The Transportation Department on Friday canceled $679 million in federal funding for a dozen offshore wind projects, the latest attack by the Trump administration on the reeling U.S. offshore wind industry. Funding for projects in 11 states was rescinded, including $435 million for a floating wind farm in Northern California and $47 million to boost an offshore wind project in Maryland that the Interior Department has pledged to cancel. “Wasteful, wind projects are using resources that could otherwise go towards revitalizing America’s maritime industry,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. “Thanks to President Trump, we are prioritizing real infrastructure improvements over fantasy wind projects that cost much and offer little.” It’s the latest step by the administration against renewable energy sources The Trump administration has stepped up its crusade against wind and other renewable energy sources in recent weeks, cutting federal funding and canceling projects approved by the Biden administration in a sustained attack on clean energy sources that scientists say are crucial to the fight against climate change. President Donald Trump has vowed to restore U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market and has pushed to increase U.S. reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas that emit planet-warming greenhouse gases. California Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, called Duffy’s action “outrageous” and deeply disappointing. Trump and his Cabinet “have a stubborn and mystifying hatred of clean energy,” Huffman said in an interview. “It’s so dogmatic. They are willing to eliminate thousands of jobs and an entire sector that can bring cheap, reliable power to American consumers.” The canceled funding will be redirected to upgrade ports and other infrastructure in the U.S., where possible, the Transportation Department said. Other wind projects are also being halted Separately, Trump’s Energy Department said Friday it is withdrawing a $716 million loan guarantee approved by the Biden administration to upgrade and expand transmission infrastructure to accommodate a now-threatened offshore wind project in New Jersey. The moves come as the administration abruptly halted construction last week of a nearly complete wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut. The Interior Department said the government needs to review the $4 billion Revolution Wind project and address national security concerns. It did not specify what those concerns are. Democratic governors, lawmakers and union workers in New England have called for Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reverse course. Trump has long expressed disdain for wind power, frequently calling it an ugly and expensive form of energy that “smart” countries don’t use. Earlier this month, the Interior Department canceled a major wind farm in Idaho, a project approved late in former President Joe Biden’s term that had drawn criticism for its proximity to a historic site where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. Trump blames renewable power for rising energy prices Last week, with U.S. electricity prices rising at more than twice the rate of inflation, Trump lashed out, falsely blaming renewable power for skyrocketing energy costs. He called wind and solar energy “THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY!” in a social media post and vowed not to approve any wind or solar projects. “We’re not allowing any windmills to go up unless there’s a legal situation where somebody committed to it a long time ago,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. […]
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed into law a new congressional voting map designed to help Republicans gain more seats in the 2026 midterm elections, delivering a win for President Donald Trump and his desire to hold on to a slim GOP majority in the U.S. House. The Texas map drafted in rare mid-decade redistricting prompted fierce protests from Democrats and sparked a gerrymandering tug-of-war for voters in states across the country. “Texas is now more red in the United States Congress,” Abbott said in a video he posted on X of him signing the legislation. Before Texas lawmakers passed their new map, California passed a bill asking voters to approve new Democratic-leaning districts to counter any Republican gains in Texas. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has emerged as a leading adversary of Trump on redistricting and other issues, tauntingly labeled Abbott on X as the president’s “#1 lapdog” following the signing. The incumbent president’s party usually loses congressional seats in the midterm election. On a national level, the partisan makeup of existing districts puts Democrats within three seats of a majority. Voting rights groups filed a lawsuit this week ahead of Abbott’s signing the bill, saying the new map weakens the electoral influence of Black voters. Texas Democrats have also vowed to challenge the new map in court. They delayed a vote by two weeks by leaving Texas on Aug. 3 in protest and to rally support nationally. Upon their return, they were assigned round-the-clock police monitoring to ensure they showed up for debate. But the large Republican majority in the Texas Legislature made its ultimate passage all but inevitable. The head of Texas’ Democratic Party criticized Abbott, saying he and Republicans “effectively surrendered Texas to Washington” with the new map. “They love to boast about how ‘Texas Tough’ they are, but when Donald Trump made one call, they bent over backwards to prioritize his politics over Texans,” state Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder said in a statement. “Honestly, it’s pathetic.” The Texas map redraw has already reshaped the 2026 race, with Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the dean of the state’s congressional delegation, announcing that he would not seek reelection to his Austin-based seat if the new map takes effect. Under the proposed map, Doggett’s district would overlap with that of another Democratic incumbent, Rep. Greg Casar. Trump has pushed other Republican-controlled states to redraw their maps. Indiana’s Republican legislative leaders privately met with the president in the Oval Office this week to discuss redistricting. The president is also pushing Missouri Republicans to redraw their House maps, while Democrats in Ohio are bracing for Republicans to try and expand their congressional majority when the Legislature takes up redistricting later this year. Trump’s push to redraw House districts to his party’s advantage has drawn a response from other blue states besides California. Democrats in New York have introduced legislation that would allow mid-decade redistricting, but the earliest new maps would be in place in that state would be ahead of the 2028 election. Because the Supreme Court has blessed purely partisan gerrymandering, the only way opponents can stop the new Texas map would be by arguing in court that it violates the Voting Rights Act requirement to keep minority communities together so they can select representatives of their choice. […]
Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $79 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 after one of its airplanes that was experiencing engine trouble dumped its fuel over schoolyards and densely populated neighborhoods near Los Angeles. The Delta jet had departed from Los Angeles to Shanghai on Jan. 14, 2020 when it needed to quickly return to Los Angeles International Airport. The Boeing 777-200 landed safely after circling back over Los Angeles while dumping 15,000 gallons of fuel to reach a safe landing weight. Los Angeles County firefighters were called to schools in the city of Cudahy where nearly 60 schoolchildren and teachers were examined for minor skin and lung irritations. None required hospitalization. Shortly after, teachers from Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy filed a lawsuit against the airline, saying they were exposed to jet fuel that drizzled down like raindrops with “overwhelming” fumes. They described feeling the fuel on their clothes, skin and eyes. Later, several Cudahy homeowners filed a class-action suit. The teachers said they sought medical treatment after the incident and experienced physical and emotional pain. Delta said in the lawsuit settlement reached Monday that one of the plane’s two engines lost thrust shortly after takeoff and that the plane, which was carrying enough fuel for the 13-hour flight, exceeded its maximum landing weight by around 160,000 pounds. The weight of a full load of fuel carries a risk of damaging a jetliner during landing — which can be expensive for an airline to fix. Even if there isn’t damage, airlines try to avoid overweight landings because they are required to inspect planes, which puts them out of service. The pilots decided to dump fuel “to reduce the serious risks of flying and landing an overweight airplane on just one engine.” the airline said in court documents. Delta said in court documents that it agreed to the settlement without any admission of liability to avoid the legal expenses of a trial and “to eliminate the distraction and other burdens this litigation has caused to Delta’s business.” (AP)
This could buy a lot of Labor Day weekend sunblock: Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is estimated at $1 billion, the sixth-largest prize in the game’s history. Powerball, which costs $2 per ticket, is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The jackpot has been growing each week because no one has matched all six numbers since May 31. As ticket sales climbed this week, game officials raised the estimated Saturday night jackpot to $1 billion from $950 million, before taxes. Payments would be spread over 30 years, or a winner can choose an immediate lump sum of $453 million, again before taxes. “We’re bringing extra excitement to Labor Day weekend,” said Matt Strawn, head of the Iowa Lottery and chair of Powerball. The odds of matching all six numbers, of course, are daunting: 1 in 292.2 million. By comparison, the odds of getting a rare shark bite during a last summer dip in the ocean are much lower, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Angela Schwartz, who sells tickets at City Market in downtown Detroit, said the message Friday was consistent: “Give me a lucky Powerball.” “I don’t know if that’s enough for me,” she said with a laugh, referring to the lump-sum payout a winner could get. “It could pay a few bills.” At a Fuel City in Dallas, Duran Hargest let the lottery machine spit out four tickets with random numbers. “It could be a blessing,” he said of winning the jackpot. “It could also be a curse, depending on how you use it. I just wanted to make sure if I get it, you know, take care of my family and then probably help others that probably need it, too.” Powerball and Mega Millions are lottery games with potentially huge jackpots because they are played in multiple states. The top Powerball jackpot was $2.04 billion on Nov. 7, 2022. The largest Mega Millions jackpot was $1.6 billion on Aug. 8, 2023. (AP)
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge mostly held steady last month despite President Donald Trump’s broad-based tariffs, but a measure of underlying inflation increased. Prices rose 2.6% in July compared with a year ago, the Commerce Department said Friday, the same annual increase as in June. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, prices rose 2.9% from a year earlier, up from 2.8% in the previous month and the highest since February. The figures illustrate why many officials at the Federal Reserve have been reluctant to cut their key interest rate. While inflation is much lower than the roughly 7% peak it reached three years ago, it is still running noticeably above the Fed’s 2% target. At the same time, the report showed that consumer spending picked up last month and could boost economic growth, which weakened considerably in the first six months of the year. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.2% from June to July, down from 0.3% the previous month, while core prices increased 0.3% for the second month in a row. The figures are similar to those reported earlier this month in the more widely-followed consumer price index, which has risen 2.7% from a year ago. The core CPI increased 3.1% in July compared with a year earlier. Separately, the Friday report showed that consumer spending jumped 0.5% in July, the biggest increase since March and a sign that many Americans are still willing to open their wallets despite high interest rates and uncertainty surrounding the direction of the economy. Spending jumped sharply for long-lasting goods such as cars, appliances and furniture, many of which are imported. Incomes rose 0.4% from June to July, boosted by a healthy gain in wages and salaries, the report showed. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said the central bank will likely cut its key rate at its meeting next month. But policymakers are expected to proceed cautiously and it’s not clear how many more rate cuts will happen this year. When the Fed reduces its key rate, it often — though not always — lowers borrowing costs for things like mortgages, car loans, and business borrowing. Trump has relentlessly pushed Powell and the Fed for lower interest rates since earlier this year, calling Powell “Too Late” and a “moron” and arguing that there is “no inflation.” On Monday he sought to fire Lisa Cook, a member of the Fed’s governing board in an effort to gain greater control over the central bank. (AP)
ELIMINATED: The IDF has killed Muhammad Abd al-Aziz Abu Zubaida, the highest-ranking ISIS leader in Gaza, who was responsible for setting policy, planning, and overseeing ISIS operations in Judea, Samaria, Gaza, and the Sinai Peninsula.
Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, will not seek reelection in 2026. The two-term senator’s decision opens up a high-stakes Senate race in a key battleground state.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has barred Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from attending next month’s United Nations General Assembly, suspending visas for Abbas and his delegation. In a statement, the State Department said the move reflects U.S. national security interests and accused the PA and PLO of supporting terrorism and pursuing “lawfare” at international courts rather than engaging in peace efforts.
New Jersey’s governor is asking federal officials to impose restrictions on nonessential helicopter flights in his state after a New York City sightseeing helicopter broke apart in midair in April, killing six people. Gov. Phil Murphy, in an Aug. 18 letter, requested the Federal Aviation Administration use its authority to “prohibit or sharply reduce” the number of the aircrafts operating in the state. The Democrat noted that the helicopter involved in the April 10 crash was based at a heliport in Kearny, New Jersey and plummeted into the Hudson River just 75 feet (22 meters) from the Jersey City waterfront. He argued that future crashes could be more devastating if they occurred on land as he called on the FAA to impose more stringent regulations, akin to the cap on tourist helicopter flights over Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park that the agency adopted in 2023. “We must not wait for such a tragedy to occur being taking decisive action,” Murphy wrote. The governor suggested flights from Kearny could be routed over Newark Bay rather than directly over densely populated Jersey City and Hoboken, reducing impacts on residential neighborhoods and enhancing safety by having helicopters fly more over water than land. He also asked the FAA to consider limiting the operating hours for nonessential flights from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The FAA, in a statement Thursday, said it would reach out directly to Murphy. The agency also noted helicopters are not subject to the same minimum altitude restrictions as airplanes, which must fly at least 1,000 feet (300 meters) above the nearest obstacle when over densely populated areas. But, under federal regulations, they must not pose a hazard to people or property on land when operating. Vertical Aviation International, an industry trade group, said Friday that the heliport reached an agreement in June with Hudson County and Kearny officials to cut the number of flights by the thousands. It also has agreed to not bring in a new tour company. “Safety and community compatibility are top industry priorities every day and VAI and our members have for years been working with the communities we live and work in to find balance between our impacts and the vital services and missions our industry provides,” VAI spokesperson Bailey Wood said, noting that Murphy may not be aware of the deal reached between the officials and the heliport. The aircraft operated by New York Helicopter had been giving a typical tour of the Manhattan skyline when it broke apart about 18 minutes into the flight. The crash killed the helicopter pilot and a prominent family from Barcelona. It also revived concerns about the safety of the popular and costly aerial tours over New York City. The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report on the doomed flight in May, but is still investigating what caused the helicopter to break apart. (AP)
A federal judge on Thursday denied Saudi Arabia’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit from families of 9/11 victims, clearing the case to proceed to trial. U.S. District Judge George Daniels said evidence suggests Saudi officials Fahad al-Thumairy and Omar al-Bayoumi helped support the hijackers in California, despite Riyadh’s denials. Victims’ families hailed the ruling as a landmark step toward accountability, while Saudi Arabia maintains the men’s actions were innocent. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, a fact that has fueled suspicions of the kingdom’s involvement for more than two decades.
