Biden Executive Branch

mickeyrat

Catch all thread for the various depts of this administration....

https://apnews.com/article/irs-nominee-tax-audit-promise-41b0d4242fcb69a180f313a689e34953

 

Joe Biden Internal Revenue Service

IRS nominee: No audit boost for households under $400,000

By FATIMA HUSSEIN

Today

WASHINGTON (AP) — If confirmed as IRS commissioner, Daniel Werfel says he will commit to not increasing tax audits on businesses and households making less than $400,000 per year.

Anticipating questions ahead of his confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Finance Committee, Werfel in prepared testimony makes several other commitments aimed at revamping the beleaguered agency.

President Joe Biden nominated Werfel to steer the Internal Revenue Service as it receives a massive funding boost — nearly $80 billion over the next 10 years through the Inflation Reduction Act, which Congress passed in August. Noting the act's impact on the federal tax collector, Werfel says that “Americans rightfully expect a more modern and high-performing IRS.”

While promising to modernize the agency's technology, address its paperwork burden and audit high-income earners, Werfel says he will be “unyielding in following my true north to increase public trust.”

Werfel, 51, who led Boston Consulting Group’s global public sector practice, was nominated to replace Charles Rettig. Selected by President Donald Trump to lead the agency, Rettig left when his five-year term ended in November. An acting commissioner has been filling in.

---

JOE BIDEN

White House: Tesla to make some EV chargers available to all

White House: GOP plans would drive deficits up $3 trillion

Ukraine aid support softens in the US: AP-NORC Poll

Parkland remembers victims 5 years after school massacre

Werfel will also have to navigate controversy surrounding the new funding, brought by critics who have distorted how the new law would affect the IRS and taxes for the middle class. About $46 billion was allocated for enforcing tax laws and the rest to taxpayer services, operations support and updating business systems.

Republicans have suggested without evidence that the agency would use the new money to hire an army of tax agents with weapons.

Disapproval of the agency reached new heights when House Republicans began their tenure in the majority last month by passing a bill that would rescind the funding, fulfilling a campaign promise. The legislation has not advanced in the Senate and is unlikely to reach Biden, who has promised a veto.

“The hearing promises to be a doozy, and not only because the IRS is one of the most unpopular government agencies in the United States," said Janet Holtzblatt, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. “This will be the first big IRS hearing since it received an $80 billion boost to its budget in the Inflation Reduction Act.”

GOP criticism appeared more directed at Biden administration efforts to bolster funding for the agency than at Werfel himself. But tax experts say Werfel should expect to face a slew of managerial questions.

Caroline Bruckner, a tax professor at the American University Kogod School of Business, said that, if confirmed, Werfel would have to address the massive workforce challenges at the IRS wrought by attrition, an aging workforce and a generally poor reputation.

“The next generation of accountants don't want to work for the IRS,” Bruckner said. She added, "To attract the best talent, particularly with Millennials and Gen-Z workers who will be the future of the workforce, transparency as a leader will go a long way.”

Bruckner referred to a Stanford University study that showed IRS data-driven algorithms chose Black taxpayers to audit up to 4.7 times the rate of non-Black taxpayers. “The next generation of workers care about these things, and this is a leadership challenge," she said.

Robert J. Kovacev, a federal tax attorney at Miller & Chevalier in Washington, said Werfel will have to explain how the agency could best spend its new funding.

“I think that $80 billion gives the IRS some choices on how to improve that they didn't have before," he said. "They could spend it on new revenue agents, or new technology investments to make it fairer and more efficient.”

mickeyrat

Pete catching some shit over these. Some deserved for the DOT and how government cateres more to business interests and less on the health and welfare of the citizens as outlined in The Constitution.

Another train derailed in Az.....

https://apnews.com/article/ohio-derailment-town-hall-meeting-b95ef5c6389f417b9cbe088c109b9d84

  

Pennsylvania Ohio Climate and environment

Ohio town takes resident questions on derailment, chemicals

7 mins ago

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio village upended by a freight train derailment and the intentional burning of some of the hazardous chemicals on board has invited affected residents to a town hall meeting Wednesday evening to discuss lingering questions.

