US is investigating if Boeing made sure a part that blew off a jet was made to design standards

(AP) — Federal officials are investigating Boeing’s oversight of production of a panel that blew off a jetliner in midflight last week. The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that the investigation is focusing on door plugs like the one that came off an Alaska Airlines Boeing jetliner over Oregon. The FAA says Boeing’s manufacturing practices need to meet high safety standards. The plane involved is a Boeing 737 Max 9, and all similar planes operated by Alaska Airlines and United Airlines remain grounded.

Biden awards $623M to build EV charging network

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is awarding $623 million in grants to help build an electric vehicle charging network across the nation. Grants being announced Thursday will fund 47 EV charging stations and related projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including 7,500 EV charging ports. Congress approved $7.5 billion in the 2021 infrastructure law to build out a national network of 500,000 publicly available chargers by 2030. The charging ports are a key part of President Joe Biden’s effort to encourage drivers to buy electric vehicles.

Storm damages lighthouse on Maine’s state quarter

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The caretakers of part of one of Maine’s most beloved lighthouses say they believe a damaged portion of the structure can be rebuilt. A strong storm that brought high winds and heavy rains to the Northeast badly damaged the site of Pemaquid Point Light in Bristol on Wednesday. The nearly 200-year-old lighthouse is featured on the state quarter and is a popular coastal destination. The lighthouse’s bell house dates to the 19th century and sustained the worst of the damage. The town runs and maintains the site as Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park. Officials said Thursday they believe they can rebuild.

Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy show no link with suicide, FDA says

(AP) — Federal officials say a preliminary review finds no connection between suicidal thoughts and a new class of diabetes and obesity drugs. But U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials say they cannot definitively rule out that “a small risk may exist” for those taking medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. The agency said Thursday it will continue to review reports that some patients taking the drugs or similar ones had thoughts of suicide or attempted self harm. The agency says people taking the drugs should report any concerns to their health care providers.

Archeologists map lost cities in Ecuadorian Amazon

WASHINGTON (AP) — Archeologists have uncovered a cluster of lost cities in the Amazon rainforest that was home to at least 10,000 farmers about 2,000 years ago. The earthen mounds and buried roads in Ecuador were first noticed about two decades. But only recent mapping with laser technology revealed a network of settlements and connecting roadways tucked into the foothills of the Andes. The 6,000 earthen mounds found are thought to have been platforms for residential and ceremonial buildings. While the Mayans and Aztecs built with stone, ancient Amazonians usually built with mud.