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What is minimum wage in Illinois in 2024?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:55:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The minimum wage in Illinois is set to increase at the start of the 2024 calendar year.Across state lines, also effective on Jan. 1, Illinois' new minimum wage will be $14 per hour for those over 18 years old.The Illinois Department of Labor says the state's current minimum wage law took effect in 2023 and calls for increases each year through 2025. The current law states that some employees could potentially have a wage less than $14 per hour. Minimum hourly rates are $8.40 for those who work in an industry with tips or $12 for anyone under 18 who also works less than 650 hours per year. Illinois DOR says that those who work for tips must be paid the minimum wage rate, but an employer can apply tip credit of 40%. Anyone who works overtime in Illinois is also entitled to pay at time and one-half for anything worked beyond 40 hours.

Red Lobster lost shocking amount of money after endless shrimp 'success'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:55:09 GMT

(WTAJ) -- Red Lobster was hoping to drive customers to its restaurants with an endless shrimp deal and it worked a little too well. In June, the company offered its Ultimate Endless Shrimp — typically a limited offer — on their regular menu for $20. The attempt to get more people into the store worked, but it came at a cost. Could school student monitoring services be violating your kid’s privacy? Red Lobster posted an operating loss of more than $11 million in Q3, according to Restaurant Business. It's a loss that owner Thai Union Group said the Ultimate Endless Shrimp was a "key factor" in creating. “We knew the price was cheap, but the idea was to bring more traffic in the restaurants,” said Thai Union CFO Ludovic Regis Henri Garnier, according to a transcript.Garnier said that more people were choosing the endless shrimp than the company thought would. ‘Shrimp scampi’ doesn’t mean what you think it means According to Men's Journal, the shrimp fiasco is set to leave the co...

Clouds and spotty showers return this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:55:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Hopefully you enjoyed the sunshine on Black Friday, because we won't get that much of it again until Sunday afternoon at the earliest.Overnight tonight clouds thicken up giving way to a mostly cloudy to overcast Saturday. Most of the time will be dry, but later in the day our chances for spotty light showers starts to increase. Rain chances are only at 20% during the day, so generally it's just a gray and mostly dry day.Rain chances rise to 30-40% Saturday night through early Sunday morning before drier weather arrives after a morning cold front drops through. While the passage of the cold front will bring a chilly breeze, temperatures should still reach 60º in the afternoon thanks to partly sunny skies during the second half of the day.Weekend forecastThe coldest day looks to be Monday with highs only in the 50s. Cool next few daysMonday night into Tuesday morning features our next chance for a freeze, especially in the Hill Country.Patchy freeze possible on Tuesda...

Men’s basketball: Gophers’ Cam Christie showing early promise, resolve

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:55:09 GMT

Gophers true freshman guard Cam Christie had the basketball in his hands with the Missouri game on the line on Nov. 16.A top recruit out of Arlington Heights, Ill., missed both of his 3-pointers in the final 25 seconds of Minnesota’s 70-68 loss, but Christie wasn’t too shook up by the first missed opportunities of his college career.“The sky is not falling, just remaining confident,” Christie said of his mindset after he contributed 14 points on four made treys in the 86-67 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday. “I know I’m a good basketball player and knowing that each game is going to make me better, so just learning from each game.”The next opportunity for Christie and the Gophers (4-1) will be against San Francisco (4-2) at Chase Center at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.Like most first-year players, Christie said this biggest adjustments to the college game has been its speed and quality of defenses. That didn’t show in his debut Nov. 10 in a blowout win over Texas-San Antonio; he sco...

New Woodbury-Oakdale bridge over I-94 will open Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:55:09 GMT

A new bridge over Interstate 94 built for the METRO Gold Line bus rapid transit project is slated to open next week to vehicles and pedestrians.A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Bielenberg Drive Bridge, connecting Woodbury and Oakdale, will be at 11:30 a.m.  Monday at the southern end of the bridge in Woodbury. The new bridge will have dedicated lanes for METRO Gold Line buses that will connect downtown St. Paul and Woodbury with bus rapid transit service in 2025.The 10-mile rapid transit line will run largely along the I-94 corridor and will make 16 stops between St. Paul and Woodbury, including in Maplewood, Landfall and Oakdale.It will be the state’s first bus rapid transit line that travels primarily on bus-only lanes, helping to avoid traffic congestion. The line will not just operate at peak times, but seven days a week with buses every 10 to 15 minutes.According to Metro Transit, the Gold Line also will offer pre-boarding fare payment for faster stops; access to park-and-ride...

