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Hog deaths, manure flooding from Florence seen surpassing 2016 hurricane

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services projected the animal death toll after emergency workers and veterinarians spent days in the field assessing losses at farms following the storm. "I'm just assuming, based on the depth of the water that we had in North Carolina and the amount of rainfall, that we probably will exceed what we had in [Hurricane] Matthew," Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in an interview, referring to hog losses. North Carolina has 8.9 million swine, representing 12 percent of the U.S. herd, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA).

Kavanaugh accuser wants FBI investigation before she will testify: lawyer

A woman who has accused President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, of sexual assault decades ago wants her allegations to be investigated by the FBI before she appears at a U.S. Senate hearing, one of her lawyers said on Tuesday. The Senate Judiciary Committee, which is overseeing the nomination, has called a hearing for Monday to look into the matter, and the White House has said Kavanaugh was ready to testify.

Trump says FBI should not probe allegations against top court pick

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the FBI should not investigate a California professor's allegations of sexual assault against Trump's pick for U.S. Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, adding that he wants his nominee confirmed quickly. Asked whether he would ask the Federal Bureau of Investigation to open its background check on Kavanaugh, Trump told reporters at the White House, "I don't think the FBI really need to be involved because they don't want to be involved.

Trump administration eases rule on methane leaks on public land

The so-called Waste Prevention Rule was aimed at reducing leaks of natural gas, or methane, that occur through venting and flaring during oil and gas production on federal land. David Bernhardt, the Interior Department's deputy secretary, said revisions to the rule reflect President Donald Trump's policy avoiding "regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production, constrain growth and prevent job creation." Environmentalists slammed the rollback of the rule, which will not be implemented until after a 60-day comment period. "The Trump administration is relentless in its push to give the oil and gas industry multi-million-dollar handouts at the expense of Americans' health and environment," said David Doniger, the Natural Resource Defense Council's senior strategic director for climate and clean energy.

Trump will consult with Congress on refugee cap: State Department

President Donald Trump will make the final decision on the number of refugees allowed into the United States after consulting with Congress, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Tuesday. On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States proposed capping the number of refugees at 30,000 for fiscal year 2019, a sharp drop from a limit of 45,000 it set for 2018. "The administration will have consultations with Congress.

Doubts arise over whether Trump court nominee's accuser will testify

Christine Blasey Ford, a university professor in California whose allegations have put Kavanaugh's once-safe nomination in jeopardy, has not responded to attempts by the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee to contact her about appearing at the hearing, committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said on Tuesday. Trump stepped up his defense of Kavanaugh and expressed sympathy toward his nominee, who met with officials at the White House for a second straight day though not with the president. "I feel so badly for him that he's going through this, to be honest with you," Trump told a news conference.

After Florence floods, the uninsured awaken to painful reality

Flood insurance was far from Stephanie Walker's mind in 2015 when she moved her family into a home in Fayetteville in central North Carolina, nearly 200 miles (320 km) from the coast. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency covered $25,000 but the family had to borrow the rest for her home. Matthew was the first storm that caused flooding, but the fear of another flood is causing greater anxiety.

Assault claim against Trump court nominee eases pressure on vulnerable Democrats

Since Kavanaugh was nominated to the high court by President Donald Trump, Democratic senators from states that Trump won in 2016 faced a dilemma. If they voted against Kavanaugh, they could appear to be out of step with voters at home and risk losing re-election. The claim that Kavanaugh assaulted a woman while in high school now gives those endangered Democrats an escape hatch.

SeaWorld, ex-CEO settle SEC charges they hid 'Blackfish' impact

SeaWorld Entertainment Inc and former Chief Executive James Atchison will pay more than $5 million to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges that they misled investors about the negative impact of the documentary "Blackfish" on the company. "Blackfish," released in July 2013, had depicted as cruel the captivity and exhibition of orcas, or killer whales, including by SeaWorld. The SEC on Tuesday said SeaWorld and Atchison downplayed the documentary's impact from Dec. 2013 to Aug. 2014, even as bad publicity began hurting attendance and SeaWorld's reputation.

