In an unexpected turn of events, the hospitality industry, long associated with some of the lowest-paid occupations, is undergoing a wage revolution. Over the last four years, salary raises in the industry have pushed hospitality workers’ wages up by almost 30 percent, a significant increase that defies long-standing income disparity patterns in the US. Deconstructing income inequality shift A recent Stateline analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics quarterly data suggests a significant shift in income patterns. The lowest-paid industry in each state, which encompasses restaurants, bars, and hotels, saw an average wage increase of 29 percent between mid-2019 and mid-2023 for its employees. This gain outpaces the average 20 percent increase for the highest-earning category in each state, indicating a significant turnaround in income inequality. A nationwide perspective on wage growth: from coast to coast, hospitality workers lead the way Nationally, a working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research underlines that earnings for the bottom 10 percent of earners have grown more significantly than those for the top 10 percent since 2019. This favorable change has already reversed almost 40 percent of the income inequality that had grown since 1980. Wage dynamics are changing, and lower earners are seeing a considerable increase in earnings. The impact of a tight labor market: how worker power and market conditions influence change The unanticipated shift in income disparity is linked to a tighter labor market, in which demand for labor exceeds supply. Increased competition and labor scarcity force companies to raise pay, creating a more advantageous climate for low-wage workers. Economist Arindrajit Dube observes that “ tightness drives out low-wage jobs by creating better-paying ones ,” emphasizing the importance of market conditions in modifying income dynamics. Wage trends by state: notable increases and regional variations The impact of this salary increase is not limited to states that have raised the minimum wage. Even in areas that have not yet reached the federal $7.25 minimum wage, hospitality workers have seen large gains. Maine, New Jersey, Florida, and Virginia have had the largest pay gains, ranging from 33 percent to 41 percent. Surprisingly, states without minimum wage increases, such as Idaho, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and South Carolina, experienced significant growth, averaging over 33 percent. Investigating the impact of a hands-off approach The upward trend in wage growth has spurred debate among conservatives regarding the efficacy of a hands-off policy. States like Texas, which oppose minimum wage legislation and restrict cities from setting their own rules, have witnessed significant salary rises in the hospitality industry. Organizations such as the Rio Grande Foundation highlight that wages are ultimately determined by economic realities rather than politicians, confirming the notion that market dynamics play an important role in defining wages. Government initiatives for wage increase: case studies from California and Chicago Government initiatives have contributed significantly to wage growth , particularly in California and Chicago. California recently enacted legislation to increase fast-food workers’ wages to $20 per hour, demonstrating a collaborative approach with a council of workers and industry representatives. In Chicago, the city council approved a plan to progressively eliminate the disparity in minimum wage for tipped workers, highlighting the power of government actions to promote good improvements in worker remuneration. As the wage landscape evolves, the emphasis moves to maintaining these gains and providing equal wages for workers across industries. The unexpected success of low-wage workers during the epidemic defies historical assumptions, highlighting the importance of market conditions and governmental initiatives in promoting positive shifts in income dynamics. In this installment of our “Best Of” series, we focus on the top Business solutions of 2024. These stories celebrate creativity, resilience, and the pursuit of sustainable success in an ever-evolving economic landscape.This picturesque seaside village in regional Victoria lures food lovers for its annual Wild Harvest Seafood Festival and, year round, delights those looking for a stay that combines the bush, fishing and relaxation. The cruise Take a cruise on the historic M.V. Loch-Ard. To really appreciate the beauty and size of the surrounding lakes get on board the MV Loch-Ard, which has been beetling around the Victorian waterways since it was first built, from Huon pine and kauri, in 1910. It is a snugly romantic vessel and during