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Europe is proposing a ban on single-use plastic items such as cutlery, straws?and cotton buds in a bid to clean up the oceans.The European Commission wants to ban 10 items that make up 70% of all litter in EU waters and on beaches. The list also includes plastic plates and drink stirrers.The draft rules were unveiled Monday but need the approval of all EU member states and the European Parliament. It could take three or four years for the rules to come into force.The legislation is not just about banning plastic products. It also wants to make plastic producers bear the cost of waste management and cleanup efforts, and it proposes that EU states must collect 90% of single-use plastic bottles by 2025 through new recycling programs.The European Commission estimates that these rules, once fully implemented in 2030, could cost businesses over €3 billion (.5 billion) per year. But they could also save consumers about €6.5 billion (.6 billion) per year, create 30,000 jobs, and avoid €22 billion (.6 billion) in environmental damage and cleanup costs.The Rethink Plastic Alliance -- an association of environmental organizations -- called the proposals "a leap forward in tackling plastic pollution" but criticized some perceived shortcomings.The proposals do not set targets for EU countries to reduce the use of plastic cups and food containers, it said."This could result in countries claiming they are taking the necessary steps as long as any reduction is achieved, regardless of how small," the alliance said in a statement.The proposal also faced criticism from the plastics industry.Plastics Europe, which represents manufacturers, said it supported the "overarching objective" of the proposal but said there must be more resources dedicated to "waste management" to ensure better collection of used plastic."Plastic product bans are not the solution," it said in a statement, and noted that "alternative products may not be more sustainable."On a global basis, only 14% of plastic is collected for recycling. The reuse rate is terrible compared to other materials -- 58% of paper and up to 90% of iron and steel gets recycled.Research shows there will be more plastic than fish by weight in the world's oceans by 2050, which has spurred policy makers, individuals and companies into action.Last month a group of more than 40 companies including Coca-Cola, Nestle, Unilever and Procter & Gamble pledged to slash the?amount of plasticthey use and throw away in the United Kingdom.Starbucks also announced in March it was launching a  million grant challenge to solicit designs for a cup that's easier to recycle. 2689

Family members of a Tennessee woman accused of ramming a security barrier at the White House said she is mentally ill and needs treatment.Jessica Ford went before a judge Thursday after police in Washington, DC said she plowed into the White House fencing and was immediately taken into custody by the Secret Service.It was Ford's fourth and most dramatic effort to gain access to the White House in recent months. She was charged with three felonies.The question of why Ford did what she did was no mystery. Her family said she suffers from a mental illness and that they actually warned the Secret Service last week that Ford, armed with a BB gun, was again headed for the White House.The 35-year-old insists her children live in the White House, and told the judge in court that her fiance is the President. "She is very delusional. She thinks her children are in the White House. That's why she keeps going up there," said Victoria Walls, Fords' cousin.In Ford's most recent attempt to get to the White House, she thought it was the holiday season."She decided when she left (last week) it was Christmas Eve, and I got to be there by Christmas Day," said her mother Alice Wilson. Authorities were watching for Ford since her family called to warn them that she was in route with plans to ram a gate."I said you can't go do that. They will kill you," said Walls.Ford still went and the Secret Service was waiting."I think that's the reason they didn't kill her, because they knew she was coming and knew she had a BB gun," said Wilson.Ford faces felonies and possibly years in prison."Oh, I love her with all my heart," said Wilson. She said her daughter needs help. Ford's cousin said it all could be prevented if Ford could get mental health treatment.Walls said after each arrest before this latest one "...Ttey take her in for 72 hours to a week and let her out..." allowing her to be back at it again.Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall said lack of treatment in cases like this is the real issue."Until you arrest the real issue, and it's not the person it's illness or addiction, then you'll see people keep doing this," Hall said.Ford may go to prison or, based on her mental health issues, she could again be released. She would then return home to La Vergne, Tennessee with her children, who doesn't really believe are hers.Ford will likely again be able plot another visit to the White House."They know she has mental problems, but they don't give her help," said Walls.They could give her time behind bars. If convicted, of the three felony counts for ramming the White House barrier Ford could face up to 40 years in prison.    2795

