Gun control groups eclipse NRA in U.S. election spending
Amid a numbing succession of mass shootings, gun control groups outspent the National Rifle Association in the midterm election cycle.
North & Central America
New study shows NY restaurant jobs increase despite tipped minimum wage hike
The report Institute for Policy Studies and the Restaurant Opportunities Center found that job growth at full-service restaurants went up and take-home pay “increased significantly” after New York hiked the tipped minimum from $5 per hour to $7.50 per hour.
The U.S. FCC approves SpaceX’s plan to launch 7,518 internet satellites
Elon Musk says that the Starlink satellite constellation will maintain a line of sight to everyone on Earth, providing global internet connectivity.
B.C. government to provide transgender surgery
The British Columbia government announced Friday it will provide reconstructive lower surgery for transgender people.
Massachusetts voters uphold transgender rights law
The Yes on 3 campaign described Massachusetts as the first state in the nation “to successfully defend transgender rights by popular vote.”
St. Paul City Council passes $15 minimum wage, and mayor signs it
Minnesota’s second-largest city has joined the growing wave of cities across the country that have decided to require that workers be paid a minimum of $15 an hour.
JPMorgan Chase commits to $18 an hour minimum wage in D.C.
JPMorgan Chase bank has committed to paying its newly hired tellers, bankers and branch managers in the Washington area a minimum of $18 an hour.
Colorado elects nation’s first openly gay governor
Colorado Democratic US Rep. Jared Polis will be his state’s next governor, becoming the nation’s first openly gay man elected to a governor’s mansion.
Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota become the first Muslim women elected to U.S. Congress
Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota became the first Muslim women elected to Congress.
Record number of women heading to U.S. Congress
More than 100 women were projected to win seats in the House of Representatives, easily shattering the record.