a sunset cruise you can watch the changing colours of the skies, see white sea eagles dive for an evening meal and hear some great local stories from Captain Dale Winward. See mallacootacruises.com The historic stay Karbeethong Lodge was built in 1922 and offers a slice of nostalgia. Karbeethong Lodge has the distinction of being favourably compared to heaven by A Sentimental Bloke author C.J. Dennis when he stayed here in 1932. It is hard to argue with him as you sit on the balcony of this 1920s-built seaside guesthouse with a local Gippsland drop in hand, looking across the grassy slope of a yard to the tranquil East Gippsland waters. Owners Graeme and Jenny Mitchell keep things warm and inviting with a retro collection of furnishings that populate the communal spaces of the huge living room and the help-yourself kitchen. Rooms are quirky and often have more beds than you need, but this is a very special place from which to explore the region. See karbeethonglodge.com.au The local dinner Lucy’s Cantonese fare is legendary in Mallacoota. Lucy’s, on the main street of Mallacoota, is an order-at-the-counter, family-working-all-stations affair that is packed on a weekend with visitors and locals sharing tables full of simple but utterly delicious dishes in serves that often require a take-away container. The go-tos here are the fresh, handmade noodles teamed with locally caught abalone and homegrown herbs, generously stuffed prawn har gau and rolled-up newspaper-sized spring rolls. The museum Mallacoota’s Bunker Museum was once part of a group of World War II-era military installations. The Bunker Museum was originally part of a chain of military installations that protected this exposed easterly part of the Australian coast during World War II. Now visitors descend the stairs into the rainbow-roofed bunker for a taste of military and local history with displays of “trench art” made from shell casings, the story of the sinking of British ship the SS Cumberland and a full-scale replica of home life in the 1940s complete with a mannequin looking like she has come off the set of Dad’s Army . See mallacootabunker.com.au The market Located near The Muddie, the mud brick pavilion at the centre of the Lions Park in town, this local market is full of the freshest local produce, local arts and crafts and community groups. It is a regularly changing roster of stallholders but keep an eye out for The Travelling Squid with its signature salt-and-pepper calamari and “prawn twists”. See mallacootamarkets.com The festival The Wild Harvest Seafood Festival was created to celebrate some of the less-loved creatures of the sea, such as the abalone and sea urchin that Mallacoota is known for. Started in 2022 (after some delays), the “whelk-om” dinner might have local oysters cooked over fire by Noel Butler from First Nations social enterprise Black Duck Foods, and pesce crudo using locally caught fish by guest chefs such as Stefano de Pieri. You might catch a live band, learn a sea shanty or enter a sandcastle making competition. It is an intimate introduction to this special part of Victoria. See wildharvestseafoodfestival.com The creative hub The Mallacoota Art Space, inside the Croajingolong Centre, often hosts an artist-in-residence. Tucked in behind the local radio station, inside the Croajingolong Centre, is the Mallacoota Art Space that is not only hung with works from local artists but, more often that not, will have an artist-in-residence producing works who is up for a chat about the local area and the wild coast that provides much of the inspiration for the local makers and creators. See visitmallacoota.com.au The nature walk Croajingalong National Park is great for bathing, walking or just taking in the view. It is a short drive to Genoa Falls in the Croajingolong National Park, just outside of Mallacoota, where the water runs down a long, flat slope packed full of water dragons that dart away into the rocks as soon as they see you. It is a great spot for bathing or simply wandering through the walking trails. If you have extra time the walk to Genoa Peak gives you a killer view of the surrounding bush and waterways. See visitmallacoota.com.au One more thing ... Abalone is now being processed locally. Mallacoota is the abalone capital of Victoria and the Australian Wild Abalone plant recently opened after the previous operation was devastated by the 2019 Gippsland bushfires. In the past, most of the popular aquatic meat was sent straight to Asia, but there is a renewed interest in using the fresh meat at home, so keep an eye out for it on local menus and at markets. See ex1191.com.au Paul Chai was a guest of Wild Harvest Festival and Destination Gippsland.Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City.
