Latest news with #Stoller
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
State Tournament preview: Eureka, Lexington, LeRoy, Notre Dame seek titles
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Four area high schools could be celebrating state championships this weekend. Eureka and Lexington are heading to the state baseball finals in Champaign. Leroy is headed to Peoria for state softball and Notre Dame to Naperville for the girls soccer state tournament. Eureka is at the state baseball tournament for the first time since 2013 when it finished fourth. The Hornets face Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in the class 2A semifinals at 4 p.m. Friday at Illinois Field on the campus of the University of Illinois. In their last 11 games, the Hornets (34-4) have posted three shutouts and have only allowed 20 total runs. Pitching and defense have been their calling card, but having the big bat of Mason Stoller in the middle of the lineup doesn't hurt either. 'He's a big dude for us,' said senior Ben Lapp. 'He gets clutch hits in big spots, big hits. And he's good at base running too.' Stoller has 49 hits and 49 RBI in 38 games. 'Every time I go up to bat, it's see ball, hit ball,' Stoller said. 'When you get up to bat, you just can't think. You just have to go.' Lexington is at the state baseball finals for the first time in 35 years. Lexington won state in 1990, its only other trip to state. 'It's been crazy but we're going to win it all,' said senior Jaxson Goodrich. 'The last team that won the sectional championship (won state). That's what we're competing with, they won it all. We've got to do it.' Lexington (19-11) plays defending state champ Ottawa Marquette in the class 1A semifinals Friday at 10 a.m. 'The baseball fields have been dead for a while (in Lexington),' coach Tanner Schieber after his team beat Salt Fork, 5-3, in the super-sectional Monday to earn a trip to state. 'To get a crowd out like this. Hope to see them all again Friday morning at 10 A.M. Bringing Lexington baseball back is huge.' Leroy is headed to the state softball tournament for the second time in three years. The Panthers (34-5) will face Dakota in Friday's 12:30 p.m. class 1A state semifinal at the Louisville Slugger Complex in Peoria. 'I feel a lot more comfortable going over (to Peoria) this year. Last time there were a lot of unknowns,' said LeRoy coach Doug Hageman. LeRoy finished third at state in 2023, the only previous trip to state for the program. 'Now we kind of have an idea of what to expect,' Hageman said. 'I don't know if that'll make a difference or not but we are so excited to be going back.' The Notre Dame girls soccer team is headed to state for the 12th time in school history but the Irish are still looking for their first championship. And although the team is 25-1-1, coach Ben Ralph thinks his squad still hasn't played its soccer of the season. 'We've been phenomenal defensively. We just need to figure it out offensively a little bit,' Ralph said. 'We haven't played a full 80 (minutes). Hopefully that's this weekend.' Notre Dame plays Springfield in the 2A state semifinals Friday at 2:30 at North Central College in Naperville. Junior Ava Lafollette scored three times in the second half as PND beat previously undefeated New Lenox Providence Catholic, 3-0, in the super-sectional Monday. 'There's a lot of mental toughness to stay locked in for 80 minutes. We focus on that. Especially (in the super-sectional),' said junior Abigail Chaddock. 'The first half didn't go the way we wanted. But we stayed locked in for the whole game and got three goals in the second half.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Workplace power balance: Are we entering ‘The Boss Era?'
