• Fox Business reports that "multiple states are raising their minimum hourly wages next month, with four boosting the minimum hourly rate to $15 or above at the start of the year: California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Washington. Inflation will boost the Golden State's hourly minimum wage to $15.50 and Washington state's minimum wage will increase to $15.74.
"Connecticut and Massachusetts will both raise wages to $15 an hour."
In fact, the story says, "At least 25 states are raising their minimum wage next year, with the majority taking effect on Jan. 1."
• The FMI Foundation announced that it will host the 2022 Gold Plate Awards in a live, virtual ceremony tomorrow at 3 pm EST, recognizing the "outstanding efforts of food retail, supplier and community organizations promoting National Family Meals Month."
The ceremony will be accessible via FMI's YouTube channel, with no registration required.
• NBC News reports that CVS and Walgreens have finalized their agreement "to pay a combined $10.7 billion to settle allegations they failed to adequately oversee opioid painkiller prescriptions, thus contributing to America's opioid addiction crisis.
"The funds will be distributed to states, local governments and federally recognized tribes and will go toward opioid crisis abatement and remediation programs. CVS will pay $4.9 billion to states and political subdivisions and approximately $130 million to tribes. Walgreens will pay $4.95 billion, plus more than $750 million in fees for attorneys and costs. The payments will be made over time.
"The pharmacy chains have also agreed to implement robust controlled substance compliance programs that will require additional layers of opioid prescription reviews and institute new mandatory training programs."