Mitesco, Inc. ( OTCMKTS:MITI – Get Free Report )’s stock price was down 2.8% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $0.27 and last traded at $0.39. Approximately 1,365 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 6,971 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.40. Mitesco Stock Performance The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $0.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $0.36. About Mitesco ( Get Free Report ) Mitesco, Inc does not have significant operations. Previously, it was engaged in healthcare technology and services business. Mitesco, Inc is based in Vero Beach, Florida. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Mitesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .By Nora Eckert and David Shepardson DETROIT (Reuters) – General Motors needed to exit its Cruise robotaxi business, most Wall Street analysts agreed on Wednesday, but the automaker’s decision to do so was still a disappointing end for an operation that GM had touted as a potential $50 billion revenue generator by 2030. The largest U.S. automaker on Tuesday pulled the plug on Cruise after evaluating the continued investments needed in a competitive space, executives said, adding they intend to fold some of Cruise’s talent into GM to continue development of driver assistance systems. “We consider the news a step in the right direction for GM, as we think investors were losing patience with its hefty spending (~$10B) related to robotaxi development with very little to show for its investment,” Garrett Nelson, analyst at CFRA Research wrote. GM shares jumped 3% after-hours on Tuesday immediately after the announcement, but gave back those gains during Wednesday’s regular session and were down about 1% in late afternoon. Nelson said the announcement was “a black eye for the credibility of GM management that, as recently as last year, told investors the Cruise business could generate $50 billion in annual revenue by 2030.” For the year to date, GM has far outpaced its competitors. Its stock is up 45% for 2024, while Ford’s is down 14% and Stellantis is down 37%. GM CEO Mary Barra was already scheduled to speak with reporters Wednesday evening. She will likely face questions on cost-cutting moves the automaker is taking as it navigates turbulence in EV demand, changing technology and a new presidential administration. “This is the latest in the series of decisions that GM has announced which underscore our focus on having the right technology for the future of our company and the industry and reflects our commitment to execute with speed and efficiency,” Barra told analysts Tuesday. GM recently scaled back plans for electric vehicles, sold a stake in one of its joint venture battery plants and recorded a $5 billion loss on its China business as it restructures. GM is now doubling down on its core business: making gasoline-powered pickup trucks and other large vehicles. Cruise’s competitors – including Alphabet’s Waymo, Baidu and Tesla – are well funded, and may have better technology, analysts said. Waymo, which is expanding its autonomous ride-hailing services, is still losing billions of dollars per year. Barclays noted Alphabet, which has over $100 billion in earnings annually, can absorb costs associated with Waymo’s development. GM, however, is expected to record earnings of $14 billion to $15 billion for 2024. “It’s clear from Waymo that an AV robotaxi business is best owned by an entity with deep pockets,” Barclays said. (Reporting by Nora Eckert and David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
David Bonderman, co-founder of private equity firm TPG and co-owner of Seattle Kraken, dies at 82Daily Post Nigeria Economy tough, Nigerians facing challenges – Tinubu Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Economy tough, Nigerians facing challenges – Tinubu Published on December 7, 2024 By Seun Opejobi President Bola Tinubu has admitted that the economy is tough and Nigerians are facing huge challenges. Tinubu, however, assured that the country’s economy is improving and better days are ahead. The President, who was represented by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, spoke at the graduation ceremony for the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 at the National Institute for Security Studies in Abuja on Saturday. He noted the transformative changes underway in Nigeria in the areas of security and the economy. “Things are happening in our country today. People may not like us. They probably will disagree with one or two. But fundamentally, things are changing. And Nigeria will change. “The economy is changing. Very tough, very difficult, very huge challenges we are facing. But I can assure you, better days are ahead of us,” he said. Related Topics: Tinubu Don't Miss FG releases final list of successful applicants for Fire Service recruitment You may like Many states now enjoy 22hrs electricity – Yul Edochie claims as he hails Tinubu Masu sukar Tinubu makiyan Najeriya ne – Umahi