Agents seize hundreds of thousands of illegal vapes
BENSENVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Federal agents seized hundreds of thousands of illegal vaping products in raids across the country last week as the Trump administration moved to crack down on devices that are regularly used by teens in the United States after being smuggled in from China. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Health and Human Services [...]
West Nile virus cases higher than normal
NEW YORK (AP) — West Nile virus infections are intense so far this year, with case counts running 40 percent higher than normal, health officials say. More than 770 cases, including about 490 severe cases, were reported as of early September, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data posted last week. About 550 [...]
Applications for jobless benefits hit 4-year high
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jobless claim applications jumped to their highest level in almost four years, the latest sign that the labor market is softening. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the week ending Sept. 6 rose 27,000 to 263,000, the Labor Department reported. That’s the most filings since the week of Oct. [...]
Metropolitan Library to sell vacant land to affordable-housing developer
The Columbus Metropolitan Library has announced plans to sell a parcel of vacant land just north of its Shepard Branch at 850 N. Nelson Road to Homeport, a local, non-profit affordable housing developer, for $480,000. Library officials said the profit from the sale will be added to Metropolitan Library’s capital projects fund. “We believe this [...]
Wholesale prices fell 0.1 percent last month
WASHINGTON (AP) — Producer prices fell unexpectedly last month, dropping 0.1 percent from July, according to a new federal government report. The Labor Department earlier this week reported that its producer price index — which captures inflation in the supply chain before it hits consumers — showed that wholesale inflation decelerated in August after advancing [...]
Household income rose 1.3 percent last year
WASHINGTON (AP) — The income for the typical household barely rose last year and essentially matched its 2019 peak, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report. The report also showed that the highest-earning households received healthy inflation-adjusted income increases, while middle- and lower-income households saw little gain. Median household income, adjusted for inflation, in [...]
Trump administration wants to cancel Biden-era leasing rule for public land
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Interior Secretary Doug Burgum earlier this week proposed canceling a public-land management rule that allows for the leasing of public land for conservation as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to open more taxpayer-owned tracts to drilling, logging, mining and grazing. The rule was a part of efforts under former President Joe [...]
U.S. company makes $500M minerals deal with Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (AP) — An American metals company this week signed a $500 million investment deal with Pakistan. Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization — which is the country’s largest miner of critical minerals — signed a memorandum of understanding with Missouri-based U.S. Strategic Metals for collaboration plans that include setting up a poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan. The [...]