>>Senate Votes To Advance Bill To Avoid Shutdown
(Washington, DC) -- The Senate has voted to advance a short-term funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. The bipartisan measure released Tuesday would keep money flowing until mid-November to give Congress more time for a long-term package. A deal to fund the government must be passed by the end of the week. The bill includes more than four-billion dollars in aid to Ukraine and roughly six-billion in emergency FEMA funding for disaster relief. It's unclear if the Republican-led House will approve it.
>>WGA Votes To Lift Strike Order After 148 Days
(Los Angeles, CA) -- The Writers Guild of America strike is over. After 148 days, the board of the WGA West and council of the WGA East voted unanimously to lift the strike. The decision comes days after the writers and film studios successfully finished conversations for a new three-year contract. The agreement will increase minimums, raise contributions to health care and pensions, and give bonuses for residuals based on streaming views. AI-generated content, a big issue when the strike started, will not be considered source material.
>>SAG-AFTRA Members Authorize Strike If Needed in Video Game Negotiations
(Los Angeles, CA) -- The union that represents Hollywood actors has received rank-and-file authorization for a strike against video game production companies. Representatives from SAG-AFTRA are in contract talks this week with Activision, Blindlight, Disney, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2, VoiceWorks, and WB Games. If the talks break down, union leadership has the OK to call for a strike. SAG-AFTRA members are already on strike against TV and Film studios. In both negotiations, actors want protections against the use of artificial intelligence.
>>UAW President: Focus Of Strike Remains Workers
(Detroit, MI) -- United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain says the union isn't letting up on its demands amid an ongoing strike. He spoke to MSNBC Tuesday, the same day President Biden stood alongside members on the picket line in Michigan. Fain noted he's thankful for Biden's support, but that the real focus remains the workers. He added that the reason for the strike against the Big Three automakers stems from "corporate greed." Thousands of UAW members across numerous states are picketing, calling for better pay and job protections.
>>FTC, 17 States File Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon
(Washington, DC) -- Amazon is facing an antitrust lawsuit filed by the FTC and 17 states. The complaint accuses the online retail giant of abusing its powers to promote its own products over third-party sellers that use Amazon's platform to reach customers. FTC Chair Lina Khan said, "Amazon is a monopolist, and it is exploiting its monopolies in ways that leave shoppers and sellers paying more for worse services." Amazon responded to the lawsuit by saying it's "wrong on the facts and the law." The FTC has been investigating Amazon for possible antitrust violation since 2019 under the Trump administration.
>>Police Seek Suspect In Baltimore Tech Executive's Killing
(Baltimore, MD) -- Baltimore police are searching for a suspect in the killing of a young tech entrepreneur. Thirty-two-year-old Jason Billingsley is wanted for first-degree murder in connection with the death of Pava LaPere. The 26-year-old's body was found Monday in her apartment in Baltimore's Mount Vernon neighborhood with signs of blunt-force trauma. LaPere was the CEO and co-founder of a multi-million-dollar Baltimore tech company and had been named to Forbes' prestigious 30-Under-30 list.
>>UPS To Hire More Than 100-Thousand Seasonal Workers
(Atlanta, GA) -- UPS will hire more than 100-thousand seasonal workers for the upcoming holiday rush. According to a posting on the company's job portal, it's offering full and part-time positions with higher pay than before at 23-dollars-an-hour. UPS said in a statement that the positions are available across the country. They're looking for delivery drivers and package handlers.