Tinubu sacks Atuma, nominates Emeka Nworgu as Chairman of South East Development Commission Tinubu da Gwamnoni sun yi jimami kan rasuwar sheikh Muyideen Bello ‘Those criticizing Tinubu are enemies of Nigeria’ – Umahi Tinubu cancels Danfulani’s appointment, names Ribadu, Shehu, Shinkafi, Tsauri as CEOs for NUC, others Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdShare Tweet Share Share Email Shiba Inu wowed the crypto world with its 2021 run which saw it pump more than 11430362.4% to mint overnight meme millionaires. Find out what the future holds for this potential ‘Dogecoin killer’ and discover why the web3 GambleFi upstart Rollblock ($RBLK) is being tipped for a repeat performance of SHIB’s success as whales scoop up huge bags of this potential 100x gem! Shiba Inu ($SHIB) Burning Tokens A-Plenty With FEED Update SHIB looks ready to race back into the crypto top 10 as its price rallied 0.67% in the last 24 hours to hit $0.000024. In the last week, Shiba Inu has in fact lost over 3.4%, but this is only to be expected after this famously volatile meme coin put in an incredible 35% monthly candle recently. Shiba Inu is the second-largest meme coin in the crypto space after Dogecoin, with a fiercely loyal following and a history of surprising the market with the strength of its moves. Recently, on-chain analytics detected that 1.67 trillion SHIB tokens were withdrawn from exchanges in just 24 hours. The last time the supply on exchanges fell like this, Shiba Inu went on to pump 62%. The WoofsSwap team has just unveiled a new token burning mechanism on the Shibarium with the introduction of a new token by the name of FEED. When a new token is created using a FEED contract, Shiba Inu is burned as a result of the minting process. This is incredibly bullish for the ecosystem and will result in a massively decreased number of SHIB tokens hitting the market. This can only be a good thing for price action, which looks set to explode upward during the next season of meme mania. Rollblock ($RBLK) Community GambleFi Gem Races Through Its Presale At Rapid Pace The hugely promising web3 casino Rollblock ( $RBLK ) is top of many analysts’ watchlists to follow in Shiba Inu’s footsteps during the current bull run and make similar outsized returns thanks to its massive utility and growing user base. Rollblock is on a mission to massively disrupt the $450 billion online gaming industry with its promise to bring transparency back front and center using the power of blockchain technology. Rollblock can vouch for the security and accuracy of all transactions on the platform, thanks to its masterstroke of encrypting all interactions onto the Ethereum blockchain. With over 7,000 fully immersive gaming experiences on offer, Rollblock is fully live and already bringing in huge amounts of revenue. Whales are entering with size, and the Rollblock community stands to win big from its recent spike in popularity thanks to the $RBLK token and its extraordinary revenue-sharing mechanism. Rollblock will take a significant portion of its operating profits and buy up masses of $RBLK, removing supply by sending 60% to a burner address. 40% will end up in the hands of grateful holders through attractive staking rewards. Buyers rotating from Shiba Inu at the current level of $0.036 could easily see a phenomenal 100x return on their investments! Rollblock could very well be the next big name in web3, offering a rare opportunity for early adopters to ride the wave of exponential growth. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the future of decentralized gaming! Discover the Exciting Opportunities of the Rollblock (RBLK) Presale Today! Website: https://presale.rollblock.io/ Socials: https://linktr.ee/rollblockcasino Related Items: Rollblock (RBLK) , Shiba Inu (SHIB) Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Solana’s BONK Crowned As The Dogecoin Of This Cycle And WallitIQ As The Shiba Inu Of This Bull Run PropiChain’s Token Presale to Create More Millionaires than Shiba Inu in 2025, Here’s Why Shiba Inu Price Forecast: Pushing For 60% Gains From Here Falls Behind WallitIQ’s (WLTQ) Predicted 5000% Rise Comments
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The dismissal of a class-action lawsuit over rules governing the cross-border live bee trade is casting a spotlight on political division within Canada's beekeeping community. A federal judge has ruled against awarding commercial beekeepers damages from a decades-old partial ban on shipping live honeybees across the Canada-U.S. border, which is in place out of concerns that could bring in aggressive pests and diseases. Beekeepers from Western Canada involved in the suit claim the government's risk assessments that inform the tight restrictions are hurting their businesses and are blown out of proportion. Michael Paradis of Paradis Honey Ltd., a seven-generation family beekeeping business based in Girouxville, Alta., and one of the representative plaintiffs in the case, said he's disappointed with the ruling, saying it puts