AP National News

The Latest: Illinois lifting capacity limits for businesses

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

CHICAGO — Illinois is lifting all capacity limits on bars, restaurants, businesses and other venues Friday, nearly 15 months after the first stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses still can have their own rules for capacity, masks and social distancing. Masks are still required on public transportation and in airports, schools and hospitals. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday that…

The Latest: Pot-for-shots plan stumbles in Washington state

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

SEATTLE — Washington state’s new “joints for jabs” vaccination incentive program is off to a rough start. Seeking to get more people to get the coronavirus shots, officials announced this week that the state’s nearly 500 licensed marijuana retailers could begin hosting vaccine clinics and offering a single, free pre-rolled marijuana cigarette to those who get a shot. But cannabis…

JBS settles Muslim discrimination lawsuit for $5.5 million

By THOMAS PEIPERT - Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

The second-largest producer of beef, pork and chicken in the U.S. will pay up to $5.5 million to settle a lawsuit that claimed the company discriminated against Muslim employees at a processing plant in northern Colorado. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit in 2010. It claimed Muslim employees at JBS Swift & Company’s beef processing plant in Greeley were disciplined more harshly than other workers, were harassed when they tried to pray during their breaks and were called offensive names. JBS says it doesn’t admit liability in the settlement and “is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.”