EPA designates 2 forever chemicals as hazardous substances

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group that represents the chemical industry says it strongly opposes the Environmental Protection Agency’s designation of two forever chemicals used in cookware, carpets and firefighting foams as hazardous substances. Friday’s EPA designation is intended to ensure quicker cleanup of the toxic compounds PFOA and PFOS and require those responsible for contamination to pay for its removal. Designation as a hazardous substance under the Superfund law requires that releases of the chemicals into soil or water at certain levels be reported to authorities. The EPA could then require cleanup to protect public health and recover costs. The American Chemistry Council says it believes the EPA’s action “will undermine overall remediation efforts” for such contamination.

Oklahoma City bombing still ‘heavy in our hearts’ on 29th anniversary, official says

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A Department of Homeland Security official told survivors and loved ones of the 168 people killed in the Oklahoma City bombing that federal officials are resolved to never allow a similar terrorist attack again. Deputy Security Advisor Caitlin Durkovich spoke Friday morning during a ceremony on the 29th anniversary of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Durkovich was joined outside the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt for the ceremony attended by more than 100 people on a partly sunny, cool and windy morning.

Full jury of 12 people and 6 alternates is seated in Trump’s hush money trial

NEW YORK (AP) — A full jury of 12 people and six alternates has been seated Donald Trump’s hush money case, setting the stage for expected opening statements next week in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. Lawyers spent days quizzing dozens of New Yorkers to choose the panel that has vowed to put their personal views aside and impartially judge whether the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is guilty or not. The jury includes a sales professional, a software engineer, an English teacher and multiple lawyers. Just after the jury was seated, emergency crews responded to a park outside the courthouse, where a person was on fire.

Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck

(AP) — Tesla is recalling nearly 4,000 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tesla informed the agency that the pedal pad may dislodge and become trapped by the interior trim. The recall involves model year 2024 Cybertrucks made between Nov. 13, 2023 and April 4, 2024, according to the NHTSA. Tesla is not aware of any collisions, injuries or deaths related to the issue.