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OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. — According to a South Carolina television station, a driver from South Carolina died Tuesday morning after a crash on Interstate 85 in Oconee County, citing the state Highway Patrol. Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway said the crash was reported at 8:30 a.m. on northbound I-85 at the 2.5-mile marker about two miles south of Fair Play, according to WYFF. Ridgeway said a 2023 Mini Cooper and a 2024 Peterbilt tractor-trailer were headed north on the interstate when the driver of the Mini Cooper lost control of the vehicle. Troopers say it traveled off the road to the right, striking a guardrail, then came back onto the roadway where it was hit on the driver side by the tractor-trailer, Ridgeway said. He said the Mini Cooper driver was injured in the crash and flown by helicopter to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital, but died while en route to the hospital. Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis identified the driver of the Mini Cooper as Charles J. Karanink, 63, of Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Addis said Karanink died from blunt force injuries at 10:30 a.m

HARALSON COUNTY, Ga. — A log truck driver’s account of a Wednesday morning accident is conflicting with what Haralson County, Georgia deputies say was shown on an elementary school’s security camera. Authorities say a mom was about to drop off her child at West Haralson Elementary School when a driver of a log truck “was apparently not paying attention” and clipped the mother’s vehicle trying to avoid the accident causing the log truck to leave the roadway and overturn. A Haralson County Sheriff’s spokesperson told The Trucker that the log truck driver stated that the mother gave no warning and slammed on her brakes. However, footage from the elementary school’s camera confirmed that the mother was slowing with her blinker working. No injuries were reported and there was no indication of citations for either driver. Georgia State Patrol stated that further details would be ready at a later date.

Snow continued to fall Monday around parts of the Great Lakes region, where storm-weary residents who have plowed and shoveled for days faced the prospect of even greater accumulations. Lake-effect snow fell on parts of western New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio that were already blanketed with a foot (0.3 meters) or more over the past four days. By Monday, more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow had fallen east of Lake Ontario in the past four days, according to the National Weather Service. Snow was forecast through Tuesday in the largely rural area south of Buffalo. “It was so much, so quick, that we got buried,” said Rebecca Chamberlin, who lives in the village of Cassadaga, New York, east of Lake Erie with her husband and two sons. She has been struggling to keep up with the bands of sometimes wet and heavy snow. “If it had been, you know, over a period of a week or more, it wouldn’t have been so bad.” In Ohio, the quaint village of Geneva-on-the-Lake had more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) of snow, and more is in the forecast through the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service. “At this point, it’s just annoying,” said Ryan Colby, who lives a snowball’s toss from Lake Erie in the Ohio village. “We’ve just been getting hit left and right with it. I’ve been getting up every couple hours and shoveling out the driveway and the porch just so we don’t get too, too buried again.” Lake-effect snow warnings were in effect through Tuesday night in parts of Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. Winter storm warnings or advisories also were posted through Tuesday in Michigan, up and down the Lake Michigan coast, where as much as a foot (0.3 meters) of snow was predicted. Farther inland, some communities canceled school, including Gaylord, where more than 3 feet (0.9 meters) of snow has fallen since Thanksgiving. “Last year at this time we still had green grass,” said Mike Williams, who has a snow removal business in Gaylord. “To get it all at once overwhelmed everyone.” In southwest Michigan, a crash involving about 14 passenger vehicles and three semi-trucks critically injured a driver and shut down Interstate 94 near Hartford in both directions during whiteout conditions on Monday, the Michigan State Police posted on the social platform X. More than a dozen “vehicle slide offs” had also been reported in the area, with police warning drivers to slow down. Digging out Skies were clear east of Lake Ontario in northern New York, where some residents were still digging out from mountains of snow. “We’ve got snow banks that are higher than me,” said Mary Shambo, owner of the Cottage Inn in Copenhagen, New York. The small village received more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow in four days. Shambo and her husband, Ben, managed to stay open through the thick of the storm. Some locals arrived by