Latest news with #Blalock
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawsuit accuses Casey's of exploiting employees with tobacco-use surcharge
A lawsuit accuses Casey's General Store of exploiting workers through the discriminatory practice of imposing a tobacco-use surcharge for health insurance coverage, according to The Capital Dispatch. Casey's workers who fail to certify as non-smokers pay more for insurance, the lawsuit says. The surcharge, which is alleged to be $35 per pay period, amounts to an illegal 'cash grab' by Casey's that is masquerading as a wellness program, the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit, which was filed Friday in U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, seeks class-action status but is currently filed on behalf of one Casey's employee, Elizabeth Blalock of Carroll County, Missouri. Attorneys for Blalock say that all Casey's workers are automatically assumed to use tobacco unless they submit to a process in which they provide a sworn affidavit stating they do not. Any worker who fails to complete that process by a specified deadline is then required to pay a 'tobacco surcharge' for the entire calendar year, even if they do not use tobacco, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit claims Casey's fails to provide the federally required options that would allow employees to avoid the surcharge. 'The surcharge is structured as a penalty rather than a legitimate wellness incentive,' the lawsuit claims, because the workers 'who miss the enrollment deadline are penalized for the entire year without any opportunity to later demonstrate compliance or avoid the surcharge.' The lawsuit is based on the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. ERISA allows employers to deduct from workers' pay a tobacco-use surcharge, but only in connection with wellness programs that meet specific federal guidelines established in 2014. Those regulations state they are intended to ensure corporate wellness programs actually promote health as opposed to being a 'subterfuge for discriminating based on a health factor.' The lawsuit alleges Casey's is illegally shifting the costs associated with less healthy workers from the company back to those same workers 'who end up subsidizing their healthier colleagues.' ERISA bars any health insurer or medical plan from discriminating against participants by charging premiums based on a 'health-related factor,' including tobacco use. It does, however, allow group health plans to establish premium discounts or rebates' in return for adherence to programs that promote wellness and disease prevention. The lawsuit claims Casey's does not meet that standard. 'There is no smoking-cessation program, waiver, or alternative route for tobacco users' to avoid the surcharge, the lawsuit alleges. 'The only avenue for smokers to avoid the surcharge is to quit smoking and then submit that change in status to the benefits department. Thus, tobacco users are penalized based solely on their status as smokers, which violates ERISA's nondiscrimination provisions.' The lawsuit goes on to allege that 'allowing companies like Casey's to exploit their participants and unlawfully extract millions from them under the guise of a wellness program that is, in reality, a cash grab, directly contradicts ERISA's purpose of protecting workers from health-based discrimination. If unchecked, this practice would permit employers to manipulate wellness programs as revenue generating schemes rather than genuine health initiatives.' According to the lawsuit, Blalock has forfeited to Casey's $35 in earnings per pay period — roughly $910 per year — in order to maintain health coverage through the company. Casey's, which is headquartered in Ankeny, is one of the nation's largest convenience store chains, with more than 2,600 locations in 16 states. There are more than 18,000 employees enrolled in the company's health plan, according to court records. In seeking class-action status for their lawsuit, the plaintiff's attorneys argue the amount of money at issue exceeds $5 million, and the number of Casey's workers who might potentially join the case is more than 1,000. Casey's has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. The company did not immediately respond Monday requests for comment from The Capital Dispatch. The plaintiff is represented by attorney Adam J. Wachal of the Koley Jessen law firm in Omaha. To read The Capital Dispatch article, visit here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teachers of the year honored at Inaugural Golden Apple Gala
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — It was a special night for dozens of teachers in the Tennessee Valley as they were celebrated for earning teacher of the year awards for the 2024-2025 school year. The inaugural Golden Apple Gala was designed to honor the 80 teachers who received the top teacher award from Huntsville City Schools, Madison City Schools, and Madison County Schools. Protests supporting immigrant community underway in Albertville Music from students filled the Von Braun Center's East Hall for the honorary event. The Schools Foundation designed the event, which is a non-profit organization that plays a large role in supporting the three school districts. Former Grissom High School Principal Jeanne Greer serves as the non-profit's executive director. Greer says they plan on making the event a yearly occasion. 'As a former educator, I always felt that I'd love to have something nice for teacher of the year and have the community come in and really support them,' Greer told News 19. 