Long-awaited dam safety reforms move closer to law after Michigan Senate voteThe Michigan Senate on Thursday voted to overhaul Michigan’s lax dam safety laws, moving long-awaited reforms one vote away from reaching Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Both legislative chambers have now approved versions of two companion bills sponsored by Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, and Rep. Bill G. Schuette, R-Midland, to strengthenPittsburgh Tribune-Review4d agoWhole story →JusticePlanetGretchen WhitmerS 947HR 5485michigan dam safety reform vote
House committee backs bill sparing communities from ‘fake’ data center proposalsMore than a hundred data center proposals have popped up like mushrooms on the Pennsylvania map, and a House committee on Wednesday attempted to validate the “real” ones by backing a plan to weed out many others believed to be speculative grabs for money. The House Energy Committee approved aPittsburgh Tribune-Review4d agoWhole story →TechnologyPlanetdata center regulation
Trump will unveil $54 billion in South Korean investment in Alaska, site of a tight Senate raceWASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is expected to announce on Wednesday plans for South Korea to invest roughly $54 billion in a project to export natural gas from Alaska, a proposal long backed by Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, who’s in a competitive reelection contest there. The investment would mark thePittsburgh Tribune-Review6d agoWhole story →EconomyPlanetDan Sullivanalaska natural gas investment announcement
Justice Alito steps aside in major climate case after scrutiny over oil stock holdingsWASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recused himself Monday from a major climate-change case after facing calls to step aside due to stock holdings in oil companies. A letter posted in the case did not specify a reason, but the conservative justice has previously recused himself from other casesPittsburgh Tribune-Review7d agoWhole story →PlanetGovernmentSamuel Alitosupreme court climate case
Judge won’t block Trump administration from giving SpaceX acres of wildlife refuge in land swapMcALLEN, Texas — A federal judge on Monday refused to block the Trump administration from giving SpaceX more than 700 acres of wildlife refuge as part of a land swap in Texas, while environmental groups vowed to continue their legal challenge. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. declined the plaintiffs’Pittsburgh Tribune-Review14d agoWhole story →Planetspacex land swap ruling
Trump administration allows inadvertent killing of endangered speciesBILLINGS, Mont. — Inadvertently killing endangered animals while logging a forest or building a dam would no longer be considered illegal under a new interpretation of the Endangered Species Act by federal officials, marking a sea change by President Donald Trump’s administration in how the landmark environmental law is enforced.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review18d agoWhole story →Planet
Elon Musk’s space company to build new rocket launching site in LouisianaABBEVILLE, La. — Elon Musk’s space company plans to spend $100 billion to build a new spaceport in Louisiana to launch rockets, state officials and the company announced Tuesday. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said the deal was a big win for the state and country, likening the impact of thePittsburgh Tribune-Review1mo agoWhole story →TechnologyPlanetJeff Landryspacex louisiana spaceport announcement
2 dead in flash floods caused by heavy rain in West Virginia, governor’s office saysBUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Two people have died in flash floods caused by torrential rains in West Virginia this week, the governor’s office said Thursday. An emailed statement from Lars Dalseide, communications director for Gov. Patrick Morrisey, did not provide details on where the bodies were found or how the peoplePittsburgh Tribune-Review2mo agoWhole story →JusticePlanetPatrick Morriseywest virginia flash floods
National Guard deploys as flash floods in West Virginia inundate homes and businessesCHARLESTON, W.Va. — Torrential rains caused flash floods in West Virginia that inundated homes and businesses, washed out bridges and led to numerous water rescues, authorities said. The governor said there were no reports of deaths or missing people as of Wednesday. Gov. Patrick Morrisey sent 100 National Guard membersPittsburgh Tribune-Review3mo agoWhole story →JusticePlanetPatrick Morriseywest virginia flash floods
