A chemical tank collapsed at a pulp mill in Longview, Washington, in May, killing 11 workers. Records reveal the company had many past safety complaints, fines, and maintenance issues. Investigations into the accident and the plant’s safety are ongoing.
Key Facts
The pulp mill is operated by Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview, Washington.
11 workers died when a chemical tank collapsed, releasing hazardous liquid.
The company had 54 environmental violation notices since 2016 and fines totaling $41,500 for serious violations.
The state Department of Labor and Industries fined the plant nearly $7,000 for safety violations since 2018.
More than $2.4 million has been paid for workers’ compensation claims related to injuries since 2015.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said the failed tank was known to be unsafe but continued in use.
A lawsuit was filed by a victim’s family claiming poor maintenance, training, and emergency planning.
A valve handle on an ammonia tank was previously found detached, creating a risk of toxic air release and explosion.
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A federal judge extended a court order blocking new U.S. Postal Service rules about mail-in voting. The rules were set to be used in the November midterm elections, but the judge stopped them after states and voting groups raised concerns.
Key Facts
Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction to stop the Postal Service from enforcing new mail voting rules.
The rules were finalized and published at the end of last month.
The court previously blocked the rules temporarily on August 26.
The extension came after a hearing and a request from about 24 states led by Democrats and voting rights groups.
The decision affects preparations for mail ballots in the November midterm elections.
The judge’s order prevents changes to mail voting processes just before the election.
The news is developing and may be updated as more information comes in.
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A federal judge refused to stop the Pentagon from firing three Stars and Stripes journalists who say they were punished for speaking out about the newspaper’s editorial independence. The judge ruled the journalists likely cannot prove their First Amendment rights were violated because their interviews were part of their official work.
Key Facts
Three Stars and Stripes journalists sued after being fired by the Pentagon.
They claim they were disciplined for speaking about the need for editorial independence.
The judge said the journalists’ interviews were done as government employees, not as private citizens.
The judge ruled that firing them did not clearly violate their free speech rights under the First Amendment.
One journalist was fired for insubordination related to a CBS News interview.
The Pentagon partially funds Stars and Stripes and installed a military officer as deputy publisher.
The lawsuit names Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Defense Department as defendants.
The judge previously ruled in favor of the Associated Press in a related free speech case.
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Steve Hilton, the Republican nominee for governor in California, has proposed banning smartphones in schools to limit children's screen time. He shared these ideas during his campaign against Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra.
Key Facts
Steve Hilton is the Republican candidate for governor in California.
He wants to ban smartphones in schools to reduce kids' screen time.
His opponent is Xavier Becerra, the Democratic nominee.
The proposal is part of Hilton’s campaign platform.
Hilton discussed these plans on a CBS News program called "The Takeout."
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The Pentagon posted new guidelines requiring testosterone deficiency screening for male service members aged 30 and over but quickly removed the guidelines after saying they had been posted by mistake. The Defense Health Agency will update the guidelines to reflect current medical science before releasing a final version.
Key Facts
The Pentagon introduced mandatory testosterone screening for male active-duty and reserve military members aged 30 and above.
This screening is part of the military’s annual health check-up, announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in July 2026.
If a service member is recommended testosterone replacement therapy, the choice to pursue treatment is up to the individual.
New clinical guidance documents were posted on the Defense Health Agency (DHA) website but then removed the next day, labeled as "draft" and posted by mistake.
The “Interim Guidance on Testosterone Deficiency Screenings” remains in effect during the update process.
Female service members were also to be asked about fatigue and menstrual issues related to hormone problems in the guidelines.
The Pentagon official said the draft needed more medical input to avoid outdated practices.
Low testosterone is a known concern in the military, especially for personnel under extreme physical and mental stress.
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The Trump administration removed information about nonbinary students and bullying based on gender identity from a federal school civil rights survey for the 2023-2024 school year. This action follows an executive order defining sex only as male or female, which led to hiding data about harassment and policies protecting transgender and nonbinary students in public schools.
Key Facts
The Education Department's Civil Rights Data Collection survey includes nearly every public school in the U.S.
For the 2023-2024 school year, the survey originally included "nonbinary" as a gender category.
Data on nonbinary students and bullying related to gender identity were replaced with a message saying the information was suppressed due to an executive order.
President Donald Trump signed the order on his inauguration day, defining sex strictly as male or female for federal purposes.
About 1,800 out of over 13,000 districts reported data on transgender and nonbinary students in the last survey collection.
The administration’s action means less information is available about the experiences of transgender and nonbinary students in schools.
The Trump administration has also filed a lawsuit against a Kansas City school system over its policies for transgender students.
Researchers warn that without this data, it is harder to identify and fix bullying problems for nonbinary students in schools.
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently returned from Venezuela after working on a new oil agreement between the United States and Venezuela. He said this deal could help lower gas prices in the U.S. within a year or two.
