NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
1 Opioids crisis: The House on Friday overwhelmingly approved legislation designed to give health care providers more tools to stem an opioid crisis that is killing more than 115 people in the United States daily. The legislation passed by a vote of 396- 14. It incorporates dozens of opioid- related bills that lawmakers have made a campaign- season priority. The bill encourages states to increase coverage of treatment for substance abuse disorders through Medicaid. Foster youth and former prisoners are among the populations targeted for enhanced coverage of their treatment. The legislation also seeks to expand the use of medications to treat opioid abuse.
2 Pregnancy prevention: Several affiliates of Planned Parenthood sued the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday over its efforts to impose an abstinence- only focus on its Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program that has served more than 1 million young people. The lawsuits were filed in federal courts in New York City and Spokane, Wash. Planned Parenthood says the suits are intended to protect the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program from what they termed ineffective instruction. Dawn Laguens, vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said evidence shows abstinenceonly programs do not work.
3 Derailment: A freight train derailed in northwestern Iowa on Friday, leaking crude oil from at least one of 31 tankers and raising concerns about the possible contamination of residential water supplies. BNSF railroad spokesman Andy Williams said no one was injured when the cars derailed just south of the town of Doon. Officials weren’t sure whether floodwater from the rain- swollen Little Rock River caused the cars to leave the tracks. Williams said he did not know how much oil leaked and how many of the cars were leaking. Four homes near the site were evacuated.
4 Mafia conviction: An 84- year- old former New England Mafia boss was convicted Friday in Boston of killing a nightclub owner to keep him from ratting out the mobster to authorities in 1993, all but ensuring the once- feared and powerful gangster will die behind bars. Jurors found Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme guilty in Steven DiSarro’s slaying after four days of deliberations. Salemme’s co- defendant, Paul Weadick, was also convicted of murder of a federal witness. Both face up to life in prison. Salemme wasn’t charged until the nightclub owner’s remains were dug up behind a Providence, R. I., mill in 2016.
5 Lawn ornament record: Officials in Buffalo, N. Y., have claimed a new world record for having the longest line of garden flamingos. A Guinness World Records official was on hand Thursday to certify the record — 1,500 pink flamingos — which were set up to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Buffalo’s Olmsted Parks system. Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed Buffalo’s citywide system of parks and parkways. Residents were invited to adopt the lawn ornaments and display them at home.