The Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog has found $124,000 in improper travel expenses by former administrator Scott Pruitt. It suggests the agency find a way to recover those costs.
‘Possible’ More Counties Than Now Known Were Hacked In 2016, Fla. Delegation Says
The disclosure this week that two Florida counties were breached by Russian attackers in 2016 has officials worried about what more they don’t know.
Guatemalan Toddler Apprehended At U.S. Border Dies After Weeks In Hospital
The child’s mother informed federal agents that her 2 ½-year-old son was sick after they were taken into custody last month on the north bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas, U.S. officials say.
Will Washington State’s New ‘Public Option’ Plan Reduce Heath Care Costs?
Washington passed a law this week to create a new kind of public health insurance. It could inspire other states to try such a plan, but consumers might be in for a reality check.
Trump Administration Wants To Cut Funding For Public Housing Repairs
Public housing officials estimate that it would cost $50 billion to fix up buildings that have fallen into disrepair nationwide. The Trump administration is calling for more private investment.
After A (Partial) Win In Court, Woodstock 50 May Still Go On
The promoters of a 50th anniversary Woodstock festival can still attempt to put on their event in August, though they face a steep uphill battle for financing and permits.
It’s Not Just Salt, Sugar, Fat: Study Finds Ultra-Processed Foods Drive Weight Gain
“Landmark” study finds a highly processed diet spurred people to overeat compared with an unprocessed diet, about 500 extra calories a day. That suggests something about processing itself is at play.
Missouri Senate Passes Bill That Would Ban Abortions After 8 Weeks
It’s the latest in a series of sweeping abortion restrictions passed by Republican-controlled state legislatures that appear aimed at pushing abortion challenges to the Supreme Court.
Remote Island Chain Has Few People — But Hundreds Of Millions Of Pieces Of Plastic
The Cocos Keeling Islands make up barely 6 square miles in the Indian Ocean. It’s a good place to measure debris because almost no one lives there. Scientists were flabbergasted by what they found.
How Making History Unmade A Family
Fifteen years ago, Hillary and Julie Goodridge married hours after Massachusetts became the first state to allow same-sex marriage. But less than five years later, they were getting divorced.
Jeff Koons’ ‘Rabbit’ Fetches $91 Million, Auction Record For Work By A Living Artist
Robert Mnuchin, an art dealer and the father of the U.S. Treasury secretary, bought the sculpture for a client. Some art collectors consider the silver bunny to be “the holy grail of Koons works.”
New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio Enters 2020 Democratic Presidential Race
De Blasio is the 23rd Democratic candidate, and not the only mayor. He won current office from the back of a big primary pack, something he is mindful of as even allies have warned against a 2020 bid.
Court To Rule On Sex Reassignment Surgery For Idaho Inmate
An Idaho inmate sued the state to receive sex reassignment surgery and won. If she prevails in federal appeals court, she’ll become the first inmate to receive the surgery through court order.
Another Rule Trump Could Break: Primary Challengers Doom Incumbent Presidents
The last three sitting presidents to lose reelection — George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford — all faced strong opponents within their parties. But Trump has strengths they did not.
CFPB Chief Says Education Department Is Blocking Student Loan Oversight
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Kathy Kraninger says the department is getting in the way of efforts to police the student loan industry. The revelation comes in a letter obtained by NPR.
Why An Indonesian Rehab Center Doesn’t Insist On Abstinence
Sam Nugraha of Indonesia says that in his country, a smile can be a mask covering inner turmoil. So how do you get addicts to be honest?
Trump’s New Immigration Plan Doesn’t Address Undocumented Immigrants
President Trump will announce the new immigration proposal on Thursday. It would keep legal immigration levels the same but dramatically change who would be let in.
Trump Pardons His Friend Conrad Black, Who Wrote Glowing Trump Biography Last Year
The former media mogul was convicted of fraud in 2007 and served more than three years in prison. Black says Trump told him he was reversing an unjust verdict, not rewarding him for his support.
