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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday, Nov. 23, that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20, 2025. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Rollins, an attorney who graduated from Texas A&M University with an undergraduate degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. She worked as a litigation attorney in Dallas and also clerked for a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas after earning her law degree from the University of Texas. Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk” earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field. “I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.

ROME, Ga. — A Drug Tafficking Organization (DTO) utilized semi trucks to transport liquid meth in gas tanks from Mexico to North Georgia. After extracting the liquid meth from the tanks, the organization manufactured crystal meth, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of Georgia Ryan Buchanan. Two of the top members of that organization were recently sentenced to federal prison for operating what it called a conversion and distribution organization. Rosa Rangel, 40, of Canon, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Rangel was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on November 6, 2023, after she pleaded guilty. Dustin Burgess, 36, of Ellijay, Georgia, was sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Burgess was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on October 5, 2023, after he pleaded guilty. Berzain Leal Batrez, 44, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to seven years, 11 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Batrez was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on October 5, 2023, after he pleaded guilty. Two more are scheduled to sentenced in the case, Martha Karina Rangel-Pantoja, 42, of Ellijay, Georgia on January 13, 2025, and Uriel Plancarte Mendoza, 31 of Canon, Georgia on March 21, 2025. “Methamphetamine production and distribution continues to pose a grave threat to public safety, especially when trafficked using the large-scale and international operation utilized by the defendants in this case,” Buchanan said. “Thanks to the vigilance and investigative work of our law enforcement partners, this operation has been dismantled and these drug traffickers have been prosecuted for their crimes.” “Driven by greed, these drug traffickers’ activities posed a significant threat to our communities, and to the lives of several children who lived in close proximity to this highly volatile clandestine lab,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The success of this investigation is proof that those destroying our communities with methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs will be held accountable.” “While communities across our state continue to struggle with the ongoing drug crisis, there are criminal enterprises, like Rangel’s drug trafficking organization, whose sole purpose is to profit from addiction and suffering,” said, Mitchell Jackson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Dalton office. “The FBI is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to shut down these dangerous organizations that pump poison into our neighborhoods.” “These sentences reflect the consequences these defendants received for their destructive impact they caused on communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta that covers Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is committed to holding those accountable who distribute their poison into our communities.” According to Buchanan, from at least October 2021 until August 2022, Rangel led a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that manufactured crystal methamphetamine in Georgia.  Members of the DTO transported liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to the North Georgia in the gas tanks of semi-trucks. The DTO members then pumped the liquid methamphetamine out of the semi-trucks and cooked it into crystal methamphetamine, using at least two clandestine laboratories to convert the methamphetamine. In March 2022, law enforcement first began investigating the DTO when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agents were notified that a Hispanic female, later identified as Rangel, was purchasing large amounts of acetone, which is a critical component in converting liquid methamphetamine into crystal methamphetamine. Based on the substantial amount of acetone that was being purchased, agents suspected Rangel was supplying the acetone to a methamphetamine laboratory. Prosecutors say in August 2022, agents found one of the methamphetamine conversion laboratories in Canon, Georgia, after observing a semi-truck delivering liquid methamphetamine to the lab. A search warrant was executed, and agents seized over 250 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and nearly 10 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Rangel rented the property where members of the DTO cooked the methamphetamine on the lower level of a barndominium, while she and her four children lived in the upper level of the same building. Agents also seized two firearms from Rangel’s bedroom. According to the release, in November 2022, agents found a second methamphetamine conversion laboratory in Austell after tracking Batrez’s movements to the Mexico border and back to Georgia. Agents later observed members of the DTO delivering liquid methamphetamine to the laboratory, and upon executing a search warrant, over 160 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and 75 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was seized at that location. After the seizures, authorities further investigated which revealed that Rangel had been working with a “boss” based in Mexico to run the operation, with whom she had regular communication. Rangel then relayed communications to other DTO members, including threats from the boss. Rangel was also responsible for paying other DTO members, as well as giving instructions on supplying the methamphetamine labs with the acetone needed for the conversion process.

OTTAWA, Ontario — One of the most prominent figures from Canada’s trucker protests against COVID-19 restrictions in 2022 has been found guilty on five counts including mischief and disobeying a court order. A judge ruled Friday, Nov. 22, that Pat King was guilty on one count each of mischief, counseling others to commit mischief and counseling others to obstruct police. He was also found guilty on two counts of disobeying a court order. He could face up to 10 years in prison. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of protesters clogged the streets of the capital, Ottawa, and besieged Parliament Hill for three weeks in early 2022, demonstrating against vaccine mandates for truckers and other precautions and condemning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government. Members of the self-styled Freedom Convoy also blockaded U.S.-Canada border crossings in protest. The prosecution alleged King was a protest leader who was instrumental to the disruption in Ottawa. The prosecution alleged King coordinated the repeated bouts of honking, ordering the protesters to lay on the horn every 30 minutes for 10 minutes at a time, and told people to “hold the line” when he was aware that police and the city had asked the truckers to leave. The prosecution’s case relied mainly on King’s own videos, which he posted to social media throughout the protest to document the demonstration and communicate with those taking part. King’s lawyers argued that he was peacefully protesting and was not one of the demonstration’s leaders. King was found not guilty on three counts of intimidation and one count of obstructing police himself. The truckers’ convoy gridlocked downtown streets around Parliament Hill, with area residents complaining about the fumes from diesel engines running non-stop, and unrelenting noise from constant the honking of horns and music from parties. Trudeau’s government ultimately invoked the Emergencies Act to try and bring an end to the protests. Ottawa Police brought in hundreds of officers from forces across Canada. The protests were first aimed at a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers. They eventually encompassed fury over COVID-19 restrictions and dislike of Trudeau, reflecting the spread of disinformation in Canada and simmering populist and right-wing anger. The Freedom Convoy shook Canada’s reputation for civility, inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands and interrupted economic trade. For almost a week the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit was blocked. It carries more than 25% of trade between the countries, who are each other’s largest trading partners.