beekeepers in a "dangerous position" since the industry is already in crisis mode. "Canada does not have enough bees and cannot replenish its own stock at all," he said. "It's going to mean a lot more hardship for the industry if we cannot get access to the U.S. bees." Beekeepers were slammed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when fewer airline flights made it harder to import bees and they suffered a nightmare year of winter losses in 2022. Manitoba commercial beekeeper Brent Ash, one of the witnesses in the case, said the ruling will hamper the industry, and makes it especially tough for apiaries in colder parts of the country like the Prairies, where most of Canada's beekeepers are located. "Climate makes the regional divide difficult to keep those bugs alive over the course of the winter," he said, noting honeybees are not native to North America. But Steve Moore, president of the Ontario Beekeepers' Association, said his group worries about the risks of accidentally bringing in antibiotic resistant mites, the import of Africanized honeybees commonly known as killer bees, and a small hive beetle that's capable of damaging colonies. "In Ontario here, we feel quite strongly that we don't want to take the risk of it becoming even more challenging if some of these new and emerging threats come into the country in packages," he said. But he empathizes with the plaintiffs. "When we go into our apiaries, we get stung by our bees. When we come home, we might be stung by a low honey price, stung by rising cost of production or stung by high overwintering losses, with the threat of new and emerging pathogens. So, we're all facing the same challenges and it's a challenging time to be a beekeeper," he said. Even though a ban on U.S. live bee imports expired in 2006, Ottawa has not issued permits for the live worker bee boxes to be brought over the border since. The plaintiffs argued Ottawa owes them duty of care — and hundreds of millions in damages. The judge disagreed. "There is no duty of care owed and no negligence," Justice Cecily Strickland wrote in a lengthy ruling, adding the plaintiffs failed to establish that Ottawa hurt their businesses. The case has a long history, dating back to a court filing from 2012, and was only certified as a class action in 2017. The problem is even older. Headlines from the 1980s screamed about fears that deadly infectious mites from U.S. states could level Canadian bee populations. Risks to bee health have only compounded since then. A 2003 risk assessment by the regulator found that importing queen bees was less risky, since they are easier to inspect. So, Canada allows imports of queen bees and their worker-bee attendants from the U.S., Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Italy and Malta. "Bee packages carry a higher risk of disease introduction because they are shipped with the contents of their hive, which may include mites, parasites and bacteria," said a statement from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that welcomed the judge’s ruling. Canada does, however, also allow imports of worker bee packages from Italy, Chile, Australia and New Zealand, which sent Canada some 69,364 kgs of packaged bees in 2023, according to statistics from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. But importing from these countries also dramatically drives up import costs due to transportation. One of the plaintiffs, John Gibeau, wrote to CFIA a decade ago complaining that importing more than 1,200 packages for $170,000 would have cost half that if he could have purchased them from California instead. Gibeau said he wasn't ready to comment since he hasn't yet digested the ruling. Paradis said the larger issue for him than cost, though, is the quality of the bee stock and the timing of when shipments arrive. "We are looking at bees in the U.S. that are spring bees — young, invigorated bees," he said, adding that gives them longer lifespans in Canada. While he was disappointed, Paradis said one of the main reasons for the lawsuit was to "bring CFIA to the table and to actually have some discussions" on the import ban, something he said has only happened recently. Canada's honeybee pollination is estimated to contribute $3.18 billion directly to the economy, but that rises to $7 billion a year when canola pollination is factored in. Canada has some 794,341 beehives. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2024.
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CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Kobe Sanders scored 27 points, including five of six from the free throw line in the closing minutes, and Nevada pulled away late to beat Oklahoma State 90-78 for a fifth-place finish at the Charleston Classic on Sunday. Nevada's lone loss in its first six games came in the tournament's opening round when the Wolf Pack fell to Vanderbilt 73-71. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Kobe Sanders scores 27 points, Nevada never trails in 90-78 win over Oklahoma State
