FAA acknowledges it must do better after deadly DC air collision

(AP) — The head of the Federal Aviation Administration has told Congress that the agency must do more to ensure flying remains safe after a midair collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. The FAA’s acting administrator, Chris Rocheleau, said Thursday that the agency’s artificial intelligence-led review aimed at identifying safety threats at other airports with similar helicopter-airplane congestion should be finished in a couple weeks. During the hearing, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board and members of Congress again questioned how the FAA hadn’t noticed an alarming number of close calls near Ronald Reagan National Airport and addressed the problem before the January collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner.

CBO: US economic growth to slow in the next 30 years

WASHINGTON (AP) — Weak population gains and increased government spending will result in slower overall economic growth over the next 30 years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Thursday. The CBO’s latest long-term budget and economic outlook report — for a timeframe that spans 2025 to 2055 — projects publicly held debt to reach 156% of gross domestic product, or GDP, in 2055. That’s down from the agency’s March 2024 long-term budget projection, which said publicly held debt would be equal to a record 166% of American economic activity by 2054. However, that’s not necessarily a positive.

Justice Department eyes combining ATF and DEA as part of broad restructuring

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Department leadership is proposing cutting some offices and dramatically restructuring the department, including combining the two agencies responsible for enforcing drug and gun laws, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press. The memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is seeking feedback on a reorganization plan that would combine the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into a single agency “to achieve efficiencies in resources, case deconfliction, and regulatory efforts.” The plan also calls for combining policy offices and eliminating Justice field offices around the country, including the Antitrust Division offices in Chicago and San Francisco.

Former executive of Mars candy subsidiary charged with stealing $28M from company

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A former executive of a subsidiary of famed candymaker Mars Inc. has been charged with stealing more than $28 million from the company in various schemes. Paul Steed of Stamford, Connecticut, was arrested on multiple wire fraud and tax evasion charges on Wednesday. He pleaded not guilty in federal court in Bridgeport and was ordered detained until trial. Steed has been a respected sugar market expert and was global price risk manager for Mars Wrigley. A federal indictment alleges that he diverted funds to companies he set up. Steed’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.