• The US Army is partnering with Lyft and Uber for a military base access pilot program.
• The pilot aims to improve transportation for over 600,000 personnel on six Army bases.
• If successful, the initiative could expand to over 20 military bases nationwide.

The US Army wants to open its base gates to Uber and Lyft drivers to give soldiers more options for getting around.

A new partnership and pilot program starting Monday morning involving the US Army and ride-share companies Lyft and Uber seeks to increase the number of drivers approved to enter six military bases. The program aims to expand driver opportunities and improve transportation for troops on and off base.

Access to military bases is normally only granted to servicemembers, their families, and government civilians. Now, company drivers without any government affiliation will be allowed to sign up for base access.

Testing the waters

The new pilot program, currently set to last just two months, will initially focus on six Army installations home to over 600,000 service members, families, and government civilians, Uber said.

Locations include Fort Bliss in Texas, Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, and three base locations in Hawaii. If the new program is successful, the Army hopes to expand the initiative to over 20 bases.

"This pilot is our response to see if we can safely collaborate with the ride-share industry to simplify transportation options for everyone living on, working on, or even visiting our camps, posts, and installations," Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer said in an Army statement.

"We heard you and agree, it shouldn't be so hard to coordinate transportation onto our installations, but also in and around some of our larger ones," he said, addressing people affected.

Military bases tend to be in isolated locations outside major metropolitan areas, leaving servicemembers with few public transportation options. Many junior enlisted troops don't own cars either, making it tough for some to secure reliable off-base travel during weekends.

"Through collaboration with the ride-share industry, we're able to provide our Soldiers and their families with safe, reliable and convenient transportation options that support their unique needs and enhance their overall quality of life," Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said in a statement.

How it's going to work?

Uber and Lyft drivers approved for military base access will receive a base access credential which could be digital or physical, according to an Army spokesman. But they won't be able to access base without an official work requirement.

Drivers must display their ride requests on their phones to military gate guards, proving they are servicing a rider who already has base access credentials.

Those who choose to opt in must pass the Army's base access vetting process, including an in-person background check, according to Uber. Such checks are normally performed at a military base's visitor center.

It's unclear if additional incentives will be provided to ride-app drivers who can seek on-base credentialing, beyond expanding their pool of riders to base personnel. To gain base approval, they'll have to head to base access centers on their own dime and time.

The companies will also aim to hold a military recruiting drive to boost contract employment for on-base personnel seeking to make a little extra money by breaking into the gig economy with ride-share work.

News of the partnership with the Army comes as some ride-share drivers have sought to fight back against their statuses as "contractors," instead of employees. Being a full time employee provides more rights and benefits to drivers. But as contractors, a driver has the option to refuse rides and set their own hours.

Data and insights from the initial six pilot locations will be used to refine and expand the Army program for expansion.

While the initiative appears to be the most comprehensive effort from the DoD to expand transportation options for troops in a meaningful way, a few military bases have sought ad hoc partnerships with companies in the past, including Joint Base San Antonio in Texas and a handful of southern California Navy bases.

• Some 60,000 DoorDash delivery workers will split a $16.75M settlement, NY officials said Monday.
• The settlement ends a probe into deceptive tipping practices.
• DoorDash used tips to offset driver salaries, deceiving customers and workers, AG Letitia James said.

DoorDash will pay a $16.75 million settlement to resolve a probe led by New York officials into the delivery platform's tipping practices.

The settlement will be split among some 60,000 delivery workers — known as "Dashers" — and will range from between $10 and $14,000 per worker, Attorney General Letitia James said Monday.

For years, DoorDash used tips to offset what it paid its Dashers, James told reporters in announcing the settlement.

In an example provided by James, if Dashers were offered a guaranteed amount of $10 for a delivery, and the customer did not tip, DoorDash would pay the Dasher the promised $10.

But if the customer tipped $3, then DoorDash would let the Dasher keep that tip and pay only $7 out of its own corporate coffers.

The practice was kept secret from customers and DoorDash delivery workers, James said. Dashers did not know that their tips were not adding to their income, she said. And customers had no idea that their tips were not subsidizing their Dashers' incomes and were instead helping the company save money.

