Law & Courts Instacart joins Uber in suit to block new Seattle law for gig workers Instacart is joining Uber in a lawsuit against the city of Seattle over a new law scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, that would require companies to give gig workers 14 days’ notice before deactivating them. KUOW Staff
Law & Courts Sexual assault victims suing Uber notch a legal victory in long battle In a landmark decision, a judge has ruled that dozens of sexual assault cases filed against Uber can be consolidated. Dara Kerr
National In an effort to make rides safer, Lyft launches Women+ Connect The new opt-in feature lets women and nonbinary drivers prioritize passengers who fit the same description. But it's not a guarantee and is only available in a handful of cities for now. Vanessa Romo
Government Washington to adopt nation-leading family and medical leave for Uber drivers Washington is poised to become the first state in the nation to mandate paid family and medical leave and unemployment benefits for Uber and Lyft drivers. Monica Nickelsburg
National After a serious breach, Uber says its services are operational again What appeared to be a lone hacker announced the breach after apparently tricking an Uber employee into providing credentials. It is not known how much data the hacker stole. The Associated Press
Technology Uber lobbied and used 'stealth' tech to block scrutiny, according to a new report A nonprofit network of investigative reporters details charges of how the ride-sharing service pushed into markets around the world as a company spokesperson acknowledged "mistakes'' in the past. The Associated Press
National Uber and Lyft add fuel surcharges to rides as gas prices surge nationwide As of Monday, the average cost of a gallon of regular fuel is now $4.325, according to AAA. Both ride-share companies say they're adding surcharges to deal with the spike in gas prices in the U.S. Jonathan Franklin
National An Uber rider who got stuck in the Virginia traffic jam ended up with a $600 bill Andrew Peters was stuck on I-95 for nine hours this week after snow and ice caused tractor-trailers to jackknife on the interstate, making the road impassable. By Thursday, Uber had offered a refund. Jonathan Franklin
National Uber And Lyft Will Give Free Rides To COVID-19 Vaccination Spots, White House Says Lyft will offer up to $15 for trips to or from a vaccination site. The deal covers daytime rides on bikes and scooters, as well as in cars. Bill Chappell
National Microsoft, Facebook, Uber Plan To Reopen Offices All three companies say they intend to abide by local health protocols and safety guidelines as limited numbers of employees will be allowed to return to headquarters. Vanessa Romo
