World in Brief (8/29/06)

California may raise minimum wage

By Abigail Palmer, Daily Bruin (UCLA)

(U-WIRE)… California may raise minimum wage

By Abigail Palmer, Daily Bruin (UCLA)

(U-WIRE) LOS ANGELES — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made an agreement last week with Democratic leaders of the legislature to raise the state minimum wage by almost 20 percent by January 2008.

If the agreement is passed by the legislature, the state minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $6.75 an hour to $7.50 by January 2007, and by January 2008 it would increase to $8.

The increase to $8 an hour would make California’s minimum wage the highest in the nation.

The governor said the compromise is a common-sense solution to help increase the wage for working residents without hurting the economy.

Plan B approved for use over the counter

By Diana Whitaker, Daily Bruin (UCLA)

(U-WIRE) LOS ANGELES — Plan B, also known as the morning-after pill, is on its way to being sold without prescription to women 18 and older.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision last Thursday to allow over-the-counter sale of Plan B has spurred opposition from some who say the easier access to the pill will promote unprotected sexual activity, and applause from others who say the new decision could lead to fewer unwanted pregnancies, especially among young women.

The FDA’s decision is not the final step in making Plan B available over the counter. Plan B has been available with a prescription since 1999.

“There has to have a system in place to ensure that the sale only occurs to those eligible…Anyone under age 18 will have to have a prescription, and a system is needed to monitor the program,” said Steven Kozel, pharmacy manager at the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center at University of California at Los Angeles.

Plan B consists of two hormonal pills used to prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation, fertilization or implantation of a fertilized ovum. If taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex, Plan B can be up to 89 percent effective.