Mercury emissions rule may be eased
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is considering rewriting another Obama-era rule controlling hazardous emissions from coal-fired power plants, this one on mercury and other pollutants.
Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Molly Block said Wednesday that the agency is still preparing its proposal for consideration by the White House's Office of Management and Budget and that there are few details to release.
The EPA is looking at whether the 2012 rule on power plant emissions was necessary, among other issues, Block said.
The Obama administration rule set limits for emissions of mercury, arsenic and other toxic air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said last year that almost all U.S. coal-fired plants were now in compliance with the 2012 rule.
Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware and Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee urged the EPA in a letter to keep the limits in place, saying the rules have cut power plant mercury emissions by 90 percent.
The EPA announced earlier this month that it was moving to relax federal oversight of emissions from coal-fired power plants under a separate Obamaera rule from 2015.
Ford rating outlook gets a downgrade
Ford Motor's rating outlook was downgraded from stable to negative, which does not harm the company's credit now but alerts Wall Street that the situation is dynamic.
The latest Moody's rating outlook indicates an increased chance of a Ford credit rating downgrade in the next 12 to 24 months, which would increase borrowing costs and further alarm investors.
“The negative outlook reflects the challenges Ford will face in implementing its ‘Fitness Redesign' initiatives” and restoring operating performance that is more solidly supportive of its sound credit rating, wrote Bruce Clark, senior vice president at Moody's Investors Service in New York.
“During the past 18 months, the company has allowed an erosion in many of the operating disciplines that it established following the 2009 restructuring of the North American auto sector. These disciplines supported strong performance through 2016. In addition, Ford is contending with the disruptive changes being caused by the auto sector's move toward vehicle electrification, autonomous driving and ride sharing.”
Local law firm has San Antonio office
The Cromeens Law Firm, a Houston firm handling business law and contract disputes, has opened a San Antonio office.
"Our San Antonio office will play a vital role in the growth of the construction industry in the South and Central Texas region," managing partner Karalynn Cromeens said in an announcement.
"As the recovery continues throughout Texas, construction is booming in residential, commercial and medical sectors."
Cromeens said the firm has experienced a steady increase in calls from central Texas contractors, subcontractors and suppliers who need help with contracts, liens and collections.
Founded in 2006, the Houston-based law firm serves clients across Texas.
British Columbia sues over opioids
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Canadian province of British Columbia launched a proposed class-action lawsuit Wednesday against dozens of pharmaceutical companies, alleging they falsely marketed opioids as less addictive than other pain drugs and helped trigger an overdose crisis that has killed thousands.
The suit is the first of its kind in Canada and names OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma and other major drugmakers. It also targets pharmacies, including Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. and its owner Loblaw Companies, claiming they should have known the quantities of opioids they were distributing exceeded any legitimate market.
Nearly 4,000 Canadians died from apparent opioid overdoses last year, while B.C. remained the province hardest hit by the opioid crisis, with 1,399 deaths, up from 974 in 2016, according to Statistics Canada. The province declared a public health emergency in 2016.
Pipeline protesters lose their appeals
BISMARCK, N.D. — The first people to be sent to jail for protesting the Dakota Access oil pipeline in North Dakota have lost their appeals to the state's Supreme Court.
Mary Redway, of Providence, R.I., and Alexander Simon, of Lamy, N.M., were convicted last October of disorderly conduct. Simon also was convicted of physical obstruction of a government function. Redway served four days in jail. Simon served 12 days. Both appealed their convictions, citing a lack of evidence and arguing their participation in protests was constitutionally protected activity. Supreme Court justices rejected those arguments.