And there are still plenty — about the huge plumes of smoke, the persisting odors, the reports of sick or dead animals, the potential impact on drinking water, all the cleaning up. Even as school has resumed and trains are rolling by again, things aren't the same.

In and around East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state line, people are asking whether the air and water around them is safe for people, pets and livestock. They want assistance navigating the financial help the railroad offered hundreds of families who evacuated, and they want to know whether it will be held responsible for what happened.

MORE ON THE DERAILMENT

• Ohio derailment aftermath: How worried should people be?
• Train derailment prompts water utility to take precautions
• Lawsuit seeks medical testing after toxic train derailment
• Reporter arrested during news event on Ohio train derailment

Rail operator Norfolk Southern announced Tuesday that it is also creating a $1 million charitable fund to help the community of some 4,700 people while continuing remediation work, including removing spilled contaminants from the ground and streams and monitoring air quality.

“We will be judged by our actions," Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw said in a statement. "We are cleaning up the site in an environmentally responsible way, reimbursing residents affected by the derailment, and working with members of the community to identify what is needed to help East Palestine recover and thrive.”

No one was injured when about 50 cars derailed in a fiery, mangled mess on the outskirts of East Palestine on Feb. 3. As fears grew about a potential explosion, officials seeking to avoid an uncontrolled blast had the area evacuated and opted to release and burn toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke billowing into the sky again.

A mechanical issue with a rail car axle is suspected to be the cause of the derailment, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it has video appearing to show a wheel bearing overheating just beforehand. The NTSB said it expects its preliminary report in about two weeks.

Misinformation and exaggerations spread online, and state and federal officials have repeatedly offered assurances that air monitoring hasn't detected any remaining concerns. Even low levels of contaminants that aren’t considered hazardous can create lingering odors or symptoms such as headaches, Ohio’s health director said Tuesday.

Precautions also are being taken to ensure contaminants that reached the Ohio River don't make it into drinking water.

mickeyrat

  https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-department-of-the-interior-michelle-lujan-grisham-new-mexico-covid-e221a01f9648154d7281229ac25019b2

  

New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham U.S. Department of the Interior COVID-19 Lynn

Interior secretary hires Native American as policy adviser

Yesterday

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A Native American attorney who oversaw New Mexico’s Indian Affairs Department has been tapped to serve as a top policy adviser to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

The department announced the appointment of Lynn Trujillo as senior counselor to the secretary Friday.

Trujillo is a tribal member of Sandia Pueblo on the outskirts of Albuquerque and has ties to Acoma and Taos pueblos. Haaland is the first Native American to serve as a U.S. Cabinet secretary.

Trujillo worked as a state Cabinet secretary for nearly four years under Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as a crucial liaison with Native American communities during the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initiatives during Trujillo’s tenure provided increased funding for local school districts on Native American lands held in trust by the federal government — where property taxes cannot be levied.

She also promoted the pursuit of justice for missing and murdered Indigenous people across New Mexico and agreements authorizing tribal cannabis programs to spur economic development in Native American communities. New Mexico legalized recreational cannabis sales last year amid concerns about conflicts with federal prohibition.

---

POLITICS

Ukraine aid support softens in the US: AP-NORC Poll

White House: GOP plans would drive deficits up $3 trillion

IRS nominee: No audit boost for households under $400,000

White House: Tesla to make some EV chargers available to all

Trujillo previously worked as a national Native American coordinator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture on its rural development programs and as general counsel to Sandia Pueblo.

Haaland and Trujillo are both graduates of the University of New Mexico School of Law.

New Mexico overlaps with 23 federally recognized Native American communities including large portions of the Navajo Nation.

___

This story was originally published on Feb. 13, 2023. It was updated on Feb. 14, 2023, to correct Lynn Trujillo’s title. She is senior counselor, not senior counsel.

tempo_n_groove

The train derailment in Ohio is a big deal that no one is talking about.  They are burning this off into the atmosphere and the surrounding area is a toxic mess.

mickeyrat

tempo_n_groove said:

The train derailment in Ohio is a big deal that no one is talking about.  They are burning this off into the atmosphere and the surrounding area is a toxic mess.

