North Carolina House advances more Hurricane Helene aid in $465M package
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House advanced another Hurricane Helene funding package on Thursday to address pressing needs in the mountains eight months after the storm caused historic flooding and destruction.
The $465 million package, approved unanimously by the chamber just one day after its unveiling, is about half the $891 million that Democratic Gov. Josh Stein requested from the Republican-controlled General Assembly this week. Republicans lawmakers had been working on their package well before Stein's pitch on Monday.
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Winnipeg Free Press
25 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Southern California air regulators weigh a plan to phase out gas furnaces and water heaters
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (AP) — Air quality regulators in Southern California heard impassioned public comments Friday before an anticipated vote on proposed rules that would curb harmful emissions from gas-powered furnaces and water heaters. The rules aim to reduce emissions of smog-contributing nitrogen oxides, also called NOx, a group of pollutants linked to respiratory issues, asthma attacks, worse allergies, decreased lung function in children, premature death and more. Burning natural gas is also one of the primary drivers of climate change. The South Coast Air Quality Management District estimates that the rules, if passed, will lower NOx emissions from gas-fired furnaces, preventing about 2,490 premature deaths and 10,200 new asthma cases over a 26-year period in the region. The district regulates air quality for 16.8 million people in Southern California, including all of Orange County and large areas of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties — one of the smoggiest areas in the U.S. The proposals come as California moves aggressively to reduce the state's reliance on planet-warming fossil fuels and ahead of a 2045 mandate for the state to have net-zero carbon emissions. The rules would set targets that aim to phase out the sale of gas-powered furnaces and water heaters starting in 2027. It does not apply to gas stoves. The sales target would start at 30%, then grow to 50% in 2029 and end at 90% in 2039. The rules would not be mandated, but manufacturers would have to pay fees ranging from $50 to $500 if they sell gas-powered appliances. That's a significant rollback from the original proposal, which would have required residential buildings to meet zero-emissions standards beginning in 2029 when appliances need to be replaced. The agency amended the rules after strong opposition from Southern California Gas and other businesses. The regulations would impact more than 10 million appliances in an estimated 5 million buildings, most of them residential. Officials and supporters say the rules would reduce air pollution and substantially improve public health. But opponents — including property owners, industry professionals and natural gas companies — fear they could raise costs for consumers and businesses, and strain the power grid by adding more electric appliances. During a packed board meeting Friday, clean air advocates held signs reading 'Clean Air Now,' 'Vote 4 Clean Air, Vote 4 Justice' and 'Let SoCal Breath!' Before public comments, board chair Vanessa Delgado thanked the more than 200 people who signed up to speak about the rules, which took more than two years to craft. 'I don't believe that there's necessarily a good or right answer about these rules. I believe that it is very complicated and I know that every single one of these board members are doing what is right to move forward air quality goals in our region,' she said. Lynwood City Councilmember Juan Muñoz-Guevara said the rules would be a long-overdue step toward environmental justice for communities like his. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'I've seen firsthand how families in my community are forced to live with the health consequences of dirty air. Our children grow up with asthma, our elders struggle with respiratory illness, and too many lives are cut short,' he said. 'Gas appliances in our home are one of the largest sources of smog-forming pollution in the region. We cannot meet clean air goals without tackling this.' Peggy Huang, a member of Yorba Linda's City Council, urged the board to reject the rules. 'As someone who's been advocating for affordable housing, this will increase costs for us to meet those goals,' Huang said. Chino's mayor pro tem, Curtis Burton, echoed some of Huang's concerns. He said the rules would 'create an additional financial burden on residents and businesses.' But air quality regulators say the rules would save consumers money by reducing energy bills.
Winnipeg Free Press
40 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Trump's new drone orders aim to counter threats while encouraging flying cars and supersonic flights
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump wants to counter the threats drones pose to national security under new rules released Friday, while also aiming to make it easier for Americans to fly faster than the speed of sound and expedite the development of the flying cars of the future. The three executive orders will encourage the Federal Aviation Administration to expedite rules to allow companies to use drones beyond their operators' line of sight, while also imposing restrictions meant to help protect against terrorism, espionage and public safety threats. Drones are already used in a variety of ways, including bolstering search and rescue operations, applying fertilizer, inspecting power lines and railroad bridges, and even delivering packages. But the war in Ukraine has highlighted how drones could be used in a military or terrorist attack — a concern as the World Cup and Olympics approach in the U.S. There also have been espionage cases where drones have been used to surveil sensitive sites. And White House officials said drones are being used to smuggle drugs over the border, and there are concerns about the potential for a disastrous collision between a drone and an airliner around an airport. 'These orders also address the growing threat of criminal, terrorist and foreign misuse of drones in U.S. airspace. We have a responsibility to protect and restore airspace sovereignty,' said Michael Kratsios, assistant to the president and director of the White House office of Science and Technology Policy. Moving to protect the U.S. from the increasing threat of drones With major events like the World Cup scheduled in the U.S. next year, Sebastian Gorka, senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council, said it's crucial to protect the airspace above large public events. A federal task force will be created to review drone threats and existing terrorism task forces will look at drones. 'Drones are a disruptive technology. They have an amazing potential for both good and ill,' Gorka said. 