snowmobile, but they mostly served truckers who pulled off the road when bands of snow became particularly fierce. “It goes from whiteout conditions to clear,” she said, “so they would take off when it was clear and hope to God they got to where they needed to go.” In Ohio, the mayor of Geneva-on-the-Lake has been using a backhoe almost nonstop since Thursday to clear the snow. “Every business down here has been shut down the last four days,” Mayor Dwayne Bennett said. “You can’t even get in the front doors.” “The problem is we’re not equipped to handle this much snow in this amount of time,” he added. Officials faced similar problems in snow-bound Erie, Pennsylvania, where 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) of snow fell since Thursday, and accumulations on the ground were particularly wet and heavy. “Every shovel is like 30 pounds, and there’s not a lot of space to put that snow once it’s been piling up for days and days,” said Sarah Morrison with the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority. Snow in Alaska Up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) of snow fell in Alaska’s capital city of Juneau over the weekend as part of a system that was “definitely stronger” than what the region typically experiences this time of year, National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Spann said. Snow had transitioned to freezing rain early Monday, he said, with roads icy in some areas. Wet, heavy snow was piled on sidewalks along typically busy streets near downtown Juneau, and slushy pools were forming at some intersections. School went to remote learning in the city on Monday, and state offices were closed due to freezing rain. Ice encased the thin branches on some trees. The rest of Juneau’s week is expected to be very different, with forecasts calling for rain and unusually warm temperatures in the 40s (between 4.4 and 10 degrees Celsius). This story has been updated to correct the snow total in Cassadaga, New York, to 4.5 feet, not 5.5 feet. Contributing to this report were Susan Haigh in Norwich, Connecticut; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Ed White in Detroit; Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska; and Hallie Golden in Seattle.

GOBLES, Mich. — Wahmhoff Farms in Gobles, Michigan was the sitefor an event that featured numerous officials and veterans for the benefit of veterans. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring and Chief of Staff Kathy Angerer, along with representatives from the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Michigan Christmas Tree Association, participated in Trees for Troops. Trees for Troops, a program of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and corporate partner FedEx, provides free, farm-grown Christmas trees to U.S. armed forces members in all branches of the military and their families thank to donations, sponsorships, grants and the work of many volunteers. This year marks the 20th year of Trees for Troops, and trees are set to be delivered to 93 total bases across the U.S., including 15 bases receiving trees for the first time. “It’s wonderful to be here at Wahmhoff Farms today to help support the Trees for Troops program and to give back to the hard-working men and women in military service, who protect us every day,” Boring said. “The Trees for Troops program creates the perfect opportunity to give the gift of local agriculture – fresh, Michigan-grown Christmas trees – given with the utmost respect for our military members. Wahmhoff Farms and other Michigan Christmas tree farmers, along with community donors and volunteers, have come together to fill a semi-truck with holiday cheer. This is what the holiday season is all about.” “The Michigan National Guard is thrilled to work alongside dedicated community members to assist with this year’s Trees for Troops event. This event is a fantastic representation of the level of support Michigan communities strive to provide military servicemembers and their families,” said Colonel James Rossi of the Michigan National Guard. “It is incredible knowing the amount of effort the Trees for Troops volunteers put in to make sure military members are able to celebrate the holidays around these beautiful Michigan grown trees.” Wahmhoff Farms Nursery is a family-owned and operated Christmas tree farm in Southwest Michigan. The family has been growing and selling quality Christmas trees for over 70 years. They offer retail and U-cut Christmas trees, garland, wreaths and more. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also proclaimed December as Michigan Christmas Tree Month, to celebrate the many holiday traditions that center around the family Christmas tree. Michigan is home to over 500 Christmas tree farms and ranks third in the nation for the number of Christmas trees harvested. Michigan farmers supply approximately 2 million fresh trees to the national market each year, with an annual farm gate value of more than $40 million. This month provides a great opportunity for Michiganders to buy a fresh, locally grown Christmas tree.