New York, which also worked with Illinois and DC on the probe, gained access to communications among DoorDash executives who worried that their Dashers would "figure out" what was going on, James told reporters.

"Doordash executives knew how deceptive this policy was," she said. "They knew it wasn't right but they did it anyway."

Under the settlement, the New York AG's office will set up a website for Dashers to use to claim their money. DoorDash will be required to end the tip-sharing practice and lack of transparency in how tips are handled, and for the next three years must report to the AG's office every 6 months on compliance.

A DoorDash spokesperson told Business Insider that the "pay model" cited by the AGs office was in place between 2017 and 2019, and has not been used in the last six years.

"We remain committed to making sure that Dasher earnings are always fair and transparent, and the allegations settled were related to an old pay model that was retired in 2019. To be clear: Dashers always keep 100% of tips from orders on the DoorDash app," a spokesperson said.

This story was updated to include comment from DoorDash.

• Wildfires in Los Angeles raged through the star-studded Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
• Paris Hilton, Miles Teller, and Anthony Hopkins were among the celebrities who lost their homes.
• The average house price in the northern LA area is around $4.5 million.

The biggest of the wildfires in Los Angeles has been burning the Pacific Palisades neighborhood for over a week, razing one of the nation's most prosperous neighborhoods.

Stars including Paris Hilton, Milo Ventimiglia, Billy Crystal, Mel Gibson, Miles Teller, and Anthony Hopkins, have lost their homes.

The area, between Santa Monica and Malibu in northern Los Angeles, is home to some of the country's most expensive real estate. The average house price is about $4.5 million, according to Realtor.com data.

Much of it has been on fire since January 7, when a small blaze in the neighborhood exploded to engulf many thousands of acres, prompting evacuation orders for tens of thousands.

As of Tuesday evening the Palisades Fire had burned some 24,000 acres. It was 18% contained, according to Cal Fire.

Bella Hadid said her childhood home was destroyed

Bella Hadid posted a photo on her Instagram story on January 10 showing her childhood Malibu home in flames.

She wrote: "Thanks to everyone reaching out. The memories we made in this house, the love my mama put into building it, the family times, the stories, the friends, the love. I will miss you 3903 carbon canyon rd."

The house was originally owned by Yolanda Hadid, the model's mother, and was featured in "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." People reported that it was sold for $19.5 million in 2015.

Milo Ventimiglia of 'Heroes' watched his home burn down on security cameras

Milo Ventimiglia, known for starring in "This is Us" and "Heroes," watched his home in Malibu burn via security cameras with Jarah Ventimiglia, his wife, who is nine months pregnant.

Speaking near his home on January 9, he described watching his house burn down to CBS: "I think there's a kind of shock moment where you're going, 'Oh, this is real, and this is happening.' And then, at a certain point, we just turned it off. What good is it to continue watching? We kind of accepted the loss."

Bryan Greenberg confirmed on Instagram that he and Jamie Chung, his wife, lost their house

Actors Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung, who are married, confirmed on January 9 that their home had burned down but that their family was safe.

Greenberg shared a photo of the wreckage on his Instagram story, writing: "It was all a dream. Thankfully the family is safe. Thank you to all of the firefighters risking their lives. Stay safe out there."

Mel Gibson said his house burned down while he was away recording 'The Joe Rogan Experience'

Mel Gibson told NewsNation on January 9, that he learned about the fires in his Malibu neighborhood while recording an episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience" in Texas.

He said: "I was doing the Rogan podcast, and kind of ill at ease while we were talking, because I knew my neighborhood was on fire, so I thought, I wonder if my place is still there. But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn't there."

Gibson added: "Obviously, it's kind of devastating. It's emotional. You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. "

Paris Hilton said she 'built precious memories' at her destroyed Malibu home

On January 8, Paris Hilton shared on Instagram that she was "heartbroken beyond words" to learn that her Malibu home had been destroyed in the fire.

"Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience," Hilton wrote. Although the loss felt "overwhelming," she said she was grateful that her family and pets were safe.

Hilton returned to her home on January 9 and posted a video of the wreckage on Instagram.

In the caption, she said: "The heartbreak is truly indescribable."