'Our educators of course work tirelessly every day and they're just wonderful people and they really love their students and so tonight is a time to honor them.' Andy Blalock teaches at the Academy for Science & Foreign Language Middle School in Huntsville. Nation's Report Card: Alabama scores still below national average despite growth in 2024 Blalock was among the 80 teachers honored Wednesday night and says impacting student lives is an obligation he doesn't take lightly. 'I'm very humbled and delighted to be chosen as my school's teacher of the year,' Blalock said. 'To me, it means a lot that your fellow educators consider that your making a difference in the student's lives and that's what we're all here for is to nourish education.' All proceeds from the event will go toward supporting the three school districts. If you want to contribute to The Schools Foundation, you can do so here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
Weapon found in North College Hill student's locker Wednesday, prompting lockdown
A weapon was found in a student's locker at North College Hill High School Wednesday, prompting a temporary campus lockdown, according to the district superintendent. Around 9 a.m., the North College Hill high school and middle school, which are next to each other, entered a level 3 lockdown after a weapon was found, Superintendent Eugene Blalock said. Level 3 is the highest level, he said, and means that no one is allowed to enter or leave the schools. Blalock alerted district members about the lockdown at 9:40 a.m. in a letter that was later posted to a private Facebook group. In the letter, Blalock said "the weapon is secure, and we are working with the NCH police to complete a security sweep of both buildings." "All students and staff are safe," he added. The lockdown was lifted at approximately 11 a.m., Blalock told The Enquirer. Police have not yet said if the student was arrested and what type of weapon was found. The incident is currently under investigation. This story will be updated when more information is released. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: North College Hill schools enter lockdown after weapon found in locker
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
Murder convictions of 2 former YSL defendants upheld by Georgia Supreme Court
The Brief The Georgia Supreme Court upheld the murder convictions of Damone Blalock and Rodalius Ryan for the 2019 killing of Jamari Holmes, affirming their life sentences and rejecting claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. The defendants argued their attorneys failed to challenge key testimony, present exculpatory Instagram messages, and investigate an alibi, but the court found no evidence these actions would have changed the trial's outcome. Blalock and Ryan were later indicted in the 2022 Young Slime Life (YSL) RICO case, but the Supreme Court's ruling ensures their murder convictions and life sentences remain unaffected. ATLANTA - The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the murder convictions of two former YSL (Young Slime Life) defendants – Damone "Bali" Blalock and Rodalius "Lil Rod" Ryan -- for the 2019 killing of Jamari Holmes, affirming the life sentences handed down in the case. RELATED STORIES 2 teens arrested in deadly shooting Teenager killed in shooting at Atlanta apartments identified Blalock and Ryan were convicted in 2019 for the malice murder of Holmes and the aggravated assault of two others. What we know On appeal, they argued that their trial attorneys provided ineffective assistance by failing to challenge a witness's invocation of the Fifth Amendment in front of the jury and by not objecting to jury instructions on how to interpret the invocation. However, the court ruled that their attorneys' decision to strategically use the testimony rather than objecting was reasonable and that some of the witness's answers actually supported the defense, negating claims of deficient representation. The defendants also argued that their attorneys failed to present Instagram messages suggesting the victims had returned fire during the incident, which could have cast doubt on the prosecution's narrative. Click to open this PDF in a new window. What they're saying The Supreme Court rejected this claim, finding no evidence that the messages would have changed the trial's outcome. The messages did not undermine forensic evidence showing the fatal bullet came from outside the victims' vehicle, nor did they significantly challenge testimony implicating Blalock and Ryan as the shooters, according to the Supreme Court. Additionally, Ryan argued his counsel failed to investigate an alibi that could have proven he was not present at the scene. The court found that the decision to forgo the alibi defense was a reasonable strategic choice given inconsistencies in the evidence and the overall strength of the prosecution's case. Blalock and Ryan were later indicted in 2022 alongside Atlanta rapper Young Thug in a sweeping RICO case involving the Young Slime Life (YSL) gang. ORIGINAL STORY: Rapper Young Thug, associates arrested for RICO Act charges in Atlanta Prosecutors alleged the Holmes murder was one of over 190 acts committed in furtherance of gang activity. Ryan, the youngest YSL defendant, pled guilty on Oct. 30, 2024, to a single RICO charge and received a 10-year sentence commuted to time served. Blalock's RICO charges were dropped after other co-defendants were acquitted of related charges. RELATED: YSL RICO case: Prosecutors drop charges against 6 defendants What's next Despite their involvement in the high-profile RICO case, the Georgia Supreme Court's decision ensures their convictions and life sentences for the Holmes murder remain intact.