Traffic fatalities declined during the first half of 2024, according to a preliminary estimate released last week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Overall, the NHTSA estimates show a decline in traffic fatalities for nine straight quarters. Fatalities decreased in key areas, including pedestrian and speeding-related crashes, rollover crashes, and crashes involving unbuckled occupants of vehicles. “We are encouraged by the declines estimated in these key categories but know we still have more work to do to make our roads safer for everyone,” said Sophie Shulman, NHTSA’s deputy administrator. “We will use every tool we have to save lives, reduce injuries and prevent risky driving behaviors.” In 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) launched the National Roadway Safety Strategy, a roadmap to address the national crisis in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on America’s highways, roads and streets. The NRSS is complemented by funding through the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. On Nov. 15, the USDOT announced the final round of 2024 awards, with an additional $172 million in grants to 257 communities. According to the NHTSA, the Safe Streets and Roads for All program has funded projects in more than 1,600 communities, supporting roadway safety for around 75% of the U.S. population since 2022. As compared to the first half of 2023, fatalities in key subcategories in 2024 decreased: 12% during out-of-state travel 9% in ejected passengers 8% on urban interstates 7% in passenger vehicle occupants less than 10 years old 7% in unrestrained occupants of passenger vehicles 7% in passengers 6% in passenger vehicle rollover crashes 6% in passenger vehicle occupants 6% in speeding-related crashes 5% in rural or urban collector roads/local roads 5% involving roadway departure crashes 4% at night 4% during weekends 3% in pedestrians In September, NHTSA released early estimates of motor vehicle traffic fatalities for the first half of 2024, estimating that traffic fatalities declined by 3.2% compared to the same period in 2023, with the second quarter of 2024 marking the ninth straight quarter of declining fatalities. The report showed an estimated fatality rate of 1.17 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the first half of 2024, down from the projected rate of 1.21 fatalities per 100 million VMT in the first half of 2023.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday, Dec. 2, to begin a special session to protect the state’s progressive policies ahead of another Trump presidency. The Democratic governor, a fierce critic of President-elect Donald Trump, is positioning California to once again be the center of a resistance effort against the conservative agenda. He is asking his Democratic allies in the Legislature, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, to approve additional funding to the attorney general’s office to prepare for a robust legal fight against anticipated federal challenges. Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel on Monday introduced legislation to set aside $25 million for legal fees to respond to potential attacks by the Trump administration on state policies regarding civil rights, climate change, immigration and abortion access. “While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, California will be ready to vigorously defend our interests and values from any unlawful action by the incoming Trump Administration,” Gabriel said in a statement. California sued the first Trump administration more than 120 times to various levels of success. “We’re not going to be caught flat-footed,” Newsom said at a recent news conference. Trump often depicts California as representing all he sees wrong in America. Democrats, which hold every statewide office in California and have commanding margins in the Legislature and congressional delegation, outnumber registered Republicans by nearly 2-to-1 statewide. Trump called the Democratic governor “Newscum” during a campaign stop in Southern California and has relentlessly lambasted the Democratic stronghold over its large number of immigrants in the U.S. illegally, homeless population and thicket of regulations. Trump also waded into a water rights battle over the endangered delta smelt, a tiny fish that has pitted environmentalists against farmers and threatened to withhold federal aid to a state increasingly under threat from wildfires. He also vowed to follow through with his campaign promise of carrying out the mass deportation of immigrants without legal status and prosecuting his political enemies. Before the special session began, state lawmakers swore in more than two dozen new members and elect leaders for the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers voted to convene the special session largely along party lines. “This special session is about sticking up for Californians and for California values,” said state Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat representing San Francisco. “It is about ensuring that the president of the United States and his administration actually follow the law.” Hundreds of people also demonstrated around the Capitol on Monday to urge the Legislature to try to stop Trump’s mass deportation plans. They carried banners that said “Not one cent for mass deportation” and “MAGA out of California.” “With the results of the presidential election, we need our state elected