BOSTON (AP) — The owner of a trucking company was sentenced Thursday to two months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for lying to investigators after one of his trucks was accused of causing a crash that killed seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire. Dunyadar Gasanov, 39, pleaded guilty in Springfield, Massachusetts, in August to three counts of making false statements to investigators after the 2019 crash involving a driver for a car transport company he owned, Westfield Transport Inc. Gasanov has also been prohibited from driving commercially while on supervised release and must pay a $300 special assessment. Gasanov was accused of falsifying driver logs to avoid federal highway safety regulations, including exceeding limits on the number of hours a driver can operate. He also lied to federal investigators about instructing at least one employee to deactivate electronic logging devices in order to exceed the allowable driving hours. He was also accused of lying to investigators about how long he had known the driver, Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, who was taken into custody by immigration authorities after he was acquitted of causing the deaths in New Hampshire. Zhukovskyy — who had taken heroin, fentanyl and cocaine the day of the crash — repeatedly swerved back and forth before the collision and told police he caused it. But a judge dismissed eight impairment charges, and his attorneys said the lead biker was drunk and not paying attention before sliding in front of Zhukovskyy’s truck, which was pulling an empty flatbed trailer. Gasanov faced up to five years imprisonment, one year of supervised release and a $10,000 fine on each count. His co-defendant, Dartanayan Gasanov, pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. Both were indicted in 2021.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz withdrew Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following continued scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on the former congressman’s ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The Florida Republican’s announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz said in a statement announcing his decision. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.” Gaetz’s withdrawal is a blow to Trump’s push to install steadfast loyalists in his incoming administration and the first sign that Trump could face resistance from members of his own party.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. (AP) — A major storm swept across the U.S. Northwest battering the region with strong winds and rain, causing widespread power outages, closing schools and downing trees that killed at least two people. The Weather Prediction Center issued excessive rainfall risks through Friday and hurricane-force wind warnings were in effect as the strongest atmospheric river — a large plume of moisture — that California and the Pacific Northwest has seen this season overwhelmed the region. The storm system that hit starting Tuesday is considered a “ bomb cyclone,” which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly. In California, the weather service extended a flood watch into Saturday for areas north of San Francisco. Up to 16 inches of rain (40 cm) was forecast in northern California and southwestern Oregon through Friday. Dangerous flash flooding, rock slides and debris flows were possible, officials warned. A winter storm watch was in place for the northern Sierra Nevada above 3,500 feet (1,066 meters), where 15 inches (28 cm) of snow was possible over two days. Wind gusts could top 75 mph (120 kph) in mountain areas, forecasters said. Heavy, wet snow was expected to continue along the Cascades and in parts of far northern California. Forecasters warned of blizzard and whiteout conditions and near impossible travel at pass level due to accumulation rates of 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 centimeters) per hour and wind gusts of up to 65 mph (105 kph). Falling trees struck homes and littered roads across western Washington. In Lynnwood, a woman died Tuesday night when a large tree fell on a homeless encampment, South County Fire said in a statement. In Bellevue, east of Seattle, a tree fell onto a home, killing a woman Tuesday night, fire officials said. Tracy Meloy of Issaquah, Washington, felt well-prepared for the storm Tuesday afternoon, with dinner prepped and lanterns ready. But then she spent the night listening to wind-whipped debris hit the outside of her home, including a particularly loud “thump” around 9 p.m. On Wednesday morning she ventured outside to survey the damage to her neighborhood about 17 miles (27 kilometers) east of Seattle. “Now that I’m standing here in front of the house, I can tell it’s the tree that was across the street,” Meloy said. The tree pulled down the power lines in front of her home. Limbs, leaves and other plants were strewn all over the road. “It looks like a forest floor instead of a street,” she said. The number of power outage reports in Washington fluctuated wildly Tuesday evening, but steadily declined to about 460,000 by Wednesday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us. More than a dozen schools were closed in Seattle alone. About 2,800 customers were reported to be without power Wednesday in Oregon, 38,000 in California and 10,000 around Carson City and Reno, Nevada. Three Reno schools were closed and semi-trucks were prohibited on the main highway between the two cities due to high winds. All chairlifts were shut down at the Mt. Rose Ski Resort near Lake Tahoe. The first significant snow of the season in the Dakotas and Minnesota led to accidents and slippery roadways. The weather service said up to 16 inches (40 cm) of snow could fall in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota, and Minot could get up to 8 inches (20 cm) of snow. Winds were expected to be problematic in parts of Montana and Nebraska, with gusts up to 60 mph (97 kph), the weather service said. Officials briefly advised no travel throughout northern North Dakota due to the wintry weather. State troopers in northern Minnesota responded to several accidents, including tractor-trailers that jackknifed on Interstate 94 after the roadway became slippery from snow and ice. The storm was contributing to high wind conditions in Juneau, Alaska, where gusts of up to 60 mph (96 kph) were expected. The weather service warned people on the West Coast about the danger of trees during high winds, posting on X, “Stay safe by avoiding exterior rooms and windows and by using caution when driving.” Southbound Interstate 5 was closed for an 11-mile (18-kilometer) stretch from Ashland, Oregon, to the border with California on Wednesday morning due to extreme winter weather conditions in northern California, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. It was expected to be a long-term closure, the department said. The weather service issued a flood watch for parts of southwestern Oregon through Friday evening, while rough winds and seas halted a ferry route in northwestern Washington between Port Townsend and Coupeville for part of the day. Robert and Lisa Haynes, of Issaquah, Washington, surveyed the damage in their neighborhood Wednesday. Fallen branches or trees blocked driveways and roads, and they were stuck at home. “It’s like a snow day,” Robert Haynes said, “but with no snow.” Golden reported from Seattle and Baumann reported from Bellingham, Washington. Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Jim Salter in St. Louis; Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada; Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; and Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, contributed.

