(The Center Square) –Uber or Lyft rides in Minnesota might get more expensive.
Gov. Tim Walz recently signed into law a bill that would require all rideshare drivers to be paid $1.28 per mile, and $0.31 per minute of travel. All drivers must be compensated at minimum $5 per trip.
While the bill is meant to better compensate drivers, a similar plan in Seattle showed troubles for some small businesses. In January, the Seattle City Council voted into effect a $0.74 per mile, $0.44 per minute wage for delivery drivers. This equated to at least $26.40 per hour, higher than the $19.97 city minimum wage.
After just a month, local Indian takeout restaurant SpiceWaala reported a 30% decrease in sales from the same time in 2023. A $9 chicken tikka kathi roll now costs $19 on DoorDash before tip.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan expressed no concern, touting at the bill signing that it’s a step toward fair wages.
“Uber and Lyft are vital services that Minnesotans across the state rely on every day,” Flanagan said. “Rideshares get people to doctor’s appointments, work, and school and are a vital stopgap for those who lack other forms of transportation. Those providing these services deserve fair wages and protections.”
(The Center Square) – The White House responded indifferently Thursday morning after former Vice President Kamala Harris blasted President Donald Trump in her first major speech since she left office.
“I think I speak for everyone at the White House. We encourage Kamala Harris to continue going out and do speaking engagements,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said before ending a press conference.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung went a step further and called Harris “a failed loser desperately clinging to relevance as she spirals into the political abyss” on X.
The White House’s comments came a day after Harris’ speech Wednesday evening at a ballroom at the Palace Hotel in downtown San Francisco.
Supporters of Harris’ failed bid to win the White House in 2024 said they saw reasons to be encouraged after the former vice president’s speech before Emerge America, an organization training female Democratic candidates.
“A lot of people have been feeling down, they’ve been feeling like what’s the future for women,” said Aimee Allison with She the People.
“Our rights. Our power. Our leadership. Her very presence here is telling us it’s not over yet,” Allison told CBS News Bay Area.
Harris gave no hint on whether she plans to run for California governor in 2026 or again for president in 2028 as various Democratic candidates for governor listened to her from their front row seats. One gubernatorial candidate, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, accompanied Harris to the stage at the gala for Emerge America, an organization training female Democratic candidates.
Harris used her speech before a crowd of about 500 people to criticize Trump, accusing him of an unconstitutional grab for power and warning of a “constitutional crisis” if the legislative and judicial branches fail to keep the Republican president in check. She accused Trump of defying court orders and trying to bully people into submission.
And Harris condemned the president’s tariffs, warning they would bring a recession.
Harris praised U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, for his 25-hour Senate speech criticizing the Trump administration and other prominent Democrats who have opposed the president.
“Please always remember this country is ours,” Harris told her audience. “It doesn’t belong to whoever is in the White House. It belongs to you.”
Harris said Trump and other Republicans are counting on creating a chilling effect by making people afraid, but noted, “Courage is contagious.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The article primarily reports on the political actions and statements of former Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House response, presenting both sides’ remarks. However, the language used to describe the White House Communications Director’s comment (“a failed loser desperately clinging to relevance”) is quoted directly but highlighted prominently, which may evoke a negative tone toward the Trump administration. The coverage of Harris’ speech emphasizes her critiques of Trump and her encouragement to supporters, using phrases that frame her criticisms and messages in a somewhat favorable light. Overall, the article leans slightly center-left by focusing more on Harris’ perspective and framing the Trump side comments as combative and dismissive, though it still includes direct quotes from both parties without overt editorializing.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-01 08:16:00
(The Center Square) – Taxpayers in North Carolina will face an average tax increase of $2,382 if the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires at the end of the year, says the National Taxpayers Union Foundation.
Results of analysis were released Thursday morning by the nonprofit organization billing itself a “nonpartisan research and educational affiliate of the National Taxpayers Union.” Its four state neighbors were similar, with South Carolina lower ($2,319) and higher averages in Virginia ($2,787), Georgia ($2,680) and Tennessee ($2,660).
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of eight years ago was a significant update to individual and business taxes in the federal tax code. According to the Tax Foundation, it was considered pro-growth reform with an estimate to reduce federal revenue by $1.47 trillion over a decade.