Dewine , our pos gop governor,  FINALLY made a statement yesterday. Effectively passing the buck. 10 DAYS AFTER THE DERAILMENT

gimmesometruth27

jd vance finally made one yesterday too.

mickey your state knows how to pick em, for sure. almost as badly as missouri.

Halifax2TheMax

tempo_n_groove said:

The train derailment in Ohio is a big deal that no one is talking about.  They are burning this off into the atmosphere and the surrounding area is a toxic mess.

Not sure what you mean by “nobody is talking about,” as it’s been widely reported upon and continues to be, as opposed to the oil pipeline breach that has banned press access and I haven’t heard much since the keystone operator said, “don’t worry about it, it’s fine.” For what it’s worth:

“A rule was passed under President Barack Obama that made it a requirement for trains carrying hazardous flammable materials to have ECP brakes, but this was rescinded in 2017 by the Trump administration. The industry said it would cost more than $3 billion to implement. The FRA under Obama said it would be around half a billion.

"The National Transportation Safety Board, a federal agency responsible for investigating rail accidents, told The Lever that the Ohio train that derailed was not fitted with ECP brakes."

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-blame-ohio-train-derailment-1781163

tempo_n_groove

Halifax2TheMax said:

tempo_n_groove said:

The train derailment in Ohio is a big deal that no one is talking about.  They are burning this off into the atmosphere and the surrounding area is a toxic mess.

Not sure what you mean by “nobody is talking about,” as it’s been widely reported upon and continues to be, as opposed to the oil pipeline breach that has banned press access and I haven’t heard much since the keystone operator said, “don’t worry about it, it’s fine.” For what it’s worth:

“A rule was passed under President Barack Obama that made it a requirement for trains carrying hazardous flammable materials to have ECP brakes, but this was rescinded in 2017 by the Trump administration. The industry said it would cost more than $3 billion to implement. The FRA under Obama said it would be around half a billion.

"The National Transportation Safety Board, a federal agency responsible for investigating rail accidents, told The Lever that the Ohio train that derailed was not fitted with ECP brakes."

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-blame-ohio-train-derailment-1781163

First comments I've seen on it Fax.  Haven't seen this topic brought up anywhere.

Edit:  The bearings went on the wheel so I don't know if this proposed brake would have helped of not?

Halifax2TheMax

Here’s someone talking about it. 

Ohio Train Derailment Is Part of 'War on White People': Charlie Kirk

BY ANNA SKINNER ON 2/14/23 AT 2:58 PM EST

The Ohio train derailment has one conservative talk show host convinced there are bigger issues at play.

A Norfolk Southern Railway train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this month. Shortly after the derailment, officials decided to conduct a controlled burn of the cars to prevent an explosion. Some of the cars contained toxic chemicals like vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. Since the derailment, area residents have experienced concerning physical symptoms. The environment has also taken a hit, with the chemical release proving fatal to hundreds of fishin the area and leading to the deaths of other wildlife, like foxes and birds. Officials are monitoring the level of toxic chemicals in the water.

On Tuesday, Charlie Kirk said members of President Joe Biden's administration haven't visited East Palestine, Ohio, after the derailment because the town's population is mainly white.

"So, why is it that they kind of shrug their shoulders and they say, yeah, okay, whatever? It's very simple. It's because the war on white people continues. Why would you care for the white working-class voters in eastern Ohio? You haven't cared about them in other reasons."

Census data shows that East Palestine, Ohio, residents are mostly white. In 2020, the town's population was nearly 4,500 people, with 93.5 percent of the population being white. Nearly 3 percent of the population was Hispanic and not even half a percent of residents were Black.

Kirk argued that if the train derailment happened in a city with a high Black population, Biden's administration would have a different response.

"And I will prove it to you. If this train derailment happened in downtown Atlanta in the densely populated Black neighborhoods, this would be the number one news story," Kirk said. "It would be Flint water crisis 2.0. There would be clamoring and activism and talks for reparations."