Trump Takes Aim At Huawei, Paves Way For Ban Of Foreign Telecom Equipment
Amid rising trade tensions, President Trump is moving against Chinese telecom firms that the administration says can exploit vulnerabilities in communications and information technology.
PG&E Transmission Lines Caused California’s Deadliest Wildfire, State Officials Say
The utility giant had already acknowledged that the fire investigation would likely find its equipment responsible for the Camp Fire in 2018.
FCC Wants Phone Companies To Start Blocking Robocalls By Default
“The American people are fed up with illegal robocalls,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said. “And we believe that we need to make it easier for phone companies to block these robocalls.”
Which Countries Are Best At Preventing Low Birth Weight? Which Need To Do More?
For the first time, the World Health Organization has estimated how well the world is doing to prevent low-weight births. The progress is too slow, researchers say.
Tariff Waivers Let U.S. Government Pick Winners And Losers
President Trump suggests U.S. firms hurt by tariffs on Chinese goods can apply for a waiver. The Commerce Department is already dealing with thousands of exclusion requests for earlier tariffs.
Auto Industry Waits (And Waits) To See Whether Trump Will Slap New Tariffs On Cars
President Trump’s tariff tit-for-tat with China is not the only trade tension in town. The White House is weighing the possibility of tariffs on cars and car parts from Europe and Japan.
U.S. Births Fell To A 32-Year Low In 2018; CDC Says Birthrate Is In Record Slump
“The birthrate is a barometer of despair,” demographer Dowell Myers says. Not since 1986 has the U.S. seen so few babies born.
New HIV Map Offers Most Detailed Look Yet At The Epidemic
Knowing where rates of prevalence are highest — and lowest — can lead to new strategies for treatment and prevention. The map focuses on sub-Saharan Africa, the epicenter of the epidemic.
As Leaks Show Lavish NRA Spending, Former Staff Detail Poor Conditions At Nonprofit
New documents leaked about NRA top executive Wayne LaPierre’s lavish clothing and travel expenses contrast with the culture of fear, poor pay and an underfunded pension described by former staffers.
India’s 6-Week-Long Elections Are So Big They’ve Become A Tourist Draw
With nearly 900 million eligible voters, the elections are considered the world’s largest. Now travelers — both Indian and foreign — want to experience what it’s like across the country.
Carly Rae Jepsen Colors Outside The Lines
On her latest album Dedicated, Carly Rae Jepsen opens up about family, singlehood and the one that might’ve got away.
It’s Not Just Measles. What You Should Know About Vaccines For Adults
Many people don’t know which shots they need as they get older. And the vaccines can be tougher to keep track of because many adults go to the doctor less frequently than kids do.
American Muslims In Public Life Say They Face Outsize Scrutiny
Many say the storm of criticism around Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), the first black Muslim woman in Congress, is more about who she is than what she says. Her experience is familiar to other Muslim leaders.
After Walking Thousands Of Miles, Mink The Bear Is Almost Back Home
New Hampshire wildlife officials relocated a black bear with a penchant for doughnuts more than 100 miles north — close to the Canadian border. A year later, she has traveled a long and winding route.
Precedent Favors Democrats In Power Struggle With Trump, But It Could Take Awhile
Courts have tended to side with Congress when it comes to questions of congressional oversight of the executive branch. House Democrats hope they will again in a confrontation over the Mueller report.
Mueller Report Elicited A Lot Of Conversation — But Little Election Legislation
Congress so far hasn’t used the special counsel report to draft new laws aimed at protecting elections from foreign interference. One key senator worries about missing the moment.
State Department Orders Nonessential U.S. Government Employees Out Of Iraq
The travel advisory ordered the departure of employees at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Irbil. It was not immediately clear what led to the order.
Alabama Lawmakers Pass Bill Banning Nearly All Abortions
The vote in the Alabama Senate came after a chaotic attempt to vote last week. If the governor signs the bill into law, it will become among the most restrictive in the country.