Once-mighty Motor City files for bankruptcy
DETROIT – Detroit became the biggest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy Thursday, its finances ravaged and its neighborhoods hollowed out by a long, slow decline in population and auto manufacturing.
The filing, which had been feared for months, put the city on an uncertain course that could mean laying off municipal employees, selling assets, raising fees and scaling back basic services such as trash collection and snow plowing, which already have been slashed.
Detroit lost a quarter-million residents between 2000 and 2010. A population that in the 1950s reached 1.8 million now struggles to stay above 700,000. Much of the middle-class and scores of businesses also have fled Detroit, taking their tax dollars with them.
Texas governor signs abortion restrictions
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed sweeping new abortion restrictions Thursday that could shutter most of the state’s clinics that provide the procedure.
The law restricts abortions to surgical centers and requires doctors who work at abortion clinics to have hospital admitting privileges. Only five of the 42 abortion clinics in Texas – the nation’s second-largest state – currently meet those new requirements.
Supporters argue the new law will ensure high-quality health care for women, but opponents view it as over-regulation intended to make abortions harder to obtain.
Senate clears way for vote on EPA pick
WASHINGTON – The Senate cleared the way Thursday for final approval of President Barack Obama’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, hours after confirming a new labor secretary.
Senators voted 69-31 Thursday to overcome Republican objections that have blocked a vote on Gina McCarthy to head the EPA, nine votes more than are needed to end filibusters.
Democrats consider McCarthy, who since 2009 has headed the agency’s air pollution office, to be a longtime environmental champion, while Republicans say she has helped issue regulations that hurt the economy and cost jobs.
Earlier Thursday, senators confirmed Thomas Perez to head the Labor Department on a 54-46 party-line vote.
Southern California fire forces evacuations
IDYLLWILD, Calif. – About 6,000 residents and tourists were told to evacuate this community in the San Jacinto Mountains about 100 miles from Los Angeles as a wildfire grew to more than 35 square miles Thursday, wreathing a ridge about 2 to 3 miles from town, fire officials said. The blaze also was 2 miles away from Palm Springs, but no homes were threatened there.
About 4,100 houses, condos, cabins and several hotels in Idyllwild and surrounding communities were threatened.
Napolitano approved as university president
SAN FRANCISCO – Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was approved Thursday as the first female president of the 10-campus University of California system and is expected to begin the job in September.
Supporters said Napolitano’s political aptitude would help the financially embattled university system secure money from the state and donors.
Associated Press