NEWSWEEK SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS >

Kirk then goes on to criticize U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who recently spoke at the National Association of Counties Conference. At the conference, Buttigieg addressed the topic of workplace diversity, saying when minority neighborhoods see a new infrastructure project, the workers "don't look like they came from anywhere near the neighborhood", according to a clip Kirk shared on his show.

"Buttigieg is out talking about how workers are too white," Kirk said. "For the last couple of years, I have been warning about this crusade against white people. And people shrug their shoulders, say, oh, Charlie, why does that matter? I could tell you why it matters. When there is a crisis now and the leaders hate working class whites, they're not going to scramble to save your life. They'll lie to you and tell you to go back home while you're poisoned."

https://www.newsweek.com/ohio-train-derailment-war-white-people-charlie-kirk-1781254

Go Beavers

Here’s something that didn’t happen and is proof of a “crusade against white people”? Jesus H with this crap. Sadly most white republicans think they’re victims of racism equal to black people, so we’ll get more of this leading up to 2024. 

tempo_n_groove

Halifax2TheMax said:

Here’s someone talking about it. 

Ohio Train Derailment Is Part of 'War on White People': Charlie Kirk

BY ANNA SKINNER ON 2/14/23 AT 2:58 PM EST

The Ohio train derailment has one conservative talk show host convinced there are bigger issues at play.

A Norfolk Southern Railway train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this month. Shortly after the derailment, officials decided to conduct a controlled burn of the cars to prevent an explosion. Some of the cars contained toxic chemicals like vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. Since the derailment, area residents have experienced concerning physical symptoms. The environment has also taken a hit, with the chemical release proving fatal to hundreds of fishin the area and leading to the deaths of other wildlife, like foxes and birds. Officials are monitoring the level of toxic chemicals in the water.

On Tuesday, Charlie Kirk said members of President Joe Biden's administration haven't visited East Palestine, Ohio, after the derailment because the town's population is mainly white.

"So, why is it that they kind of shrug their shoulders and they say, yeah, okay, whatever? It's very simple. It's because the war on white people continues. Why would you care for the white working-class voters in eastern Ohio? You haven't cared about them in other reasons."

Census data shows that East Palestine, Ohio, residents are mostly white. In 2020, the town's population was nearly 4,500 people, with 93.5 percent of the population being white. Nearly 3 percent of the population was Hispanic and not even half a percent of residents were Black.

Kirk argued that if the train derailment happened in a city with a high Black population, Biden's administration would have a different response.

"And I will prove it to you. If this train derailment happened in downtown Atlanta in the densely populated Black neighborhoods, this would be the number one news story," Kirk said. "It would be Flint water crisis 2.0. There would be clamoring and activism and talks for reparations."

NEWSWEEK SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS >

Kirk then goes on to criticize U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who recently spoke at the National Association of Counties Conference. At the conference, Buttigieg addressed the topic of workplace diversity, saying when minority neighborhoods see a new infrastructure project, the workers "don't look like they came from anywhere near the neighborhood", according to a clip Kirk shared on his show.

"Buttigieg is out talking about how workers are too white," Kirk said. "For the last couple of years, I have been warning about this crusade against white people. And people shrug their shoulders, say, oh, Charlie, why does that matter? I could tell you why it matters. When there is a crisis now and the leaders hate working class whites, they're not going to scramble to save your life. They'll lie to you and tell you to go back home while you're poisoned."

https://www.newsweek.com/ohio-train-derailment-war-white-people-charlie-kirk-1781254

This is ridiculous.  A poisoned plume of smoke and possible poison river runoff and you find the one idiot that makes it into a race thing?

Halifax2TheMax

Here’s a looooong article that explains ECP brakes, the policy, politics, profits and more regarding the accident. Good read but loooong. Bottom line, ECP brakes would have made a difference, as would have tighter regulations and investment versus profits.

https://www.levernews.com/rail-companies-blocked-safety-rules-before-ohio-derailment/

tempo_n_groove

Halifax2TheMax said:

Here’s a looooong article that explains ECP brakes, the policy, politics, profits and more regarding the accident. Good read but loooong. Bottom line, ECP brakes would have made a difference, as would have tighter regulations and investment versus profits.

https://www.levernews.com/rail-companies-blocked-safety-rules-before-ohio-derailment/

I just became a pro on ECP brakes now.  Makes absolute sense after reading this.  TY.