Should no action be taken before Jan. 1 and the act expire, the federal standard deduction would be halved; the federal child tax credit would decrease; higher federal tax brackets would return; the federal estate tax threshold will be lower; and some business tax benefits will be gone.
The foundation, in summarizing the impact on North Carolina business expensing, says the state conforms to Section 168(k). This means “only 60% expensing for business investments this year and less in future years. State policymakers could adopt 100% full expensing, particularly since the state conforms to the Section 163(j) limit on interest expense and the two provisions were meant to work together.”
The foundation says business net operation loss treatment policies in the state “are less generous than the federal government and impose compliance costs due to lack of synchronization with the federal code and are uncompetitive with most other states.”
The National Taxpayers Union Foundation also says lawmakers “should at least be conscious of any retroactive provisions when selecting their date of fixed conformity.” North Carolina is among 21 states conforming to the federal income tax base “only as of a certain date” rather than automatically matching federal tax code changes – meaning definitions, calculations or rules.
The foundation said nationally the average filer will see taxes raised $2,955. It estimates an increase for 62% of Americans. The biggest average increases by state are in Massachusetts ($4,848), Washington ($4,567) and Wyoming ($4,493) and the lowest are in West Virginia ($1,423), Mississippi ($1,570) and Kentucky ($1,715).
Individual wages, nationally, are expected to go down 0.5%, reducing economic growth by 1.1% over 10 years.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The content primarily reports on the potential impact of the expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, relying heavily on analysis from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, which describes itself as a nonpartisan organization but is known to advocate for lower taxes and limited government intervention, positions typically aligned with center-right economic policies. The article uses neutral language in presenting facts and data and does not explicitly advocate for a particular political viewpoint; however, the emphasis on tax increases and business expensing challenges following the expiration suggests a subtle alignment with pro-tax-cut, business-friendly perspectives associated with center-right ideology. Thus, while the article largely reports rather than overtly promotes an ideological stance, the framing and source choice reflect a center-right leaning.
www.thecentersquare.com – By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 21:25:00
(The Center Square) – Authorization of sports agents to sign North Carolina’s collegiate athletes for “name, image, and likeness” contracts used in product endorsements is in legislation approved Wednesday by a committee of the state Senate.
Authorize NIL Agency Contracts, known also as Senate Bill 229, is headed to the Rules Committee after gaining favor in the Judiciary Committee. It would likely next get a full floor vote.
Last year the NCAA approved NIL contracts for players.
Sen. Amy S. Galey, R-Alamance
NCLeg.gov
“Athletes can benefit from NIL by endorsing products, signing sponsorship deals, engaging in commercial opportunities and monetizing their social media presence, among other avenues,” the NCAA says on its website. “The NCAA fully supports these opportunities for student-athletes across all three divisions.”
SB229 spells out the information that the agent’s contract with the athlete must include, and requires a warning to the athlete that they could lose their eligibility if they do not notify the school’s athletic director within 72 hours of signing the contract.
“Consult with your institution of higher education prior to entering into any NIL contract,” the says the warning that would be required by the legislation. “Entering into an NIL contract that conflicts with state law or your institution’s policies may have negative consequences such as loss of athletic eligibility. You may cancel this NIL agency contract with 14 days after signing it.”
The legislation also exempts the NIL contracts from being disclosed under the state’s Open Records Act when public universities review them. The state’s two ACC members from the UNC System, Carolina and N.C. State, requested the exemption.
“They are concerned about disclosure of the student-athlete contracts when private universities don’t have to disclose the student-athlete contracts,” Sen. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, told the committee. “I feel very strongly that a state university should not be put at a disadvantage at recruitment or in program management because they have disclosure requirements through state law.”
Duke and Wake Forest are the other ACC members, each a private institution.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on the legislative development regarding NIL (name, image, and likeness) contracts for collegiate athletes in North Carolina. It presents facts about the bill, committee actions, and includes statements from a state senator without using loaded or emotionally charged language. The piece neutrally covers the issue by explaining both the bill’s purpose and the concerns it addresses, such as eligibility warnings and disclosure exemptions. Overall, the article maintains a factual and informative tone without advocating for or against the legislation, reflecting a centrist, unbiased approach.
