Here’s what we know about Uber and Lyft’s planned exit from Minneapolis in May
The future of Uber and Lyft in Minneapolis has garnered concern and debate in recent weeks after the City Council voted last month to require that ride-hailing companies pay drivers a higher rate while they are within city limits.
Uber driver accused of kidnapping multiple women in Miami faces new charges
An Uber driver accused by multiple women of drugging, kidnapping and possibly raping them and leaving them at a Miami motel is now facing additional charges after detectives identified another victim, according to an arrest report.
Lyft and Uber say they will leave Minneapolis after city council forces them to pay drivers more
Lyft and Uber say they will cease operations in Minneapolis after the city’s council voted Thursday to override a mayoral veto and require ride-hailing services to increase driver wages to the equivalent of the local minimum wage.
New rule tightens worker classification standards; Uber, Lyft say their drivers won't be affected
The Biden administration has enacted a new labor rule that aims to prevent the misclassification of workers as “independent contractors,” a step that could bolster both legal protections and compensation for millions in the U.S. workforce.
Uber and Lyft to pay $328 million to settle dispute over taxes and fees paid by New York drivers
Ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft will pay a combined $328 million to settle complaints that they improperly saddled their New York drivers with taxes and fees that should have been been paid by passengers.
Fake Uber driver picks up women from Wynwood club, robs 1, sexually batters the other, cops say
Two women leaving a nightclub in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood thought they were getting into an Uber, but, according to police, one of them was about to get robbed and the other was about to get sexually assaulted by the man they assumed was a real rideshare driver.
Apple says it will fix software problems blamed for making iPhone 15 models too hot to handle
Apple is blaming a software bug and other issues tied to popular apps such as Instagram and Uber for causing its recently released iPhone 15 models to heat up and spark complaints about becoming too hot to handle.
Waymo, Uber set aside past rift over self-driving car technology to team up on robotaxis in Phoenix
Self-driving car pioneer Waymo is teaming up with ride-hailing leader Uber in the Phoenix area to transport passengers and deliver food in robotic cars that triggered a bitter technological dispute between the two companies.
Lyft to pick up new CEO amid deepening post-pandemic losses
Lyft co-founders Logan Green and John Zimmer are relinquishing their leadership roles to make way for a former Amazon executive as the ride-hailing service struggles to recover from the pandemic while long-time rival Uber has been regaining its momentum.
Video shows fiery crash during police chase in Miami
The woman who crashed into an Uber driver and his passenger — while trying to get away from police officers on Thursday in Miami-Dade County — was driving a stolen van and she was a suspect in several burglaries, according to Detective Alvaro Zabaleta.
Labor proposal could upend rules for gig workers, companies
The U.S. Department of Labor is publishing a new proposal on how workers should be classified saying that thousands of people have been incorrectly labeled as contractors rather than employees, potentially curtailing access to benefits and protections they rightfully deserve.
Pain at the pump: Biden’s Russian oil ban has rideshare drivers nervous about price hike
The action follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports, which had been a glaring omission in the massive sanctions put in place on Russia over the invasion.
Man accused of carjacking Uber driver also faces charges for fatal motorcycle crash
A 19-year-old man who was arrested Monday on accusations that he attacked and carjacked a female Uber driver is now facing an additional charge for his alleged involvement in a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred shortly after the carjacking, authorities said.
Teachers union, Uber partner to offer free rides to vaccination sites for Miami-Dade school employees
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – United Teachers of Dade and Uber have partnered to offer free rides to Miami-Dade County Public School teachers and support school staff who wish to get the COVID-19 vaccine. According to a news release, the partnership “is part of Uber’s 10 Million Free Rides campaign to ensure people can have access to easier and more convenient transportation methods to help them get vaccinated.”UTD has secured 1,000 two-way free rides for UTD members who are interested in getting the vaccine. Teachers and support staff in need of a ride to a vaccination site can call UTD Member Services at 305-854-0220. They will be given a promo code along with instructions about how to obtain their free ride. The promo codes will be valid through Sept. 30.
Uber to give UK drivers minimum wage, pension, holiday pay
Uber is giving its U.K. drivers the minimum wage, pensions and holiday pay, following a recent court ruling that said they should be classified as workers and entitled to such benefits, the company announced Tuesday, March 16, 2021. And they said the company can't decide by itself the expense base for calculating the minimum wage, which should be based on a collective agreement. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)LONDON – Uber is giving its U.K. drivers the minimum wage, pensions and holiday pay, following a recent court ruling that said they should be classified as workers and entitled to such benefits. The ride hailing giant's announcement Tuesday comes after it lost an appeal last month at the U.K. Supreme Court following a yearslong court battle. And they said the company can't decide by itself the expense base for calculating the minimum wage, which should be based on a collective agreement.