​​WASHINGTON —  Repeated disregard of safety regulations, along with ineffective federal and state enforcement and oversight, contributed to the collision between a bus and box truck in Louisville, N.Y. in 2023, the National Transportation Safety Board said at a board meeting Tuesday. On Jan. 28, 2023, a box truck traveling east on New York State Route 37 crossed over the highway centerline and collided with a bus traveling in the opposite direction. The bus driver and 14 passengers worked for a solar farm construction company. As a result of the crash, six bus occupants died and two were seriously injured. Another six, including the bus driver, sustained minor injuries. The driver of the box truck was also seriously injured. “At the NTSB, we believe the only acceptable number of injuries and crashes on our roads is zero,” said Jennifer Homendy NTSB Chair. The only way to achieve this is by adopting a safe system approach that includes layers of redundancy, ensuring that if one layer fails, people are still protected. It was clear from today’s meeting that there was insufficient redundancy to protect those traveling on State Route 37 in Louisville, New York that morning. Our investigation found that those responsible for transportation safety and federal oversight failed to do their part. This includes motor carriers and regulatory agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the states of New York and Montana, among others. Each of these entities could have, and should have, done more to prevent this horrific crash and tragic loss of life. We are committed to working with the recipients of our recommendations to implement the critical changes identified in today’s report, with the ultimate goal of saving lives and preventing future tragedies on our roads.” During the meeting, NTSB investigators and board members discussed the multiple safety issues in this collision. These include: The truck driver’s fatigue from insufficient sleep associated with his schedule. The truck motor carrier’s lack of a structured fatigue management program or use of driver monitoring systems. A lack of accessible seat belts and pre-trip safety briefing for bus occupants. Lack of administrative safeguards that allowed solar company LBFNY to register buses out of state and continue its unsafe operations in violation of a federal out-of-service order. Ineffective oversight by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which failed to identity and intervene on safety issues associated with truck operator Aero Global Logistics. The truck’s lack of lane departure technology. According to the NTSB, as a result of this investigation, the board is issuing 12 new recommendations and reiterating three previous recommendations related to occupant protection, federal and state oversight of motor carrier operations and fatigue countermeasures. These recommendations are being issued to FMSCA, NHTSA, the states of New York and Montana, trucking industry groups and both motor carriers involved in this collision. The new recommendations, as well as the executive summary, probable cause, and findings of the investigation, are available on the investigation web page. The final report will be published on the NTSB’s website in several weeks. The public docket for the investigation includes over 2,000 pages of additional factual information such as reports, interview transcripts and other investigative materials. To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).

Mehmet Oz, a celebrity heart surgeon turned talk show host and lifestyle guru, is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the massive federal health care bureaucracy that covers more than a third of Americans. Here’s a look at a television doctor who became a politician and is now designated to lead an agency that touches nearly all Americans in some way. Who is Dr. Oz? Trained as a heart surgeon, Oz rose to prominence on Oprah Winfrey’s leading daytime television show before spinning off his own series, “The Dr. Oz Show,” in 2009. The program aired for 13 seasons and made Oz a household name. Oz stopped doing surgeries in 2018 but his physician license remains active in Pennsylvania through the end of this year, according to the state’s online database. Oz is an author of New York Times bestsellers, an Emmy-winning TV show host, radio talk show host, presidential appointee, founder of a national nonprofit to educate teens about healthy habits, and self-styled ambassador for wellness. He also guest hosted the “Jeopardy!” game show and helped save a dying man at Newark Liberty International Airport. Oz was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of a heart surgeon who emigrated from Turkey. He attended a private high school in Delaware and Harvard University as a college undergraduate, also playing football there, and served in the Turkish army to maintain his dual citizenship. He madeh is reputation as a surgeon, but made his fortune as a salesman Oz dispensed nutritional and lifestyle advice on his show, portraying himself as a trusted doctor capable of explaining health matters in an engaging and approachable way. But his show also blurred the line between medical advice and advertising, failing to make clear to his audience just how closely he worked with the companies he pitched. He repeatedly promoted products of questionable medical value and was named in lawsuits that alleged he made misleading claims on the show. Several of the companies he has promoted are structured as multilevel marketing businesses whose practices have repeatedly drawn the attention of federal regulators. Oz had a net worth between $100 million and $315 million, according to a federal financial disclosure he filed in 2022, which gives dollar values in ranges but does not provide specific figures. He ran for U.S. Senate Oz ran for U.S. Senate as a Republican in 2022, one of the highest-profile races of that year’s midterms. Though he was a longtime resident of New Jersey and worked in New York City, Oz ran in Pennsylvania, citing ties to the state through his wife’s parents. His campaign leaned heavily into his celebrity. Its logo looked just like his TV show logo. His themes — “a dose of reality” or “the doctor is in” — spun off his TV doctor reputation. He ran in a crowded Republican primary and won Trump’s eagerly sought endorsement. “Women, in particular, are drawn to Dr. Oz for his advice and counsel. I have seen this many times over the years. They know him, believe in him, and trust him,” Trump said when he endorsed Oz. Following a court battle that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, Oz narrowly won the primary over McCormick by 951 votes but lost to Democrat John