So, now.  Do they implement this tech or just same ol same ol?

Thread integrity, this would go under the Federal Railroad Administration under Biden.

Halifax2TheMax

tempo_n_groove said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

Here’s a looooong article that explains ECP brakes, the policy, politics, profits and more regarding the accident. Good read but loooong. Bottom line, ECP brakes would have made a difference, as would have tighter regulations and investment versus profits.

https://www.levernews.com/rail-companies-blocked-safety-rules-before-ohio-derailment/

I just became a pro on ECP brakes now.  Makes absolute sense after reading this.  TY.

So, now.  Do they implement this tech or just same ol same ol?

Thread integrity, this would go under the Federal Railroad Administration under Biden.

FRA proposed it under Obama and the railroads were on board. Then Obama made it mandatory and the railroad and chemical industries freaked out and spent a few million dollars lobbying and donating to repubs and POOTWH killed it. Despite stock buy backs, they’ll want something in return for investing in a proven safety feature. Profits over people.

tempo_n_groove

Halifax2TheMax said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

Here’s a looooong article that explains ECP brakes, the policy, politics, profits and more regarding the accident. Good read but loooong. Bottom line, ECP brakes would have made a difference, as would have tighter regulations and investment versus profits.

https://www.levernews.com/rail-companies-blocked-safety-rules-before-ohio-derailment/

I just became a pro on ECP brakes now.  Makes absolute sense after reading this.  TY.

So, now.  Do they implement this tech or just same ol same ol?

Thread integrity, this would go under the Federal Railroad Administration under Biden.

FRA proposed it under Obama and the railroads were on board. Then Obama made it mandatory and the railroad and chemical industries freaked out and spent a few million dollars lobbying and donating to repubs and POOTWH killed it. Despite stock buy backs, they’ll want something in return for investing in a proven safety feature. Profits over people.

Depending on whom you believe the selling point was with those brakes you wouldn't have so many safety checks.  That was the cost offset of it from the article.

It's definitely something that should be implemented.  That accordion effect makes absolute sense in preventing.  No brainer.

Halifax2TheMax

tempo_n_groove said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

Here’s a looooong article that explains ECP brakes, the policy, politics, profits and more regarding the accident. Good read but loooong. Bottom line, ECP brakes would have made a difference, as would have tighter regulations and investment versus profits.

https://www.levernews.com/rail-companies-blocked-safety-rules-before-ohio-derailment/

I just became a pro on ECP brakes now.  Makes absolute sense after reading this.  TY.

So, now.  Do they implement this tech or just same ol same ol?

Thread integrity, this would go under the Federal Railroad Administration under Biden.

FRA proposed it under Obama and the railroads were on board. Then Obama made it mandatory and the railroad and chemical industries freaked out and spent a few million dollars lobbying and donating to repubs and POOTWH killed it. Despite stock buy backs, they’ll want something in return for investing in a proven safety feature. Profits over people.

Depending on whom you believe the selling point was with those brakes you wouldn't have so many safety checks.  That was the cost offset of it from the article.

It's definitely something that should be implemented.  That accordion effect makes absolute sense in preventing.  No brainer.

And potential insurance and liability costs but nobody puts “accidents” on any column of a ledger, right?

gimmesometruth27

Go Beavers said:

Here’s something that didn’t happen and is proof of a “crusade against white people”? Jesus H with this crap. Sadly most white republicans think they’re victims of racism equal to black people, so we’ll get more of this leading up to 2024. 

conservative white men are the most fragile of all men in the world.

mickeyrat

https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-environmental-protection-agency-ohio-pennsylvania-business-a686a906bc165d890097646b77412b1d

 

Evacuations U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ohio Pennsylvania Climate and environment

EPA chief to hear from Ohio villagers over toxic train spill

By PATRICK ORSAGOS

1 hour ago

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — Residents of the Ohio village upended by a freight train derailment packed a gymnasium demanding reassurances after toxic chemicals spilled and burned in a huge plume over their homes and businesses.