The Trump administration and House Republicans have opened an investigation into Wikipedia over claims that foreign actors and organizations have manipulated articles to influence U.S. public opinion. Lawmakers said they will scrutinize Wikipedia’s volunteer editors, who shape the site’s articles, and examine what steps the Wikimedia Foundation is taking to block organized bias from being injected into sensitive topics.
New York City health officials have confirmed a seventh death tied to the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Central Harlem, where 114 people have been diagnosed and six remain hospitalized. The cluster has been traced to 12 contaminated cooling towers across 10 buildings, including a city-run hospital and health clinic, though all have since undergone remediation. Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria that spread through building water systems, can trigger cough, fever, muscle aches and shortness of breath within two days to two weeks of exposure.
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge held steady in July at 2.6% despite President Donald Trump’s tariffs, though core inflation — which strips out food and energy — ticked up to 2.9%, its highest level since February. The Commerce Department also reported consumer spending jumped 0.5% last month, the biggest gain since March, while incomes rose 0.4% on higher wages.
As of Friday, the U.S. has ended duty-free status for imports under $800. The move, part of President Trump’s trade agenda, means small international packages will now face tariffs or flat duties of $80–$200. More than 30 countries’ postal services — including those in Europe, Japan, Australia, Mexico & India — have temporarily stopped sending some packages to the U.S. Experts warn the change could raise prices, delay deliveries & hit small businesses that rely on foreign suppliers.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: Putin is a predator. Putin’s proxies have been targeting our societies for years with hybrid attacks, cyber attacks, and the weaponizing of migrants.
In a move aimed at confronting Palestinian support for terror, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States will deny entry to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September. The Trump administration has suspended the visas of Abbas and top PA officials, underscoring its demand that Palestinian leadership abandon policies that glorify violence and undermine peace. “In compliance with the laws and national security interests of the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA),” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement. Pigott made clear that U.S. policy will not reward the PA’s ongoing campaigns against Israel. “Before they can be taken seriously as partners for peace, the PA and PLO must repudiate terrorism, lawfare campaigns at the ICC and ICJ, and the pursuit of unilateral recognition of statehood,” he added. The only exception will be waivers for the PA’s UN mission, in line with U.S. obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement. While often portrayed as a “moderate” counterweight to Hamas, the Palestinian Authority continues to fund and encourage violence against Israelis. Central to this policy is the Palestinian Authority Martyrs Fund, which pays stipends to families of terrorists killed, jailed, or injured while carrying out attacks. Critics argue that this so-called “pay-for-slay” program serves as a direct incentive for terror. By blocking Abbas’s trip to New York, the administration is signaling that business as usual is over. U.S. officials emphasized that re-engagement is possible — but only if the PA takes verifiable steps to end its financial and political backing of terrorism. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump has revoked former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Secret Service protection that otherwise would have ended next summer, senior Trump administration officials said Friday. Former vice presidents typically get federal government protection for six months after leaving office, while ex-presidents do so for life. But then-President Joe Biden quietly signed a directive, at Harris’ request, that had extended protection for her beyond the traditional six months, according to another person familiar with the matter. The people insisted on anonymity to discuss a matter not made public. Trump, a Republican, defeated Harris, a Democrat, in the presidential election last year. His move to drop Harris’ Secret Service protection comes as the former vice president, who became the Democratic nominee last summer after a chaotic series of events that led to Biden dropping out of the contest, is about to embark on a book tour for her memoir, titled “107 Days.” The tour has 15 stops, including visits abroad to London and Toronto. The book, which refers to the historically short length of her presidential campaign, will be released Sept. 23, and the tour begins the following day. It is not unusual for Secret Service protection to continue well beyond the statutory six-month window, particularly when former officials face credible and ongoing threats. But Trump’s decisions to revoke the protection have stood out both for timing and for targets. During Trump’s second presidency, he repeatedly has cut off security for adversaries and figures who have fallen from favor, including his onetime national security adviser John Bolton and members of Biden’s family, including the former president’s adult children. The decision to strip Harris of protection is certain to raise alarms among security experts who view continuity of protection as essential in a polarized climate. A senior Trump administration official said an executive memorandum was issued Thursday to the Department of Homeland Security ending Harris’ security detail and security services. Those had been extended from six to 18 months by the Biden administration, so they would have ended in July 2026, but now they will be terminated on Monday. While she lost to Trump last November, Harris is seen as a potential candidate for 2028, and she has already announced she will not run for California governor in 2026. Harris is also a former senator, California attorney general and San Francisco district attorney. Last year was a particularly politically charged environment with Trump facing two assassination attempts, and the Secret Service played a crucial role in protecting the now-president. Harris has also faced threats before: In August 2024, a Virginia man was arrested and charged with threatening online to kill her and harm other public officials. (AP)
