SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ride-share company Uber and on-demand meal delivery service Postmates are suing to block a broad new California law aimed at giving wage and benefit protections to people who work as independent contractors. The lawsuit filed in court Monday argues that the law set to take effect Wednesday violates federal and state equal protection and due process guarantees. The law creates the nation’s strictest test by which workers must be considered employees. It could set a precedent for other states. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez says the law extends employee rights to more than a million California workers who lack benefits.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Federal authorities say remains of an American soldier killed during the Korean War have been accounted for and will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said Monday it verified the remains of 28-year-old Army 1st Lt. Robert C. Styslinger of Pittsburgh in August. It says his remains were among 55 boxes turned over by North Korea in July 2018, after a summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jung Un. Styslinger was reported to have been killed in action in November 1950 in North Korea.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania county judge captured on video aggressively challenging a patrolman who pulled him over is getting a written reprimand from the entity that investigates judicial misconduct. The Judicial Conduct Board’s “letter of counsel” to Lancaster County Common Pleas Judge Dennis Reinaker was made public Monday. It says the complaints against him were dismissed but the board believes he violated a requirement that judges always behave in a way that promotes public confidence in the judiciary. A message was left seeking comment from Reinaker’s lawyer.

UNDATED (AP) — The first black woman named to lead Philadelphia’s troubled police department pledged to be a “conduit” between the community and police and to address the racist and sexist tensions dividing the force. Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney announced Monday he’s hired Portland Chief Danielle Outlaw to fill the job that’s been open since August when the last commissioner abruptly resigned. Outlaw spent nearly two decades with the police department in Oakland, California, before being named Portland’s chief in August 2017. She calls the new job a privilege and is vowing to restore the public’s trust in the city police department.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a man shot and wounded by police was armed with a replica handgun that was made to look like a .45-caliber handgun. Emmanuel Celestino-Mendez is charged with aggravated assault against a police officer. The 31-year-old Allentown man remained hospitalized Monday in critical condition, but was expected to survive. The shooting in Allentown occurred early Sunday. Police responding to reports of a fight and shots fired found several people brawling and one person on the ground near a trail of blood. Celestino-Mendez was seen holding a weapon and refused officers’ orders to drop the weapon. It’s unclear if Celestino-Mendez has retained an attorney.

Yesterday morning, 4 county row officers were sworn in by the county’s judges during the second investiture ceremony of the year. That brings the total to 11 office officials preparing to begin new terms next week. Overall, 7 county officials were sworn in publicly, while 7 others chose private ceremonies. All row officers take office on Monday January 6th.

A Beaver Falls man is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his home. Police have charged 51-year-old Carlos Acevedo with rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, simple assault, and unlawful restraint. As of Monday afternoon, Acevedo remained in Beaver County jail on $75,000 bond.

Weather Report 12/31/19

Today- Periods of snow. Temperatures remaining steady in the mid 30‘s. High 37

Tonight- Snow showers will become more scattered overnight. Low 27

Tomorrow- Mostly cloudy early, then afternoon sunshine. High 39

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for his military and diplomats to prepare unspecified “offensive measures” to protect the country’s security and sovereignty as he nears his end-of-year deadline for the Trump administration to make major concessions to salvage a fragile nuclear diplomacy. North Korea’s state media says Kim during the ruling Workers’ Party meeting also stressed improvements in national efforts to rebuild the North’s moribund economy. A South Korean analyst says Kim urgent needs to make policy changes in the face of international sanctions and pressure such as a crackdown on North Korean workers abroad.