Three things for February 14
1. Truckers protest COVID-19 restrictions with blockade
On Sunday, Feb. 13, North America's busiest land border crossing reopened after a nearly weeklong blockade.
Since Feb. 7, truckers have been blocking the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan. The blockade disrupted the flow of auto parts and other products between the two countries, according to AP News. The Canadians are taking part in the “Freedom Convoy” to protest the country’s COVID-19 restrictions.
“The blockades are a spillover from demonstrations in Canada’s capital of Ottawa, which began nearly two weeks ago when loosely organized groups of truck drivers and others converged on the city to protest vaccination requirements for truckers crossing into Canada from the United States,” reports the New York Times.
On Thursday, Feb. 10, the Biden administration urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to use its federal powers to end the truck blockade, according to AP News. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke with their Canadian counterparts and urged them to help resolve the standoff.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens announced the city will seek a court injunction to end the occupation.
On Sunday, Feb. 13, Canadian law enforcement officials said they had reopened a major international bridge that protesters had been blockading for almost a week, raising hopes for industries the unrest had slowed to a near-standstill.
2. Congress approves sexual harassment bill
On Thursday, Feb, 10, Congress gave final approval to legislation guaranteeing individuals who experience sexual harassment at work can seek recourse in the courts.
The Senate passed the measure by a voice vote, clearing the bill three days after it had been approved by the House.
“The measure, which is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden, bars employment contracts from forcing people to settle sexual assault or harassment cases through arbitration rather than in court, a process that often benefits employers and keeps misconduct allegations from becoming public,” reports AP News.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who has spearheaded the effort, called it “one of the most significant workplace reforms in American history.”
“No longer will survivors of sexual assault or harassment in the workplace come forward and be told that they are legally forbidden to sue their employer because somewhere in buried their employment contracts was this forced arbitration clause,” said Gillibrand.
According to AP News, nearly 60 million American workers have clauses tucked into their employment contracts forcing them to settle any allegations of sexual misconduct in private proceedings, rather than in court.
For more information on the bill, read the full AP News article.
3. Local daycare worker facing 27 child neglect charges
On Thursday, Feb. 10, Little Lambs Child Care caught on fire. The daycare, located on Waterlevel Highway in Cleveland, TN, was evacuated quickly and students were transported to Ocoee Middle School by bus for pickup.
Little Lambs Child Care employee James Roger Carpenter Jr. was arrested Friday, Feb. 11 by the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and charged with 27 counts of child neglect, according to a BCSO press statement. He was arrested after sheriff’s deputies discovered several open containers of beer inside the burning facility on Thursday.
"While responders were removing children from the building, they noticed open beer containers present in the room," the BCSO said in a press statement. "Based on this evidence and further questioning, they believed the day care worker to be under the influence of alcohol."
According to the Cleveland Daily Banner, no injuries were reported because of the fire.
“Carpenter was transported to the Bradley County Jail, where he was later released on a $135,000 bond,” reports the Cleveland Daily Banner.
The cause of the fire is still unknown as of Friday morning, said Alana Shell, BCSO public information officer.
