As Michigan Virus Cases Surge, State Would Rather Add Vaccinations Than Restrictions Coronavirus cases are surging in Michigan. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan's chief medical executive, about the state's decision not to implement new restrictions.Heard onToggle more optionsCoronavirus cases are surging in Michigan. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan's chief medical executive, about the state's decision not to implement new restrictions.MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:Look across the country at the places where coronavirus outbreaks are...…As Michigan Virus Cases Surge, State Would Rather Add Vaccinations Than Restrictions Coronavirus cases are surging in Michigan. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan's chief medical executive, about the state's decision not to implement new restrictions.Heard onToggle more optionsCoronavirus cases are surging in Michigan. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan's chief medical executive, about the state's decision not to implement new restrictions.MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:Look across the country at the places where coronavirus outbreaks are...WW…

In The NewsYour browser does not support the audio element.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:The job market is starting to roar back, but for anxious college seniors like Bao Ha, it’s a different reality altogether."I've probably applied to like 130 or 40 jobs or something," Ha says. "I have not gotten even an email back, or an interview."Ha is graduating soon from Macalaster College in Minnesota, and between his anthropology thesis and trying to check items off his senior year bucket list, he has spent hours crafting cover letters and scouring job postings.And now, self-doubt has started to trickle...…In The NewsYour browser does not support the audio element.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:The job market is starting to roar back, but for anxious college seniors like Bao Ha, it’s a different reality altogether."I've probably applied to like 130 or 40 jobs or something," Ha says. "I have not gotten even an email back, or an interview."Ha is graduating soon from Macalaster College in Minnesota, and between his anthropology thesis and trying to check items off his senior year bucket list, he has spent hours crafting cover letters and scouring job postings.And now, self-doubt has started to trickle...WW…

Marty Walsh Confirmed As Labor Secretary At Pivotal Time The former union leader will head the Labor Department at a time when the pandemic has left millions unemployed and raised concerns about workplace safety.Toggle more optionsMarty Walsh, the two-term mayor of Boston, was confirmed as the Labor secretary by the Senate in a 68-29 vote on Monday, becoming the first union leader to run the department in over four decades. Walsh will become the head of the Labor Department at a critical time, as the pandemic has left millions unemployed and raised concerns about workplace safety. The...…Marty Walsh Confirmed As Labor Secretary At Pivotal Time The former union leader will head the Labor Department at a time when the pandemic has left millions unemployed and raised concerns about workplace safety.Toggle more optionsMarty Walsh, the two-term mayor of Boston, was confirmed as the Labor secretary by the Senate in a 68-29 vote on Monday, becoming the first union leader to run the department in over four decades. Walsh will become the head of the Labor Department at a critical time, as the pandemic has left millions unemployed and raised concerns about workplace safety. The...WW…

How Should Restaurants Pay Their Servers? Well, It's Complicated A fierce debate is taking shape within the restaurant industry as a push to raise the minimum wage threatens to upend the tipped wage structures for servers.Toggle more optionsJillian Melton and Paul Sklar work at two restaurants hundreds of miles apart. And when it comes to the $15 minimum wage debate, their differences in views could almost be as vast. The push by Democrats to raise the federal minimum wage would also eliminate a decades-long practice of paying restaurant servers as little as $2.13 an hour under the...…How Should Restaurants Pay Their Servers? Well, It's Complicated A fierce debate is taking shape within the restaurant industry as a push to raise the minimum wage threatens to upend the tipped wage structures for servers.Toggle more optionsJillian Melton and Paul Sklar work at two restaurants hundreds of miles apart. And when it comes to the $15 minimum wage debate, their differences in views could almost be as vast. The push by Democrats to raise the federal minimum wage would also eliminate a decades-long practice of paying restaurant servers as little as $2.13 an hour under the...WW…

Senate Says No To $15 Minimum Wage For Now; Democrats Vow To Push On Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 remains a priority of President Biden and Democrats after the Senate approved an amendment prohibiting a wage increase during the pandemic.Toggle more optionsPresident Biden's push for a $15 federal minimum wage appears to be on hold for now. As part of a of voting on amendments to Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, the Senate late Thursday approved by voice vote a measure prohibiting an increase of the federal minimum wage during the global pandemic. "A $15 federal...…Senate Says No To $15 Minimum Wage For Now; Democrats Vow To Push On Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 remains a priority of President Biden and Democrats after the Senate approved an amendment prohibiting a wage increase during the pandemic.Toggle more optionsPresident Biden's push for a $15 federal minimum wage appears to be on hold for now. As part of a of voting on amendments to Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, the Senate late Thursday approved by voice vote a measure prohibiting an increase of the federal minimum wage during the global pandemic. "A $15 federal...WW…