Lawsuit targets Massachusetts utility over deadly gas explosions

A resident of a Massachusetts city rocked by last week's deadly gas blasts that damaged dozens of homes sued utility operator NiSource Inc on Tuesday, accusing it of inadequately maintaining its distribution system. The proposed class action lawsuit targets NiSource and its subsidiary Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, which services Andover, North Andover and Lawrence, three communities northwest of Boston that staged large-scale evacuations following the Thursday afternoon blasts that killed one person and injured at least 25. The lawsuit in Essex County Superior Court is the first to be filed after Thursday's explosions.

Trump to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina, death toll at 33

Florence has killed at least 33 people since coming ashore as a hurricane on Friday, including 26 in North Carolina and six in South Carolina. One person was killed when Florence spawned at least 16 tornadoes on Monday in Virginia, the National Weather Service said. The White House said President Donald Trump would visit North Carolina on Wednesday.

U.S. judge will not force Georgia to use paper ballots despite concerns

U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg said in a ruling late on Monday that while it is important for citizens to know their ballots are properly counted, voters also must rely on a smooth process, especially in a fast-approaching election race. "Ultimately, any chaos or problems that arise in connection with a sudden rollout of a paper ballot system with accompanying scanning equipment may swamp the polls with work and voters – and result in voter frustration and disaffection from the voting process," Totenberg said in a 46-page decision. Democrat Stacey Abrams faces Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, a Republican, who is responsible for the state's elections and is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Probe of FEMA chief referred to prosecutors: source

The person, who spoke anonymously because the investigation is not public, said Long never had authorization to use a government car to drive to his home in Hickory, North Carolina. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia accepted the referral and the prosecutors in the Justice Department’s public integrity section are also involved, the person added. The person said Long was also under investigation for improperly using motorcades during the drives to North Carolina and putting aides up in hotels.

U.N. refugee agency gives Trump's latest cuts a weary shrug

The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR declined to criticize U.S. President Donald Trump's cut in refugee resettlement places on Tuesday, saying it was up to the United States to decide on its policy. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday the number of refugees allowed into the U.S. would be capped at 30,000 for fiscal year 2019, a sharp drop from a limit of 45,000 set for 2018. "Decisions on which refugees will be resettled and where they go are made solely by the governments of countries that, like the United States, admit refugees for resettlement," UNHCR spokesman William Spindler told a regular U.N. briefing in Geneva.

Most U.S. states lack reserves to weather next recession: S&P

While U.S. states' financial health has strengthened in 2018 compared with last year, fewer than half have enough financial reserves to weather the first year of a moderate recession, according to an S&P Global Ratings report on Monday. Only 20 states have the reserves needed to operate for the first year of an economic downturn without having to slash budgets or raise taxes, S&P said. "In their fight against recessions, budget reserves are what states send to the frontline," the report said.

In Florence's wake, uncertainty haunts migrant workers

SPIVEY'S CORNER, N.C. (Reuters) - Francisco Javier Jaramillo and Victor Chavez should be picking sweet potatoes at a North Carolina farm and sending much-needed money to their families in Mexico. Instead, Hurricane Florence has forced the migrant workers to evacuate their farm and seek refuge at a school-turned-shelter near the tiny hamlet of Spivey’s Corner, where they sleep in school hallways, wait and worry.

Senate Judiciary to probe Kavanaugh, accuser in public hearing

With Kavanaugh's once-safe nomination for a lifetime job on the top U.S. court now appearing in jeopardy, the conservative federal appeals court judge had meetings at the White House earlier on Monday and issued a fresh denial, calling the assault allegation "completely false." Trump's fellow Republicans in the Senate, which must confirm Supreme Court appointments, looked for a way forward. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said the committee would hold a public hearing with Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, next Monday.

U.S. to sharply limit refugee flows to 30,000 in 2019

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. will cap the number of refugees allowed into the country at 30,000.

Chicago officer unjustified in killing black teen, prosecutor says

The white police officer who shot to death a black teen in 2014 fired 16 shots without justification, prosecutors told a Chicago jury on Monday, as the trial began in a decisive case for race relations and policing in the United States' third-largest city. "What he saw that night was a black boy with the audacity to ignore the police," special prosecutor Joseph McMahon said during his opening statement of the officer, Jason Van Dyke. Van Dyke's defense lawyer, Daniel Herbert, portrayed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald as a dangerous drug user who caused the officer to fear for his safety.