Fetterman in the general election. Oz and Trump have a long personal history Oz told The Associated Press in a 2022 interview that he first met Trump in 2004 or 2005 when he asked Trump to use his golf course for an event for Oz’s children’s charity. Trump agreed. After that, they saw each other intermittently at social events before Oz interviewed Trump about his health during the 2016 presidential campaign. In a 2016 appearance on “The Dr. Oz Show,” Trump said his wife, Melania Trump, was “a big fan” of the show. Trump appointed Oz to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition during his first term. He would oversee a massive agency If confirmed by the Senate to lead CMS, Oz would oversee Medicare, Medicaid, children’s health insurance and the Affordable Care Act, better known as “Obamacare.” The programs cover more than 160 million people, from newborns to nursing home residents. CMS also plays a central role in the nation’s $4.5 trillion health care economy, setting Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors, labs and other service providers. Government payment levels become the foundation for private insurers. The agency also sets standards that govern how health care providers operate. The agency has more than 6,000 employees and a $1.1 trillion budget.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Monday, Nov. 18, that he is naming former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy as his nominee for transportation secretary, as he continues to roll out picks for his Cabinet. Duffy, a Republican, is a former reality TV star who was one of Trump’s most visible defenders on cable news — a prime concern for the media-focused president-elect. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, was a member of the Financial Services Committee and chairman of the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 and is now co-host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. In his announcement, Trump noted that Duffy is married to a Fox News host, calling him “the husband of a wonderful woman, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a STAR on Fox News.” A spokesperson for Fox News Media wished Duffy “the best of luck in his return to Washington” and said he left the company Monday. Duffy is so far the second Fox-affiliated television host that Trump has named to his Cabinet. Trump last week announced his choice of Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as his defense secretary. Trump said Duffy would use his experience and relationships built over the years in Congress “to maintain and rebuild our nation’s infrastructure and fulfill our mission of ushering in The Golden Age of travel, focusing on safety, efficiency and innovation. Importantly, he will greatly elevate the travel experience for all Americans!” Duffy in 2022 ruled out a run for Wisconsin governor despite pleas from Trump to make a bid, saying he needed to care for his nine children, including his youngest child who had a heart condition. He is a former lumberjack athlete and frequent Fox News contributor. He was featured on MTV’s “The Real World: Boston” in 1997. He met his wife on the set of MTV’s “Road Rules: All Stars” in 1998. A reality television background before politics is not unusual in Trump’s world. The former president launched his political career after his hit reality show, “The Apprentice,” Duffy, after his time on reality television, worked as a special prosecutor and Ashland County district attorney. He won election to Congress as part of a tea party wave in 2010. When he first ran for office, Duffy was largely considered an underdog but attracted national attention for his campaign ads, in which he donned a red flannel shirt and chopped trees. He told voters he came from a “long line of lumberjacks” and would bring his axe to Washington. He served until resigning in 2019. The Department of Transportation oversees the nation’s complex transportation system, including pipelines, railroads, cars, trucks, the airlines and mass transit systems as well as federal funding for highways. If confirmed, Duffy would take over at a time of tremendous change, especially on the nation’s highways. Traffic deaths remain near record highs at a time when new technologies are being introduced that could help make the roads safer. Multiple companies are deploying autonomous robotaxis and even driverless semis with no specific federal regulations. And the nascent move from gasoline to electric vehicles presents safety problems of its own, especially with battery fires that can be difficult to extinguish. The department includes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates automakers, including Elon Musk’s Tesla. The department sets fuel economy standards for cars and trucks and regulates the airline industry through the Federal Aviation Administration, which is grappling with a shortage of air traffic controllers to ensure the safe and orderly flow of air travel. Nicholas Calio, president and CEO of Airlines for America, said the association was “thrilled” by the choice of Duffy. “Congressman Duffy has a proven track record for getting things done, and we are eager to collaborate with him on key issues impacting the U.S. airline industry,” Calio said. Trump has criticized electric vehicles as expensive and unreliable and called President Joe Biden’s policy to promote them “lunacy. He also has said EV manufacturing will destroy auto industry jobs and has falsely claimed that battery-powered cars don’t work in cold weather and are unable to travel long distances. Trump has softened his rhetoric about electric vehicles in recent months after Musk endorsed him and campaigned heavily for his election. Even so, industry officials expect Trump to try to slow a shift to electric cars, and a tax credit for EV purchases is reportedly among those the Trump administration may seek to eliminate next year. Trump, in his statement, said Duffy would “prioritize excellence, competence, competitiveness and beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports.” Trump, as he campaigned for the White House, would sometimes complain about the state of air travel in particular, lamenting that the nation’s “once-revered airports” are a “dirty, crowded mess.” Duffy, Trump said Monday, “will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers.” DEI refers to “diversity, equity and inclusion” programs. By Zeke Miller, Michelle L. Price and Darlene Superville, The Associated Press. Price reported from New York and Superville reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Matthew Daly and Amanda Seitz in Washington, Tom Krisher in Detroit and David Koenig in Dallas contributed to this report.

