U.S. News

San Francisco teachers authorize strike as contract talks near legal deadline

San Francisco educators vote 97.6% to authorize a strike, with a walkout possible as soon as Feb. 9 if contract talks and fact-finding fail.

#sanfrancisco, #teachers, #strike, #education, #labor

Education Department proposes ending Grad PLUS, capping graduate loans and extending repayment timeline

A new Education Department rule would end Grad PLUS for new borrowers in 2026, cap grad loans, create two repayment plans and allow two rehabs after default.

#studentloans, #highereducation, #graduatestudents, #loanrepayment, #educationdepartment

After apartment fires, renters confront broken hydrants, rent bills and liability waivers

Fires in New Orleans, suburban Detroit and Denver expose gaps in hydrant upkeep, landlord practices and protections for displaced renters.

#housing, #fires, #renters, #tenantsrights, #infrastructure

Two fatal shootings during DHS immigration surge ignite Minneapolis backlash and national scrutiny

An ICU nurse and a resident were killed in separate federal immigration operations in Minneapolis, intensifying protests and demands for accountability.

#immigration, #ice, #minneapolis, #useofforce, #protests

Gas Explosion, Four-Alarm Fire Kill One, Displace Hundreds in Bronx High-Rise

A suspected natural-gas explosion sparked a four-alarm blaze at Boston Secor Houses, killing one and forcing evacuation of 148 Bronx apartments.

#bronx, #nycha, #gasexplosion, #fire, #housing

NTSB Blames System Failures in Reagan National Midair Crash That Killed 67

Nearly a year after the Potomac collision, the NTSB cites compounding airspace and procedure failures and pushes tighter helicopter rules.

#aviation, #ntsb, #reagannational, #helicopters, #faa

CSX Train Derails Near Wartrace, Tenn., Prompting Evacuation Over Ethanol Tank Cars

A CSX freight train derailed near Wartrace, Tennessee, overturning four ethanol tank cars and forcing a brief evacuation of about 50 homes. No leaks or injuries were reported.

#trainderailment, #tennessee, #csx, #hazmat, #railsafety

Supreme Court Ends Final Challenge to Boy Scouts Abuse Bankruptcy Deal

Justices decline to hear survivors’ appeal, finalizing a $2.46B trust and unlocking $1.6B in escrow while barring new suits against councils and sponsors.

#boyscouts, #sexualabuse, #bankruptcy, #supremecourt, #survivors

31,000 Kaiser nurses and health professionals in California and Hawaii set strike date over staffing and pay

Unions for 31,000 Kaiser nurses and clinicians give 10-day notice for an open-ended strike Jan. 26, citing staffing, pay and bargaining disputes.

#kaiserpermanente, #nurses, #healthcarestrike, #staffing, #labor

Hoax Threat Locks Down San Antonio Elementary as Police Search for Suspect

A caller claimed plans to “shoot up” Royal Ridge Elementary, triggering a lockdown and police search. No suspect or weapon was found; officials call it a hoax.

#sanantonio, #schoolsafety, #swatting, #texas

ICE shooting of Minneapolis mother sparks protests, DOJ backlash and resignations

Video of Renée Good’s death during an ICE surge prompts Minnesota’s lawsuit, protests and a DOJ decision that triggered resignations.

#minneapolis, #ice, #doj, #civilrights, #policeviolence

Supreme Court Lets Boy Scouts Abuse Settlement Stand, Unlocking Funds and Shielding Local Partners

Justices declined to hear a challenge to Scouting America’s $2.46B bankruptcy deal, freeing $1.65B for survivors while barring many future suits.

#scoutingamerica, #supremecourt, #sexualabuse, #bankruptcy, #survivors

Up to 16,000 NYC Nurses Prepare to Strike as Contract Talks Stall Over Staffing and Safety

Nurses at five major New York City hospitals may strike Jan. 12, demanding enforceable staffing ratios, higher pay and stronger violence protections.

#nurses, #nyc, #hospitalstrike, #staffing, #healthcare

11 students hospitalized after Pierce County school bus stops short to avoid red-light runner

A sedan ran a red light at East 128th and Waller Road East, forcing a school bus to brake hard and sending 11 children to hospitals.

#schoolbus, #trafficcrash, #washingtonstate, #piercecounty, #schoolsafety

Cooper Union settles antisemitism lawsuit, agrees to new Title VI office and protest mask ban

Cooper Union will revamp bias policies, recognize Zionism as protected identity and restrict masks at protests under a settlement with 10 Jewish students.

#campus, #civilrights, #antisemitism, #titlevi, #protests