Key Facts
Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited Venezuela to negotiate a new oil deal.
The agreement is between the U.S. and Venezuela.
Wright said the deal aims to increase oil supply.
Increased oil supply could reduce gas prices in the U.S.
The expected timeframe for gas prices to drop is about one to two years.
The visit and deal are part of ongoing efforts to stabilize energy markets.
Venezuela is a country with large oil reserves.
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A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer named Christian Castro pleaded not guilty to lying about a shooting incident involving a Venezuelan man during a Minnesota immigration operation. He was released from custody after the hearing, with conditions including bond and GPS monitoring.
Key Facts
Christian Castro is an ICE officer charged with lying to investigators.
The charge is related to a January shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man.
Castro allegedly lied by saying he was attacked with a broom and shovel before shooting.
He was arrested and appeared in federal court in McAllen, Texas.
At the hearing, he was shackled but later ordered released.
His release included a $75,000 unsecured bond and a GPS ankle monitor.
The incident occurred during a Minnesota immigration crackdown last winter.
The case is part of a federal indictment against Castro.
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The trial of Lindsay Clancy, accused of killing her three young children, ended without a verdict after 41 days. The judge declared a mistrial because the jury could not agree on a decision.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy was on trial for the death of her three young children.
The trial lasted 41 days.
The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision.
The judge ruled the trial a mistrial, meaning no final verdict was reached.
A mistrial can lead to a new trial or other legal actions in the future.
The case raises questions about legal responsibility in such situations.
CBS News reported and explained how the case ended with a hung jury.
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A federal judge allowed the Pentagon to continue firing three employees of the Stars and Stripes military newspaper. The judge rejected the request to stop their firings while a lawsuit over the issue is ongoing.
Key Facts
A federal judge named Trevor McFadden made the ruling.
The Pentagon plans to fire three Stars and Stripes employees: the publisher, editor-in-chief, and a Middle East reporter.
The judge ruled against the newspaper’s request to pause the firings during a court case.
The firings happened last month.
The lawsuit claims the firings violated the employees’ First Amendment rights, which protect free speech and press.
Judge McFadden said the government likely did not violate those rights.
Stars and Stripes is a military newspaper serving U.S. service members.
The story is still developing and may receive updates.
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A federal judge has extended a block on President Donald Trump’s order aimed at limiting mail voting in the upcoming midterm elections. The judge stopped the U.S. Postal Service from putting new mail voting rules in place, saying there is not enough time for states to adjust before ballots are sent out.
Key Facts
U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani extended her ban on enforcing Trump’s executive order on mail voting.
The executive order would limit mail voting procedures during the midterm elections.
North Carolina started sending out mail ballots, with other states to follow soon.
The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to lift the block and is expected to appeal the extended injunction.
Nearly one-third of U.S. voters use mail ballots in elections.
Voting rights groups and Democrats filed lawsuits against the order after it was issued in March.
Federal judges previously blocked similar parts of a 2025 executive order by Trump requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
The Supreme Court recently overturned a previous block, saying lawsuits were filed before the Postal Service issued detailed rules.
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Former House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized the current American political climate, saying both major parties are focused more on popular support than on solving key issues like the national debt. He said politics today lack seriousness compared to the past.
Key Facts
Paul Ryan is a former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin.
He spoke about the current state of American politics on CNBC.
Ryan said both political parties are focused on populism, which means appealing to popular opinions rather than detailed policy work.
He highlighted that national debt control is not being seriously addressed.
Ryan expressed that politics today are less serious than they were before.
His comments came during a public television interview.
The criticism did not single out one party but mentioned problems in both parties.
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A former safety manager in Michigan was sentenced to 19 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter after a five-year-old boy died in a fire inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. The boy’s death happened during treatment at an alternative healthcare facility, where the fire started from a static electricity spark in the oxygen-rich chamber.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Mosteller, 66, was sentenced to 19 months in prison for the death of five-year-old Thomas Cooper.
The boy died in January 2025 after a fire and explosion inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in Michigan.
Thomas Cooper was being treated for ADHD and sleep apnea at the Oxford Center, which uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
The fire began when a static electricity spark ignited oxygen-rich air after the child disturbed a mattress sheet inside the chamber.
Cooper’s mother was injured while trying to rescue him from the burning chamber.
Three other former Oxford Center employees face charges related to the death, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is FDA-approved for certain conditions, but its safety has been questioned.
Cooper’s family has filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the clinic and the chamber’s manufacturer.
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HeeHaw, a miniature donkey in Georgia, was shot and killed by police officers during a search for a missing child. The owner claims HeeHaw was a friendly pet, while police say the animal charged at them; the incident is under investigation. Similar police shootings of pets have caused public concern and raised questions about how officers handle animals.
Key Facts
HeeHaw was shot in August in Rockmart, Georgia, while police searched for a missing child.