NEW YORK — Rather than alienate suburban commuters in an election year, New York’s governor slammed the brakes last spring on a plan to launch America’s first “congestion pricing” tolling system to discourage people from driving into the most traffic-choked parts of Manhattan. Back then, Gov. Kathy Hochul said it was the wrong time to hit commuters and businesses with a $15 toll. However, the Trucking Association of New York (TANY) announced in June that, while it welcomed the temporary reprieve, that it would continue to proceed with a lawsuit fighting the toll hike. Now, with President-elect Donald Trump headed for the White House, the Democrat is hurriedly restarting the tolling plan — hoping to get it in place before the Republican follows through on a promise to kill it for good during his first week in office. Hochul’s new plan, unveiled Nov. 14, calls for a $9 fee on most vehicles, which would help fund the city’s cash-strapped public transit system but at a lower price tag for drivers. However, the tolls are steeper for large commercial trucks and buses, ranging from $14.40 to $21.60 each trip during daytime tolling hours. The new tolling rate system is scheduled to begin Jan. 5. “I’m proud to announce we have found a path to fund the MTA, reduce congestion and keep millions of dollars in the pockets of our commuters,” Hochul said from her office in midtown. The fee would be imposed on most vehicles driving into Manhattan neighborhoods south of 60th Street and collected via license plate readers. It would come on top of the often-hefty tolls drivers pay to enter the island borough via some bridges and tunnels. Trucking interests vow to strike back. The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) was quick to respond to Hochul’s renewed efforts. “While political leadership is now saying the right things about bringing down the cost of living in the state, New Yorkers should not be fooled by the rhetoric: this new congestion pricing plan is still bad for the economy, will still cause supply chain disruptions, and will still raise the price of goods upon which households across the five boroughs and its surrounding suburbs rely,” said Kendra Helms, TANY president, adding that the association will continue to fight the plan. According to Helms, the fundamental issue with the tolling plan remains the same — the pricing for large trucks and delivery vehicles is disproportionate to the cost for smaller passenger vehicles. The plan “unfairly targets trucking operators, is a burdensome regulatory framework and cost imposition on the industry responsible for transporting 90% of goods in New York State,” Helms said. “The governor rightly paused the plan in June, acknowledging the state’s affordability crisis…. However, she failed to mention that industry experts on both sides of the Hudson have long warned that the discriminatory way trucks and logistics companies are targeted by the plan will increase costs for residents everywhere,” she said. “Trucking operators may be forced to raise prices to afford these tolls, which will drive up costs for New Yorkers. “ Last spring, Hochul said she was worried that imposing the tolls could hinder New York City’s continuing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. But she also promised her sudden about-face on the toll wasn’t permanent and that she would put forward a new plan. Public transit and environmental advocates, who had howled when Hochul “paused” the plan weeks before its June launch, lauded Thursday’s return. However, the decision to maintain a per-trip charge — rather than creating a per-day tolling structure — is unfair to commercial drivers, according to Helms. As an added insult, she says, members of the trucking industry were “entirely excluded from all discussions pertaining to the reinstatement of this plan.” Congestion pricing is aimed at reducing traffic and pollution while encouraging use of public transit. It has long existed in other cities around the globe, including London, Stockholm, Milan and Singapore, but not in the U.S. “Congestion pricing cannot happen soon enough,” said Danny Pearlstein, a spokesperson for the Riders Alliance, which had been among the local groups that sued Hochul over her decision to halt the program. “Once the first tolls are collected, we will finally breathe easier.” But the plan may face obstacles in Washington, with Republicans poised to take control of the White House and Congress in January. Trump, whose Trump Tower penthouse would be within the congestion pricing zone, said Thursday that he “strongly” disagrees with Hochul’s decision to revive congestion pricing, calling it “the most regressive tax known to womankind.” “It will put New York City at a disadvantage over competing cities and states, and businesses will flee,” he said in a statement. “Not only is this a massive tax to people coming in, it is extremely inconvenient from both driving and personal booking keeping standards. It will be virtually impossible for New York City to come back as long as the congestion tax is in effect.” Republican Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri, chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called the plan’s revival after the election a “blatantly political move” and said in a statement his panel “will consider all options to conduct the necessary oversight of this issue as we move forward.” The program, which state lawmakers approved in 2019, stalled for years awaiting a required federal environmental review during Trump’s first term before being approved by the administration of President Joe Biden. In a statement, the Federal Highway Administration said it is “working expeditiously to finalize the needed steps to complete the agreement.” It is also unclear exactly how Hochul’s revised plan would address lost revenue for mass transit from lowering the toll amount. The original fee scheme was expected to generate up to $1 billion a year for subways, buses and commuter rail systems. On Thursday, officials insisted the money raised from the lower fee will still be enough to allow the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to go ahead with its plans for fixes and upgrades — but it may take longer to generate the revenue to pay back the costs, they said. The toll can still be raised, though Hochul said she does not want to do that for at least three years. Also yet to be seen: How politically costly the revival of the plan might be for Hochul among people who get around by car. Democratic and Republican lawmakers representing some of the city’s suburbs panned the toll’s return. “Governor Hochul’s congestion pricing scheme is nothing more than a massive new tax on working families, daily commuters, college students, and local residents who just want to travel within the city they call home,” said U.S. Rep. Michael Lawler, a Republican who represents suburban communities just north of the city. Residents and workers in midtown Manhattan also had reasons to grumble. Miles Toussant, a 63-year-old chef who lives in midtown, said he’s concerned about the increased cost of visiting his 88-year-old mother in Brooklyn. He checks in with her around three times a week, and prefers to take Ubers or taxis, but he also knows riders in the toll zone will be assessed a per-trip surcharge