Article Summary – A proposed US bill, the Life Saving Leave Act, will allow employees up to 40 nonconsecutive hours of unpaid leave annually for bone marrow or blood stem cell donation. The bill, introduced by Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and co-sponsored by Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, aims
Article Summary – A bipartisan bill introduced in the Wisconsin State Legislature proposes creating a savings program, WisKids, for every child born or adopted in the state. The program would set up a state-owned savings account for each child, seeded with $25, which could be put towards post-secondary education once
Article Summary – The Inflation Reduction Act, enacted by Democrats in Congress in 2022, invested $80 billion in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with the expectation of recovering $180 billion in additional revenue over a decade from wealthy taxpayers. However, a recent analysis by the U.S. Department of the Treasury
Article Summary – Over 150 House Republicans issued a letter on February 4 urging President Joe Biden to end the recently implemented pause on permitting liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. The Biden administration announced its decision on January 26, citing the standards used to evaluate permits, potential energy cost increases,
Article Summary – The newly established Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) aims to improve the state’s educational outcomes from preschool through college. The department is focused on making education from prekindergarten onwards more accessible and affordable, with initiatives such as universal free pre-K for all 4-year-olds
Americans Have More Saved For Retirement Than Ever Before Summary American workers have saved more for retirement than ever before. Average retirement savings today are twice what Americans had put aside in 2001. 75% of Americans are optimistic about retiring on their terms. Strong Economy Leads
Article Summary – The US economy added 216,000 jobs in December, with the unemployment rate remaining at 3.7%. Sectors that saw significant job growth include healthcare, local government, construction, and social assistance. Wages reportedly outpaced inflation, with average hourly earnings increasing by 15 cents and rising by 4.1% over the
Article Summary – The Appalachian Regional Commission has granted $10 million to aid small and mid-sized manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania in their expansion into green technology and clean energy. The commission, a collaboration between the federal government and 13 states, was established in 2022 as part of the Infrastructure Investment
Article Summary – The Michigan Fair Chance Access to Housing Act, or House Bill 4878, was introduced to prohibit landlords from considering an applicant’s criminal history during the tenant screening process. The bill, supported by dozens of criminal justice advocates and formerly incarcerated people, stipulates that if an applicant meets
Article Summary – The Hershey Company in Pennsylvania, ranked 33 on Forbes’ list of America’s Best-in-State Employers in 2023, has contributed positively to the local economy. In 2022, Hershey’s sales reached $10.4 billion, up 16% from the previous year, and the company employed 19,865 full-time workers. The company, together with
Article Summary – The Department of Energy will invest up to $1 billion into the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen, a consortium comprising Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois among others. The funds will be used to produce hydrogen power with aims to reduce carbon emissions, and the hub is expected to
Article Summary – President Joe Biden announced a $7 billion initiative to increase the availability of hydrogen as a fuel source and curb carbon dioxide emissions, with a view to create seven regional hydrogen hubs. The Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub, covering the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware region, is estimated to create about 20,800