Winter market planned at 21 Roots in Grant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:55:09 GMT

Last year’s Winter Market at 21 Roots Farm in Grant was such a success that the nonprofit hobby farm that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is hosting another one the first weekend in December.The Winter Market, held Dec. 2-3, will feature products made by their farm participants. Among the items for sale: handmade soap, balms, lotions, dryer balls (made from alpaca fiber) and honey.Other farm-inspired products such as artwork, ornaments, pins, cards and hats will be on sale, as well as a wide array of donated items specifically made for 21 Roots by their local community, said Amy Peterson, co-founder of 21 Roots.Peterson and Brittany Wiitala started 21 Roots Farm in 2019 to engage people with developmental disabilities in nature- and agriculture-based programming designed to build confidence, life skills and employment opportunities.The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2-3; 21 Roots is located at 10361 110th St. in Grant. Food and drink wi...

Wild’s Freddy Gaudreau blames himself for Ryan Reaves hit that cost him 10 games

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:55:09 GMT

The Wild got a big piece back last Sunday when forward Freddy Gaudreau returned from a core injury suffered on a hit from Toronto’s Ryan Reaves way back on Oct. 14.Gaudreau left the game for several minutes before returning to finish a 7-4 victory by the Maple Leafs and stayed in the lineup for four more games before huddling with team trainers.“Well, it’s kind of in our nature to just ignore stuff like that,” Gaudreau said this week. “But then it comes to a point where I’m not really helping anybody because I’m playing in my head — because I don’t really know what’s going on and it doesn’t seem to get better.”After missing 10 games, Gaudreau returned to play 15:04 in the Wild’s 3-2 overtime loss to Toronto in Stockholm, Sweden. His absence was a big hit for a team struggling to get its head above water. Asked Friday what Gaudreau does for his team, coach Dean Evason said, “Well, everything, right?”Gaudreau not only plays in all situations for Minnesota, he “can start left, right or...

Assemblyman Bendett spearheads holiday toy drive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:55:09 GMT

CASTLETON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Assemblyman Scott Bendett is spearheading a toy drive to spread holiday cheer this season. Recommended donations are new, unopened, and unwrapped board games, dolls, action figures, sports equipment, art supplies, and more. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “Donating toys to struggling friends, families, and neighbors over the holidays is a great way to give back,” said Bendett. “We want nothing but the best for our children, but unfortunately, the current financial climate our state and country are facing this year makes saving money for Christmas presents that much more difficult. My hope with this drive is to encourage our communities to come together and give from the heart so everyone can wake up to a wonderful Christmas morning.”The toy drive runs from November 27 to December 8. Donations can be dropped off at Assemblyman Bendett's office at: 1580 Columbia Turnpike Building 4, Suite 1AC...

Hamas and Israel carry out first swap of hostages and prisoners as Gaza cease-fire begins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:55:09 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages it held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire that offered a small glimmer of relief to both sides.Israel — wrenched by the abduction of nearly 240 people in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war — cheered as 13 Israeli women and children emerged free from Gaza. Most were in their 70s or 80s, and the youngest was a 2-year-old. Also released were 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines.In Gaza, the truce’s start Friday morning brought the first quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling and desperate from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and leveled residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.Increased supplies of food, water, medicine and fuel promised under the deal began to roll into Gaza, whe...

CU Buffs eyeing future, but aiming to finish on high note

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:55:09 GMT

BOULDER,CO October 13:Colorado’s Deion Sanders comes out for the Stanford game during the Pac-12 football game with Stanford and Colorado on October 13, 2023. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)Game at a GlanceMatchup: Colorado Buffaloes at Utah UtesKickoff:  1 p.m. MTWhere: Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake CityCapacity: 51,444. Playing surface: FieldTurf.TV: Pac-12 NetworkRadio: KOA (850 AM)Odds: Utah by 20.5Series: Utah leads 34-32-3It would be easy for the Colorado football team to shut down mentally this week.At 4-7, the Buffaloes can’t finish with a winning record and won’t be playing in a bowl game. They’re also riding a five-game losing streak as they head into Saturday’s finale at Utah.Oh, and they might be without their most important player, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is hurting and may not play in Salt Lake City.Related Articles Mines football opens Division II playoffs eyeing another run to the national championship game: “We have an extra ch...