Five Things You Need to Know: 10/31, Wednesday Edition

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -

1) CA: Google.org Donates $1M to First Responder Support Network

Google.org, a part of the search engine’s community service branch, has recently pledged to donate $1 million to the First Responder Support Network in San Rafael, CA, writes Katelyn Newman of US News. “…Since 2001, the network has hosted six-day intensive retreats that provide clinical, peer and spiritual help for hundreds of people who serve on the front lines of emergency response,” per the article. According to the Support Network’s executive director in the article, the funds will be utilized to increase the organization’s activities in cities including Phoenix, Portland and Kansas City.

2) Wacky Wednesday: Money Allegedly Lures Corrections Officer to Smuggle Fried Treats into FL Jail

In this Halloween edition of 5 Things, we feature a few employees allegedly behaving a little oddly. Although it may not be work comp-related, one could argue it might alter the workplace environment a bit, and perhaps challenge a few safety measures in place. Gary Alford, a corrections officer, and his wife, Shantica Anastacia, allegedly attempted to sneak an array of McDonald’s grub choices and a cell phone into the jail, writes Kaitlyn Schallhorn of Fox News (WPLG reports). An inmate reportedly offered to pay the Alfords $1,000 to sneak in the phone, and the wife was reportedly offered $500 to sneak in the fried treasures, per the Miami Herald. A dept. spokesperson said this kind of activity won’t be accepted, and the pair will be “…pursued to the fullest extent of the law.”

3) Weird Wednesday Continues: LA Teacher Allegedly Drinks Wine While on the Job

Shannon R. Beran, a Rapides Parish elementary school teacher, was allegedly acting a little weird during “pickup duty” recently, according to National Desk Staff of WDSU News. A school officer was called to handle the sticky situation in which Beran was acting “awkwardly.” She was standoff-ish with the police officer, and a somewhat-used bag of wine was found in her classroom. It looks like she was arrested, then released on a $500-worth bond.

4) Bill Introduced in NY Could Require Some Insurance Coverage for Medical Marijuana

Recently-filed A11390 “…would add medical cannabis coverage to four publicly funded health programs — Medicaid, Child Health Plus, workers’ compensation and EPIC, as well as the largely publicly funded Essential Plan,” writes Tom Angell of Marijuana Moment. The bill details commercial insurance requirements as well. While said companies are not required to cover medical cannabis, “…it would allow state regulators to certify medical marijuana dispensaries as Medicaid providers solely for the purpose of dispensing cannabis,” per the article.

5) Robots Everywhere! AI Creates Expensive Painting

An “artificially intelligent program” has developed and created a painting that sold for $432,000, well above the original predicted $7,000-$10,000 range (Christie’s in NY), according to BBC. The “Portrait of Edmond Belamy” project was led by Obvious, out of Paris. “…The artwork was produced using an algorithm and a data set of 15,000 portraits painted between the 14th and 20th Centuries,” per the article. “To generate the image, the algorithm compared its own work to those in the data set until it could not tell them apart.” To read more on workers’ compensation and AI, click here.

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