officials to use every tool and every resource they have available to them to protect our immigrant Californians,” protester Deborah Lee said. State Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office will protect the state’s immigration population, while Newsom last week unveiled a proposal to revive a rebate program for electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates a federal tax credit for people who buy electric cars. Newsom is also considering creating a backup disaster relief fund for the wildfire-prone state after Trump’s threats. Bonta announced legislation Monday aimed at bolstering reproductive rights in the state, including by allowing the attorney general to seek monetary penalties against local governments that infringe on those rights. The proposals are part of the state’s efforts to safeguard against threats to abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Republican lawmakers blasted Newsom and his Democratic allies over the special session. State Sen. Kelly Seyarto, a Republican representing Murrieta in Southern California, said the special session proposal would make California have a more adversarial relationship with the federal government. “What we’re doing today is sending that exact message — that we are going to fight tooth and nail for everything. And you know what? That means they’re going to fight us tooth and nail for everything,” Seyarto said of the incoming Trump administration if the legislation gets approved. Legislators also are expected to spend the year discussing ways to protect dozens of laws expected to be targeted by the Trump administration, including one that has made the state a sanctuary for people seeking abortions who live in states where such practices have been severely limited. California, the nation’s most populous state, was the first to mandate that by 2035 all new cars, pickup trucks and SUVs sold in California be electric, hydrogen-powered or plug-in hybrids. The state also extends state-funded health care to all low-income residents regardless of their immigration status. Newsom hasn’t provided details about what actions the lawmakers will consider but said he wanted funding in place before Trump’s inauguration day, Jan. 20. The state spent roughly $42 million in litigation costs during the first Trump administration, officials said. California is projected to face a $2 billion budget deficit next year, with bigger shortfalls ahead. Gabriel, who sued the first Trump administration in 2017 when it tried to end a program to shield young immigrants from being deported, said lining up the funding now is “a wise investment.” California successfully clawed back $57 million between 2017 and 2018 after prevailing in a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from putting immigration enforcement conditions on certain federal law enforcement grants. Another legal victory over the citizenship question in the 2020 census forced the federal government to return $850,000 to the state, according to the attorney general’s office. During Trump’s first presidency, Democratic attorneys general banded together to file lawsuits over immigration, Trump’s travel ban for residents of Muslim countries, the environment, immigration and other topics. But Trump has one possible advantage this time around: He was aggressive in nominating conservative jurists to federal courts at all levels, including the Supreme Court.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The first big snowfall of the season blanketed parts of New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan during the hectic U.S. holiday travel and shopping weekend, with numbing cold and heavy snow forecast to persist through the early part of the week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest regions. The snow storm led to an emergency declaration in parts of New York and a disaster declaration in Pennsylvania, with officials warning of dangerous conditions for Thanksgiving travelers returning home. A blast of Arctic air brought bitter temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average to the Northern Plains, the weather service said, prompting cold advisories for parts of North Dakota. Frigid air was expected to move over the eastern third of the U.S. by Monday, with temperatures about 10 degrees below average. Nearly 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow fell in parts of New York, Ohio and Michigan and 29 inches (73 centimeters) was recorded in Pennsylvania’s northwestern tip. “Travel will be extremely difficult and hazardous this weekend, especially in areas where multiple feet of snow may accumulate very quickly,” the National Weather Service said. In an update Saturday afternoon, the weather service said the heaviest snow totals were expected “downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario, affecting areas from northeast Ohio, far northwest Pennsylvania, western New York State and portions of northwest New York state.” In a phone interview Saturday with WWNY-TV, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state prepared for the storm for days by deploying snowplows and thousands of workers and consulting with utility providers. She also dispatched personnel from other parts of the state to assist.