Dockworkers strike suspended amid tentative pay raise agreement
The strike is over for now, as thousands of dockworkers return to their jobs after a tentative agreement to raise their pay. And why after more than three decades in prison , the Menendez brothers — infamous for killing their parents — might have their case reviewed and the factor it all hinges on. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
Dockworkers strike suspended amid tentative pay raise agreement
Tens of thousands of U.S. dockworkers are getting back on the job after two days of a strike that clogged dozens of East and Gulf coast ports. The historic labor action, which threatened to drive inflation back up, is now on hold until at least January 15.
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Thursday night, Oct. 3, members of the International Longshoremen’s Association struck a tentative deal with the U.S. Maritime Alliance over pay. The agreement will increase workers’ wages by 62% over the span of six years.
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The agreement is an increase over the Maritime Alliance’s offer of 50% earlier this week, but a compromise for the ILA, which has called for a 77% increase in wages over the same time period.
The new deal would bring hourly pay for top dockworkers to $63 per hour by the end of the deal, compared to $39 an hour under the most recently expired contract.
Dockworkers had also been calling for a total ban on automation, but no deal was reached on that. Sources close to the matter have said that will be the main topic of negotiations between now and Jan. 15.
More Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut
Powerful blasts rocked Beirut Thursday night into Friday morning, Oct. 4, as Israel unleashed some of its heaviest strikes on the Lebanese capital city yet. This comes as Iran’s foreign minister is in Beirut meeting with Lebanese officials over the expanding conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Thursday, Israel ordered more evacuations for villages in southern Lebanon, potentially signaling plans to broaden the ground invasion there. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state-run news agency said an Israeli strike took out the main highway between Lebanon and Syria, which tens of thousands of people have used over the past two weeks to flee the escalating fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Israeli military also said it killed another top Hezbollah militant, Mohammed Anisi, in a recent strike on Beirut. Hezbollah has not yet confirmed that claim.
Three ex-officers found guilty in Tyre Nichols beating death
A federal jury convicted three former Memphis police officers in the 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols Thursday, but they were acquitted of the most serious charges. The jury found Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith guilty of witness tampering for covering up the attack. Haley was also convicted of violating Nichols’ civil rights.
Nichols died three days after the officers brutally beat him following a traffic stop. The officers now face up to 20 years in prison for the witness tampering convictions while Haley’s civil rights violation conviction carries up to 10 years. Sentencing is pending with a hearing scheduled to determine whether they will remain in custody.
The case has triggered federal investigations into Memphis police practices, and Nichols’ family has filed a $550 million lawsuit against the city and its police department.
In a statement, the assistant U.S. attorney who oversees the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, “Tyre Nichols should be alive today.”
35 years later, Menendez brothers’ case under review following claims of parental abuse
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced his office will review the convictions of Erik and Lyle Menendez, nearly 35 years after they were imprisoned for killing their parents in 1989. New evidence, including a letter from Erik Menendez alleging sexual abuse by their father, prompted the reexamination.
Gascón stressed that while the brothers’ guilt is not being contested, the new evidence and changing views on sexual abuse require a review. The attorney for the Menendez brothers argues they’ve been rehabilitated and is seeking a re-sentencing.
A hearing on Nov. 29 will determine the next steps, which could include a new trial or an adjusted sentence.
Country star Garth Brooks accused of rape
A former employee has come forward accusing country music superstar Garth Brooks of sexual assault and battery. In a the lawsuit, the woman said she worked as his hair and makeup artist.
The lawsuit alleges in 2019, Brooks raped the woman during a work trip in Los Angeles.
Before this lawsuit was made public, CNN reported an anonymous celebrity plaintiff — now identified as Brooks — had tried to block the woman from suing and denied the claims.
In a statement released to the media, Brooks said, “For the last two months, I have been hassled to no end with threats, lies, and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of dollars.”
He went on to say, “Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior I am incapable of—ugly acts no human should ever do to another. We filed suit against this person nearly a month ago to speak out against extortion and defamation of character. We filed it anonymously for the sake of families on both sides.”
Category 4 Hurricane Kirk strengthens, expected to stay offshore
Hurricane Kirk, a powerful Category 4 storm, is churning in the Atlantic, with forecasters warning of dangerous swells that could impact the U.S. east coast, Bermuda, the Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas by this weekend. Though the hurricane is expected to remain far from land, its waves might cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.
As Kirk strengthens, Tropical Storm Leslie has also formed in the Atlantic but poses no immediate threat to land.
