Governor Kemp declares emergency amid Georgia wildfire surge

 

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency Wednesday for 91 Georgia counties, ordered the Georgia Forestry Commission and related agencies to mobilize all necessary resources, and the state forester issued a broad outdoor burn ban to reduce wildfire spread amid extreme drought, while air assets and National...

Houston, Waterville adopt differing local ICE cooperation measures

 

Waterville, Maine, city councilors on Tuesday voted to consider an ordinance that would prohibit most municipal employees, including police, from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement unless legally required, modeled on Portland’s draft and measures in Rockland and Lewiston; Police Chief Bill Bonney said he opposed the proposed restriction and council...

David Scott, Georgia Congressman, Dies at Age Eighty

 

Atlanta — U.S. Rep. David Scott, 80, a Democrat who represented parts of metro Atlanta since 2003, died Wednesday. Scott had recently filed paperwork to seek a 13th term for the 13th Congressional District. He served in the Georgia legislature beginning in 1974 and was noted for chairing the House...

United States polls show Trump approval sliding

 

Multiple national opinion surveys show President Donald Trump’s approval ratings declining, particularly on the economy, immigration and the Iran conflict, roughly six months before the US midterm elections. Recent polls by Reuters-Ipsos, Strength in Numbers-Verasight and AP-NORC place his overall approval in the mid-30s, with AP-NORC measuring it at 33%....

Iran attacks three commercial ships in Hormuz

 

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to Iranian media and a ship management company. Iranian state outlets reported that two of the ships were seized and were being taken to Iran, while a third vessel, identified as the...

Massachusetts authorities approve sewer plan amid health concerns

 

Cambridge, Massachusetts — In February the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority approved a conservative sewer-upgrade approach for several communities that officials said would limit immediate capital expenditures but is expected to permit sewage discharges into waterways during heavy storms; earlier this year a 2024 rainstorm led to sewage entering Alewife Brook...

American Lung Association report highlights varied air quality

 

United States: The American Lung Association released its annual State of the Air report this week, using EPA monitoring data from 2022–2024 to grade counties and metropolitan areas on ozone and particle pollution. The report lists multiple metros with failing grades — including areas around Indianapolis, San Diego County, and...

Giants select Reese and Mauigoa in draft surprise

 

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — On Thursday night, the New York Giants used two top-10 picks in the NFL Draft, selecting linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5 and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10. The moves followed a prior trade that sent defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals...

Pistons even series, end home playoff losing streak

 

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic 98-83 on Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena, leveling their first-round playoff series at 1-1. The top-seeded Pistons built a decisive third quarter and ended an 11-game home postseason losing streak that dated to May 26, 2008, reversing the setback from...

Flyers seize control, take 3-0 lead over Penguins

 

Philadelphia — The Flyers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Wednesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, taking a 3-0 lead in the first-round series. Trevor Zegras, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler scored in a six-minute second-period span after an early Evgeni Malkin power-play goal gave Pittsburgh a brief lead. The victory moved...