Monthly Archives: <span>August 2021</span>

Q&A: Are Lithium-Ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles a Fire Hazard?

General Motors Co. has expanded the recall of its Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles due to a risk of fire from the pouch-type lithium-ion battery cells made by South Korea’s LG. The recall, the second major one involving batteries made by …

6 States Had Not Joined $26B Opioid Settlements with Distributors, J&J at Deadline

At least six U.S. states, including Georgia, have decided they will not fully sign on to a proposed $26 billion settlement with three drug distributors and Johnson & Johnson, which have been accused of fueling the nation’s opioid epidemic, according …

One Year Later, Louisiana’s Recovery from Hurricane Laura Still Has Long Way to Go

Hurricane Laura made landfall in Southwest Louisiana nearly a year ago but local officials and state insurance regulators say the area still has a long way to go to recover. Laura, which made landfall on August 27, 2020, displaced 2005’s …

Humans Emerge as Secret Weapon for Autonomous Vehicle Startups

Self-driving startups like Cruise and Pony.ai have begun testing their driverless cars in some parts of California in the past year, with an additional feature: Human operators. While there is no driver behind the wheel, the passenger seat is occupied …

Crews Continue Searching in Flooded Middle Tennessee as Dozens Still Feared Missing

Search crews worked through shattered homes and tangled debris on Monday, looking for dozens of people still missing after record-breaking rain sent floodwaters surging through Middle Tennessee, killing at least 22 people. Saturday’s flooding took out roads, cellphone towers and …

Purdue Pharma’s Sacklers Face ‘Substantial’ Liability Risk, Says Bankruptcy Judge

The judge overseeing Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy said on Monday that some members of the Sackler family who own the OxyContin maker face a “substantial risk” of liability and could be on the hook for “huge amounts of money” over claims …

Jury Rejects Negligence Claims Against Air Rescue Firm in Fatal Accident

A federal jury has rejected negligence and warranty claims against an air rescue company that was sued by the family of a Delaware firefighter who died after falling from a helicopter during a training exercise. The jury ruled on August …

Boy Scouts Slow Bankruptcy After Judge Questions Legal Fees, Insurer Deal

Attorneys for the Boy Scouts of America are postponing a key bankruptcy hearing that was scheduled to start this week, following a court ruling that casts uncertainty on the future of the case. Attorneys on Friday filed court papers postponing …

Henri Brings Flooding, Power Outages to Northeast; Tennessee Floods Take 22 Lives

The remains of Tropical Depression Henri are drenching the U.S. Northeast with heavy rain, leaving floods and power outages as it makes its way across New England and out to sea. The storm has saturated the region for two days, …

National Safety Board Finds Bridge Crew Responsible for Cargo Ship’s Costly Crash

NEW ORLEANS — The bridge crew’s lack of attention to a cargo ship’s position let it drag anchor and hit another anchored ship and a dock last year, doing millions of dollars in damage, according to a National Transportation Safety …