June 19, 2015 EPA proposes new emissions standards for commercial vehicles: The federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to require commercial vehicles to reduce fuel consumption by 24% by 2027. This would affect 18-wheelers, buses, delivery vans, and heavy-duty pickup trucks. The rules would reduce carbon pollution by an estimated 1.1 billion tons. The trucking industry and others are pushing back due to an increase

Friday, June 12 Bought something from a Michael Kors Outlet? You may be getting some $$ back (which you will probably spend at the outlets). Story: Shoppers sued MK for deceptive price tags at their outlets, where they would put an “MSRP” price, and then a lower amount labelled “our price.” But the clothes were never intended for sale at the “MSRP” and were

6/5 If a friend commits a horrible crime, don’t hide the evidence (or lie to authorities): 3 college friends of the Boston Marathon bomber were sentenced for “obstruction of justice” this week. Two of them threw out some evidence of the crime, and were sentenced to 6 years and 3.5 years in prison. The other one lied to investigators about the incident, and

5/29 Animal rights & marijuana: A man in Chicago blew pot smoke in his chameleon’s face and posted a video of it on Facebook. PETA filed a complaint, the man was charged with animal cruelty, but was acquitted (ruled as innocent). (Side note: The man’s name is Bruce Blunt… I mean…) Reproductive rights win: Idaho has a law banning most abortions

5/22 License plates and free speech: The New York DMV has a policy of excluding controversial messages from its license plates, and in keeping with the policy, denied an application by an advocacy group to include the words “choose life” on custom plates. A court ruled today that the DMV is allowed to block the message, and that doing so

5/15 Boston Marathon bomber sentenced to death. 5/14 Environmental crimes and misdemeanors: Duke Energy, the country’s largest energy producer, pleaded guilty today for violating the Clean Water Act, agreeing to pay $102 mil in fines. The company was charged with the crimes (yes, crimes) as a result of its North Carolina power plant spilling coal ash into a river, and for mismanaging several