Fort Lauderdale man raped woman after posing as Uber driver, police say
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Police arrested a man accused of posing as an Uber driver, picking up a woman and sexually assaulting her. She was with a group of friends at America’s Backyard on Southwest 3rd avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Police said the driver identified, as 37-year-old Shapsly Silencieux, played along, making her think he was an Uber driver and telling her he would take her home. According to authorities, Silencieux told her he needed to stop by his Fort Lauderdale apartment to grab his wallet and get gas. The woman told police after she was raped, the suspect drove her to where she was staying in Bal Harbor.
Uber, Lyft team up on database to expose abusive drivers
Uber and Lyft have teamed up to create a database of drivers ousted from their ride-hailing services for complaints about sexual assault and other crimes that have raised passenger-safety concerns for years. The clearinghouse unveiled Thursday, March 11, will initially list drivers expelled by the ride-hailing rivals in the U.S. Michael Wolfe, a Uber driver who also leads a Washington state group representing about 2,000 other drivers, praised both ride-hailing services for trying to weed out the abuses in the industry. AdIt could also help appease U.S. lawmakers, who have criticized Uber and Lyft in the past for inadequate safety protections for their riders. After Uber rebuffed the request to protect the victims' privacy, the agency slapped the company with a $59 million fine.
Gig economy shifts: Spain makes delivery riders employees
Delivery riders protest outside the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Wednesday March 3, 2021.The Spanish government announced on Thursday March 11, 2021, legislation that classifies food delivery riders as employees of the digital platforms they work for, not self-employed. (AP Photo/Paul White)MADRID – The Spanish government on Thursday announced legislation that classifies food delivery riders as employees of the digital platforms they work for, not self-employed, in a legal change that could have far-reaching consequences for Spanish businesses. She described the rule on disclosing how the digital systems work as “epic,” saying it “neutralizes algorithmic punishments.”AdThe legal changes are the latest affecting companies and workers in the gig economy. The Spanish government agreed on the new law with the country’s main business groups and trade union confederations. AdThe legislation was drawn up after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled last September that food delivery riders are employees, not self-employed workers, in a case brought by a former rider for Glovo.
UK top court gives Uber drivers benefits in landmark ruling
The U.K. Supreme Court ruled Friday that Uber drivers should be classed as workers and not self employed. The ruling that the drivers should be classed as “workers” and not self-employed is a big defeat for the ride-hailing giant. The seven Supreme Court judges who heard the case unanimously rejected Uber's appeal against an employment tribunal ruling that two Uber drivers were “workers" under British law. AdSan Francisco-based Uber, which has 65,000 active drivers and 5 million regular users in the U.K., had argued that Aslam and Farrar were independent contractors. AdThe British judges on Friday cited a number of factors in their decision: Uber sets fares and contract terms and penalizes drivers who reject or cancel rides.
Uber's 4Q loss narrows, raising hopes for pandemic recovery
In 2020, the ride-hailing service was forced to rely more heavily on its food-delivery service. But analysts believe Uber’s pioneering ride-hailing service will also eventually bounce back as more people are vaccinated against COVID-19. He also predicted that Uber's losses may evaporate by the end of this year. The company’s ride-hailing service brought in revenue of $1.48 billion in the quarter, a 52% drop from the prior year. Meanwhile, revenue in Uber's food-delivery service more than tripled from the previous year to $1.37 billion.
California court rejects lawsuit challenging ride-share vote
FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2016, file photo, a ride-share car displays Lyft and Uber stickers on its front windshield in downtown Los Angeles. The California Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to the ballot measure that kept app-based ride-hailing and delivery drivers independent contractors instead of employees eligible for benefits and job protections. The court on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, declined to hear the case brought by drivers and unions who had opposed the measure. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)LOS ANGELES – The California Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit Wednesday that sought to overturn a ballot measure that makes app-based ride-hailing and delivery drivers independent contractors instead of employees eligible for benefits and job protections. “We’re thankful, but not surprised, that the California Supreme Court has rejected this meritless lawsuit,” said Jim Pyatt, a Modesto retiree who drives for Uber, in a statement from a group that supports Proposition 22.
Uber will bring the booze after acquiring Drizly for $1.1B
The mobile ride-hailing company said Tuesday that it is acquiring the alcohol-delivery platform Drizly for $1.1 billion in stock and cash. Uber expects more than 90% of the sum to be paid to Drizly stockholders in shares of Uber common stock and the remainder paid in cash. Shares in San Francisco-based Uber jumped 7% in afternoon trading, to $56.42. U.S. alcohol online sales jumped 553% in April, according to NielsenIQ. AdThe acquisition gives Uber access to an established player in that space, which could be a leg up in the fiercely competitive food delivery market.