Employers may soon be able to require workers who make tips to share that money with other staff. It's part of a new regulation from the Department of Labor.The agency says the rule could help increase pay for back of house staff, like cooks and dishwashers who have historically been excluded from tip pools.The rule says pooling is only allowed if the tipped employee makes the full federal minimum wage.Federal law allows tipped workers to make .13 an hour, as long as they earn enough tips to match the minimum. State laws vary on that point, though.The rule also gets rid of a guideline that said tipped workers must spend at least 80% of their time doing tasks that earn them gratuity.The National Restaurant Association has praised the rule, calling it a win for the industry because it clarifies laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act.¡°Today¡¯s Department of Labor (DOL) final rule revising tipping regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a year-end victory for the restaurant industry and its workers after years of litigation," said the National Restaurant Association in a statement. "The changes in this rule bring much needed regulatory clarification for the small business owners and their employees about what the law allows and requires. At a time when the restaurant industry is faced with instability, this rule provides renewed sensible regulations on tip-pooling and tip-credit standards.¡±We spoke to an employment attorney named Louis Pechman who founded WaiterPay.com. He said there may be some clarification in the rule, but that's not the big issue.¡°Tips traditionally have been viewed by management as kryptonite. Don't touch the tips, servers' tips, stay away. That's my money. Now you have a whole situation where servers, it's my money. The tip was left for me. Why am I paying a cook in the kitchen?¡± said Pechman.The Economic Policy Institute has estimated the rule would let employers take 0 million from tipped workers each year. That's based on numbers before the industry suffered under the pandemic.As Pechman points out, some local laws are very protective of employee tips and will supersede federal regulations.¡°So, it's important if you're analyzing the issue, is there a state regulation, is there a city regulation which gives more protection to workers than the FLSA does?¡± asked Pechman.The rule is set to go into effect in 60 days. The Biden administration could still delay it and create its own rule. 2476

ENCINITAS, Calif. (KGTV) ¡ª Encinitas leaders will consider developing a parking lot for the homeless next week, but the idea is already receiving pushback.If approved, the parking lot would be the first for homeless use in North County and modeled after other similar lots in San Diego.The location, at the Leichtag Commons agricultural property on Saxony Road, would be operated by Jewish Family Services. JFS runs San Diego's other three lots on Balboa Avenue, Aero Drive, and Mission Village Drive.JFS CEO Michael Hopkins says a lot in North County is desperately needed.FACING IT TOGETHER: HOMELESSNESS IN SAN DIEGOSan Diego single mom strives to keep family togetherHomelessness resource guideGroups work to end homeless crisis in San Diego"Finding a location in North County is really important," Hopkins said. "There's at least 300 individuals living in North County living in their cars."Hopkins says most of their clients are families and seniors new to being homeless."It's almost always their first time being homeless," he adds.But Encinitas' proposal has its share of opposition. Some locals have already submitted letters to Encinitas City Council against the idea: "While a homeless parking lot may sound like a compassionate idea, it will be problematic for the area," wrote one resident."I am not opposed to helping, I am opposed to the location," said another, citing safety concerns."I wonder who is going to pay for the added police patrol/protection when this upscale neighborhood becomes a hep-c ghetto like parts of downtown San Diego," wrote another resident."There's something a bit crazy about allowing homeless people to live in one of the most desirable towns in the world for free, no strings attached," another local wrote.Much of the money to be used for the program comes from a state grant. Hopkins added that the grant includes money for security, but other lots have had minimal problems."We hope when City Council gets together, they'll understand the urgency of families and individuals living in cars," Hopkins said.Encinitas' leaders will hold their first vote on the plan Wednesday. 2130

FAIRBORN, Ohio ¡ª A 911 call during a regularly-scheduled installation exercise prompted a lockdown at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on Thursday.According to the base's Twitter account, officials were executing an active shooter training exercise in Area A of the base on Thursday when an "unknown individual" called 911, fearing the training was real. The call prompted a security sweep of the base and a lockdown call.Later, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base later clarified that there was never a "real world" active shooter on the base.  558

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