skip to main content

Monday, May 29, 2023

play newscast audioPlay

Advocates call for a climate peace clause in U.S.-E.U. trade talks, negotiations yield a tentative debt ceiling deal, an Idaho case unravels federal water protections, and a wet spring eases Iowa's drought.

play newscast audioPlay

Gold Star families gather to remember loved ones on Memorial Day, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says the House will vote on a debt ceiling bill this week and America's mayors lay out their strategies for summertime public safety.

play newscast audioPlay

The growing number of "maternity care deserts" makes having a baby increasingly dangerous for rural Americans, a Colorado project is connecting neighbor to neighbor in an effort to help those suffering with mental health issues, and a school district in Maine is using teletherapy to tackle a similar challenge.

NV Construction Workers, Unions Call for Crackdown on Tax, Wage Fraud

play audio
Play

Thursday, April 15, 2021   

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Unions that represent carpenters are calling on Nevada lawmakers to pass a bill to fight fraud and wage theft in the construction industry.

Assembly Bill 227 would require everyone working on construction projects that require a general contractor to be employees of the company or its subcontractors, thus discouraging the practice of hiring workers "under the table" and paying them cash.

Frank Hawk, vice president and chief operating officer for the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, said unscrupulous companies use the method to get out of paying for general liability insurance or worker's comp, Social Security and unemployment taxes.

"There needs to be a crackdown on these employers that do not play by the rules," Hawk contended. "It's a growing problem, to where you're seeing it more and more often, mainly in the residential markets."

Today, advocates are launching a campaign to combat tax fraud in the construction industry nationwide.

They complain the practice takes away tax dollars from the state and allows companies to cheat, and thus massively undercut legitimate contractors.

Assembly Bill 227 has already passed the State Assembly and now awaits a vote in the Nevada Senate.

Adam Duininck, director of government affairs for the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, said unscrupulous contractors often prey on vulnerable workers, including immigrants who speak little English and can't advocate for themselves.

"It's important for them to be treated with dignity at their workplace," Duininck asserted. "And if you're selling your work by the hour, your labor by the hour, you deserve to be paid well."


get more stories like this via email
A new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court means ephemeral streams, such as this one in the mountains east of San Diego, are no longer protected by the Waters of the United States rule. (Chris Hunkeler/Flickr)

Environment

play sound

The U.S. Supreme Court has gutted federal protections for much of the country's wetlands. The court found that the Waters of the United States rule…


Environment

play sound

Environmental advocates say the U.S. Supreme Court has dealt a major blow to the Clean Water Act and to Maine's ability to protect some of its most …

Environment

play sound

A U.S. Supreme Court case that began in Idaho has weakened protections across the nation under the Clean Water Act. The justices on Thursday handed …


Researchers found cities with the highest ParkScore rankings are healthier places to live based on the metrics of physical inactivity and mental health. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

The nonprofit Trust for Public Land has published its annual ParkScore rankings, and some area cities are high on the list. Washington, D.C.…

Environment

play sound

For the first time in nearly three years, the widespread drought that has had Iowa in its grip is predicted to end. The latest drought outlook says …

According to Virginia's opioid cost calculator, which tracks monetary impacts like lost labor, health care, crime, household costs, and state and federal costs, the state is facing a price tag of around $3.5 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

As the opioid epidemic continues to take its toll, a Virginia group is working to keep people safe. The Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition in Roanoke …

Social Issues

play sound

A new report outlined the importance of student debt relief to workers in New York and across the country. An American Federation of Teachers …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Extreme heat kills about 700 people in the United States each year, but a new toolkit and weather alerts can protect folks in Texas and beyond…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021