Public hearing will be held on accusations against Kavanaugh: Senator tells reporters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A public hearing on accusations that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a woman 36 years ago will be held, Republican Senator John Kennedy told reporters on Monday, according to multiple media reports. Both Kavanaugh, who denies the accusations, and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, will have the opportunity to testify, Kennedy said, according to the reports. Kennedy is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is handling the nomination. He did not say when the hearing would be held. ...

Florence's drenching rains kill 23 in the Carolinas

WILMINGTON/FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Reuters) - Deeper flooding loomed in the hours and days ahead from rivers in the Carolinas swollen by Tropical Depression Florence, which has killed 23 people, even if rain-weary residents got a brief glimpse of sunshine on Monday. The slow-moving storm, a hurricane when it hit the North Carolina coast, has dumped up to 36 inches (91 cm) of rain on the state since Thursday, displacing thousands. Residents of the Carolinas were starting to confront the storm's after-effects, including power outages, impassable roads, and sewage spilling into flooded areas, while the hurricane's remnants headed north.

Florence flooding limits road access to Duke nuclear plant

(Reuters) - Duke Energy Corp said on Monday that its Brunswick nuclear power plant in North Carolina remained safely shut down despite limited road access to the site due to flooding from storm Florence. The remnants of Florence, which came ashore as a hurricane on Friday, are still dropping heavy amounts of rain on the already waterlogged Carolinas, with officials warning the worst is yet to come as swollen rivers pose a growing threat. Duke spokeswoman Mary Kathryn Green said there was road access to the Brunswick site but it was "limited access." She said there were about 300 people at the plant.

Trump says doesn't mind if Kavanaugh vote delayed to allow accuser to be heard

President Donald Trump said on Monday it was okay with him if the Senate confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is briefly delayed to allow a woman accusing him of sexual assault to be heard. "If it takes a little delay, it'll take a little delay," Trump told reporters in the White House Roosevelt Room.

UPS to hire 100,000 for holiday season, up 5 percent from last year

Package delivery companies and retailers have increased their seasonal hiring this year, to cater to the e-commerce sector that is expecting heavy shipping volumes, as shoppers spend more buoyed by a strong economy and labor market. Last week retailer Target Corp unveiled plans to hire about 120,000 seasonal workers for the holidays, up 20 percent from last year, while department store chain Macy's Inc said it would hire 23,500 temporary workers at its online fulfillment centers across the U.S., an increase of about 30 percent. UPS' smaller rival FedEx Corp is also hiring about 55,000 workers for the season, up about 10 percent compared with a year earlier.

North Carolina devastated as floodwaters rise from deadly storm Florence

WILMINGTON/WILSON, N.C. (Reuters) - Deadly storm Florence drenched North Carolina with more downpours on Sunday, cutting off the coastal city of Wilmington, damaging tens of thousands of homes and threatening worse flooding as rivers fill to the bursting point. Florence, a onetime hurricane that weakened to a tropical depression by Sunday, dumped up to 40 inches (100 cm) of rain on parts of North Carolina since Thursday, and continued to produce widespread heavy rain over much of North Carolina and eastern South Carolina, the National Weather Service said.

North Carolina's raging rivers from storm Florence test beefed-up defenses

Deadly storm Florence's historic rainfall is testing the best efforts by many North Carolina cities to bolster their defenses against flooding since Hurricane Matthew inundated the eastern part of the state two years ago. Since Matthew, firefighters have been trained in rapid water rescue and are equipped with inflatable boats used to pluck people from raging rivers and streams. More dams have been built on many of the rivers that snake through the state, and improved forecasting tools have made it easier to position rescue teams.

Accuser of U.S. high-court nominee Kavanaugh goes public

In an interview with the Washington Post, Christine Blasey Ford said that as a high school student in suburban Maryland decades earlier, a "stumbling drunk" Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, groped her and attempted to remove her clothing. Last week, Kavanaugh, Republican President Donald Trump's second nominee for a lifetime appointment to the nation's highest court, said he "categorically and unequivocally" denies the allegations. Senate Judiciary Committee spokesman Taylor Foy said Senator Chuck Grassley, the panel's Republican chairman, was working to set up follow-up calls with Kavanaugh and Ford before the committee's scheduled vote on Kavanaugh on Thursday, given the revelation of Ford's identity and "the late addendum to the background file." "The Chairman and Ranking Member routinely hold bipartisan staff calls with nominees when updates are made to nominees' background files," Foy said in a statement.