"Blow for Uber as judge finds California’s gig-worker law unconstitutional"

A case that will have implication for MA as there is a proposed ballot question for 2022 on this issue.

"A judge on Friday struck down a California ballot measure that exempted Uber and other app-based ride-hailing and delivery services from a state law requiring drivers to be classified as employees eligible for benefits and job protections.

Alameda county superior court Judge Frank Roesch ruled that Proposition 22 was unconstitutional.

Voters approved the measure in November after Uber, Lyft and other services spent $200m in its favor, making it the most expensive ballot measure in state history.

Uber said it planned to appeal, setting up a fight that could likely end up in the California supreme court."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/20/california-gig-worker-law-proposition-22-unconstitutional 

A driver holds up a sign supporting a no vote on Prop 22 in Oakland last year. The ruling sets up a fight that could likely end up in California’s supreme court. Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

Franklin Downtown Partnership: Harvest Festival Booth Reminder

Harvest Festival Reminder Booths Spaces are filling up quickly so don't delay! Sign up soon for your booth space. REGISTER FOR BOOTH SPACE Register for booth space -> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kVIGTTp84M78KqT5ubSz_h0Kt-OCF_NT8j_1DlYcWNw/viewform?edit_requested=true Sponsors Needed Please contact the FDP office (downtown.franklin@yahoo.com) if you would like to sponsor the Harvest Festival and have your booth located on Sponsorship Row. Remember ALL participants need to register online. Even if you are a downtown business Even if you are a restaurant and have email the FDP office Even if you are a sponsor When you register online we are able to send you your booth space placement, set-up instructions, your booth space and any last minute changes due to weather. If you are not registered we can not assign you a booth space. Booth spaces are first come-first served.   If you have any registration questions, please contact Chris Peterson.(fdpevent@gmail.com)  Franklin Downtown Partnership • 774-571-3109 • FranklinDowntownPartnership.org

Franklin Downtown Partnership | 9 E. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by franklindowntownpartnership@gmail.com powered by Try email marketing for free today!

"Rain falls on peak of Greenland ice cap for first time on record"

"Rain has fallen on the summit of Greenland’s huge ice cap for the first time on record. Temperatures are normally well below freezing on the 3,216-metre (10,551ft) peak, and the precipitation is a stark sign of the climate crisis.

Scientists at the US National Science Foundation’s summit station saw rain falling throughout 14 August but had no gauges to measure the fall because the precipitation was so unexpected. Across Greenland, an estimated 7bn tonnes of water was released from the clouds.

The rain fell during an exceptionally hot three days in Greenland when temperatures were 18C higher than average in places. As a result, melting was seen in most of Greenland, across an area about four times the size of the UK."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/20/rain-falls-peak-greenland-ice-cap-first-time-on-record-climate-crisis 

Icebergs near Ilulissat, Greenland. The climate crisis is having a profound impact on glaciers. Photograph: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

MIAA - The Hub - Week 3 - Self Management (video series)

 Week 3 at The HUB: Seek. Explore. Learn. "Self-Management"

> Kyrah Altman

@LEADInc_now

shares tools to proactively cope & manage symptoms of Reintegration Anxiety Management. Content includes mental illness, anxiety, collective trauma of COVID-19 http://ow.ly/zSE350FCduM #MIAA

or visit MIAA at http://www.miaa.net/contentm/easy_pages/view.php?sid=38&page_id=354

MIAA - The Hub - Week 3 - Self Management (video series)

MAEnergy Environment: Hurricane Safety Tips

MAEnergy Environment (@MassEEA) tweeted Fri, Aug 20, 2021:

🧵 To prepare for Tropical Storm #Henri and a potential power outage, here are some practical steps you can take to keep you and your family safe.

🔋 Make sure cellphones, laptops, and other electronics are fully charged.

⚡️ Power Outage Safety Tips:  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/hurricane-safety-tips

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MassEEA/status/1428790239124938761

MAEnergy Environment: Hurricane Safety Tips

Also from Boston Globe: 6 ways to prepare

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/20/metro/tropical-storm-henri-is-approaching-here-are-6-ways-prepare/

From MA Consumer Affairs -> Hurricane preparedness

http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/hurricane-preparedness-2021/

Washington Post: "Booming business at dollar stores"

"A growing number of Americans are relying on dollar stores for everyday needs, especially groceries, as the coronavirus pandemic drags into its 18th month. Chains such as Dollar General and Dollar Tree are reporting blockbuster sales and profits, and proliferating so quickly that some U.S. cities want to limit their growth. The 1,650 dollar stores expected to open this year represent nearly half of all new national retail openings, according to Coresight Research.

Foot traffic at the largest such chain, Dollar General, is up 32 percent from pre-pandemic levels, far outpacing the 3 percent increase at Walmart, one of the few retail winners of last year, according to Placer.ai, which analyzes shopping patterns using location data from 30 million devices."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/08/20/growing-number-americans-are-relying-dollar-stores/

A shopper pushes a cart through Family Dollar in Chicago. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg News)

In another shift, Baker Administration will mandate masks for K-12 school opening

Massachusetts K-12 (@MASchoolsK12) tweeted Fri, Aug 20, 2021:

PRESS RELEASE Education Commissioner to Ask Board for Authority to Mandate Masks in Public Schools to Provide Time to Increase Vaccinations - https://t.co/CLO6N5sTXC #MaEdu #COVID19MA @MassEducation

"Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley will ask the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to grant him authority to mandate masks for all public K-12 students, educators, and staff through October 1 to ensure schools fully reopen safely and to provide time for more students and educators to get vaccinated. After October 1, the commissioner’s policy would allow middle and high schools to lift the mask mandate for vaccinated students and staff only if the school meets a certain vaccination rate – at least 80 percent of students and staff in a school building are vaccinated. Unvaccinated students and staff would still be required to wear masks.

The mandate would include exceptions for students who cannot wear a mask due to medical conditions or behavioral needs.

 

The Commissioner will revisit the mandate in the near future to revise it as warranted by public health data. The purpose of the policy is to encourage higher vaccination rates among students and staff and to implement a uniform policy for all schools to begin the year."

Continue reading the full press release:  https://t.co/CLO6N5sTXC

Assuming the proposal does come to reality, the Franklin School Committee will remove from its agenda its own policy update as 'not needed'

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_b_-_policy_adoption.pdf

Press release hared from Twitter:   https://twitter.com/MASchoolsK12/status/1428737492627468290?s=03

CommonWealth Magazine coverage ->  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/in-another-shift-baker-mandates-masks-in-schools/

State education commissioner Jeff Riley. (Photo by Llyr Johansen)