Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy have announced plans to create a “interstate task force” that would strengthen labor law enforcement in both states.

As the governors toured the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades’ Finishing Trades Institute in Philadelphia on April 13, they announced plans for the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) and Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (PA L&I) to “root out illegal practices and hold bad actors accountable” by strengthening workplace standards in both states.

The governors said that wage theft (when workers are paid less than minimum wage, not paid overtime, or not allowed to take meal and rest breaks) and worker misclassification (when workers are incorrectly classified as independent contractors and denied employee benefits and protections) can be a problem that traverses state lines. Employers who use wage theft and/or worker misclassification will often continue the same illegal practices in adjoining states.

RELATED: Push in states for $20 minimum wage as inflation persists

“As neighboring states with a shared border and broad economic ties, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have a common interest in ensuring that workers enjoy the full protection of the rights and privileges to which they are entitled,” the two governors wrote in a joint letter. “Indeed, many employers operate in both states and, when they misclassify an employee or withhold earned wages, both states and the employees are harmed. In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, we are committed to upholding the simple yet critical principles that one should be paid in full for their work and have unobstructed access to their rights.”

The proposed Pennsylvania-New Jersey task force is set to begin with both states, but the governors said they are interested in expanding the task forces’ labor enforcement efforts so they can also work with other states in the Northeast. 

The post Pennsylvania, New Jersey to create joint task force to address worker wage theft appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Out of sight, out of mind. This is seemingly the story of Kawhi Leonard over the past three seasons. He was out 30 games in the 2020-2021 season; was sidelined for the entire 2021-2022 campaign recovering from a torn ACL, sustained in the 2021 playoffs versus the Utah Jazz; and played in only 52 of the Clippers 82 regular season games in the current season.

So naturally, his standing among the game’s best players, if only in perception, diminished. No longer was the two-time NBA Finals MVP with the San Antonio Spurs (2014) and Toronto Raptors (2019) mentioned with the same reverence as the game’s unequivocal superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid et al despite being All NBA five times, including First Team in 2021.

This postseason, the 31-year-old Leonard is reminding the basketball world he is as good as any player on the planet when he’s healthy and engaged. His 38 points in Game 1 of the No. 5 seed Clippers’ 115-110 opening round win in their best-of-seven series versus the No. 4 seed Phoenix Suns on the road on Sunday underscored the bona fides Leonard maintains.

Leading up to the playoffs, he was named the league’s Western Conference Player of Week for games played from Monday, April 3, through Sunday, April 9, making it the eighth time in his career he has won the award. During that stretch, he averaged 25.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. The Clippers lost to the Suns in Game 2 on Tuesday night by 123-109, but Leonard had another strong game with 31 points on 11-20 shooting and eight rebounds.

Leonard is doing his work without eight-time All-Star Paul George, who has been sidelined since March 21 with a sprained right knee and is unlikely to return for the Clippers current series. If they advance to the conference semifinals, George is expected to return.
The health of Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant is dubious. He has a soft tissue bruise in his right hand that occurred in Game 1 of the No. 2 Grizzlies’ home game against the West’s No. 7 seed Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the 6-2 Morant elevated at the rim to dunk over the Lakers’ 6-10 forward Anthony Davis and fell awkwardly. He did not return and the Grizzlies went on to lose by 128-112. His status for Game 2 last night (Wednesday), as of late yesterday afternoon, was uncertain. Games 3 and 4 will be in L.A. this Saturday and Monday.

The post Kawhi Leonard reminds the basketball world he’s still one of the best   appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

The Bergen County Department of Human Services, Division of Senior Services, has organized a countywide Senior Nutrition Program for each of the county’s 23 Senior Activity Centers/Nutrition Sites. The event, which takes place Tuesday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature a special luncheon, fun activities, and an overview of what Senior Activity Centers offer.

Transportation to any of the locations is available by calling the Bergen County Division of Community Transportation at 201-368-5955 in advance.

Seating is limited and reservations are required by May 9 for the special luncheon. Call the location of choice for details and reservations. The list of open house locations includes:

Bergenfield Senior Activity Ctr., 293 Murray Hill Terrace: 201-387-7212; Cliffside Park Senior Activity Ctr., 500 Gorge Road: 201-943-3768; East Rutherford–Southwest Senior Activity Ctr., 147 Hackensack Street: 201-935-8920; Elmwood Park Senior Activity Ctr., 500 Mola Boulevard: 201-796-3342; Englewood–Bergen Family Ctr. Adult Day Program, 44 Armory St.: 201-568-0817; Fair Lawn Senior Ctr., 11-05 Gardiner Road: 201-796-1191; Fort Lee–Richard & Catherine Nest Adult Activity Ctr., 319 Main St.: 201-592-3754; Garfield Senior Activity Ctr, 480 Midland Ave.: 973-478-0502; Garfield–Golden Towers Senior Ctr., 225 Midland Ave.: 201-522-4280; Garfield–Belmont Gardens Senior Ctr., 377 Midland Ave.: 201-522-4280; Hackensack–Americas Unidas Multicultural Senior Ctr., 101 Hudson St.: 201-336-3320; Hackensack–Martin Luther King Jr. Senior Ctr., 375 First St.: 201-342-2654; Lyndhurst Nutrition Program, 281 Stuyvesant Ave.: 201-896-1629; Midland Park – Northwest Senior Activity Ctr., 46-50 Center St.: 201-445-5690; N. Arlington Senior Activity Ctr., 11 York Road: 201-998-5636; Palisades Park Senior Activity Ctr., 300 Highland Ave.: 201-944-5616; Ridgefield Park Senior Activity Ctr., 159 Park St.: 201-641-1220; River Edge (Kosher)–JCC of Northern NJ, 385 Howland Ave.: 201-666-6610 x. 2; Rutherford–55 Kip Senior Ctr., 55 Kip Ave.: 201-460-1600; Teaneck–Asian Women’s Christian Association (AWCA), 9 Genesee Ave.: 201-862-1665; Tenafly (Kosher)–JCC on the Palisades, 411 E. Clinton Ave.: 201-569-7900; Tenafly–Korean Community Ctr., 100 Grove St.: 201-541-1200; Wallington Senior Activity Ctr., 24 Union Blvd.: 973-777-5815.

The post Bergen County’s Senior Nutrition Program appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here