Bird flu likely circulated in US cows for months before diagnosis
(Reuters) — flu likely circulated in U.S. dairy cows on a limited basis for about four months before federal officials confirmed the disease that has now spread to nine states, according to a new federally funded research paper. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the first-ever H5N1 virus infection in a dairy cow in Texas on March 25, following reports of decreased milk yields in multiple states.
US mistakenly killed civilian in 2023 Syria strike, Pentagon says
(Reuters) —The Pentagon on Thursday acknowledged in an internal investigation that the United States mistakenly killed a civilian in Syria in a 2023 drone strike, saying U.S. forces had misidentified an intended al Qaeda target. The U.S. Central Command, in a statement, said it could not publicly share many details of the investigation, citing classified information. While the strike complied with the law of armed conflict and U.S. policies, the probe “revealed several issues that could be improved.”
Trump to parade vice presidential hopefuls at Florida fundraiser
(Reuters) —Donald Trump will host a bevy of potential vice presidential picks at a Republican event in Florida this weekend, giving him the chance to observe his potential running mates in action while using them as a draw to attract donors. The Republican presidential candidate will convene a two-day retreat on Friday and Saturday in Palm Beach that is expected to attract more than 400 donors and high-profile politicians.
California boat captain gets 4-year prison term for deaths of 34
(Reuters) —The captain of a dive boat that caught fire and sank off the California coast in 2019, killing 34 people in one of the state’s deadliest maritime disasters, was sentenced on Thursday to four years in prison for his conviction on a federal charge of seaman’s manslaughter. Jerry Boylan, 70, was found guilty by a U.S. District Court jury in November on a single felony count of “misconduct or neglect of a ship officer” under a federal homicide statute dating from steamboat accidents of the early 1800s.
US IRS targets sharply higher audit rates on big firms, millionaires
(Reuters) —The Internal Revenue Service said on Thursday that it plans to sharply increase audit rates for big corporations, partnerships and multimillionaires over the next three years as it ramps up enforcement spending and hiring to boost collections. Releasing an update of its strategic operating plan for spending $60 billion in funding from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS said it was targeting a near tripling of the audit rate on corporations with assets over $250 million to 22.6% in the 2026 tax year from 8.8% in 2019.