“I have three grandbabies,” said Kathy Dyke, who came with hundreds of her neighbors to a meeting Wednesday where representatives of Norfolk Southern were conspicuously absent. “Are they going to grow up here in five years and have cancer? So those are all factors that play on my mind.”

State officials insisted yet again that testing shows the air is safe to breathe around East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state line. They promised air and water monitoring would continue.

With the community in the national spotlight, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan prepared to visit Thursday to assess the ongoing response and hear from impacted residents.

MORE ON THE DERAILMENT

• Ohio derailment aftermath: How worried should people be?
• Charges dropped against reporter arrested at news conference

Those attending Wednesday's informational session, originally billed as a town hall meeting, had many questions over health hazards, and they demanded more transparency from railroad operator Norfolk Southern, which did not attend, citing safety concerns for its staff.

“They just danced around the questions a lot," said Danielle Deal, who lives a few miles from the derailment site. “Norfolk needed to be here.”

In a statement, Norfolk Southern said it didn't attend alongside local, state and federal officials because of a “growing physical threat to our employees and members of the community around this event."

Deal called that a “copout" and noted the seriousness of the incident.

Hundreds of residents of the Ohio village upended by a freight train derailment have packed a school gym to seek answers on whether they were safe from toxic chemicals that spilled or were burned off. (Feb. 16) (AP Video: Patrick Orsagos)

Deal and her two children left home to stay with her mother, 13 miles away “and we could still see the mushroom cloud, plain as day,” she said.

Nearly two weeks after the derailment, people in the area have many concerns about the huge plumes of smoke they saw, persisting odors, risks to pets and wild animals, potential effects on drinking water and what's happening with the cleanup.

Even as school resumed and trains were rolling again, people were worried.

“Why are they being hush-hush?" Dyke said of the railroad. “They’re not out here supporting, they’re not out here answering questions. For three days we didn’t even know what was on the train."

The people living in and around East Palestine said they want assistance figuring out how to get the financial help the railroad has offered to hundreds of families who evacuated. Beyond that, they want to know whether the railroad will be held responsible.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost advised Norfolk Southern on Wednesday that his office is considering legal action against the rail operator.

“The pollution, which continues to contaminate the area around East Palestine, created a nuisance, damage to natural resources and caused environmental harm,” Yost said in a letter to the company.

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency will today visit an Ohio village where toxic chemicals spilled in a train derailment. AP correspondent Donna Warder reports.

The state's Environmental Protection Agency said the latest tests show five wells supplying the village's drinking water are free from contaminants, but recommends testing private water wells that are closer to the surface.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimates spilled contaminants affected more than 7 miles (11.2 kilometers) of streams and killed some 3,500 fish, mostly small ones such as minnows and darters.

There have been anecdotal reports that pets or livestock have been sickened. No related animal deaths have been confirmed, state officials said, but that confirmation would require necropsies and lab work to determine the connection to the incident.

Norfolk Southern announced Tuesday that it is creating a $1 million fund to help the community of some 4,700 people while continuing remediation work, including removing spilled contaminants from the ground and streams and monitoring air quality.

It also will expand how many residents can be reimbursed for their evacuation costs, covering the entire village and surrounding area.

“We will be judged by our actions," Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw said in a statement that the company is "cleaning up the site in an environmentally responsible way.”

No one was injured when about 50 cars derailed in a fiery, mangled mess on the outskirts of East Palestine on Feb. 3. As fears grew about a potential explosion, officials seeking to avoid an uncontrolled blast had the area evacuated and opted to release and burn toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke billowing into the sky again.

A mechanical issue with a rail car axle is suspected to be the cause of the derailment, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it has video appearing to show a wheel bearing overheating just beforehand. The NTSB said it expects its preliminary report in about two weeks.

Misinformation and exaggerations spread online, and state and federal officials have repeatedly offered assurances that air monitoring hasn't detected any remaining concerns. Even low levels of contaminants that aren’t considered hazardous can create lingering odors or symptoms such as headaches, Ohio’s health director said Tuesday.

