despite stiff opposition from President Trump.
Progressive champion Pramila Jayapal became the first ever Indian-American woman elected to U.S. Congress
On Tuesday night, Pramila Jayapal became the first ever Indian-American woman to be elected to Congress, winning a seat in Seattle’s 7th Congressional District.
Arizona voters approve $12 minimum wage
Hundreds of thousands of Arizonans will get a raise Jan. 1. Arizona voters have approved Proposition 206 to boost the state’s minimum wage and to require employers to provide paid sick time.
Maine votes to raise minimum hourly wage to $9 next year, $12 in 2020
Maine voters decided Tuesday to raise the state’s minimum wage for the first time since 2009, bumping it to $9 per hour next year, from $7.50, and to $12 by 2020 as part of a national push by progressive groups.
Montgomery County Council in Maryland unanimously approves $15 minimum-wage
Montgomery, which is the largest and one of the most affluent jurisdictions in Maryland, is the first in the state to require a $15 minimum wage, and the second jurisdiction in the Washington region, after the District of Columbia.
Michigan’s minimum wage to go up in January 2018
On January 1, 2018, the minimum wage goes up to $9.25. Any future increases will be tied to the Michigan Treasurer, the unemployment rate and the Consumer Price Index.
U.S. report says humans cause climate change, contradicting top Trump officials
Directly contradicting much of the Trump administration’s position on climate change, 13 federal agencies unveiled an exhaustive scientific report that says humans are the dominant cause of the global temperature rise.
U.S. signs deal with Denmark to expand offshore wind energy cooperation
A new deal calling for further cooperation in the offshore wind energy sector has been signed by the US and Denmark, thanks to a fairly positive view of wind energy within the Trump Administration, according to recent reports.
Amazon, Intel and Uber join brief against LGBT discrimination in the United States
A number of tech companies have joined Apple, PayPal, Lyft and Yelp in a corporate brief urging the Supreme Court to reject the notion that businesses can choose to discriminate against LGBT customers.