Articles by Claire Savage and Alexandra Olson

Federal Judge Blocks Labor Department From Enforcing DEI Ban for Contractors

A federal judge on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction that prevents the U.S. Department of Labor from requiring government contractors and grant recipients to certify they do not operate any diversity, equity and inclusion programs that run afoul of anti-discrimination …

EEOC Chief Shifts Focus to Investigating DEI but Methods Provoke an Outcry

The acting chief of the top federal agency for protecting worker rights has signaled a pivot toward prioritizing President Donald Trump’s campaign to stamp out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the private and public sectors. The initial steps taken …

EEOC Seeks to Drop Transgender Discrimination Cases

Signaling a major shift in civil rights enforcement, the federal agency that enforces workplace anti-discrimination laws has moved to dismiss six of its own cases on behalf of workers alleging gender identity discrimination, arguing that the cases now conflict with …

What to Know About New Rights for Pregnant Workers

Pregnant employees have the right to a wide range of accommodations under new federal regulations for enforcing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act that supporters say could change workplace culture for millions of people. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency …

NTSB Finds Chicago Train Operator Was Not at Fault for November Crash

CHICAGO (AP) – The operator of a Chicago commuter train that collided with snow- removal equipment last month was not at fault for the crash, which could have been prevented by a more sophisticated signal system, the National Transportation Safety …

Illinois Jury Awards $7.1M to Cooking Spray Burn Victim

CHICAGO (AP) – A jury in Illinois has ordered Chicago-based Conagra Brands to pay $7.1 million to a Pennsylvania woman who was badly injured in 2017 when a can of commercial brand cooking spray ignited in a kitchen at her …

Child Social Media Influencers in Illinois to Receive Compensation Under New Law

CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois is the first state in the U.S. to ensure child social media influencers are compensated for their work, according to Sen. David Koehler, of Peoria, who sponsored a bill that was signed into law and will …

Northwestern’s ‘Rampant’ Hazing was ‘Devastating’ for Athletes of Color, Ex-Players Say

CHICAGO (AP) – Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said his law firm and other attorneys have received reports of hazing within Northwestern University’s baseball and softball programs, in addition to growing complaints of hazing within the school’s football program, which …

Juul to Pay Chicago $23M for Underage Vaping Settlement

CHICAGO (AP) – Vaping company Juul Labs will pay Chicago $23.8 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company marketed products to underage users, the city announced. The Chicago Department of Public Health will use the money for youth prevention …

Juul to Pay Chicago $23M for Underage Vaping Settlement

CHICAGO (AP) – Vaping company Juul Labs will pay Chicago $23.8 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company marketed products to underage users, the city announced Friday. The Chicago Department of Public Health will use the money for youth …