Maine company successfully launches prototype rocket
This Jan. 31, 2021 image provided by bluShift Aerospace shows The Knack Factory in Limestone, Maine, where an unmanned rocket lifts off in a test run. It was the first commercial rocket launch in Maine history. (bluShift Aerospace via AP)BRUNSWICK, Maine – A Maine company that's developing a rocket to propel small satellites into space passed its first major test on Sunday. It’s carbon neutral.”AdThe goal is to create a small rocket that could launch a 30-kilogram (66-pound) payload into low-Earth orbit, more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) above Earth's surface. An attempted test launch in Limestone earlier in January was postponed because of weather.
Distracted driver runs over officer while texting in Miami Beach, police say
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A distracted Uber driver who was texting ran over a police officer on Thursday evening in South Beach, police said. According to the Miami Beach Police Department, the officer was working on a narcotics-related investigation near the intersection of Collins Avenue and 14th Street. The injured police officer was in stable condition and was expected to recover at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, police said. Police officers issued the driver citations for texting while driving, failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and a violation of Florida’s move over law for emergency vehicles.
Some Uber, Lyft drivers sue over California ballot measure
The measure, which was passed in November with 58% support, was the most expensive in state history with Uber, Lyft and other services pouring $200 million in support of it. “Generally speaking, courts in California don't like to overturn the will of the people,” Moylan said. There are instances where the California courts have come in and said ... it's nice that this is what the people wanted to do, but our constitution doesn't permit the people to do this." The law expanded a California Supreme Court ruling that limited businesses from classifying certain workers as independent contractors. Another claim in the lawsuit alleges the measure violates a rule limiting ballot measures to a single subject.
Uber's food delivery business outshines core rides service
Uber's food delivery business brought in more money during the third quarter than its signature rides business , showing just how much consumer behavior has changed — and how far the company has adapted — since the pandemic struck. Uber brought in $3.13 billion in revenue, down 18% from the same time last year. Despite the decline, the rides business showed improvement from the second quarter, when it brought in just $790 million. Uber’s food delivery business also brought in more revenue than its rides business in the second quarter, when demand for rides was even lower due to the pandemic. Uber also expanded its grocery delivery service, which is now operating in 10 countries outside the U.S.
Ride-hailing, delivery giants win fight against labor law
Uber, Lyft, Doordash, Instacart and others sought to get out of those requirements, and after failing in court, succeeded in convincing voters to give them an exemption from most of the year-old law’s provisions. A record $200 million spending spree by the companies and their supporters helped them win the vote. The investment yielded a huge return for Uber and Lyft, whose combined market value climbed by $10 billion on Wednesday. Uber told its drivers the company would let drivers know how to enroll in benefits in the next few weeks. “It’s not really fair that Uber, Lyft etc.
Uber, Lyft spend big, win in California vote about drivers
FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2020, file photo travelers request an Uber ride at Los Angeles International Airport's LAX-it pick up terminal. A California ballot measure that would exempt Uber, Lyft and other app-based delivery drivers from being classified as company employees eligible for benefits and job protections led Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in early vote counts. San Francisco-based Uber and Lyft had threatened to pull out of California if they lost. Opponents said the companies exploit drivers to keep profits high and the ballot measure would deprive workers of rights like overtime pay and workers’ compensation. Supporters said the measure would allow drivers to maintain the freedom to work hours they choose and would provide other benefits.
Asia tracks Wall St rally as markets shrug at election limbo
The benchmark index had gained 3.5% before the market lost some of its momentum toward the end of the day. The Shanghai Composite index rose 0.6% to 3,297.34. But after a tumultuous overnight session in global markets where Trump prematurely declared victory, markets acted as if the occupant of the White House might be secondary. It may take days for a winner of the White House to emerge, and professional investors say they’re bracing for sharp market swings in the meantime. Stocks tend to rise regardless of which party controls the White House.
Across the country: 5 noteworthy ballot measures that deserve some attention
To see what exactly the ballot measures are in each state, click or tap here. Below are five noteworthy initiatives we thought we’d mention from across the country. Mississippi’s flag redesignThe state Legislature in June eliminated the old state flag that had the Confederate battle emblem, which was widely thought of as racist. California’s app-based driving proposalThis initiative will decide whether app-based transportation and delivery drivers are classified as independent contractors or as employees. Colorado’s abortion banThis is a ballot initiative that will likely draw a lot of attention across the nation.
20-year-old with suspended learner’s permit responsible for deadly hit and run, police say
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A man driving with a suspended learner’s permit was arrested after a year-long investigation into a hit-and-run on Interstate 95. The victim, an Uber driver, was a good Samaritan who had stopped to help a disabled vehicle. Investigators said Fortin had stopped his car after he saw that a Chrysler PT Cruiser was smashed into a concrete median barrier. After helping the motorist, Fortin was returning to his vehicle, but as he crossed the highway a vehicle hit him and kept going. Hollywood Police found the Camry abandoned along the inside shoulder of the Hollywood Boulevard exit ramp.