under the plan. “There are also people who are still going to have to come into Manhattan regardless, so how much is it really going to change the congestion?” Toussant said. “And then what is that money going to be used for?” Ed Saleh, whose family runs a produce stand across the street from where the governor made her announcement, said the new fee would come on top of $45 a day in tolls their company already pays to drive their large truck into midtown from New Jersey. “If it comes into play, we have no choice: we still have to be here,” he said, noting that trucks will pay higher fees under the plan. “But it’s just not fair. We contribute a lot to New York.” Saleh said he is also worried about the impact on foot traffic to their corner business. “The tolls on their own are already crazy. To add another $9 on top of that is definitely going to hurt a lot of people,” he said. “The economy is not doing too great. People aren’t spending. Putting another fee is just going to make people’s lives a little tighter.” TANY will continue to fight the plan, Helms promised. “… the Trucking Association of New York remains committed to seeing out the legal process and is hopeful that our ongoing litigation will preserve business-as-usual for New Yorkers,” she said. By Philip Marcelo, The Associated Press. The Trucker News Staff also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday, Nov. 15, that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, his choice to head the Interior Department, will also lead a newly created National Energy Council that will seek to establish U.S. “energy dominance” around the world. Burgum, in his new role, will oversee a panel that crosses all executive branch agencies involved in energy permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation, Trump said in a statement. As chairman of the National Energy Council, Burgum will have a seat on the National Security Council, Trump said. “This Council will oversee the path to U.S. energy dominance by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the economy and by focusing on innovation over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation,” Trump wrote. The Republican president-elect accused the “radical left” of engaging in a war on American energy, in the name of fighting climate change. His policy of energy dominance, which he also espoused during his first term, will allow the U.S. to sell oil, gas and other forms of energy to European allies, making the world safer, Trump said. Trump’s policies, if adopted, would represent a near-complete reversal from actions pursued by Democratic President Joe Biden, who has made fighting climate change a top priority and has pushed for more electric vehicles and stricter regulation of carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants. Trump has pledged to rescind unspent funds in Biden’s landmark climate and health care bill and stop offshore wind development when he returns to the White House in January. Trump, who has called oil “liquid gold,” said oil and natural gas, along with minerals such as lithium and copper, should be exploited to the maximum extent possible. “We will ‘drill baby drill,’ expand all forms of energy production to grow our economy and create good-paying jobs,” Trump wrote. Speaking to reporters at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort before his selection as interior secretary was announced Nov. 14, Burgum said he and Trump are concerned about “the nexus between energy and inflation and the nexus between energy and national security.” “Energy is a component of everything — it’s the clothes you wear, the food you eat,” Burgum said, adding that the U.S. needs to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to health care to education to productivity as a country,” Burgum said, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration” to address it. Burgum, 68, was elected North Dakota governor in 2016, his first campaign for elected office. A former software executive, he led Great Plains Software, which Microsoft acquired for $1.1 billion in 2001. Burgum has also led other companies in real estate development and venture capital. Burgum, a Republican, has taken a pro-business style as governor of a state where agriculture and oil are the main industries. He’s pushed income tax cuts, reduced regulations, and changes to animal agriculture laws and higher education governance. Burgum also emphasized a “data-driven” approach to governing, advocated for a Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in the state and prioritized engagement with tribal nations. He ran for president in 2023 but dropped out after his bid failed to resonate. He later endorsed Trump. Industry groups welcomed Burgum to the new administration and said Trump’s creation of an energy council signaled renewed emphasis on spurring domestic production and streamlining regulations. Burgum’s “deep understanding of American energy resources and public lands positions him to tackle critical issues such as enhancing energy affordability … and strengthening the U.S. in the global energy marketplace,” said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, which promotes offshore drilling. Milito is a former vice president of the American Petroleum Institute, the industry’s top lobbying group. David Seabrook, president of The Wilderness Society, called Burgum “a longtime friend to fossil fuel interests” who played a role in an April event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort where Trump reportedly asked industry leaders and lobbyists to donate $1 billion to his campaign, with the expectation that he would curtail environmental regulations if re-elected. “The first Trump administration treated (public lands) like they’re meant to be dug up, drilled or sold off for profit,” Seabrook said. “Gov. Burgum’s long track record of pushing for unchecked fossil fuel development sends a loud signal about which path they will take this time around.” Later Friday, Trump named his campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt to serve as his White House press secretary. The 27-year-old Leavitt would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. Earlier, Trump announced that Steven Cheung will serve as his White House communications director and Sergio Gor will run the personnel office. Both are longtime advisers. Cheung led communications for Trump’s latest campaign, where he gained a reputation for combative and insulting attacks on the Republican’s opponents. A native of Sacramento, California, he worked in Republican politics and for the Ultimate Fighting Championship before joining Trump’s team in 2016. Gor ran Winning Team Publishing, which he started with Donald Trump Jr. The company has published books by Trump and his allies. Gor also led the super PAC Right for America. And late Friday night, during a Conservative Political Action Conference event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, the president-elect asked Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley to remain in the role, according to a person in the room who spoke anonymously to share details of a private event. By Matthew Daly and Chris Megerian, The Associated Press. Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this story.