6 Key Swing States In The 2020 Election And Mail Ballots Rules in several key states don't allow election workers to begin processing or counting mail-in ballots until Election Day, so the winners may not be declared for days.For months now, election officials have cautioned that the winner of the presidential election may still be unknown when election night is over. Rules in some states don't allow election workers to begin the labor-intensive work of processing mail-in ballots until Election Day. And with a record number of voters casting their ballots by mail, the influx could delay...…6 Key Swing States In The 2020 Election And Mail Ballots Rules in several key states don't allow election workers to begin processing or counting mail-in ballots until Election Day, so the winners may not be declared for days.For months now, election officials have cautioned that the winner of the presidential election may still be unknown when election night is over. Rules in some states don't allow election workers to begin the labor-intensive work of processing mail-in ballots until Election Day. And with a record number of voters casting their ballots by mail, the influx could delay...WW…

Biden Wins In Michigan Joe Biden now has 16 additional electoral votes in his column. In one of the biggest upsets of the 2016 election, Trump won Michigan by just under 11,000 votes.Joe Biden has won the state of Michigan, according to The Associated Press. With the call, the Democratic nominee adds 16 electoral votes to his column and makes his second inroad at rebuilding the "blue wall" around the Great Lakes. Wisconsin was called for Biden earlier Wednesday. The win gives Biden. If the AP calls any remaining state for Biden, he would reach 270 electoral votes, and by the AP's count, he...…Biden Wins In Michigan Joe Biden now has 16 additional electoral votes in his column. In one of the biggest upsets of the 2016 election, Trump won Michigan by just under 11,000 votes.Joe Biden has won the state of Michigan, according to The Associated Press. With the call, the Democratic nominee adds 16 electoral votes to his column and makes his second inroad at rebuilding the "blue wall" around the Great Lakes. Wisconsin was called for Biden earlier Wednesday. The win gives Biden. If the AP calls any remaining state for Biden, he would reach 270 electoral votes, and by the AP's count, he...WW…

When Will Mail-In Ballots Be Counted And Processed? In swing states, where the margins of victory are likely to be close, rules that prohibit counting ballots before Election Day may mean it takes hours or days before a winner is declared.Updated on Wed., Oct. 28 at 11:40 a.m. to reflect the most recent rules for processing and counting ballots, per information from each state elections office gathered by NPR. A record number of voters are expected to cast their ballots by mail this year, and in most states, election officials can begin processing that deluge of ballots in the weeks before...…When Will Mail-In Ballots Be Counted And Processed? In swing states, where the margins of victory are likely to be close, rules that prohibit counting ballots before Election Day may mean it takes hours or days before a winner is declared.Updated on Wed., Oct. 28 at 11:40 a.m. to reflect the most recent rules for processing and counting ballots, per information from each state elections office gathered by NPR. A record number of voters are expected to cast their ballots by mail this year, and in most states, election officials can begin processing that deluge of ballots in the weeks before...WW…

Court Says Michigan Cannot Count Ballots Received After Election Day A lower court had previously ruled that ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 and received within 14 days of Election Day, the deadline for certifying election results, could be counted.Ballots received after 8 p.m. on Election Day in Michigan cannot be counted, an appeals court ruled on Friday — a reminder that election rules in many states remain in flux just over two weeks before the election. A lower court had previously ruled that ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 and received within 14 days of Election Day, the deadline for...…Court Says Michigan Cannot Count Ballots Received After Election Day A lower court had previously ruled that ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 and received within 14 days of Election Day, the deadline for certifying election results, could be counted.Ballots received after 8 p.m. on Election Day in Michigan cannot be counted, an appeals court ruled on Friday — a reminder that election rules in many states remain in flux just over two weeks before the election. A lower court had previously ruled that ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 and received within 14 days of Election Day, the deadline for...WW…

Calif. Backs Off Legal Threats Over GOP Ballot Drop Boxes The California Republican Party has made some concessions following a cease-and-desist letter from the state, but it will continue to use ballot drop boxes.Scott RoddFromThe state of California appears to be backing off legal threats against the California Republican Party over its use of unauthorized ballot drop boxes. On Monday, California's secretary of state and attorney general sent a to the California GOP and several county party offices, ordering they remove unauthorized boxes to collect ballots, some of which were labeled...…Calif. Backs Off Legal Threats Over GOP Ballot Drop Boxes The California Republican Party has made some concessions following a cease-and-desist letter from the state, but it will continue to use ballot drop boxes.Scott RoddFromThe state of California appears to be backing off legal threats against the California Republican Party over its use of unauthorized ballot drop boxes. On Monday, California's secretary of state and attorney general sent a to the California GOP and several county party offices, ordering they remove unauthorized boxes to collect ballots, some of which were labeled...WW…