California court says Uber, Lyft drivers are employees
SAN FRANCISCO – A California appeals court on Thursday upheld an order requiring Uber and Lyft to treat their California drivers as employees instead of independent contractors, less than two weeks before voters will be asked to exempt the ride-hailing giants from the state's gig economy law. Uber and Lyft — who along with DoorDash have heavily bankrolled the ballot measure — had appealed an August preliminary injunction by a San Francisco judge. Uber and Lyft issued statements noting that the ruling doesn't take immediate affect and urging voters to approve Prop. Treating Uber and Lyft drivers as employees instead of independent contractors would guarantee benefits such as overtime, sick leave and expense reimbursement for workers who make up much of the freewheeling gig economy. Lawyers for Uber and Lyft say drivers are not fundamental to the business, arguing the companies are “multi-sided platforms” whose activities encompass much more than transportation.
Uber, Lyft look to kill California law on app-based drivers
Voters are being asked to decide via Proposition 22 whether to create an exemption to a new state law aimed at providing wage and benefit protections to Uber, Lyft and other app-based drivers. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)LOS ANGELES – Californians are being asked to decide if Uber, Lyft and other app-based drivers should remain independent contractors or be eligible for the benefits that come with being company employees. Voters are weighing whether to create an exemption to a new state law aimed at providing wage and benefit protections to drivers. The landmark labor law known known as AB5 threatens to upend the app-based business model, which offers great flexibility to drivers who can work whenever they choose. Uber and Lyft have maintained that their drivers meet the criteria to be independent contractors, not employees.
Uber gets 18-month London license after winning court appeal
LONDON – Uber can keep operating in London for another year and a half after winning its appeal of a decision by the British capital's transit regulator not to renew its license. The San Francisco-based ride-hailing company had challenged Transport for London’s decision in late 2019 not to renew its operating license over safety concerns involving impostor drivers. Uber’s London license has been revoked twice since 2017 but the company has been able to continue operating while it appealed. In the latest case, Transport for London rejected Uber’s application in November 2019 for a new license, citing several breaches that placed passengers at risk. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that while Uber has made improvements to get its license back, the company will still be closely scrutinized.
Asian stocks mixed after Wall St rally ahead of US debate
Asian stocks were mixed Tuesday after Wall Street recovered some of this month's losses as investors looked ahead to a debate between President Donald Trump and his challenger in the November election, former Vice President Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)TOKYO – Asian stocks were mixed Tuesday after Wall Street recovered some of this month's losses as investors looked ahead to a debate between President Donald Trump and his challenger in the November election, former Vice President Joe Biden. Overnight, Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index gained 1.6%, led by big tech stocks. “With a reasonable polling lead, one could argue that Joe Biden has more to lose here than President Trump,” said Carnell. He said with some potential for gaffes or other colorful moments, the debate might be “cringe-worthy but unlikely to deliver an electoral car-crash for either side.”On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose to 3,351.60.
Ready to vote but need a ride? This company says it’s stepping in to help
And just like every election year, it’s of the utmost importance that citizens cast their ballot in this year’s election. If you’ve registered but are already concerned about how you will make it to a polling station, the ride-sharing company Uber wants to step in and lend a hand. As Election Day approaches, and as part of its “Get Out the Vote” campaign, the company aims to help people find their polling location, as well as offer discounted rides to and from the poll during early voting. “As we look ahead to this year’s election, we are committed to doing our part to make sure every citizen has access to vote,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said. Uber officials said as Election Day nears, people will begin to have access to important information in the app.
Uber to require that passengers provide face-mask selfies
SAN FRANCISCO Mask slackers will now have to provide photographic proof they're wearing a face covering before boarding an Uber. The mask verification rule expands upon a similar requirement that Uber imposed on its drivers in May to help reassure passengers worried about being exposed to the novel coronavirus that has upended society. The requirement will roll out in the U.S. and Canada later this month before coming to other parts of the world. The additional safety measures are part of Uber's ongoing efforts to rebuild a service that has seen ridership plunge this year. The adverse conditions caused the number of trips on Uber during its most recent quarter to plunge by 56% from the previous year.
2 in custody after Uber car shot at in Hollywood
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. Two men were arrested early Wednesday after an Uber vehicle was shot at in Hollywood, authorities confirmed. According to a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, the Uber driver picked up a man and a woman from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino shortly before the car was shot up in the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 near Sheridan Street. Local 10 News had a crew at the scene as a black Honda could be seen with bullet holes in it. Hollywood police confirmed that the suspects were in a Mercedes-Benz, which they parked in front of a home off Polk Street and North 13th Avenue before running off. A motive for the shooting remains unclear.