U.S. News

Morrill Fire Becomes Nebraska’s Largest Wildfire on Record, Scorching 570,000 Acres

Wind-driven grassfires have burned up to 700,000 acres across Nebraska, destroying ranchland and structures as the record Morrill Fire remains active.

#wildfire, #nebraska, #ranching, #weather, #emergency

Two chemical leaks at South Carolina solar factory reignite fight over siting near schools

After two March chemical incidents at Silfab Solar in Fort Mill, officials paused high-risk operations as parents and lawmakers push tighter rules.

#southcarolina, #solarpower, #chemicalsafety, #schools, #manufacturing

Green Bay landlord to pay $50,000, face federal oversight in Fair Housing Act harassment settlement

DOJ says a Green Bay landlord harassed a tenant and retaliated. A settlement requires $50,000 in damages, policy changes and two years of monitoring.

#fairhousingact, #doj, #sexualharassment, #wisconsin

JMU student dies in accidental Devon Lane kitchen fire, raising off-campus housing safety questions

A small late-night cooking fire killed JMU senior Lorenzo Gibbs in a code-compliant apartment—renewing calls for sprinklers and stricter oversight.

#firesafety, #studenthousing, #harrisonburg, #jmu, #virginia

ROTC professor killed in Old Dominion classroom attack as cadets subdue convicted ISIS supporter

Lt. Col. Brandon Shah was killed and two cadets wounded when a former National Guard soldier opened fire; FBI is probing the attack as terrorism.

#terrorism, #campussafety, #rotc, #virginia

Smoke and Drought Shut Down Alligator Alley as Big Cypress Wildfire Burns 35,000 Acres

Florida’s National Fire has charred 35,000 acres in Big Cypress, forcing I-75 closures and raising new concerns about drought-driven fire risk.

#florida, #wildfire, #drought, #bigcypress, #i75

Oil leak at Xcel’s Monticello nuclear plant reaches Mississippi River, testing public trust

Xcel first said a 200-gallon mineral-oil leak was contained at its Monticello nuclear plant. A day later, a sheen appeared on the Mississippi.

#mississippi, #nuclear, #oilspill, #minnesota, #xcelenergy

D.C. Sues Real Estate Lender, Alleging Voucher-Only Strategy Shut Out Unsubsidized Renters

Attorney General Brian Schwalb says Red Oak’s lending model turns rent-controlled buildings into voucher-only housing, illegally barring other tenants.

#housing, #washingtondc, #rentcontrol, #vouchers, #lawsuit

Four Critically Injured After Propane-Fueled Blast Levels Cocoa-Butter Plant in South Jersey

A Savita Naturals extraction plant exploded in Logan Township, injuring four workers and prompting a two-mile shelter-in-place as state and federal probes begin.

#newjersey, #industrialaccident, #osha, #propane, #fires

NTSB: Deicing time gap may have preceded fatal Challenger 650 crash in Bangor

A preliminary NTSB report details how a business jet took off in Maine snow after holdover time likely expired, stalling and killing all six aboard.

#aviation, #ntsb, #planecrash, #deicing, #maine

Early-Season Tornado Outbreak Kills Eight in Michigan and Oklahoma, Raising Questions About Preparedness

A rare March EF3 tornado tore through southern Michigan as the same system hit Oklahoma, killing eight and renewing scrutiny of warning systems.

#tornado, #michigan, #oklahoma, #severeweather, #emergencymanagement

Austin’s West Sixth Street shooting leaves three dead as FBI probes possible terrorism motive

Three people were killed and 15 wounded in a rapid-fire attack on Austin’s West Sixth nightlife strip; FBI and police are investigating terrorism.

#austin, #shooting, #sixthstreet, #fbi, #terrorism

Florida wildfire sends smoke over Alligator Alley, tests evacuation plans for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center

The 35,000-acre National Fire in Big Cypress has snarled I‑75 and raised new questions about how Florida would protect or move detainees at a remote immigration facility.

#florida, #wildfire, #immigration, #detention, #everglades

Ranger Road Fire Scorches 283,000 Acres Across Oklahoma and Kansas, Testing Plains Wildfire Readiness

A late-winter windstorm fueled the year’s largest U.S. wildfire so far, killing livestock and destroying homes as drought and dry grasses primed the Plains.

#wildfire, #oklahoma, #kansas, #drought, #fireweather

Minneapolis to Ban Algorithmic Rent-Setting Tools, Giving Tenants a New Right to Sue

A new Minneapolis ordinance bars landlords from using rent-setting algorithms fed by nonpublic competitor data, effective March 1, 2026, and lets tenants sue.

#minneapolis, #housing, #rent, #ai, #antitrust