Colo. reports human case of bird flu: US news in brief, 7/4
Colo. reports human case of bird flu
(Reuters) — Public health officials in Colorado on Wednesday announced an adult man had tested positive for avian flu after reporting mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis, or pink eye. The man is an employee at a dairy farm who had exposure to infected cattle and recovered after antiviral treatment, officials said. It was the fourth human case of bird flu reported in the U.S. since avian flu was confirmed in cows in March. The prior three people to test positive were also dairy farm workers who recovered.
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Judge partially blocks ban on noncompete agreements
(Reuters) — A federal judge in Texas on Wednesday partially blocked a U.S. Federal Trade Commission rule from taking effect that would ban agreements commonly signed by workers not to join their employers’ rivals or launch competing businesses. U.S. District Judge Ada Brown in Dallas said in a written decision the FTC, which enforces federal antitrust laws, lacked the power to adopt broad rules prohibiting practices that it deems unfair methods of competition. About 30 million people, or 20% of U.S. workers, have signed noncompetes, according to the FTC.
Mo. AG asks SCOTUS to halt Trump’s sentencing
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (TNS) — Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in New York until after the November election. The extraordinary request comes as Bailey, a Republican, is embroiled in a highly competitive primary race against Will Scharf, a member of Trump’s legal team who helped secure a sweeping, historic Supreme Court decision earlier this week that Trump enjoys substantial immunity from criminal prosecution.
Next 10 days of Las Vegas heat may surpass records
LAS VEGAS (TNS) — Las Vegas Valley residents and visitors appear to be in for the hottest stretch of weather in the city’s history — a mark reached less than a year ago. “There is certainly the potential of at least 10 consecutive days with highs at 110 or above,” weather service meteorologist Andy Gorelow said, noting that such a streak has happened twice, June 17 to 26, 1962 and most recently just last year, July 14-23. In addition, five days are currently forecast for highs of 115 or higher. The record for Harry Reid International Airport is four days reaching 115, July 16-19, 2005, with highs of 115, 116, 116 and 117.
EPA settles with GM over emissions violations
(NYT) — The Biden administration reached a settlement with General Motors after determining that the automaker sold nearly 6 million cars that emitted more planet-warming carbon dioxide than the company had claimed, violating federal regulations. GM will pay more than $145.8 million in penalties for selling vehicles between model years 2012 and 2018 that were required to comply with Obama-era auto tailpipe emissions standards designed to reduce planet-warming pollution. An investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency found that in those years, GM had sold about 4.6 million full-sized pickup trucks and SUVs, and 1.3 million midsize SUVs, that it claimed met the pollution standards, but in fact hadn’t.