Meanwhile, the southeast is still reeling from Hurricane Helene, which left more than 200 people dead and caused catastrophic damage. Rescue efforts continue as many residents remain without water, power and communication services.
President Joe Biden has visited the region to survey the devastation, pledging federal aid for debris removal and recovery efforts in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
Tags: airstrikes, Atlantic Ocean, Automation, Bahamas, Beirut, Border, California, Cargo ships, CNN, East Coast, Entertainment, evacuations, Extreme weather, FEMA, Florida, Georgia, Gulf Coast, hezbollah, hurricane, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane season, Inflation, International Longshoremen’s Assocation, Iran, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Joe Biden, Lawsuit, Lebanon, Los Angeles, Memphis, Memphis Police Department, Middle East, Missile Strike, Music, National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, North Carolina, Police, Police officers, Police violence, power grid, Power Outage, Prison, Prisoners, Refugees, Severe Weather, Sexual Assault, shipping containers, South Carolina, Strike, Syria, Tennessee, trial, Tropical storm, Tyre Nichols, U.S. Department of Justice, United States Maritime Alliance, Wages, War
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF U-S DOCKWORKERS ARE GETTING BACK ON THE JOB AFTER TWO DAYS OF A STRIKE THAT CLOGGED DOZENS OF EAST AND GULF COAST PORTS.
THE HISTORIC LABOR ACTION — WHICH THREATENED DRIVE INFLATION BACK UP — IS NOW ON-HOLD UNTIL AT LEAST JANUARY 15-TH AFTER MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S ASSOCIATION STRUCK A TENTATIVE DEAL WITH THE U-S MARITIME ALLIANCE OVER PAY.
THE AGREEMENT WILL INCREASE WORKERS’ WAGES BY 62 PERCENT OVER THE SPAN OF SIX YEARS — AN INCREASE OVER THE MARITIME ALLIANCE’S OFFER OF 50 PERCENT EARLIER THIS WEEK – BUT A COMPROMISE FOR THE I-L-A, WHICH HAS CALLED FOR A 77 PERCENT INCREASE IN WAGES OVER THE SAME TIME PERIOD.
THE NEW DEAL WOULD BRING HOURLY PAY FOR TOP DOCKWORKERS TO 63 DOLLARS PER HOUR BY THE END OF THE DEAL — COMPARED TO 39 DOLLARS AN HOUR UNDER THE MOST RECENT EXPIRED CONTRACT.
THE I-L-A ALSO COMPROMISED ON ITS OTHER BIG STICKING POINT: AUTOMATION.
DOCKWORKERS HAD BEEN CALLING FOR A TOTAL BAN ON AUTOMATION — SOURCES CLOSE TO THE MATTER HAVE SAID THAT WILL BE THE **MAIN TOPIC** OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY 15-TH.
ACROSS THE WORLD — POWERFUL BLASTS ROCKED BEIRUT OVERNIGHT AS ISRAEL UNLEASHED SOME OF ITS HEAVIEST STRIKES ON THE LEBANESE CAPITOL CITY YET.
THIS COMES AS IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER IS IN BEIRUT MEETING WITH LEBANESE OFFICIALS OVER THE EXPANDING CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN-BACKED MILITANT GROUP HEZBOLLAH.
THURSDAY — ISRAEL ORDERED MORE EVACUATIONS FOR VILLAGES IN SOUTHERN LEBANON… WHICH COULD SIGNAL PLANS TO BROADEN THE GROUND INVASION THERE.
MEANWHILE — LEBANON’S STATE-RUN NEWS AGENCY SAYS AN ISRAELI STRIKE **TOOK OUT** THE MAIN HIGHWAY BETWEEN LEBANON AND SYRIA — WHICH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE USED OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS TO FLEE THE ESCALATING FIGHTING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH.
AND THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS IT KILLED ANOTHER TOP HEZBOLLAH MILITANT — MOHAMMED ANISI — IN A RECENT STRIKE ON BEIRUT.
HEZBOLLAH HAS NOT YET CONFIRMED THAT CLAIM.
A FEDERAL JURY CONVICTED THREE FORMER MEMPHIS POLICE OFFICERS ON THURSDAY IN THE 2023 BEATING DEATH OF TYRE NICHOLS, BUT THEY WERE ACQUITTED OF THE MOST SERIOUS CHARGES. THE JURY FOUND TADARRIUS BEAN, DEMETRIUS HALEY, AND JUSTIN SMITH **GUILTY** OF WITNESS TAMPERING FOR COVERING UP THE ATTACK. HALEY WAS ALSO CONVICTED OF VIOLATING NICHOLS’ CIVIL RIGHTS.
