Seeking to counter China, US awards $3 billion for EV battery production in 14 states

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is awarding $3 billion to U.S. companies to boost domestic production of advanced batteries and other materials used for electric vehicles, part of a continuing push to reduce China’s global dominance in battery production. The grants announced Friday will fund a total of 25 projects in 14 states, including battleground states such as Michigan and North Carolina. The grants mark the second round of EV battery funding under the 2021 infrastructure law. An earlier round allocated $1.8 billion for 14 projects that are ongoing.

Tiny Kentucky town is rocked as their sheriff is jailed in the killing of a prominent judge

WHITESBURG, Ky. (AP) — Residents of a tiny Appalachian town are struggling to cope with a shooting involving two of its most prominent citizens: a Kentucky judge who was gunned down in his courthouse chambers and the local sheriff charged with murder. Kentucky State Police say the preliminary investigation indicates Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines shot District Judge Kevin Mullins multiple times following an argument. Mullins died at the scene and Stines surrendered. He was jailed Friday two counties away. Court clerk Mike Watts said the whole story is so sad. He says both men have been friends who worked together for years.

Poll shows young men in the US are more at risk for gambling addiction than the general population

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A new study shows 10% of young men in the U.S. show behavior that indicates a gambling problem, compared to 3% of the general population. The survey from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey comes as the National Council on Problem Gambling examined every U.S. state’s gambling laws, finding that customer protection against developing or worsening gambling problems varies widely and could be improved everywhere. The survey asked respondents about several indications of problem gambling behaviors like borrowing money to gamble, or saying that their gambling has caused financial or emotional problems.

Georgia State Election Board approves rule requiring hand count of ballots

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia election officials are requiring poll workers to tally the number of ballots by hand. The State Election Board voted 3-2 on Friday to approve the new rule, going against the advice of the state attorney general’s office, the secretary of state’s office and an association of county election officials. Three board members who were praised by former President Donald Trump during a rally last month in Atlanta voted to approve the measure. The new rule requires that paper ballots be counted at each polling place by three separate poll workers until all three counts are the same. Opponents say the rule could delay election results.