'We will increase the enforcement of current laws to deter two types of individuals: evildoers and idiots — the clueless and the careless.' The orders direct the FAA to expedite a new rule restricting drone flights over sensitive sites and work with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to better enforce laws on illegal drone use. The FAA has been testing systems to detect and counter drones that the White House would like to expand to deal with threats to public safety and national security. Among the methods being examined: Using radio signals to jam drones or force them to land. Authorities are weighing whether to deploy high-powered microwaves or laser beams to disable the devices. The order will allow state and local authorities to be trained to respond to unauthorized drones and expand the government's ability to counter them. Law enforcement agencies also may receive additional training on how to use drones themselves to ensure safety around major events. Trump aims to clear the way for supersonic flights and flying cars One of Trump's orders directs the FAA to eliminate the old restriction on the speed of flights and replace it with a noise standard. New technology in supersonic aircraft can allow the planes to fly faster than the speed of sound without a disruptive sonic boom being heard on the ground, but decades-old regulations still ban those flights over land. A plane developed by Boom Supersonic became the first independently funded jet to break the sound barrier this year. 'The reality is that Americans should be able to fly from New York to LA in under four hours,' Kratsios said. 'Advances in aerospace engineering, material science and noise reduction now make overland supersonic flight not just possible, but safe, sustainable and commercially viable.' Several companies are developing flying cars for use as taxis and delivering cargo. They are likely still at least a couple years away from being ready, but orders are designed to remove regulatory barriers to their development. 'Flying cars are not just for 'The Jetsons.'' 'They're also for the American people,' Kratsios said. Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, said a renaissance in supersonic passenger travel is made inevitable with the repeal of the ban. 'We're grateful to President Trump for his leadership — this important step allows us to accelerate development of our Overture supersonic airliner,' Scholl said. Concerns grow in the U.S. about Chinese drones The executive orders don't ban Chinese-made drones, including those by DJI that are popular in the U.S., but the Trump administration said it will prioritize American-made drones in federal procurement programs and open up grants to help state and local first responders buy U.S. drones. The White House said it would seek to reduce the U.S. reliance on foreign-made drones and restrict foreign devices in sensitive areas. 'This executive order marks a long-overdue investment in drone deterrence,' said Craig Singleton, a senior China fellow at the Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies. 'Drone warfare isn't a future threat — it's already here.' The administration also is mandating national security reviews of some Chinese drone makers. That 'underscores that drone supply chains … are now national security flashpoints,' Singleton said. The orders also tighten rules on wireless transmission tech, which Singleton said would disrupt the ability by Chinese drones to transmit data back to Beijing. States and the federal government are increasingly wary about Chinese technology, and at least six states have passed laws to restrict government purchases of Chinese drones because of concerns about spying. That's part of a slew of more than 240 anti-China measures state legislatures have considered this year. Congress has also banned federal agencies from acquiring Chinese drones, with some exceptions. But most commercial drones sold in the United States are made in China, and many Americans have come to rely on them. The Chinese models are widely known for their high performance and are generally significantly cheaper than American-made drones. Expanding the range of drones outside users' field of vision The FAA has generally prohibited drones from operating outside operators' line of sight because of safety concerns, but the agency has granted hundreds of waivers to Amazon and some other companies, including utilities and railroads, to use drones farther away. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Drone manufacturers and users have long wanted rules that spell out the framework for such flights because they see that as a natural next step to unlock the technology's potential. The head of the trade advocacy group Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, or AUVSI, testified to Congress this week that the FAA missed a deadline for approving such rules last year. On Friday, Michael Robbins, chief executive officer of AUVSI, applauded the Trump administration for advancing policies that he said would ensure U.S. leadership in drone innovation, security, operation and manufacturing. He called it 'a historic day for the drone industry in the United States.' ___ Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writer Leah Askarinam contributed from Washington.
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
Canada men's soccer coach Jesse Marsch bothered by U.S. treatment of Ukraine
'As an American, the treatment that we have given the president of Ukraine and the lack of respect really bothers me.' Published Jun 06, 2025 • 1 minute read Canada head coach Jesse Marsch reacts during the CONCACAF Nations League match against Mexico, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. Photo by Etienne Laurent / AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Canada soccer coach Jesse Marsch, an American who won kudos north of the border earlier this year for telling U.S. President Donald Trump to 'lay off the ridiculous rhetoric' about Canada being a 51st state, has taken aim at the U.S. president again. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In a speech to a Canada-Ukraine Foundation breakfast Friday, Marsch made mention of the recent U.S. attitude towards Ukraine. 'As an American, the treatment that we have given the president of Ukraine and the lack of respect really bothers me,' he said. There was a contentious White House meeting in late February when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was belittled by Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Trump has also lumped Ukraine and Russia together as aggressors when Ukraine was invaded by Russia in February 2022. Canada hosts Ukraine on Saturday in the opening game of the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament at Toronto's BMO Field. New Zealand and Ivory Coast are also taking part. 'Without having to know what it's like to go through something like what players, this coach, this federation has been through, I am just really excited to be able to show our support, as the Canadian national team coach, to show how much we are behind them, that we are with them, that we want to do everything we can,' Marsch told the breakfast. The 51-year-old Marsch, a former U.S. international who was born in Racine, Wisc., said in February he was 'ashamed of the arrogance and disregard that we've shown one of our historically oldest, strongest and most loyal allies (in Canada).' The Canada Ukraine Foundation has raised more than $1 million at its fundraising breakfasts over the last three years. A ball autographed by Andriy Shevchenko, president of the Ukrainian Association of Football, was auctioned off for $10,000 Friday after the former Ukraine star striker took part in a question-and-answer session. Olympics NHL Toronto & GTA Editorial Cartoons Ontario
