Explore

Reuters Reuters
Trump administration moves to rescind rule that protects millions of forest acres

Trump administration moves to rescind rule that protects millions of forest acres

By Leah Douglas WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - The Trump administration took a step toward rescinding a decades-old rule that protects undeveloped forests on Tuesday in a move it says will help manage wildfire risk, but which environmental groups oppose, saying it would do the opposite.  
Rapid Read Rapid Read
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seeks Innovative Bids for Long-Term Glacial Flood Solution in Juneau, Alaska

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seeks Innovative Bids for Long-Term Glacial Flood Solution in Juneau, Alaska

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has initiated a new process to solicit bids for a long-term solution to glacial flooding in Juneau, Alaska, specifically targeting Suicide Basin. This approach aims to be faster and cheaper than previous proposals, though the exact nature of the project remains undefined. Brig. Gen. Clete Goetz of the Army Corps stated that the process will involve 'pitch briefings,' likened to the reality TV show 'Shark Tank,' to select a project and industry partner by the end of the year. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) has been published, asking bidders to submit plans to prevent Suicide Basin from rising above 1,100 feet and to limit flood discharges to 1,000 cubic feet per second. This initiative invokes President Trump’s 'Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork' directive, which seeks to shorten permitting timelines and reduce administrative hurdles for Army Corps projects. U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, emphasized the need for innovative and creative approaches to expedite the ...
AP News AP News
Trump administration briefly pauses contentious border project in Texas' Big Bend National Park

Trump administration briefly pauses contentious border project in Texas' Big Bend National Park

The Trump administration says it is temporarily pausing construction of a controversial border construction project in the Big Bend National Park while the head of the agency tasked with building the wall visits Texas to do an “on-the-ground evaluation.”
Rapid Read Rapid Read
New Mexico Environment Department Proposes Mandatory Investigations for Major Methane Leaks

New Mexico Environment Department Proposes Mandatory Investigations for Major Methane Leaks

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has proposed new rules to mandate investigations and fixes for major methane leaks, aiming to reduce air pollution and natural gas waste. Announced on Friday, the proposal seeks to establish a statewide program that will use satellite and aircraft imagery to identify large methane leaks. Upon detection of potential leaks, NMED officials would notify oil and gas operators in the affected areas, requiring them to investigate. If a leak is confirmed, operators would be obligated to repair it and submit a report to the Environment Department. Most investigations and repairs would need to be completed within three days of the initial notification. Additionally, the proposed rules would increase requirements for oil and gas operating equipment to align more closely with federal standards by 2031. NMED Secretary James Kenney stated that these rules build on New Mexico's existing oil and gas regulations and aim to keep natural gas in the pipeline.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Trump Administration Regulators Approve Bank Charter for Trump Family's Cryptocurrency Venture, Raising Ethics Concerns

Trump Administration Regulators Approve Bank Charter for Trump Family's Cryptocurrency Venture, Raising Ethics Concerns

Regulators appointed by President Trump have granted preliminary conditional approval for World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm co-founded by President Trump and his sons, to become a trust bank. This decision has sparked alarm among ethics watchdogs and some lawmakers. World Liberty Financial, launched in 2024, announced the approval on Friday, with final authorization contingent on meeting specific conditions. While the firm will not be able to accept deposits or issue loans, the bank charter will enable World Liberty to bypass intermediaries for safeguarding and issuing USD1, a dollar-backed stablecoin with over $4 billion in circulation. Critics argue this move represents a significant conflict of interest, given President Trump's financial ties to the company and his role in appointing the regulators who approved the charter. The White House, however, maintains that President Trump's investment holdings are managed by independent third-party financial institutions, asserting there are no conf...
AP News AP News
Trump's slight of South Korea in favor of the North raises broader US security concerns

Trump's slight of South Korea in favor of the North raises broader US security concerns

President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea does not just slight a longtime ally
Rapid Read Rapid Read
House Democrats Investigate Energy Fuels for Alleged Insider Trading Before National Monument Reduction

House Democrats Investigate Energy Fuels for Alleged Insider Trading Before National Monument Reduction

House Democrats have launched an investigation into the mining company Energy Fuels following allegations of insider trading. The inquiry focuses on the company's CEO, Ross Bhappu, and chairman, Bruce Hansen, who reportedly purchased thousands of company shares just days before President Trump significantly reduced the size of the Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah. Energy Fuels operates the White Mesa Mill, the last conventional uranium processing site in the U.S., which was located near the monument's boundary. President Trump's decision to slash the monument by 90 percent effectively made the land available for mining. On July 7, 2026, CEO Ross Bhappu made the largest insider purchase in the company's history, acquiring 74,000 shares, increasing his ownership to 41 percent. Chairman Bruce Hansen bought 4,000 shares the following day. Less than a week later, 1.24 million acres were removed from Bears Ears National Monument. The company has stated it is unaware of any wrongdoing and rejects...
Palm Beach Post Palm Beach Post
Immigrant groups urge Lake Worth to reject PBSO contract over ICE ties

Immigrant groups urge Lake Worth to reject PBSO contract over ICE ties

Immigrant advocates want 'guardrails' in the PBSO contract to limit its work with U.S. agents. One commissioner says a no-vote won't stop detentions.
AP News AP News
Trump dwarfs his predecessors in the number of ultra-rich in his second White House, report shows

Trump dwarfs his predecessors in the number of ultra-rich in his second White House, report shows

The number of people worth more than $100 million whom President Donald Trump has appointed to his administration is more than four times the combined total of the three previous presidents
Reuters Reuters
US appeals court blocks Trump immigration enforcement near some houses of worship

US appeals court blocks Trump immigration enforcement near some houses of worship

By Nate Raymond Aug 18 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday upheld an order limiting federal immigration enforcement at eight houses of worship affiliated with three faith groups, saying religious activities at the sites could be hindered by the operations. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S.
Rapid Read Rapid Read
Congressman Morgan Griffith Advances Legislation on Risky Research and Organ Donation Oversight, Trump Administration Takes Action

Congressman Morgan Griffith Advances Legislation on Risky Research and Organ Donation Oversight, Trump Administration Takes Action

Congressman Morgan Griffith has been actively involved in legislative efforts concerning risky research and organ donation oversight. In the 118th Congress, he served as Chairman of the Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and was a leading member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. His investigative work into the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and public health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci led him to introduce the Risky Research Review Act, aiming to make American-funded research safer, more transparent, and accountable. This bill was reintroduced in the 119th Congress with Senator Rand Paul. Additionally, Griffith investigated issues within the organ donation and transplant system, highlighting failures of Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) and alarming allegations, including reports of an OPO planning to operate on prospective organ donors showing signs of life. The Trump Administration has responded to these concerns by ...
Rapid Read Rapid Read
President Trump's Social Media Post Signals Shift in US-South Korea Military Exercises, Raising Concerns Among Allies

President Trump's Social Media Post Signals Shift in US-South Korea Military Exercises, Raising Concerns Among Allies

President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he has ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea. He cited cost and Seoul's reluctance to join the US 'denuclearisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran' as reasons for the decision. The President also expressed concern that the exercises send an 'inappropriate and hostile' signal to North Korea. This move comes as the US military has redeployed missile defense interceptors from South Korea to the Middle East and withdrawn its last aircraft carrier from the region to focus on operations against Iran. Christian Le Miere, an honorary fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, stated that scaling back support for South Korea could indicate a weakening of American power in the Pacific to North Korea, Russia, and China. Edward Howell, a lecturer at the University of Oxford, noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been a steadfast ally of Vladimir Putin, supplying Russia with military aid for the conflict in Ukraine.