WASHINGTON — On the third anniversary of the signing of the historic $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg released a new video titled “The Big Deal” highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda that is investing in workers, neighborhoods, and better transportation like never before. In honor of the anniversary, the Biden-Harris Administration released a new fact sheet and statement from President Joe Biden. The announcement is paired with a new legacy video highlighting the impact of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda that will endure for generations The DOT says to date, more than 66,000 projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are moving forward in all 50 states, D.C., and U.S. territories Buttigieg also announced over $3.4 billion in grants through three priority programs funded through BIL – the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (Fed-State), the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program, the Port Infrastructure Development Program  – and one program created in President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act – the Low Carbon Transportation Materials Discretionary Grant Program. This funding will support state- and locally-led projects of all kinds, adding to the pipeline of projects that will be delivered in the coming years and decades. The wards announcements will: Enhance rail along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) with $1.4 billion in funding for 19 projects that will provide faster, safer, more accessible, and more reliable rail service for travelers and commuters along the NEC – the busiest rail passage in America. Strengthen supply chains and improve port efficiency with nearly $580 million in funding for 31 projects that will increase both the capacity and efficiency of ports in 15 states, including coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports, and inland river ports critical to regional economies. These port improvement projects announced today will strengthen supply chain reliability, promote workforce development, enhance freight efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve the safety, reliability, and resilience of our ports. Improve safety on our roadways with $172 million in funding to 257 local, regional, and Tribal communities for planning and demonstration projects that will help prevent deaths and serious injuries on America’s rural and urban roads, including some of the most dangerous roadways in the country. Support domestic manufacturing of sustainable transportation materials with $1.2 billion in funding for 39 state DOTs to accelerate the use of cleaner materials that are critical to building safe and sustainable infrastructure for the future. “In 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration passed the biggest infrastructure bill in generations—and did so with the support of both Democrats and many Republicans in the House and Senate,” said Buttigieg. “Today, on the third anniversary of the signing of this historic law, we’re in the middle of an infrastructure decade unlike anything this country has seen since the time of Eisenhower and the Interstate Highway System. The 2020s will be viewed as a turning point that ushered in the improvements that will sustain our 21st and even 22nd century economy.” When President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) in November 2021, he committed to delivering once-in-a-generation investments to rebuild America’s infrastructure and competitiveness. Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is breaking ground and cutting ribbons on projects across the country to rebuild our roads and bridges, expand passenger rail, improve and upgrade ports, modernize our airports, and build a clean energy economy for all Americans. Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) released the following statement on the three-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. More than $560 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dollars have been invested in communities for over 66,000 projects to improve roads, bridges, freight and passenger rail, transit systems, ports, airports, water systems as well as other needs. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has funded game-changing projects across the country that are creating a cleaner, greener, safer and more accessible transportation system—keeping people and the economy moving,” Larsen said. “This investment has fueled more than 66,000 projects to build safer roads and bridges, expand passenger rail and public transit options, create cleaner ports and more accessible airports and deliver cleaner water to communities across the nation, with more funding on the way. Today, I celebrate these significant investments that are creating jobs for hardworking Americans. There is still more work to be done, which is why I will keep fighting with fellow T&I Democrats to continue an infrastructure decade that improves mobility, supports jobs and grows our economy from the middle up and the bottom out.” To date across the Biden-Harris Administration, nearly $570 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced for over 66,000 projects and awards in all 50 states, D.C., and U.S. territories. 196,000+ miles of roadway are being repaired or improved from coast to coast – enough to cross the U.S. 65 times. 11,400+ projects to build, repair, or modernize America’s bridges are moving forward. 630+ transportation projects have been announced across more than 195 Tribal Nations. 580+ port and waterway projects have been announced by either U.S. DOT or the Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen supply chain reliability, speed up the movement of goods, reduce the costs of everyday items, and lower carbon emissions. 1,500+ airports are modernizing their terminals, expanding operations, or improving their runway infrastructure. 1,600+ communities in all 50 states have been funded to improve roadway safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Nearly 320 rail projects nationwide have been announced, including those that will modernize and expand America’s rail network, deliver the first high-speed rail systems in the country, replace aging infrastructure on America’s busiest rail corridor in the Northeast, make freight rail safer, and eliminate or improve 400+ highway-rail crossings. That’s a “Big Deal.”

PHARR, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pharr International Bridge found a spicy surprise when they inspected a commercial shipment of serrano peppers. On Nov. 10, agents at the cargo facility referred a tractor-trailer, entering the U.S. from Mexico with a load manifested as serrano peppers, for secondary inspection. During the inspection, officers discovered 1,859 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing a total of more than 2,155 pounds mingled with the produce. The estimated street value of the drugs is $31,169,000. The tractor, trailer and drugs were seized by the CBP, and a criminal investigation has been initiated. “Our CBP officers continue to remain vigilant and intercepted this massive methamphetamine load, preventing it from reaching American streets,” said Carlos Rodriguez, director at the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Natural gas flares at oil wells sparked two North Dakota wildfires earlier this fall, according to reports from the North Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office. Investigators concluded that flares combined with high winds and extremely dry weather and started a wildfire near the town of Keene and another near New Town, the Bismarck Tribune reported Thursday. Officials with ConocoPhillips and Hess Corp., which operate the oil wells, say they are still reviewing the reports. No one was killed or injured in the two fires that both began Oct. 5, but a combined 14 square miles (36.3 square kilometers) were burned, damaging land and livestock. The fires were among several in northwestern North Dakota in October that burned up to 118,000 square miles (477.6 square km). Two people died and six were injured in other North Dakota wildfires. Agencies are still investigating what caused the other fires. Flaring is the act of burning off excess natural gas that comes up along with oil. Oil and gas companies are required to flare natural gas from oil wells that cannot be captured or moved — venting natural gas is illegal and creates more pollution than flaring it. ConocoPhillips spokeswoman Lexey Long said the company is still reviewing the fire investigation report. The company is committed to providing information to the state fire marshal’s office and is working directly with landowners and tenants, Long said in a statement. “Our focus remains on the safety of our workers, the community and on the protection of the environment,” Long said. Hess spokeswoman Alison Ritter said the company “is in the process of reviewing the report” and declined further comment. The fire marshal’s office does not issue penalties or have the power to prosecute. It is unclear if either company will face consequences.

