United States | News & Politics

In a first-ever review of nitrate levels in public water systems across the country, the Environmental Working Group found that 6,114 of them—from heavily agricultural rural areas to major cities, including Los Angeles, Phoenix and Philadelphia—have elevated levels of nitrates, affecting 18 percent of the country’s population, or roughly one in five people, between 2021 and 2023.

Some states, including Iowa, which has significant nitrate pollution linked to agriculture, did not end up in the top 10 merely because it has fewer public water systems.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal racketeering convictions Monday of imprisoned former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and ex-lobbyist Matt Borges in the state’s long-running $60 million bribery scheme.

The high court’s ruling leaves in place a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati last May. Householder and Borges had appealed to justices after the lower court denied their requests for an en banc hearing before all active judges.

The Department of Justice secured Householder’s and Borges’ convictions in March 2023 after a yearslong investigation and a more than six-week trial.

Householder, now 66, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for masterminding a scheme illicitly funded by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. to elect allies, secure power, pass a $1 billion bailout of two of its affiliated nuclear plants and then defend the bill, known as House Bill 6, from a repeal effort.

The agency’s prestigious research office spent decades doing scientific work insulated from political pressure. Now it’s being dismantled.

Richland County voters are deciding whether to reject a wind and solar ban. Organizations linked to pro-gas interests have given money to keep it in place.

cross-posted from: https://piefed.world/c/popculturechat/p/1069093/melania-trump-wants-abc-to-take-a-stand-against-jimmy-kimmel-after-hateful-joke

First lady Melania Trump is not happy about late night host Jimmy Kimmel's recent joke about her.

"Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow," Kimmel quipped during a sketch on his show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" The segment was the comedian's mock alternative speech to the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which aired two days before the real event the Trumps attended together ended in gunfire. Authorities subdued a heavily armed man who they say entered the Washington Hilton ballroom in an attempt to target administration officials.

In a post on X, the first lady called Kimmel's joke about her "hateful and violent."

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Gov. Janet Mills has vetoed legislation to temporarily ban the development of large-scale data centers in Maine.

The bill passed through the state Legislature with bipartisan support earlier this month. It would have enacted an 18-month moratorium on new data centers using more than 20 megawatts of power. If enacted, the law would have been the first of its kind in the U.S.

But the governor had asked for an exception to allow a $550 million facility planned in Jay. But an amendment to the bill that exempted the Jay project was defeated in the Legislature.

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Archive: [ https://archive.is/uAAva ]

Cross-Posted, via Videos community.

“Mr. President, you inspire them 24/7, 365 You give them the resources that they need and you know, they know that you have their back, and that is a changing dynamic in this country and that's why you saw a brave Secret Service agents respond immediately, swiftly, subdue and take down the suspect and safeguard the lives of thousands of individuals at that hotel.”