Employees may not like it, but analysts say the workplace is shifting back in favor of employers. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a few trends over the last few years, like work from home, quiet quitting, and The Great Resignation. But those are fading away, according to experts. Now we're entering what some are referring to as 'The Boss Era.' It's a philosophy that retiree Joan Coggins knows well. 'You don't have the privilege of a job. You work for it, earn it,' Coggins said. Nick Juravich, a professor of labor studies, co-edited the book 'The Pandemic and The Working Class,' and he says the pressure on workers has 'really ratcheted back up.' 'I think bosses have really wanted to reassert control, whether that's surveilling people through their computers if they're working remotely, or getting them back in the office, or demanding that they be part of increasingly sort of rigorous and intensive forms of on-the-job surveillance and tracking,' Juravich said. Greg Stoller, a lecturer on business topics at Boston University, says layoffs and a volatile stock market have changed the workplace dynamic. 'This is not a drill, this is not a blip,' Stoller said. 'Right now, I think the pendulum is shifted back to the bosses being able to call the shots.' Stoller says workers need to step up their game to ensure they continue to have a job. 'I think the onus is on the employee to work harder, so if you're working from 9-5, I'm telling people to come in at 8:30, stay until 5:30,' Stoller said. Some workers, like Joel Veilleux, see it a little differently. 'Us in the construction industry, we didn't get the luxury to work from home. We were in the middle of it all.' Still, he told me he can sympathize with those facing a new workplace reality. 'Nobody wants to go back to the office, nobody,' Veilleux said. Stoller says employees should 'try to go into the office as much as possible.' 'I think the pendulum has shifted that nobody owes you the right to work at home,' Stoller said. A survey two years ago by the software company Beautiful AI said 60% of managers reported that if layoffs were needed, they'd start with remote workers. (VIDEO: Truist Bank says time's up for remote work)
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Got a criminal record? Here's how to clear it up for little or nothing
When Khalil Ferguson started offering free expungement clinics in Oak Park five years ago, he saw firsthand how a conviction — even one from decades ago — could shadow someone for life. One of his clients came to him in 2022 with more than 15 convictions dating back to the 1970s when he tried to feed a drug habit he had since beaten. His record had been spotless since 2000, Ferguson said, and he had stable employment. He wanted peace of mind that the convictions wouldn't pop up in a future background check, said Ferguson, who has worked with a number clients whose dreams of financial success were crushed when exactly that happened. 'Several folks have come to me saying, 'I need to get a better job. They just denied me because of my criminal record. Can you help me?'' Ferguson said. Expungement, the legal process of clearing a criminal conviction from public view, has become increasingly accessible in California — but many residents in Sacramento and elsewhere still don't realize they qualify or that help is available for free or at low cost. Studies show it can boost employment prospects and reduce recidivism. Contrary to what the term implies, an expungement in California doesn't erase a criminal record entirely. 'Most employers are not going to see the arrests, prosecution and expungement on a criminal background check,' said John Stoller, supervising assistant public defender for Sacramento County. 'If you're applying for a manager position at Rite Aid, they're probably not going to see it. But if you are applying to be a dispatcher at a police department or need a security clearance at the county, they're probably going to see it.' What expungement actually does is change the official court record to reflect that the case was dismissed, Stoller said, and this can significantly improve a person's chances when applying for jobs, housing or professional licenses. Under Penal Code section 1203.4, most people who have completed probation or served time — whether in county jail or even state prison under new laws like Senate Bill 731 — may be eligible. Stoller's office filed more than 1,100 expungement petitions last year and offers weekly free clinics at multiple locations, including Loaves & Fishes and Mather Community Campus. 'We offer expungement services to anyone with a conviction in Sacramento County,' Stoller said. 'You don't have to live here now. If your conviction is from here, we'll help you — completely free of charge.' While some private attorneys charge thousands of dollars for the service, some nonprofits and county public defender's offices will help residents for free or at low costs. Public defenders in Sacramento County, for example, not only fill out forms, but they ensure their clients pay no court fees and avoid the cost for securing their RAP sheets, short for record of arrests and prosecutions. Yolo and El Dorado counties also have staff in their public defender's offices who assist those trying to clean up records in their jurisdictions. In Placer County, the nonprofit Legal Services of Northern California offer legal help for free, but clients will have to provide the RAP sheet and cover some court costs. Ferguson is seeking funding to both continue and expand the work that his nonprofit, United Core Alliance, has provided. To help the client with 15-plus convictions, he said, a lawyer and paralegal spent about 30 hours over six months to get everything they needed to write a solid personal statement, or declaration. 