“I know it’s something they’re all accustomed to and they can handle, but I want to let them know we are there with reinforcements and to make sure everyone can travel safely, especially over this really busy holiday weekend,” she said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a disaster emergency proclamation and said parts of Erie County in the northwest received nearly 2 feet (1 meter) of snow with more expected through Monday night. Pennsylvania State Police responded to nearly 200 incidents during the 24-hour period from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday, officials said. Authorities closed part of I-90 in Pennsylvania and westbound lanes of the New York Thruway heading toward Pennsylvania.The city of Erie, Pennsylvania, said travel was limited to emergency responders and essential employees and cases of medical emergency until further notice due. The snow and slippery conditions resulted in stuck vehicles blocking intersections and streets. Residents were urged to shelter in place and allow crews to clear neighborhoods. With parts of some roads impassable in northwestern Pennsylvania, scores of travelers took refuge in the lobby and hallways of a Holiday Inn near I-90. Hotel staffer Jeremiah Weatherley said workers opened the conference room and gave them blankets. “They just showed up, and we don’t want to turn people away,” he said. In Buffalo, officials with the NFL’s Bills sought stadium snow shovelers for the season, including ahead of Sunday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. The team said it would pay $20 per hour and provide food and hot drinks. Parts of Michigan were battered by lake-effect snow, which happens when warm, moist air rising from a body of water mixes with cold dry air overhead. Bands of snow rolling off Lake Superior buried parts of the Upper Peninsula under 2 feet (61 centimeters) or more, said Lily Chapman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Marquette, Michigan. There were 27 inches (69 centimeters) of snow just northeast of Ironwood, in the Upper Peninsula’s western reaches, and another 2 feet (61 centimeters) in Munising, in the eastern area, she said. Lake-effect snow could add more than a foot (30.5 centimeters) over the eastern Upper Peninsula through Monday morning, with 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 centimeters) or higher to the west, Chapman said. Gaylord, Michigan, received 24.8 inches (63 centimeters) of snow Friday, setting a new single-day record for the city in a region dotted by ski resorts, said Keith Berger of the weather service’s Gaylord office. The previous record of 17 inches (43 centimeters) was set March 9, 1942. The snowfall was good news for Treetops Resort, which features 80 acres (32 hectares) of ski hill terrain among its 2,000 acres (809 hectares). It boosted the base that snowmaking machines will increase before the resort’s season opening next weekend, Recreation Director Doug Hoeh said. “Obviously when you get that much snowfall, it’s great for the snow hills, but it’s bad for the parking lots, so we’re kind of digging out,” Hoeh said.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close Saturday, Nov. 30, bringing to an end a season that saw 11 hurricanes compared to the average seven — and death and destruction hundreds of miles from where storms came ashore on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Meteorologists called it a “crazy busy” season, due in part to unusually warm ocean temperatures. Eight hurricanes made landfall, in the U.S., Bermuda, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Grenada. A few things that made the 2024 season stand out Hurricane Beryl became the first Category 4 hurricane on record to form in the month of June, slamming into the island of Carriacou in Grenada. In Jamaica it went on to destroy crops and houses and left two dead. The last time the island was scraped by a Category 4 hurricane was Dean in 2007, making it “pretty rare,” according to Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami. The storm then intensified into the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever in the Atlantic on July 1. Major hurricanes — Category 3 and above — are not usually seen until September 1, according to the National Hurricane Center. In September, Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage across the southeastern U.S. and was the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland since Katrina in 2005. More than 200 people died. North Carolina estimates the storm caused at least $48.8 billion in direct or indirect damages with houses, drinking water systems and farms and forests destroyed. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia also sustained extensive damage. In October, Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified and the storm’s maximum wind speeds hit a screaming 180 mph, making it one of the strongest hurricanes by wind speed ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico. The only one stronger by that measure was Hurricane Rita in 2005. The areas where Helene and Milton struck saw as much as three times their usual rainfall for September and October, the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season. For Asheville, Tampa and Orlando, the two-month period was the wettest on record. In November, Hurricane Rafael reached 120 mph and was nearly the strongest November hurricane on record in the Gulf of Mexico, tying with Hurricane Kate in 1985. Rafael made landfall in Cuba and battered the island as it was trying to recover from widespread blackouts caused by Hurricane Oscar in October. Hurricane season and climate change Planet-warming gases like carbon dioxide and methane released by transportation and industry are causing oceans to rapidly warm. Several factors contribute to the formation of hurricanes, but unusually warm oceans allow hurricanes to form and intensify in places and times we don’t normally anticipate, according to McNoldy. “In other words, we never had a storm as strong as Beryl so early in the season anywhere in the Atlantic and we never had a storm as strong as Milton so late in the season in the Gulf of Mexico,” he said. “I don’t ever point to climate change as causing a specific weather event, but it certainly has its finger on the scale and makes these extreme storms more likely to occur.” By Isabella O’Malley and Mary Katherine Wildeman, The Associated Press

