James W. Loewen, Who Challenged How History Is Taught, Dies at 79

In a dozen books, most famously “Lies My Teacher Told Me,” he attacked historical misconceptions, particularly concerning the Black struggle in the South.

By Robert D. McFadden

Court rules California gig worker initiative is unconstitutional

• Gig economy companies including Uber, Lyft, Doordash and Instacart were pushing to keep drivers' independent contractor status, albeit with additional benefits.
• The ballot measure was meant to cement app-based food delivery and ride-hail drivers' status as independent contractors, not employees.

A California judge on Friday ruled that a 2020 ballot measure that exempted ride-share and food delivery drivers from a state labor law is unconstitutional as it infringed on the legislature's power to set standards at the workplace.

Proposition 22 is unconstitutional as "it limits the power of a future Legislature to define app-based drivers as workers subject to workers' compensation law", which makes the entire ballot measure "unenforceable", Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch wrote in the ruling.

Gig economy companies including Uber, Lyft, Doordash and Instacart were pushing to keep drivers' independent contractor status, albeit with additional benefits.

The ballot measure was meant to cement app-based food delivery and ride-hail drivers' status as independent contractors, not employees.

Known as Proposition 22, it marked the culmination of years of legal and legislative wrangling over a business model that has introduced millions of people to the convenience of ordering food or a ride with the push of a button.

Ford launching DIY electric car kit for customs

Test drive: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is the latest in a line of high performance Mustangs that dates back to 1969 and very different than the brand’s other "Mach" model, according to Fox News Autos Editor Gary Gastelu.

It looks like Ford has a solution for Mustang fans who want an electric car, but aren’t into the Mach-E.

The Ford Performance division has announced that it will introduce an electric crate motor for custom car applications at this November’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The Eluminator borrows its name from Ford’s line of Aluminator crate V8s and looks like it was designed to easily swap in for one of them and possibly connect to a standard transmission.

Technical details – aside from the 570 mm length of the unit – have not yet been revealed, but Ford says it is intended “for your restomod or project.” Who’s up for building an electric Crown Vic?

It’s a similar concept to GM’s Electric Connect and Cruise kit that was announced last year.

Additional information on the Eluminator will be released closer to the November 2-5 SEMA show.

Opinion | On Freddy Krueger and Our Current Nightmare

By Jamelle Bouie

Opinion Columnist

Herald morning quiz: August 22

Test your brains with the Herald’s morning quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz at 3pm for the afternoon quiz.

To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.

Opinion | A Rough Beast Returns

By Maureen Dowd

Opinion Columnist

Biden Cancels Trip To Delaware, Monitors Afghanistan From D.C.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will not spend the weekend at his home in Delaware after all.

The White House said Saturday that Biden would no longer travel to Wilmington as planned. No immediate explanation was given.

The announcement from the White House came as Biden was scheduled to meet with his national security team “to hear intelligence, security and diplomatic updates on the evolving situation in Afghanistan.”

The Taliban takeover of Afghans last Sunday has consumed his administration, which was caught off-guard by the development and is scrambling to evacuate thousands of Americans, Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war, and others.

The White House also did not indicate whether the president planned to travel on Sunday.

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Driver dies at scene of overnight crash in Te Kohanga

One person has died in a Waikato crash overnight.

The Serious Crash Unit continues to investigate the accident, which was reported around 2am.

Police said one person was in the car when it crashed on Kohanga Road near Te Kohanga – a village of just over 100 residents about 20 minutes’ drive west of State Highway 1, between Auckland and Hamilton.

The sole occupant of the car died at the scene, authorities said.

The identity of the driver has not yet been released.