'He initially provided general background information about his life post-incarceration, but we needed specific facts to demonstrate community rehabilitation, given the client's extensive criminal background,' Ferguson said. 'So, we went back and forth communication-wise for months … until we had sufficient information to complete the client's declaration.' Ferguson, who studied economics and international relations as an undergraduate, shared a Stanford University study showing that, within three years, the benefits of expungement will outweigh the costs as governments begin to enjoy the increased tax revenue and economic activity from easing ex-offenders back into the workforce. However, a 2001 survey of Los Angeles employers found that only 20% of them would 'definitely' or 'probably' consider a job application from an ex-offender. A lack of stable employment is a major predictor of continued criminal conduct. The expungement process varies depending on the conviction, Stoller said. Misdemeanor expungements are often automatic if probation is completed. Felonies can require a judge's approval, especially if the sentence included jail or prison time. At the Sacramento County Public Defender's Office, expungement begins with an interview, usually during a walk-in clinic or via email. Legal staff here will help clients pull their RAP sheets and assess eligibility, but at other county's or nonprofit's sites, clients may be required to download and bring those documents with them. Attorneys or staff will advise clients if they need to write a personal statement about why expungement matters to them or provide letters of recommendation from friends, family, or employers. 'We tailor these letters for the judge,' Stoller said. 'We want to show the judge that this person is really trying. If we don't hear back after a few months, we have to close the file.' Christine Morse-Fitch, a criminal defense attorney and professor at Sacramento State, believes the process should be even simpler. 'We have cars that drive themselves. We have ChatGPT that can write a dissertation in four seconds,' she said. 'So I'm confident that we have somebody who can write a program that will say, 'OK, if this person doesn't have any more run-ins with the law after whatever period of time, this is expunged.'' Many people don't realize that, if they can keep their records clean after release, they can request early termination of probation and apply for expungement, she said. 'It can be a motivator. It can be a carrot,' she said. 'We just don't have enough people out there to educate people and to give them this information and this hope.' ▪ Sacramento County Public Defender's Office holds weekly walk-in clinics from 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays at Loaves & Fishes, 1351 North C St.; from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at Mather Community Campus, 10626 Shirra Ave.; 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays at the Sacramento County Administration Building, 700 H St. You can email publicdefender-expungement@ to get started. ▪ In Placer County, Legal Services of Northern California conducts 'clean slate clinics' at no cost for individuals whose household income falls below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, or $64,299 or less for a family of four. Participants must provide a record of arrests and prosecutions —RAP sheet, for short — prior to registration. Contact the nonprofit at auburn-office@ or 530-823-7560. ▪ A paralegal at the El Dorado County Public Defender's office will answer questions and provide guidance to individuals trying to clear offenses in that jurisdiction. Call (530) 621-6440. ▪ The Yolo County Public Defender's Office invites those seeking to expunge their records to in-person clinics twice a year, usually in the spring and late summer. Sacramento and Solano counties also have sent representatives to the to confer with the Yolo public defender now? Visit to learn how. ▪ The nonprofit Capital Pro Bono will assist with seeking expungements for misdemeanor offenses. Call 916-551-2155 or go to the website and fill out the 'contact us' form.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Workers adjust to the ‘Boss Era' as tough economy rattles offices
When it comes to the world of work, it wasn't that long ago that the common buzzwords were 'Quiet Quitting' and 'Job Hopping'. Those were the good old days when workers were in the driver's seat. Today's job scene is now being called the 'Boss Era.' One worker in Brookline's Coolidge Corner told Boston 25 News things are tense at work. 'I went thru a really intense reorganization and layoff this past winter around Christmas, and it was really scary.' Still, many people feel lucky just to have a job. Julia Fan just got laid off from a marketing position. 'It's really rough. You don't know what's going on. There isn't a lot of good communication between what you're doing and how you're doing, and whether or not how you're doing is going to translate into the fact you get to keep your job.' That's a stark contrast to the job market a new year ago as the country came out of a pandemic slump. 'That evolved into let's work at home one day a week, or two days a week, even after COVID. Then of course we were in an over-employment situation, so the bosses really didn't have much of a choice,' explained Greg Stoller, a master lecture at the Questrom School of Business at Boston University. 'Fast forward 4-5 years. We've had a number of cuts. The Dow is whipsawing on a regular basis, and a lot of people are getting laid off both in the private sector and the public sector, and right now, I think the pendulum is shifting back to the bosses being able to call the shots.' Hence the term -- the 'Boss Era' Terms like 'Quiet Quitting' are now in the past tense. 