Mar 10, 2020 - Health

SEC first federal agency to ask staff to work remotely over coronavirus

The SEC building in Washington, D.C. Photo: Mark Wilson/Newsmakers

The Securities and Exchange Commission emailed employees at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., Monday asking them to work from home after a worker with respiratory symptoms was told they could potentially have the novel coronavirus.

Why it matters: The SEC is the first federal agency to take such action. It said it made the directive "effective immediately," which means people who work on the building's ninth floor must telework, out of "an abundance of caution," per the Washington Post, which first reported the news. "To the best of our knowledge, the employee remained asymptomatic during the employee’s time in the building," the SEC added.

Go deeper

Jacob Knutson

Jun 17, 2020 - Economy & Business

Target will boost its minimum wage to $15 in July

Photo: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Target announced Wednesday that it would hike its hourly minimum wage from $13 to $15 beginning July 5, CNBC reports.

Why it matters: The retailer said the move will give a raise to around 275,000 of its more than 350,000 employees.

Go deeper (1 min. read)

Caitlin Owens

Jun 17, 2020 - Health

Mask mandates may have prevented hundreds of thousands of coronavirus cases

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Some states' requirements that face masks be worn in public may have led to hundreds of thousands of fewer coronavirus cases than there would have been without the mandates, according to a new study in Health Affairs.

Yes, but: Despite the growing body of evidence that this simple mitigation strategy is one of our best defenses against the coronavirus, wearing them remains controversial, and mandating their use even more so.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)

Alayna Treene

Jun 17, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Senate Republicans unveil their police reform bill

Sen. Tim Scott. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and other Senate Republicans introduced Wednesday their police reform bill that encourages departments to ban chokeholds through the use of federal grants and requires officers to report uses of force and no-knock warrants.

Why it matters: The bill, which has the support of the majority of the Senate GOP conference and the White House, is seen as the starting point for larger negotiations with House Democrats on compromise legislation.