NICHOLS DIED THREE DAYS AFTER THE OFFICERS BRUTALLY BEAT HIM FOLLOWING A TRAFFIC STOP. THE OFFICERS NOW FACE UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR THE WITNESS TAMPERING CONVICTIONS WHILE HALEY’S CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION CONVICTION CARRIES UP TO 10 YEARS. SENTENCING IS PENDING WITH A HEARING SCHEDULED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WILL REMAIN IN CUSTODY.
THE CASE HAS TRIGGERED FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO MEMPHIS POLICE PRACTICES, AND NICHOLS’ FAMILY HAS FILED A $550 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY AND ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IN A STATEMENT, THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY, WHO OVERSEES THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT’S CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION, SAID “TYRE NICHOLS SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY.”
LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE GASCÓN ANNOUNCED HIS OFFICE WILL REVIEW THE CONVICTIONS OF ERIK AND LYLE MENENDEZ, NEARLY 35 YEARS AFTER THEY WERE IMPRISONED FOR KILLING THEIR PARENTS IN 1989. NEW EVIDENCE, INCLUDING A LETTER FROM ERIK MENENDEZ ALLEGING SEXUAL ABUSE BY THEIR FATHER, PROMPTED THE REEXAMINATION.
GASCÓN STRESSED THAT WHILE THE BROTHERS’ GUILT IS NOT BEING CONTESTED, THE NEW EVIDENCE AND CHANGING VIEWS ON SEXUAL ABUSE REQUIRE A REVIEW. THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS ARGUES- THEY’VE BEEN REHABILITATED AND IS SEEKING A RE-SENTENCING.
A HEARING ON NOVEMBER 29 WILL DETERMINE THE NEXT STEPS, WHICH COULD INCLUDE A NEW TRIAL OR AN ADJUSTED SENTENCE.
A FORMER EMPLOYEE HAS COME FORWARD ACCUSING COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR GARTH BROOKS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND BATTERY.
IN A THE LAWSUIT, THE WOMAN SAYS SHE WORKED AS HIS HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTIST.
THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES IN 20-19 — BROOKS RAPED THE WOMAN DURING A WORK TRIP IN LOS ANGELES.
BEFORE THIS LAWSUIT WAS MADE PUBLIC… C-N-N REPORTED AN ANONYMOUS CELEBRITY PLAINTIFF — NOW IDENTIFIED AS BROOKS — HAD TRIED TO BLOCK THE WOMAN FROM SUING AND DENIED THE CLAIMS.
IN A STATEMENT RELEASED TO THE MEDIA, BROOKS SAID QUOTE, “FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN HASSLED TO NO END WITH THREATS, LIES, AND TRAGIC TALES OF WHAT MY FUTURE WOULD BE IF I DID NOT WRITE A CHECK FOR MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.”
HE CALLED IT “HUSH MONEY” AND SAID HE WOULD **NOT** PAY IT — SAYING HE WOULDN’T ADMIT TO BEHAVIOR HE’S QUOTE “INCAPABLE” OF.
HURRICANE KIRK, A POWERFUL CATEGORY 4 STORM, IS CHURNING IN THE ATLANTIC, WITH FORECASTERS WARNING OF DANGEROUS SWELLS THAT COULD IMPACT THE U.S. EAST COAST, BERMUDA, THE GREATER ANTILLES, AND THE BAHAMAS BY THIS WEEKEND. THOUGH THE HURRICANE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN FAR FROM LAND, ITS WAVES MIGHT CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENTS.
AS KIRK STRENGTHENS, TROPICAL STORM LESLIE HAS ALSO FORMED IN THE ATLANTIC BUT POSES NO IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LAND.
MEANWHILE, THE SOUTHEAST IS STILL REELING FROM HURRICANE HELENE, WHICH LEFT MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE DEAD AND CAUSED CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE. RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE AS MANY RESIDENTS REMAIN WITHOUT WATER, POWER, AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES.
PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS VISITED THE REGION TO SURVEY THE DEVASTATION, PLEDGING FEDERAL AID FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL AND RECOVERY EFFORTS IN FLORIDA, GEORGIA, AND THE CAROLINAS.
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