Miles Teller and his wife evacuated before the flames consumed their property

Miles Teller, a star of "Top Gun: Maverick," also lost his home. His wife, Keleigh Teller, shared on Instagram on January 10 that the couple's Pacific Palisades home was destroyed.

Alongside a series of photos — one showing the remains of their home — she wrote: "I wish I grabbed my wedding dress."

"Wish I did a lot different but it doesn't matter, stay safe, get out," she added.

The home of Jennifer Grey, the 'Dirty Dancing' star 'burnt to the ground'

Stella Gregg, Jennifer Grey's daughter, told followers on her Instagram Story on January 8 that her mother's home "burnt to the ground," but confirmed that the actor and her dog were safe.

On January 10, Gregg posted: "Was lucky enough to call Samoa my home for a bit. Thank you mama for making it what it was and allowing me to make such beautiful memories there. Home isn't walls and frames. Home is family. Stay safe. Hug your loved ones. Don't be afraid to ask for help."

Joan Rivers's daughter says she saved her mom's Emmy

Melissa Rivers, the daughter of late actor and comedian Joan Rivers, said her home burned down in an Instagram post on January 8.

"My family and I have safely evacuated, and we are deeply grateful to be unharmed," she wrote. Rivers also shared more details about her evacuation in an interview with CNN, and urged others to be prepared.

"To be 100% honest, I grabbed my mom's Emmy, a photo of my dad, and a drawing that my mother had done of me and my son," she said.

Billy Crystal's home, where he'd lived with his family for 46 years, was burned to the ground

"We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can't be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this," Crystal said in a statement to Business Insider.

"The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home," he said.

Beyoncé's mom, Tina Knowles, said her Malibu bungalow was destroyed in the fires

Tina Knowles said in a post on Instagram that her coastal Malibu bungalow had been burned down in one of the blazes.

"It was my favorite place, my sanctuary, my sacred Happy Place. Now it is gone," she wrote.

Knowles, who is also mom to singer Solange Knowles, went on to thank the "brave men and women in our fire department who risked their lives in dangerous conditions."

"This could have been so much worse without the dedication of the disaster workers and first responders," she added.

Cary Elwes said he and his family evacuated the area safely, but said their house was destroyed

On January 8, "The Princess Bride" actor wrote: "Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire."

Ricki Lake said that she escaped from her house with her dog and 'not much else'

Ricki Lake, the star of the original "Hairspray" movie and her self-titled talk show, wrote in an Instagram post on January 8 that her "dream home" overlooking Malibu was "gone."

In the caption, Lake said she and her husband escaped from the house with Dolly, their dog, "and not much else."

Mark Hamill evacuated his home, which survived

The "Star Wars" actor Mark Hamill evacuated, too.

He said on Instagram that he had left his Malibu home on January 7 with his wife, Marilou, and their dog, Trixie. He described it as the "most horrific fire since '93."

On January 12, he thanked Instagram followers for their concern and said that his home "amazingly" survived.

Jamie Lee Curtis said 'many' friends lost their homes

On January 8, "Halloween" actor Jamie Lee Curtis appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and said, holding back tears: "Where I live is on fire right now."

She added: "It's just a catastrophe in Southern California. Obviously, there have been horrific fires in many places. This is literally where I live. Everything — the market I shop in, the schools my kids go to, friends.

"Many, many, many, many, many friends now have lost their homes."

Kate Beckinsale wrote in an Instagram post on January 8 that "the whole of the Palisades being destroyed is unthinkably horrific.

"My daughter and I lived there for most of her childhood and most of her childhood is gone."

Haley Joel Osment thanked those who 'helped as we lose our home'

On January 9, the actor Haley Joel Osment shared that he had lost his home to the Eaton fire in Altadena.

Osment is best known for childhood performances in movies like "The Sixth Sense" and "A.I. Artificial Intelligence."

Writing on Instagram, he said: "My heart would be so full every time I drove home - it was such a special place - I loved living there - our forest and our mountains and our homes - all gone."

R&B singer Jhené Aiko said she lost her home and all her possessions

Aiko shared photos of her home on fire in a now-deleted Instagram post. In a separate Instagram post, she said she wanted to "let suffering be a gift, an act of compassion."

