Keystone pipeline leaks in South Dakota

Compiled from news services

The Keystone pipeline running from Canada across the Great Plains leaked Thursday morning, spilling about 210,000 gallons of oil onto agricultural land in northeast South Dakota, but state officials don’t believe the leak polluted any surface water bodies or drinking water systems.

Crews shut down the pipeline Thursday morning and activated emergency response procedures. The cause was being investigated.

The spill comes just days before a crucial decision Monday by the Public Service Commission in Nebraska over whether to grant a permit for a new, long-delayed sister pipeline called Keystone XL, which has been mired in controversy for several years. Both pipelines are owned by Calgary-based TransCanada.

Mulvaney may be named

The Trump administration is expected to name Mick Mulvaney, the White House budget director, as the acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a regulator that has emerged as one of the most aggressive banking watchdogs, according to an administration official.

Mr. Mulvaney — who as a Republican congressman was the co-sponsor of legislation to shut down the consumer bureau — is expected to remain in his position at the Office of Management and Budget and oversee both agencies until a permanent director of the consumer agency is approved, said the official, who requested anonymity because the decision hadn’t yet been made public.

Mr. Mulvaney would replace Richard Cordray, an Obama appointee who said Wednesday that he would step down from his position later this month. During Mr. Cordray’s tenure, the agency gained a reputation as an active watchdog for the financial rights of consumers and drew resistance from Republicans, who viewed it as overly aggressive.

Gun measure introduced

WASHINGTON— A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation Thursday that would improve background checks for gun buyers — a milestone, albeit a narrow one, in the divisive national debate over gun control.

The measure — inspired by a lapse that allowed Devin P. Kelley to purchase weapons despite a domestic violence conviction before killing 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas — would require federal agencies and states to do a better job of reporting criminal offenses and other information into the national instant background check system.

The group of eight senators, led by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a staunch foe of gun control, includes four Republicans and four Democrats. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called the measure “a modest breakthrough” but said he hoped it could lead to other bipartisan work on gun safety.

Bleak forecast for island

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico could face more than a decade of further economic stagnation and a steep drop in population as a result of Hurricane Maria, experts said Thursday.

The stark estimates were presented to members of a federal control board overseeing finances of a U.S. territory that is already in the 11th year of a recession.

“The situation is dire to say the least with destroyed infrastructure, lack of power and water and an accelerated pace of migration,” economist Heidie Calero said. She estimated that the hurricane caused $115 billion in damage, even without counting business losses.

Kochs backing deal?

NEWYORK — Time Inc. is considering selling itself to fellow publisher Meredith Corp., according to media reports.

The New York Times initially reported that the New York-based publisher of Time and People is involved in a new round of negotiations with Meredith, the publisher of Family Circle and Better Homes and Gardens.

The report, based on information from unidentified people, also says that billionaire brothers Charles G. and David H. Koch are backing Meredith’s offer with more than $500 million in equity. Meredith is based in Des Moines, Iowa, and also owns TV stations.

Comcast eyes Fox

LOSANGELES—Comcast Corp. has joined the pursuit of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox entertainment assets, expressing interest in acquiring Fox’s Los Angeles-based movie studio, sports networks, cable channels and its vast international operations, according to two people familiar with the move.

The Philadelphia cable company already owns NBCUniversal, so buying Fox’s entertainment assets would turn it into a dominant media company in an increasingly shrinking field. Walt Disney Co. engaged in similar talks with the Murdoch family last month, but those discussions broke off.

The talks with Comcast are in a preliminary stage, according to two other people who are knowledgeable about the talks but not authorized to discuss the matter.

Other bidders appear to be circling Fox, including mobile phone giant Verizon and possibly Amazon.com Inc.