The owner says HeeHaw was a bottle-raised family pet and did not pose a threat.
Police say the donkey charged at officers, and they responded with deadly force.
An independent investigation is ongoing, and the shooting officer is on administrative leave.
Other pets, including dogs named Jameson, Stormi, and Ammo, have also been killed by police in recent years.
Police are allowed to use deadly force if an animal threatens them, but critics argue non-lethal methods could be used more often.
Cases like these have led to public outrage, investigations, and lawsuits regarding police treatment of animals.
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President Donald Trump called the war with Iran a "military conflict" and described it as "small potatoes" for the United States. He noted that fewer American soldiers have died in that conflict compared to other wars and said the U.S. carries out occasional strikes but is not currently fighting.
Key Facts
President Trump referred to the Iran war as a "military conflict."
He described the conflict as "small potatoes," meaning it is not very large or serious for the U.S.
18 American soldiers have been killed in the Iran conflict so far.
This number is much lower than deaths in previous U.S. wars, which had tens of thousands of casualties.
The U.S. has made intermittent (occasional) strikes in Iran.
President Trump said the U.S. is not actively fighting in a full war with Iran right now.
Trump spoke about this during a press event in the Oval Office.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing a new rule to limit birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to certain foreign government employees, not just diplomats. Instead of automatic U.S. citizenship, these children would be eligible for green cards (lawful permanent residency) unless a parent is a U.S. citizen.
Key Facts
DHS aims to expand exceptions to birthright citizenship beyond children of diplomats to include children of other foreign government employees.
The proposal is part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to redefine who automatically qualifies as a U.S. citizen under the 14th Amendment.
The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil and "subject to the jurisdiction" of the U.S. DHS argues children of certain foreign employees are not fully under U.S. jurisdiction.
Currently, children of foreign diplomats do not get automatic citizenship because diplomats have special legal status.
The new rule would cover foreign embassy or consulate workers and employees of international organizations with immunity.
Children affected by the rule could apply for lawful permanent resident status from birth instead.
The rule is linked to Executive Order 14418, signed by President Trump in August 2023.
This rule is not yet published and is subject to public comment and further revisions.
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A judge declared a mistrial in the murder case of Lindsay Clancy. In separate news, U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, indicating growth in the job market.
Key Facts
A judge declared a mistrial in the case involving Lindsay Clancy's murder.
The mistrial means the case will not proceed to a verdict at this time.
U.S. employers created 162,000 new jobs in August.
Job growth in August shows ongoing activity in the U.S. labor market.
These news items were covered on CBS News’ program "The Takeout with Major Garrett."
The report includes updates on legal and economic matters in the U.S.
The information was available through the CBS News app and website.
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Democratic lawmakers are asking the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to give records and help with an investigation into the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind Rohingya refugee. Shah Alam died after border agents left him outside a closed coffee shop in Buffalo on a cold night, and the Erie County medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.
Key Facts
Nurul Amin Shah Alam was a 56-year-old Rohingya refugee with limited eyesight and little English.
On February 19, after release from holding, border agents took him and then left him outside a closed Tim Hortons in Buffalo.
His family and lawyers were not told where he was left.
Shah Alam was found dead five days later, about four miles from where agents left him.
The medical examiner said he died from a perforated duodenal ulcer and hypothermia (cold exposure).
The Erie County district attorney is still investigating how he died.
DHS has not provided records or cooperated fully, despite requests from lawmakers and investigators.
Lawmakers want a new law requiring authorities to inform family or lawyers before releasing detainees and say DHS should help the investigation.
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President Donald Trump spoke publicly for the first time about the Lindsay Clancy murder trial after a judge declared a mistrial. He called the situation tragic and expressed his feelings during a ceremony where he signed an executive order.
Key Facts
A judge declared a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial.
President Trump commented on the case for the first time after the mistrial decision.
He described the case as a “shame” and a “horrible tragedy.”
The president made his remarks during an event where he signed an executive order.
The legal case has drawn national attention across the United States.
No further details about the trial or next steps were provided by the president.
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President Donald Trump commented on the Lindsay Clancy murder trial after a mistrial was declared because the jury could not agree on a verdict. Clancy admitted to killing her three children but claimed she was not responsible due to mental illness, and the case involved complex arguments about her mental state.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy admitted to killing her three children in early 2023 in Duxbury, Massachusetts.
Clancy pleaded not guilty, citing postpartum psychosis and overmedication as reasons she should not be held responsible.
The trial included expert testimony from psychologists and psychiatrists about Clancy’s mental health.
The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict after 36 hours of deliberation, resulting in a mistrial.
Clancy’s lawyers requested to dismiss one juror for not following instructions, but the judge denied this request.
The mistrial was declared after an unsuccessful appeal to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
President Trump described Clancy’s act as “horrible” but said the legal process will still decide her fate, possibly mental hospital or jail.
Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to retry the case.
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