"Me and my children's home is gone, burned to the ground with all of our things inside" Aiko wrote on Instagram. "Lord have mercy. Thankful we still have each other. Starting from scratch. My heart is heavy."

Beloved Hollywood stars like Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, and Jeff Bridges also lost their homes

Photos obtained by People showed actors John Goodman, Anna Faris, and Anthony Hopkins lost their homes due to the fires.

On January 11, Hopkins appeared to confirm the reports on Instagram. He wrote: "As we all struggle to heal from the devastation of the fires, it's important we remember that the only thing we take with us is the love we give."

The home actor Jeff Bridges shared with his family in Malibu was also lost, the Associated Press reported.

TMZ meanwhile published footage of Adam Brody and Leighton Meester's home in flames, as well as a photo of Anna Faris' home in ashes.

"The Hills" stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt also had their house burned down.

"I'm so sad our house is gone. I wish I could have gone back and got more," Montag said as she broke down crying in a video she posted on TikTok on January 8.

The songwriter Diane Warren, a 15-time Oscar nominee who has worked with stars like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, shared on Instagram that her beach house of nearly 30 years was likely gone.

"It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite. There's a rainbow shining on it which I'm taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy," Warren wrote.

Meanwhile, Eugene Levy said he got stuck while trying to leave his neighborhood on January 7.

"The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon," Levy told The Los Angeles Times. "I couldn't see any flames but the smoke was very dark."

According to photos obtained by People, the "Schitt's Creek" star's home was almost completely leveled by the following day, with only a stone chimney and a charred row of hedges left standing.

Chet Hanks, the son of actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, wrote in an Instagram story on January 7: "The neighborhood I grew up in is burning to the ground rn. Pray for the Palisades."

Joshua Jackson, Britney Spears, and Mandy Moore all spoke out about the devastation of losing their homes

"Dawson's Creek" star Joshua Jackson's Topanga Canyon home also burned down in the blaze.

"First and most importantly, all the people closest to me affected by the fire are ok. My daughter, my family, my neighbors all made it out safely," Jackson said in a statement to BI. "Sadly my beautiful home did not survive the fires. But today, I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by the people I love."

Britney Spears told her Instagram followers on January 9 that she had evacuated her home.

The singer said that she had left her home in LA and was "driving 4 hours to a hotel."

She added that she had been unable to charge her phone "the past two days" as she had no electricity.

Actor and singer Mandy Moore said in an Instagram story posted on January 7 that she was also among the residents ordered to evacuate. By January 8, the singer said in a follow-up story that she was unsure if her home "made it."

She wrote in an Instagram post: "My children's school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too."

Greg Wells, the music producer on the "Wicked" movie, told Variety on January 12 that he had a "state-of-the-art" studio in his home that was destroyed in the fire.

He said: "I just have to remind myself, it's really down to the people and to the ideas, and none of that stuff makes a song better. So I'm not gonna let it define me."

• Amazon drivers can earn up to an extra $25,000 for the holidays if you thank them for a delivery.
• The company has brought back its "Thank my driver" feature after first launching it in 2022.
• Amazon covered a limited amount of $5 thank-yous at no cost to customers.

Amazon brought back its promotion that'll allow you to thank your delivery driver this holiday season.

If you're pleased with your ride, you can participate by typing "Thank my Driver" into the search bar of your Amazon app or asking Alexa to "thank my driver." You'll have to thank them within 14 days of your last delivery.

It's already got a lot of traction in 2024.

The "Thank My Driver" promotion began on December 4 this year, and Amazon tipped drivers $5 for the first 2 million thank-yous from US customers.

Amazon hit the 2-million limit within six days. However, there are still ways to help your delivery person earn extra cash.

Similar to 2023, the company is offering "additional awards" for drivers who receive praise for their deliveries, according to a press release from Amazon.

Here's what Amazon is offering: "$100 each for the 1,000 most-thanked drivers each day through the rest of December; $10,000 for the seven top-thanked drivers each week until the end of December."

Meanwhile, the seven most-thanked Amazon drivers from December 4 to December 31 will receive $25,000 plus an extra $25,000 to be donated to the charity of their choice.

"Treat your customers like family, and they will do the same to you," driver Andrew Shearouse, one of the 2023 recipients of the $25,000 tip, said.