Precautions also are being taken to ensure contaminants that reached the Ohio River don't make it into drinking water.

mickeyrat

https://twitter.com/grantstern/status/1625884179324932097?t=GykD0JyXbJ9BOUND_vs3kQ&s=19

mickeyrat

gift op-ed arricle...

https://wapo.st/3YFD8I7 

 Opinion | The Ohio train wreck shows toxic risk of valuing efficiency over safety
Opinion by Eugene Robinson
February 16, 2023 at 16:46 ET
Assembling superlong freight trains and employing fewer workers to staff them works out well for the nation’s big railroad companies. For the desperate residents of East Palestine, Ohio, not so much.
It has been two weeks since 38 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed catastrophically in East Palestine, a town of about 5,000 near the Pennsylvania border. Eleven of those overturned cars carried toxic chemicals that were immediately released into the town’s air, water and soil — or later deliberately set ablaze in a “controlled” burn that sent a vast mushroom cloud of acrid black smoke into the winter sky.

  continues....

mickeyrat

https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-south-carolina-3a6f05a2b3158d104b4921860849495f

 

China Guam John Kirby South Carolina

Military finishes recovering Chinese balloon debris

By TARA COPP and LOLITA C. BALDOR

47 mins ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has finished efforts to recover the remnants of the large balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina, and analysis of the debris so far reinforces conclusions that it was a Chinese spy balloon, U.S. officials said Friday.

Officials said the U.S. believes that Navy, Coast Guard and FBI personnel collected all of the balloon debris off the ocean floor, which included key equipment from the payload that could reveal what information it was able to monitor and collect. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said a significant amount of debris was recovered and it included “electronics and optics” from the payload. He declined to say what, if anything, the U.S. has learned from the wreckage so far.

U.S. Northern Command said in a statement that the recovery operations ended Thursday and the final pieces are on their way to the FBI lab in Virginia for analysis. It said air and maritime restrictions off South Carolina have been lifted.

The announcement capped three dramatic weeks that saw U.S. fighter jets shoot down four airborne objects — the large Chinese balloon on Feb. 4 and three much smaller objects about a week later over Canada, Alaska and Lake Huron. They are the first known peacetime shootdowns of unauthorized objects in U.S. airspace.

---

POLITICS

Lawsuit is latest evidence of bogus 'stolen election' claims

White House defends response to toxic train derailment

1st class of Ukraine fighters finishes advanced US training

DOJ search of Pence's office turns up no new classified docs

The officials also said the search for the small airborne object that was shot down over Lake Huron has stopped, and nothing has been recovered. U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The U.S. and Canada have also failed to recover any debris so far from the other two objects which were shot down over the Yukon and northern Alaska.

While the military is confident the balloon shot down off South Carolina was a surveillance airship operated by China, the Biden administration has admitted that the three smaller objects were likely civilian-owned balloons that were targeted during the heightened response, after U.S. homeland defense radars were recalibrated to detect slower moving airborne items.

Due to their small size and the remote areas where they were shot down, officials acknowledge that recovering any debris is difficult and probably unlikely. Those last two searches, however, have not been formally called off.

Much of the Chinese balloon fell into about 50 feet (15 meters) of water, and the Navy was able to collect remnants floating on the surface, and divers and unmanned naval vessels pulled up the rest from the bottom of the ocean. Northern Command said Friday that all of the Navy and Coast Guard ships have left the area.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden directed national security adviser Jake Sullivan to lead an interagency team to establish “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects.

Meanwhile, key questions about the Chinese balloon remain unanswered, including what, if any, intelligence it was able to collect as it flew over sensitive military sites in the United States, and whether it was able to transmit anything back to China.

The U.S. tracked it for several days after it left China, said a U.S. official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence. It appears to have been blown off its initial trajectory, which was toward the U.S. territory of Guam, and ultimately flew over the continental U.S., the official said.

Balloons and other unidentified objects have been previously spotted over Guam, a strategic hub for the U.S. Navy and Air Force in the western Pacific.

It’s unclear how much control China retained over the balloon once it veered from its original trajectory. A second U.S. official said the balloon could have been externally maneuvered or directed to loiter over a specific target, but it’s unclear whether Chinese forces did so.

____

Copp reported from aboard a U.S. military aircraft.