Alabama Leaders Oppose Clean Car Standards Rollback
by Alexander Richey
Local and state leaders and students gathered at Birmingham’s Linn Park Tuesday to oppose the Trump administration’s proposed rollback of clean car standards. Trump has vowed to rollback an Obama-era policy that requires carmakers to double fuel efficiency by 2025.
The 2012 rule was meant to curb greenhouse gases and produce more electric and hybrid vehicles. State Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison spoke at the event and directed a message to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Live up to your standards and your mission.Protect environment and human health, not big industry,” she said. “Do your job and protect citizens.”
The EPA submitted a proposal to freeze fuel economy standards. The administration says the regulations are burdensome and can hurt job growth in the automotive industry. But conservation groups say the change could create confusion among auto makers. Car manufacturers have already invested billions of dollars to produce and design more fuel efficient vehicles.
Alabama is the fifth-largest auto manufacturer in the country and employs nearly 40,000 people. The Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa is slated to begin production of a new hybrid SUV in 2019.
Senators question Trump plan to kill federal funds for PBS, NPR and some foreign aid
Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee pushed back against the Trump administration's bid to rescind federal funding for public broadcasting and international aid programs.
Judge orders Trump administration to resume distributing money for EV chargers
Congress designated money for building new EV chargers, but the Trump administration put a freeze on those funds. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering the program to resume.
Judge sees no reason to keep holding Abrego Garcia pending criminal trial
Despite the court order, if released from prison, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is likely to be immediately taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Expert panel picked by RFK Jr. will scrutinize the vaccine schedule for kids
The advisory committee makes recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the nation's vaccine schedule. Any changes could affect vaccinations for millions of children.
Trump’s signature policy bill is facing trouble on multiple fronts in the Senate
While Senate leaders have made several significant changes to the bill in recent days, the issue of funding for rural hospitals has emerged as a major roadblock.
Hold the yelling: Ebon Moss-Bachrach says ‘The Bear’ set is ‘very loving’
Moss-Bachrach has won two Emmys for his portrayal of an abrasive and ornery cook/maître d on the FX series The Bear. The show is known for kitchen chaos, but he says the set is calm and well run.