BREWSTER, N.Y. — According to a report from the Mid Hudson News,  traffic on I-684 near the Putnam-Westchester, New Your county line came to a standstill thanks to a four vehicle crash that sent a North Salem woman to the hospital and scattered debris over a large area. The report further stated that state police said the mishap was caused when a tractor trailer rig operated by a 66 year old man from Arkansas was traveling southbound and conducted an unsafe lane change. Troop K Public Information Officer Trooper A.J. Hicks relayed to the New York media outlet that the 18 wheeler struck a Chrysler driven by Nancy Welo, 67. who lost control of her car, struck the median guide rail, overturned and entered the northbound lane of traffic where it collided with a septic tank truck operated by Alec Barnes, 30, of Brewster. The truck left the roadway, struck an earthen embankment and overturned down a gulley. Hicks said debris from the truck then slammed into a Porsche driven by a resident of Sherman, Connecticut. Welo was taken by members of the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps to the Westchester Medical Center for treatment of what were described as non-life threatening injuries, according to the news report. The operator of the big rig was summoned by police. Traffic was halted northbound along Route 684 for a time allowing emergency responders to care for the injured and investigate the mishap. Southbound traffic leaving Putnam County also resembled a parking lot for several hours due to the collision.

LINCOLN, Neb. — The state of Nebraska has made a bold move against trucking manufacturers. In fact, according to a release from Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers’ office, he has filed an antitrust lawsuit against some of the nation’s largest heavy-duty truck manufacturers for an alleged plot to stifle the availability of internal-combustion semi-trucks in favor of electric ones. In the release issued summarizing the suit, the AG accused California of “imposing a series of regulations designed to essentially eliminate semi-trucks with internal combustion engines.” The release further stated that other states have adopted California’s regulations as well. Rather than push back or simply compete in the marketplace, heavy-duty truck manufacturers colluded to sign an agreement called the “Clean Truck Partnership.” “The agreement commits the signatory manufacturers not to oppose additional state-level electric-truck mandates and to restrict output of diesel-powered semi-trucks in lockstep, even if a court rules that the regulations are unlawful,” the AG’s office stated. “Eliminating diesel-powered semi-trucks is practically impossible to accomplish and would impose enormous costs on Nebraska and Nebraska companies,” Hilgers stated. “That is why Nebraska sued California officials from issuing an anti-democratic regulation to eliminate diesel-powered semis in their state. Unfortunately, these heavy-duty truck manufacturers, who dominate the market in Nebraska, have agreed to go along with California’s edict—even if Nebraska is successful in overturning the regulation. These manufacturers’ collusion will raise prices, reduce output, increase costs on Nebraskans, and is a classic antitrust violation.” Earlier this year, Attorney General Hilgers spearheaded a 17-state coalition to block California’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which imposes an outright ban on the sale of internal-combustion trucks. Under the Clean Truck Partnership, the truck manufacturers have pledged to abide by Advanced Clean Fleets, among other state-level electric-truck mandates, even if Nebraska’s challenge is successful. The antitrust lawsuit alleges that truck manufacturers have illegally conspired to anticompetitively reduce the output of internal-combustion trucks to protect their own economic interests. “The logistics industry is a foundational piece of Nebraska’s economy—from employing thousands of Nebraskans to ensuring that Nebraska’s agriculture and liquid fuel products can get to purchasers around the country and world. Whether it is California or collusive corporations, I will continue to fight misguided and anti-democratic policies that threaten to devastate Nebraska’s trucking and biofuel industries, raise prices for consumers, and impact jobs across Nebraska and the country,” stated Attorney General Hilgers. In addition to Nebraska, the Energy Marketers of America and Renewable Fuels Nebraska joined as co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Daimler, Navistar, Paccar, Volvo, and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association.

