Former top aide to New York City’s mayor pleads not guilty in bribery case

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York City mayor’s former chief adviser, her son and two real estate investors have been indicted on bribery and conspiracy charges. They come as the mayor himself fights a separate corruption case and a series of criminal investigations roils City Hall. Ingrid Lewis-Martin, her son Glenn D. Martin II, and real estate investors Raizada Vaid and Mayank Dwivedi pleaded not guilty on Thursday. Prosecutors say Lewis-Martin and her son raked in over $100,000 in cash and other help in exchange for her speeding approvals for construction projects. Lewis-Martin’s lawyer told a court she’s a model citizen.

Biden pledges to cut US greenhouse gases by more than 60%

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is pledging to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% by 2035. Biden is seeking to ensure his legacy on slowing global warming, even as President-elect Donald Trump vows to undo much of Biden’s climate work when he takes office next month. Biden said the new goal supersedes a previous plan to cut carbon emissions at least in half by 2030 and keeps the U.S. on track to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by 2050. The United States is formally submitting the new target to the United Nations under terms of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Trump is expected to withdraw the U.S. from the accord.

US deaths are down and life expectancy is up, but improvements are slowing

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. life expectancy jumped last year, and preliminary data suggests there may be another — much smaller — improvement this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday released a report on U.S. deaths in 2023. It showed a decline in death rates for almost all of the leading causes, most notably in COVID-19, heart disease and drug overdoses. That translated to adding nearly a year the estimated lifespan of Americans. It means life expectancy was 78 1/2 last year overall. It’s higher for women than men.

Prosecutor Fani Willis is removed from the Georgia election case

ATLANTA (AP) — A state appeals court has removed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and others. It’s the latest legal victory for the president-elect in criminal cases that once threatened his career and freedom. The case against Trump and more than a dozen others had already been stalled for months over an appeal related to a romantic relationship Willis had with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had hired to lead the case. Willis’ office filed a notice of intent Thursday to ask the Georgia Supreme Court to review the decision.