[Source: Los Angeles Times] After years of enduring the stench of spoiled meat and decaying carcasses from nearby rendering plants, residents of southeast Los Angeles County could finally see some relief under new rules approved Friday. Air quality regulators adopted long-delayed measures aimed at reducing odors from Vernon-area rendering plants, which they say can drift Read More…
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Small business lobby opposed to GOP tax bill
[Source: The Hill] A top small business group has come out against the Republican tax-reform bill, arguing the legislation “leaves too many small businesses behind.” “We are concerned that the pass-through provision does not help most small businesses. Small business is the engine of the economy. We believe that tax reform should provide substantial relief Read More…
Scott Pruitt blocks scientists with EPA funding from serving as agency advisers
[Source: The Washington Post] The head of the Environmental Protection Agency upended the agency’s key advisory groups on Tuesday, announcing plans to jettison scientists who have received EPA grants. The move sets in motion a fundamental shift, one that could change the scientific and technical advice that historically has guided the agency as it crafts Read More…
Small-business owners aren’t happy with government
[Source: L.A. BIZ] Washington’s ongoing showdown over tax reform appears to be doing little to buoy the nation’s small-business owners, a majority of whom say regulations and other aspects of government are far more important to their day-to-day operations. That’s according to a report released today by Thumbtack.com, a website that connects consumers with local Read More…
South Coast Air Quality Management District bullies small businesses in minority communities
[Source: Compton Herald] The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s flawed monitoring program recently cost a minority-owned business in Paramount $100,000 in lost wages; dozens of workers were let go. We’ve all heard the stories of local polluters impacting the air we breathe, the ground we live on, and the water we drink. However, most Read More…
What employers should know about emergencies and the workplace
[Source: CalChamber] In light of various emergencies and disasters throughout the state, the California Chamber of Commerce is educating employers about a few things they should know about paying employees, leaves of absences and planning ahead in emergencies. Paying Employees Even in an emergency, employers must be mindful of obligations under state employment laws and Read More…
New laws: Governor acts on employment-related bills
[Source: CalChamber] Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. has now signed or vetoed employment-related legislation passed by the California Legislature in 2017. Governor Brown did not finish acting on many of the bills until just before midnight Sunday night. As usual, labor matters were among the hardest fought issues on CalChamber’s agenda. A few of the Read More…
Governor signs leave mandate for small business, ban on salary history inquiries
[Source: CalChamber] Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed legislation mandating that small businesses provide a new protected leave of absence. SB 63 (Jackson; D-Santa Barbara) was identified by the California Chamber of Commerce as a job killer. Also signed today was AB 168 (Eggman; D-Stockton), which bans employers from inquiring about a job applicant’s Read More…
Paris plans to banish all but electric cars by 2030
[Source: Reuters] Paris authorities plan to banish all petrol- and diesel-fueled cars from the world’s most visited city by 2030, Paris City Hall said on Thursday. The move marks an acceleration in plans to wean the country off gas-guzzlers and switch to electric vehicles in a city often obliged to impose temporary bans due to Read More…