'The pressure on workers has really ratcheted back up,' said Professor Nick Juravich, Ph.D., a professor of labor studies at UMass Boston. He co-edited a new book called The Pandemic and the Working Class. 'I think bosses have really wanted to reassert control, whether that's surveilling people through their computers if they're working remotely, or getting them back in the office, or demanding that they be part of increasingly rigorous, intensive forms of on-the-job surveillance and tracking.' Unions enjoyed a renaissance after COVID, but Juravich understands why some people might now be staying away. 'When conditions are this rough, it's not unreasonable for people to want to put my head down, and I think it's harder sometimes to get over that threshold to saying we're going to take a step and take a stand.' 'I think we are in a triage situation,' Stoller remarked. 'I think that this is not a drill. This is not a blip.' Stoller thinks workers need to step up their game if they want to keep their name off the wrong list. 'I think everyone, including me, forgets that we're all replaceable. So, as I result, I think the onus is on the employee to work harder. So, if you're working from 9-5, I'm telling people to be in at 830 and stay until 5:30.' He added, 'I think the pendulum has shifted that nobody owes you the right to work at home, so my point being, try to get into the office as much as possible.' Some people told Boston 25 News they feel it's a no-win situation today. It's hard if you have a job, and it's even tougher if you don't. Julia Fan added, 'I'm not quite sure completely what the solve is to that. It seems like everybody is just as confused as me and you really have to kind of grit your teeth and work through it. It's just a hard, hard time.' It's not just the health of the economy giving the job market a jolt. Analysts are also watching how AI is reshaping the traditional world of work, and what that means for workers. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Grocery giant sounds alarm on price increases due to Trump tariffs
One of North America's largest supermarket chains has bluntly told its suppliers they will not accept increased prices related to Trump-imposed tariffs. Albertsons, which operates more than 2,200 supermarkets and is the second-biggest grocery chain in the continent, drew a hard line with it suppliers last month. Albertsons acknowledged that hiked-up foreign taxes may put pressure on many businesses, but suppliers are not to include tariff-related fees in their invoices without the chain's approval. 'Therefore, with few exceptions, we are not accepting cost increases due to tariffs,' the message reads. The company explained that if a supplier absolutely must increase their costs, they have to provide at least 90 days notice before billing Albertsons any differently. Suppliers must also provide valid proof that tariffs really are increasing the price of their products. Albertsons will then look over the request, which could take another month before it gets okayed or denied. President Donald Trump has placed a temporary pause on his previously imposed reciprocal tariffs and given most nations until the beginning of July to work out new trade policies with America. But there is still a universal 10 percent tariff rate on almost every good being imported into the US. He has also imposed 25 percent tariffs on automotive parts and vehicles, as well as on steel and aluminum. Mexico and Canada have been hit with a 25 percent tax on most goods coming into the US, except those covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. China has been slammed with the heftiest tax of all - a 145 percent rate with hardly any exceptions. With the unavoidable nature of these tariffs, American Economic Liberties Project researcher Matt Stoller believes Albertsons' plan is too idealistic and the letter was arrogant. 'That's absurd, since the cost of many items is going to spike, and suppliers will go out of business if they can't cover those increased costs,' Stoller wrote in the BIG newsletter. 'Yet, the arrogance speaks to the power of buyers like Albertsons. And Albertsons is nothing compared to Walmart or Amazon.' Vivek Sankaran (pictured), Albertsons current CEO, is set to retire effective May 1 - just days away - according to a company press release. He will be replaced by Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Susan Morris. 'It has been a privilege to lead Albertsons Cos. through a critical period of evolution and I couldn't be more confident in the Company's future with Susan at the helm,' Sankaran said when he announced his retirement in March. According to the company, keeping food affordable for its customers has always been a top priority. 'The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood,' a March press release reads. Albertsons had previously tried to position itself to be a strong competitor against the grocer giants Stoller mentioned, such as Costco and Walmart, by merging with Kroger. However, this grand plan fell through last year because of legal hurdles and regulatory concerns brought up by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorney generals. The FTC claimed : 'Kroger and Albertsons's inadequate divestiture proposal is a hodgepodge of unconnected stores, banners, brands, and other assets that Kroger's antitrust lawyers have cobbled together and falls far short of mitigating the lost competition between Kroger and Albertsons.' The commission believed the merger would eliminate competition and be detrimental for the grocery chain industry. Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.
