NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
Health care: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he’s willing to bring bipartisan health care legislation to the floor if President Trump makes clear he supports it. Trump has offered mixed signals, alternately praising and condemning the effort — confusing Democrats and Republicans alike. The plan to change parts of the Affordable Care Act and stabilize health insurance markets is backed by 12 Republican and 48 Democratic senators. It would reinstate federal payments to insurers that Trump cut off this month, offering millions of Americans some relief from rising premiums and shaky insurance markets. It would also give states some new flexibility to offer cheaper, less generous health plans.
Climate scientists: The Environmental Protection Agency has canceled the speaking appearance of three agency scientists who were scheduled to discuss climate change at a conference Monday in Rhode Island, according to the agency. The move highlights widespread concern that the EPA will silence government scientists from speaking publicly or conducting work on climate change. Scott Pruitt, the agency administrator, has said he does not believe human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are primarily responsible for the warming of the planet.
Train derailment: Authorities in Tennessee say a Norfolk Southern train derailed in Knoxville, sending rail cars carrying shipping containers off the tracks, with some of them plowing into buildings. No one was injured. Police tweeted that 50 cars derailed, and at least two buildings were damaged.
Drone corridor: A coalition in upstate New York is creating a 50-mile corridor where unmanned aircraft can safely fly beyond the line of sight and drone traffic control systems can be tested. With $30 million in state investment, the unmanned aircraft traffic management corridor between Rome and Syracuse will be outfitted with radar and groundbased sensors to enable what Gov. Andrew Cuomo calls “the most advanced drone testing in the country.” Cuomo was on hand when the first segment of the corridor was launched last month by the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance. The Alliance is based at Rome’s Griffiss International Airport, one of seven sites around the country partnered with NASA to test technology that will open the national airspace to commercial drones.
No damages: A federal judge has ruled that a Vermont college won’t have to pay damages to a student who was seriously hurt when he fell from a fourth-floor window after drinking wine that contained LSD. The suit accused Green Mountain College in Poultney of failing to enforce its own rules. The judge said the school can’t be found at fault for not protecting the student from his own voluntary actions. The suit was filed on behalf of Christian Pezzino, by his mother. Court records say he was permanently disabled by the 2014 fall.