BONNER COUNTY, Idaho — The Idaho State Police (ISP) are seeking help from the public in an investigation regarding a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at about 8:35 a.m. The collision occurred on US 95 in Bonner County near milepost 490 (Elmira), close to Cindy Lane. As part of the ongoing investigation, ISP is seeking the public’s assistance to gather additional evidence that could help determine the events leading up to the crash. Investigators are asking for vehicle dash camera, business surveillance, Ring doorbell video, or any other captured video footage of traffic traveling south on US 95 from milepost 505 in Boundary County (Bonners Ferry) to the crash site near milepost 479 in Bonner County. The requested timeframe is from 6:45 a.m. to 8:35 a.m. Additionally, ISP is encouraging motorists traveling on US 95 during this time who may have observed the vehicles involved in the crash but have yet to speak with investigators to come forward with any information. According to ISP’s original press release regarding the accident, at about 8:35 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, a 61-year-old man from Moyie Springs, Idaho, was traveling southbound on US 95 in a blue 2011 Dodge Ram pickup. The Dodge Ram moved into the northbound lane and attempted to pass multiple southbound vehicles, colliding head-on with a black 2008 Ford Edge that was traveling northbound, in the northbound lane. The Ford Edge was driven by a 33-year-old woman from Otis Orchards, Washington. The driver of the Dodge Ram pickup was the sole occupant; he was transported to an area hospital via ground ambulance. The driver of the Ford Edge, her 33-year-old female passenger, from Deer Park, Washington, and a juvenile were also transported to an area hospital via ground ambulance. There was a fourth passenger in the Ford Edge, a juvenile, who succumbed to their injuries at the scene. “This investigation is critical to understanding what led to this tragic collision, and we believe someone may have additional information or footage that can help piece together the events leading up to the crash,” said Trooper Travis Bucher, ISP District 1. “Even small details that seem insignificant could provide vital clues to help bring closure to the families affected by this devastating loss.” Anyone with information or relevant footage is asked to contact Bucher at the ISP District 1 Office by calling 208-209-8620.

The Thanksgiving travel rush is expected to be bigger than ever this year. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million people in the U.S. will venture at least 50 miles (80 kilometers) from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel, though. California and Washington state continue to recover from damage and power outages from last week’s storms. And an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers could cause flight delays at some airports. Meanwhile, workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport began what was expected to be a 24-hour strike on Monday over their demands for higher wages. Only a handful of flights were canceled, and there were fewer than 100 delays. Here’s the latest: An Arctic blast and wet weather could disrupt US travel plans A storm system currently moving across the West Coast is expected to bring heavy snow on Wednesday to the Colorado Rockies, the Bitterroot Range in Idaho and Montana and the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center reported. On Thanksgiving Day, forecasters are predicting rain showers across portions of the Mid-South and the Ohio River Valley, with Arctic air plunging into the upper Plains, dropping temperatures into the teens and 20s. More bitter cold is forecast for Friday from the Plains to the Great Lakes region, with high temperatures as low as 25 degrees below average and wind chills making it feel even colder. On Saturday, near record-warm temperatures in all of the Great Lakes are expected to lead to a round of lake-effect snow, including heavy snowfall downwind of Lakes Ontario and Erie, NOAA reported. Forecasters expect cold conditions to persist across the Northeast and Midwest on Sunday but don’t anticipate the wintry weather to cause travel delays on interstates or airports. Lake-effect snow is expected to continue on Sunday across a wide swathe of the U.S. from Michigan to New York. Arkansas state police are warning drivers to avoid aggressive driving “As the holiday season kicks off this week, people are traveling more and have higher levels of stress,” Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said in a statement. “Road rage is a lose/lose situation that could cost you your life.” The Arkansas State Police has reported an increase in road rage and aggressive driving, with more than 700 road rage cases reported so far in 2024, including 300 cases involving weapons. In 2023, the Associated Press investigated 284 road rage incidents with weapons. The ASP urges people who encounter an aggressive driver to avoid engaging with them, increase the distance between vehicles, try not to make eye contact and never pull off the roadway to confront them.

