Watchdog: EPA's lead pipe fix sent about $3 billion to states based on unverified data

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency distributed about $3 billion to states last year to replace harmful lead pipes based on unverified data, according to an agency inspector general's memo, likely meaning some states got too much money and others got too little. ...

Judge dismisses lawsuit by Georgia court candidate who sued to keep talking about abortion

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a lawsuit by a former Democratic congressman running for Georgia state Supreme Court who claimed a state agency was unconstitutionally trying to block him from talking about abortion. U.S. District Judge Michael Brown ruled John...

Oakland left-hander Ken Waldichuk has reconstructive elbow surgery

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk had reconstructive surgery on his troublesome pitching elbow and will be sidelined all season, another tough injury blow for the pitcher this past year. Already on the 60-day injured list with a ulnar collateral...

Teen who ate spicy tortilla chip died of high chile consumption and had a heart defect, autopsy says

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts teen who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from eating a large quantity of chile pepper extract and also had a congenital heart defect, according to autopsy results obtained by The Associated Press. Harris Wolobah, a...

Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shift

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday formally moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a historic shift in generations of U.S. drug policy. A proposed rule sent to the federal register recognizes the medical uses of cannabis and acknowledges it has...

Takeaways from the AP's investigation into how US prisoners are hurt or killed on the job

A sweeping Associated Press investigation into prison labor in the United States found that prisoners who are hurt or killed on the job are often being denied the rights and protections offered to other American workers. These prisoners are being placed in dangerous jobs, sometimes...

US prisoners are being assigned dangerous jobs. But what happens if they are hurt or killed?

PHOENIX (AP) — Blas Sanchez was nearing the end of a 20-year stretch in an Arizona prison when he was leased out to work at Hickman’s Family Farms, which sells eggs that have ended up in the supply chains of huge companies like McDonald’s, Target and Albertsons. While assigned to a machine...

Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in a historic shift in US drug policy

Maryland governor signs bill to create statewide gun center

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed a bill into law on Thursday to create a new statewide center to help prevent gun violence. The governor described the center as the first of its kind since the White House urged states to form their own centers to better focus...

Medical examiner links spicy tortilla chips to death of Massachusetts teen who took part in social media challenge