Only US-based drivers are eligible, and they must be an Amazon Flex partner, drive for a delivery service partner, or be a hub delivery associate. A delivery driver can only be thanked once per delivery. Amazon package deliveries from the Post Office and companies like UPS aren't eligible for the extra rewards.

Those looking for other ways to thank their delivery people can check TikTok, where creators are posting about the care packages they leave on their doorstep — especially during the busy holiday delivery season.

During the holiday season, Amazon drivers' shifts can be as long as 10 hours — and a serious workout. There are some Amazon drivers who earn $18 an hour compared to full-time UPS drivers who earn an average total compensation package of $145,000 per year, according to UPS.

In September, Amazon announced that it will spend $2.1 billion to give its delivery drivers a pay raise. Although the exact rate depends on location, the boost may bump drivers' pay to a national average of $22 an hour.

• Americans should send packages early to meet holiday shipping deadlines and avoid delays.
• UPS hires thousands of seasonal workers to manage increased holiday shipping demand.
• Here are FedEx, USPS, and UPS' specific deadlines for Christmas delivery.

The holiday season is here, and while delivery drivers work hard to ensure parcels reach their destinations on time, gift-givers can help by sending them before the shipping deadlines.

With Christmas less than two weeks off, there are mere days left to mail gifts to your loved ones. Carriers prep for the busy holiday time by hiring seasonal employees to assist drivers or deliver packages themselves.

In 2023, UPS said it'd hire 100,000 seasonal workers for the busy holiday season; this year, they said they're hiring more than 125,000. Although many carriers' deadlines allow for last-minute shipments — 48 hours before December 25 — it's best practice to get your gift shipped off as early as possible.

Here's when three big mail carriers say you need to ship your gifts by.

FedEx

There were five fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, FedEx Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Brie Carere noted in a press release. As such, FedEx says it is doing what it can to cut down on holiday shipping chaos.

FedEx is giving consumers until December 23 to ship their packages within the US, Mexico, Canada, or Puerto Rico for next-day delivery.

USPS

If using the United States Postal Service, consumers should mail their gifts by December 21 to arrive before Christmas in the US, but those shipping to Alaska and Hawaiian must have packages in by December 20.

December 16 is the deadline for shipping internationally to Asian and European countries.

It's unclear if shipping to Canada in time for Christmas is possible. USPS previously said mail service to Canada was suspended due to the ongoing postal worker strike, but Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon asked for Canada Post union employees to be ordered back to work on Friday, according to the Toronto Star.

UPS

Those shipping with UPS have until December 23 to mail their packages within the US or Canada using its Next Day Air service. Rates will depend on when you ship and where you're shipping to.

• A Pew Research Center analysis shows the largest occupations for young US workers without degrees.
• Men often work as drivers or in construction, while women work in customer service or nursing roles.
• College enrollment rates have declined in recent years.

Customer service representatives and truck drivers are the most common jobs for young women and men without a four-year degree, respectively.

Men and women between the ages of 25 and 34 who don't have college degrees also work as construction laborers, health aides, cashiers, and chefs, per a Pew Research Center analysis published in July.

There was little overlap in the most common jobs for young men and women without a college degree, but the two groups did share two roles: first-line supervisors of sales workers and retail salespersons.

Roles like these have become particularly prevalent for men, whose college enrollment rates have fallen behind women's in recent years.

Forty-seven percent of US women between the ages of 25 and 34 have a bachelor's degree compared to 37% of men, per a Pew analysis published in November. However, overall college enrollment rates have fallen in recent years: The share of male high school graduates between the ages of 16 and 24 enrolling in college has declined to 58% as of 2023 from 67% in 2018, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Young women's enrollment rate has declined to 65% from 71% over this period.

Many of these young people are seeking jobs that don't require a college degree, and some have benefited from companies dropping degree requirements. The share of US job postings that require at least a college degree has fallen to 17.8% from 20.4% in 2019, according to an Indeed report published earlier this year. To be sure, many employers still prioritize hiring workers with a college diploma.

The Pew report published in July also highlighted the most common job categories for Americans with a four-year college degree. Four occupation categories were among the 10 most common jobs for both men and women: software developers, managers, accountants and auditors, and elementary and middle school teachers.

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