ATLANTA (AP) — Federal authorities have released an update on the investigation into fires at the BioLab chemical plant near Atlanta that produced a toxic chemical cloud and forced nearby residents to shelter in place. The fires broke out Sept. 29 at the BioLab plant in Conyers, sending a huge plume of orange and black smoke into the sky. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board on Friday released an investigation update. BioLab makes chemicals that kill algae and bacteria in water, primarily for swimming pools and hot tubs, the report says. The company is a subsidiary of Lawrenceville, Georgia-based KIK Consumer Products. The company said in a statement that it has a “strong track record of working constructively” with regulators and will continue cooperating with federal authorities who are investigating. “We remail firmly committed to understanding the causes of the incident and to making things right for impacted area residents and business owners,” the statement says. A BioLab employee on fire watch at the Plant 12 storage warehouse reported hearing a “popping sound” as they left a breakroom to do a 5 a.m. check and immediately saw that a product reactive to water was wet, the report says. The employee called the only other BioLab employee on site. Though no flames were initially observed, the employee on fire watch tried unsuccessfully to isolate the product and called 911 at about 5:10 a.m. as “large toxic vapor plumes” formed inside the building. By 6:30 a.m., flames could be seen through the roof of the area where employees first noticed the chemical reaction. An initial shelter-in-place order was issued around 7:40 a.m., and the fire was put out by Rockdale County firefighters about 30 minutes later. A second fire broke out around noon, producing “thick black smoke, followed by multicolor plumes,” the report says. Evacuations of the surrounding area began around 12:30 p.m., and the county fire chief said the fire was extinguished by 4 p.m. Parts of the building where the initial reaction happened collapsed during the fire and the building was destroyed. The Plant 12 building covered an area larger than five football fields and remained an “active emergency response scene” for nearly four weeks, the report says. The Plant 12 warehouse was a bulk storage area separated from the main warehouse by a firewall and fire shutters, the report says. BioLab told federal investigators they had established a permanent fire watch two or three months before the event “after detecting strong odors from oxidizers in two storage buildings,” including Plant 12. Interstate 20, which runs parallel to the facility, was shut down shortly after the building collapsed just before 1 p.m. and was closed until about 7 a.m. the next day. Smaller roads near the facility remained closed and the Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency issued shelter-in-place warnings within a two-mile radius that lasted for several weeks. The final order expired Oct. 17. Smoke drifted toward Atlanta, causing a smog or haze that smelled of chlorine in parts of the city and surrounding area. More than a dozen lawsuits have been filed in connection with the fire.

KELSO Wash. — According to a news report from KPTV in Portland, citing the Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, a semi-truck driver was severely injured in a rollover crash that involved a pickup truck in Kelso, Washington, on Friday night, Nov. 22. According to the report, shortly before 11:30 p.m., emergency responders were sent to the two-vehicle crash near the Interstate 5 Southbound off-ramp at exit 42. They found the semi-truck on its side, with the 57-year-old driver pinned inside. Firefighters and police had to first stabilize the semi, and then cut away the “entangled metal” from around the driver. The whole process took two hours, firefighters said. KPTV reported that the man was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he was treated for muscular skeletal injuries including a severe injury to his lower left leg, and then was transferred to a trauma hospital. The driver of the involved pickup truck was also given a medical check for chest pain. According to firefighters, “multiple responders, some with over 20 years of experience, expressed that this was one of the most challenging and complex car accidents, involving extrication of a patient, they had experienced in their careers.”