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After years of decline, the Biden administration says environmental enforcement is on the upswing

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency conducted more on-site inspections of polluting industrial sites this year than any time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency said Monday as it seeks to reinvigorate its enforcement program after more than a decade of budget cuts.EPA opened nearly 200 criminal investigations this year, a 70% increase over 2022, the agency said in a report. It completed nearly 1,800 civil settlements, a 9% increase over 2022. More than half the inspections and settlements involved poor and disadvantaged communities long scarred by pollution, the agency said, reflecting the Biden administration’s emphasis on environmental justice issues.But some parts of EPA’s enforcement efforts still lag. In 2023, for example, it charged 102 defendants criminally. The Trump administration charged more every year, although most years only marginally. Nearly 200 defendants were charged in the latter years of the Obama administration. There is,...

NCAA athletes who’ve transferred multiple times can play through the spring semester, judge rules

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — College athletes who have transferred multiple times but were denied the chance to compete immediately can play through the remainder of the academic year, a federal judge ruled Monday.U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia made the ruling on a motion filed Friday by the NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization. Preston extended a temporary restraining order he had issued last Wednesday barring the NCAA from enforcing its transfer rule for 14 days.The earlier ruling had opened a small window for multiple-transfer athletes to compete. But that window was extended by Monday’s decision, which converts the restraining order into a preliminary injunction. Bailey also canceled a previously scheduled Dec. 27 hearing and said the case would be set for trial no sooner than the last day of competition in the winter and spring sports seasons.“This is a great day for student athletes — they will finally be able to compete in the spor...

TD racial equity audit finds bank has taken significant steps, more work to be done

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

TORONTO — TD Bank Group has released its first racial equity audit that finds the bank has taken significant steps toward promoting diversity and inclusion, but could do more on aspects like consistency and measurement.TD was the first of the Big Six banks, and among the first companies in Canada, to agree to conduct an audit following pressure from shareholders including the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU).Such audits look to assess company policies and programs through a racial equity lens and try to identify opportunities where organizations can enhance efforts to be more equitable and inclusive.The report found TD has numerous initiatives and programs in place on diversity and inclusion and “committed leadership” across the bank, but that it could improve in areas like communication around opportunities, better tracking of demographics and greater consistency in implementation.Emma Pullman, head of shareholder engagement at BCGEU, said it was ...

Final electric-vehicle mandate to come Tuesday, sales must double by 2026

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Auto manufacturers will have three years to start showing a sizable increase in electric-vehicle sales as the federal government moves to finalize its new EV mandate this week.Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault published draft regulations a year ago that set new targets for one in five vehicles to be electric by 2026, three in five by 2030 and all of them by 2035.On Tuesday he will discuss the final regulations for those targets, following nearly a year of consultation with industry and environment stakeholders.The regulations, which should be published in full later this week, are expected to include credits for electric vehicles sold, as well as investments in charging infrastructure.Each manufacturer will need to earn enough credits to meet an annual target and if they come up short, buy credits from other companies that exceed their goals.New data from Statistics Canada shows one in 10 new vehicles sold in the first nine months of this year were electric — about hal...

4 years in prison for Nikola Corp founder for defrauding investors on claims of zero-emission trucks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The founder of Nikola Corp. was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for his conviction for exaggerating claims about his company’s production of zero-emission 18-wheel trucks, causing investors to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.Trevor Milton learned his fate in Manhattan federal court when Judge Edgardo Ramos announced the sentence, saying he believed that a jury in October 2022 “got it right” when it convicted him. The judge also ordered Milton to pay a $1 million fine.“Over the course of many months, you used your considerable social media skills to tout your company in ways that were materially false,” the judge said, noting investors suffered heavy losses. “What you said over and over on different media outlets was wrong.”Before the sentence was handed down, Milton fought through tears in delivering a half-hour rambling statement portraying some of his actions as heroic at Nikola and his intentions sincere as he sought to produce trucks that wou...

Analysis: Josh Allen and the Bills show how quickly things can turn around in the NFL

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here.___Turnarounds happen quickly in the NFL.Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have quieted talk about coach Sean McDermott’s job security with a pair of impressive wins.The Dallas Cowboys suddenly look like pretenders because they can’t win on the road.Joe Flacco has gone from his couch to becoming a Cleveland folk hero in less than a month.Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs just needed a trip to New England to get back on the winning track.Tommy DeVito was the toast of New York and New Jersey until the Saints whipped the Giants and mocked his celebrations.The Eagles are shaking things up like a desperate team searching for answers instead of a division leader battling for the No. 1 seed.The up-and-down Jaguars still sit in first place despite three straight losses.At least Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers are consistent.The game of Week 15 turned into a...

Bid to boost tax break for volunteer firefighters as brigades struggle with retention

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Alberta volunteer firefighter Alison Archambault calls it her “soul work.”But that doesn’t mean some more help at tax time wouldn’t be welcome too.A tax credit for volunteer firefighters currently stands at $3,000, but Archambault, a volunteer in Redwood Meadows outside Calgary, said “any increase is appreciated” to help with costs such as vehicle maintenance.“Volunteer fire departments in general are having recruitment challenges and retention challenges and (an) increase in the tax writeoff is just another tool to make being a volunteer firefighter more attractive and staying a volunteer firefighter more attractive,” said Archambault, whose regular job is in public relations.Others agree, and a push is underway to raise the tax credit after Canada’s worst wildfire season on record.B.C. member of Parliament Gord Johns has been working with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs to try to boost the credit for volunteer firefight...

1 dead, 3 injured after boarding school partially collapses in central Romania

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A boarding school building partially collapsed in central Romania on Monday, leaving one person dead and three injured, authorities said.Emergency workers raced to find the four people in the rubble of the collapse in Odorheiu Secuiesc in Harghita County, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations said. The affected area was about 200 square meters (239 square yards).All were recovered. Of the three survivors, one was seriously injured. “The fourth victim did not respond to resuscitation efforts,” authorities said.They did not say what caused the collapse.Photos of the scene shared by emergency authorities showed a collapsed portion of an old building’s facade. Wooden beams and pillars were strewn amid rubble of bricks and mortar.The Associated Press

18-year-old repeatedly punched delivery man in head at Tony's Finer Foods in Niles: police

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

NILES, Ill. — An 18-year-old man fom Park Ridge has been charged with punching a delivery man in the head numerous times at a supermarket in Niles, according to police.Michael Soto faces an aggravated battery charge for the incident that occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Tony's Finer Foods, located at 8900 North Greenwood Avenue.Police said the 48-year-old man was making a delivery to the business and stocking items on a shelf, when he was approached by the 18-year-old who asked him a question regarding the location of a product.The victim told the 18-year-old man that he did not work at the store. The two men then got into a verbal dispute that escalated into the 18-year-old punching the victim in the head numerous times, according to police. COPA investigating shooting involving off-duty officer The victim was transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.The 18-year-old was identified through surveillance video and taken into custody by Niles police o...

Charges pending against 21-year-old man who hit woman in the face in the Loop

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A 21-year-old man has been arrested for hitting a woman in the face in the city's Loop.The incident happened around 1:15 a.m. Monday in the 200 block of South State Street. Police said the man was arrested after he was identified as the offender who struck the 48-year-old woman in the face with his hands.The woman refused treatment at the scene and no further details have been provided. 18-year-old repeatedly punched delivery man in head at Tony’s Finer Foods in Niles: police According to police, charges are pending against the man.