The Supreme Court rejects a nationwide opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Sackler family members who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma say they’re disappointed in the Supreme Court’s rejection of a nationwide settlement that would’ve shielded them from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids but also would’ve provided billions of dollars to combat the epidemic. They indicate they will return to negotiations. The justices Thursday blocked an agreement hammered out with state and local governments and victims. The Sacklers would’ve contributed up to $6 billion and relinquished ownership of the company but kept billions more. The agreement provided that the Connecticut-based company would emerge from bankruptcy as a different entity, with its profits used for treatment and prevention.

US sanctions Boeing for sharing information about 737 Max 9 investigation

(AP) — Boeing is being sanctioned by U.S. investigators for sharing information about the 737 Max 9 door plug investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday that Boeing “blatantly violated” the agency’s investigative regulations as well as a signed agreement by providing non-public investigative information to the media and speculating about possible causes of the Jan. 5 door plug blowout on a Boeing passenger jet in Portland, Oregon. During the incident, a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off an Alaska Airlines Max 9. Pilots were able to land safely, and there were no injuries.

Texas added more Hispanic, Asian and Black residents than any other state last year

(AP) — Everything is bigger in Texas, including the number of residents of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds who joined the state’s population. The Lone Star State led all others in new Hispanic, Asian and Black residents last year. That’s according to population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday. Among metro areas, Houston has added the most Hispanic residents and Dallas the most Asian and Black residents. The Hispanic population has accounted for almost three-quarters of the U.S. population gain. Most of that expansion came from babies being born. The largest racial or ethnic group in the U.S., non-Hispanic white people, declined last year.

Man charged with threatening to kill presidential candidates found dead

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man charged with threatening the lives of presidential candidates last year has been found dead while a jury was deciding his verdict. A court filing Thursday said “the government has learned that the defendant is deceased.” The jury began weighing the case against 30-year-old Tyler Anderson of Dover on Tuesday after a trial that began Monday. A message seeking comment from Anderson’s lawyer was not immediately returned. Anderson had been indicted by a federal grand jury in December on three counts of sending a threat using interstate commerce.