Category: 3. Business

In the Media  |  January 2, 2026

Law360

In a Law360 (subscription required) article on product liability cases to watch in 2026, partner Amir Tayrani noted that attorneys are looking to see whether the Supreme Court intends to take on a preemption case. He said that one case may be Monsanto’s certiorari petition that seeks to overturn a $1.2 million jury award in a suit alleging that its Roundup weed killer caused a man’s cancer. The company argued that the suit is preempted by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

“That looks like it may be a grant in light of the U.S. government’s position there, and it may signal that the court is willing to once again address preemption more frequently, and that this is an important safeguard for defendants,” Amir said. “We’ll see whether the court takes that case and whether it helps to revive some of the preemption doctrines that may have fallen by the wayside in recent years.”

On Oct. 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy directed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to initiate a rulemaking to accelerate and standardize the interconnection of large loads.

The rulemaking comes as regional transmission operators, including PJM Interconnection LLC, Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc. and Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc., have released updated interconnection queue data showing historic levels of new load requests, much of it attributed to large-scale compute and artificial intelligence-driven facilities.

CDF Labor Law LLP partner Avi M. Attal will join a featured panel at the Perrin Conferences Employment Litigation Conference on Thursday, January 22, 2026, in Newport Beach, California.

The Perrin Conferences Employment Litigation Conference is a full-day program bringing together in-house counsel, management-side attorneys, and other employment professionals for a day of timely updates and practical discussion on today’s most pressing employment litigation issues—including wage and hour developments, PAGA reform, and key labor law shifts.

Session details

Panel: Current Issues and Trends in Wage and Hour Practices

Time: 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Location: Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel, 4500 MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Avi will be joined by Katrice A. Miller (Partner, Labor Relations, Starbucks Corporation) as a co-panelist.

Topics include

• Recent developments in wage and hour practices
• PAGA updates and reform
• Notable NLRA decisions and policy shifts

For additional conference information and registration details, see the Perrin Conferences event page (here) and conference agenda (here).

By Carey Skelton MS MPH RDN CDN/ Nutrition & Wellness Coordinator

SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal program that provides money for groceries on a debit-like card.  With today’s prices at grocery store, we can use all the help we can get to eat nutritious foods.  While these program funds are only to supplement your current grocery budget, there are tips to stretch your SNAP benefits further!

First, are you eligible?  About 50% of older adults in Chautauqua County who are eligible for SNAP have not yet applied!  Under federal law, household size and all income are counted to determine eligibility. “Income” is defined as both earned income such as wages and unearned income such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and veterans, disability, and death benefits.  However, there are special rules for older adult households.  A household with older adults may qualify for more relaxed income limits up to 200% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, federal poverty levels are updated annually.  So, if you applied for SNAP in the past and didn’t qualify, it’s always good practice to check the annual updated levels.   Your benefit allotment is determined based on a few calculations and can range between $23/month and $298/month for a household size of one.   

Even if you receive the minimum SNAP benefits each month, this can be a big help to your food budget.  It’s important to note: 

• Your benefits roll over for up to one year.  So, if you are hosting Christmas dinner at your house, minimum SNAP benefits saved over 6 months ($138) could make this feasible! 
• Farmers Markets and some stores participate in programs like Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB)!  This doubles the quantity of fresh produce you can purchase.  So instead of using your $23 on staples, get $46 worth of food when you purchase fresh produce! 
• Your benefit allotment changes if you have had a change in your income or deductions. While you are required to reapply annually, it’s important to know that you can request a recertification if you have had a change that might increase your monthly benefits.       

By making simple and healthy choices on a daily basis, you will be well on your way towards achieving total wellness.  We know the healthy choice is not always the easiest choice, but small changes can make a big difference.  Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services offers Nutrition & Wellness programs to support you in your journey toward total wellness.  If you think you might be eligible or want more information on SNAP, just call us at our NY Connects line at 716-753-4582.

Also, check out our website at chqgov.com/office-aging to see all the programs and services offered.  If you are not already signed up for our communication system, we can provide you with information about our programs and services at your fingertips.  We send messages about the current programs you may be interested in through your preferred communication method: text, email, or an automated call. 

Some of these materials have been funded in whole or in part by grants from the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), and/ or the Administration on Aging (AOA) and/ or Administration for Community Living (ACL). Nothing herein is intended, nor should be construed, as an endorsement by the State of New York.

Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the City of Hoboken today announced that Jolt Charge, Inc. (Jolt) will become the new operator of 14 of the City’s on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging stations beginning Jan. 5, providing additional revenue and services to the City and community.  

The transition follows approval by the Hoboken City Council and a competitive procurement process to ensure continued operation and maintenance of the City’s on-street EV charging infrastructure at no cost to taxpayers. 

Under a contract, originally authorized by the Hoboken City Council in July 2022, the City’s previous partner, Volta, installed 14 on-street EV charging stations throughout Hoboken at no cost to the City. Since October 2023, these stations have supported more than 10,000 charging sessions and delivered over 700,000 electric vehicle miles,  

Under the new agreement, Jolt will operate and maintain the 14 on-street EV charging stations at no cost to the City and pay the City 54 percent more in monthly rent than the previous operator. This increased revenue will be reinvested into essential municipal services, infrastructure improvements, and sustainability initiatives, to help advance the City’s Climate Action goals of achieving net-zero energy by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

The initial contract term is two years, with three one-year renewal options. Additionally, Jolt will offer monthly maintenance, charging station wait time predictions through the Jolt app, and more. 

“The continued expansion and reliability of electric vehicle charging infrastructure is essential to Hoboken’s sustainability and climate goals,” said Mayor Bhalla. “Through our new partnership with Jolt Charge, we are ensuring that residents have access to dependable EV charging while responsibly generating a recurring revenue stream for the City through monthly rental fees. It is a win-win for the City that will benefit the community and our climate.”

“We’re proud to partner with the City of Hoboken to strengthen its on-street EV charging program,” said William Watts, General Manager US Network & Operations at Jolt Charge. “Our goal is to ensure both Level 2 and DC fast charging stations remain reliable, accessible, and easy to use for residents and visitors, while also delivering increased value back to the City. Jolt is proud to support Hoboken’s commitment to sustainable transportation and to help communities adapt as electric vehicle adoption continues to grow.”  

Fees will be set at a reduced rate of $.35 per kWh for L2 charging, and $0.50 per kWh for DCFC fast charging, both with a $1 connection fee.  

The 14 Jolt charging stations are an important component of Hoboken’s municipally-owned and publicly accessible electric vehicle charging network, which includes a total of 28 level 2 ports and eight DC fast charging ports. 

Users can download the Jolt app via the Apple and Google app stores and learn more about Jolt by visiting www.joltcharge.com/us.  

For more information about the City’s EV-charging options, go to www.hobokennj.gov/resources/electric-vehicle-charging-hoboken.