BRICK, N.J. (AP) New Jersey’s governor declared a drought warning. Black Hawk helicopters scooped water from a lake to dump on a burning forest in New York state. A park in Manhattan caught fire. And authorities in two states revealed criminal charges Wednesday against people accused of setting some of the wildfires that have plagued the northeast U.S. in recent weeks. The actions came as conditions in some northeast states are the driest they’ve been in nearly 120 years as numerous wildfires continue to burn in places that haven’t seen significant rain since August. Meanwhile, dry conditions from coast to coast were contributing to the spread of wildfires, particularly in Southern California. The drought declaration by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy asked people to take voluntary conservation steps, like shorter showers, turning the faucet off while brushing teeth, and waiting until the dishwasher is full to run it. But it stopped short of mandatory water usage restrictions, which would be included in the event of a drought emergency, the highest alert the government can impose. New Jersey is not yet at the point where communities are in danger of running out of water for drinking or fighting fires. And the state wants to prevent things from reaching that point. “Please take this seriously,” Murphy said. “We have a very dry winter ahead of us.” The dry weather has brought a spate of brush and woodland fires to a part of the country that rarely has to deal with them on this level. Firefighting crews continued efforts to contain a wildfire in a woodland on the New Jersey-New York border that has burned around 7.8 square miles (20 square kilometers) in the two states. No homes have been damaged, but Greg McLaughlin, an administrator with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said rugged hill terrain, coupled with few road access points, were making it difficult to fight the blaze from the ground. Water-dropping helicopters were being used in both states. And firefighters in New York took advantage of changing wind directions Wednesday by starting a controlled line of fires to burn away underbrush and leaves that could serve as fuel. Around 30 miles (50 kilometers) away in New York City, a brush fire broke out in a park on the northern tip of Manhattan, sending smoke billowing across the Big Apple. The city’s fire department has responded to a record number of brush fires over the past two weeks. “Due to a significant lack of rainfall, the threat of fast spreading brush fires fueled by dry vegetation and windy conditions pose a real threat to our members and our city,” Fire Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said in a statement. Late Wednesday, police in the Philadelphia suburb of Evesham Township said they had charged a juvenile with deliberately setting an Oct. 30 fire that burned less than a tenth of a square mile. The youth, whose age was not released, was arrested Nov. 7 and taken to a juvenile detention center. On New York’s Long Island, a 20-year-old volunteer firefighter was charged with intentionally setting a brush fire Tuesday that wound up damaging a parked car, the Suffolk County Police Department said in a news release. Dry conditions from coast to coast were contributing to the spread of wildfires. Across the country, California made good progress against a major wildfire in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, that broke out a week ago and quickly exploded in size because of dry Santa Ana winds. The Mountain fire was 60% contained on Wednesday. The 32-square-mile (83-square-kilometer) fire forced thousands of residents to flee and has destroyed more than 215 structures, most of them houses, and damaged at least 210. The fires in the Northeast haven’t caused major evacuations, but a Connecticut firefighter died battling a wildfire last month and the blaze on the New York-New Jersey border claimed the life of an 18-year-old New York state parks employee who was assisting firefighters last weekend. Dry conditions in the northeast U.S. are a growing concern, not only for firefighting efforts but for the continued availability of drinking water. Two major reservoirs in New Jersey were at 51% and 45% of capacity on Wednesday, enough to keep the taps flowing, but low enough to cause concern for what might happen with additional weeks or months of low rainfall. One river that is a supplemental source of drinking water was at 14% of normal. September and October were the driest two-month period ever recorded in New Jersey. Since August, the state has received 2 inches (5 cm) of rain when it should have gotten a foot (0.3 meters). No significant rainfall was in the foreseeable forecast, officials said. New York City issued a drought watch last week. Mayor Eric Adams mayor urged residents to take shorter showers, fix dripping faucets and otherwise conserve water. Just 0.01 inches (0.02 centimeters) of rain fell last month on the city’s Central Park, where October normally brings about 4.4 inches (11.2 centimeters) of precipitation. New York says it was the driest October in over 150 years. Massachusetts declared a drought Tuesday after more than a month of decreased rainfall. The ground is also bone-dry, McLaughlin added. This makes wildfires even more dangerous in that they can burn downward through dry soil and root systems, and endure for months. On a ground dryness scale in which 800 is the highest possible score, New Jersey is at 748, meaning that the soil is dry almost 8 inches (20 centimeters) below the surface. That level had never before been reached, McLaughlin said. A wildfire that broke out July 4 in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest by someone using illegal fireworks has long been considered contained. But it has been smoldering underground for four months and could reignite above ground, McLaughlin said. Associated Press writers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire contributed to this report.

The Northeast kept a wary eye on dozens of fires that killed at least one person and continued to burn Tuesday amid bone-dry weather, while much larger and more destructive fires came under relative control in California. Firefighters in Massachusetts worked to contain several fires as strong winds and drought conditions continued. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for much of the state and parts of Connecticut, saying conditions were critical and fires could rapidly spread. Massachusetts officials said all of the 200 or so fires they have dealt with this month were caused by human behavior, and Gov. Maura Healey urged people to avoid lighting fires. “Now is not the time to burn leaves. Now is not the time to go outside and light a fire,” she told reporters in Middleton. Some firefighters have been injured, and one blaze near the New York-New Jersey border killed a parks employee over the weekend. The fire had grown to more than 7.5 square miles (20 square kilometers) and was 10% contained Tuesday afternoon. No evacuations were ordered, though some people left voluntarily, and there was no immediate threat to property. Winds that are forecast as high as 25 mph (40 kph) are expected to dissipate Wednesday, officials said. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced fire restrictions that are in effect through the end of November. The ban prohibits bush fires used to dispose of debris and bonfires higher than 3 feet (1 meter). Contained campfires are still allowed in most of the state, though outdoor grilling has already been banned in New York City. Most of the East Coast has seen little rainfall since September, and experts say the fires will persist until significant precipitation or frosts occur. In California, firefighters made further progress against a blaze in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, that broke out Wednesday and quickly exploded in size because of the dry Santa Ana winds. The blaze, dubbed the Mountain fire, was about half contained Tuesday. The 32-square-mile (83-square-kilometer) fire is largely “buttoned up,” county Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said Monday evening. The fire forced thousands of residents to flee and destroyed more than 200 structures, most of them houses, and damaged more than 90, officials said. The cause is under investigation. Residents returned to their homes in Nevada on Monday after a wind-whipped wildfire spread quickly south of Reno, destroying one home and damaging several other buildings. About 200 firefighters aided by light rain quelled flames near the main highway to Lake Tahoe. Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Cedar Attanasio in New York; Nick Perry in Meredith, New Hampshire; and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles.