K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For May 4th, 2017 – Morning
WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE'S HOPEFUL THAT "WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND A WONDERFUL VOTE" IN THE HOUSE ON HEALTH CARE. TRUMP SAYS IN A ROSE GARDEN CEREMONY WITH FAITH LEADERS THAT "WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE" WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE NEEDS.
WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS SIGNING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL FURTHER WEAKEN ENFORCEMENT OF AN IRS RULE BARRING CHURCHES AND TAX-EXEMPT GROUPS FROM ENDORSING POLITICAL CANDIDATES. HE SIGNED THE ORDER AT A WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY THURSDAY MARKING THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. THE ORDER ASKS THE IRS TO USE "MAXIMUM ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION" OVER A REGULATION, KNOWN AS THE JOHNSON AMENDMENT, WHICH APPLIES TO CHURCHES AND NONPROFITS.
BAGHDAD (AP) - THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ ARE IN TALKS TO KEEP AMERICAN TROOPS IN THE COUNTRY AFTER THE FIGHT AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP IS CONCLUDED. THAT'S ACCORDING TO A U.S. OFFICIAL AND AN OFFICIAL FROM THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT. THEY SAY THE DISCUSSIONS ARE ONGOING AND NOTHING IS FINALIZED. BUT THE TALKS POINT TO A CONSENSUS THAT A LONGER-TERM PRESENCE OF AMERICAN TROOPS IN IRAQ IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT AN INSURGENCY DOES NOT BUBBLE UP AGAIN ONCE THE MILITANTS ARE DRIVEN OUT.
WASHINGTON (AP) - DETERMINED TO EXERT GREATER ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON NORTH KOREA, THE GOP-LED HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY TO IMPOSE NEW SANCTIONS ON PYONGYANG TARGETING ITS SHIPPING INDUSTRY AND USE OF SLAVE LABOR. LAWMAKERS ARE SET TO APPROVE THE MEASURE LATER THURSDAY AS TENSIONS TO MOUNT OVER NORTH KOREA'S ADVANCING NUCLEAR AND BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAMS.
WASHINGTON (AP) - SENATORS WERE TOLD THURSDAY THAT AIR TRAVEL IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BECOME A COMBUSTIBLE MIX IN WHICH PASSENGERS ARE TREATED UNFAIRLY _ AND ALL-TOO FREQUENTLY TAKE OUT THEIR FRUSTRATIONS ON AIRLINE EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND GATE AGENTS. SENATORS FROM BOTH PARTIES SAID AIRLINES MUST IMPROVE THE WAY THEY TREAT THEIR PASSENGERS AND AIRLINE EMPLOYEES ALSO MUST BE TREATED WITH RESPECT.
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THE MOVEMENT TO CHANGE CASPER'S FORM OF GOVERNMENT GAINED SOME TRACTION AT CASPER CITY COUNCIL'S MEETING TUESDAY.
COUNCILMEMBER AMANDA HUCKABAY DID NOT OUTRIGHT ADVOCATE A CHANGE FROM THE CURRENT CITY MANAGER TO A STRONG MAYOR SYSTEM, BUT SHE THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH CONSIDERING.
IN THE CURRENT SYSTEM, VOTERS ELECT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO THEN CHOOSE THE MAYOR AMONG THEMSELVES IN A FIRST-AMONG-EQUALS POSITION TO RUN MEETINGS AND BE THE FACE OF THE CITY.
THE COUNCIL HIRES A CITY MANAGER TO OVERSEE THE DEPARTMENTS THAT MAKE THE CITY FUNCTION.
IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TENURE OF JOHN PATTERSON WHO WAS HIRED IN 2011, CRITICS HAVE SAID THE MANAGER EXERTED TOO MUCH INFLUENCE ON THE COUNCIL.
PATTERSON LEFT IN NOVEMBER 2015, WHEN V.H. MCDONALD TOOK OVER, BUT MCDONALD RESIGNED LAST MONTH.
RESIDENT KEITH ROLLAND SAID THE CITY IS NOW IN THE PROCESS TO HIRE A NEW CITY MANAGER WHO MAY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT PERSONALITY OF THE CITY.
ROLLAND SAID A MAYOR IN THAT SYSTEM WOULD BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC.
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CHEYENNE, WYO. (AP) - U.S. REGULATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF A CANADIAN URANIUM MINING COMPANY WILL DISCUSS WHAT CAUSED RADIOACTIVE SLUDGE TO LEAK FROM A TRUCK ONTO A HIGHWAY ON TWO OCCASIONS.
THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAYS SASKATOON, CANADA-BASED CAMECO BROKE RULES INCLUDING NOT HAULING THE SLUDGE IN PROPER CONTAINERS. THE MEETING BETWEEN NRC AND CAMECO OFFICIALS HAPPENS THURSDAY AT NRC OFFICES IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS.
THE SLIGHTLY RADIOACTIVE SLUDGE CAME FROM A URANIUM PROCESSING FACILITY IN WYOMING WHERE CAMECO MINES THE NUCLEAR FUEL.
CAMECO SHIPPED THE SLUDGE FROM WYOMING THROUGH COLORADO TO A WASTE SITE NEAR BLANDING, UTAH. IN 2015 AND AGAIN IN 2016, TRUCK CONTAINERS LEAKED ONTO U.S. HIGHWAY 191 NEAR THE SITE.
COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY THE SPILLS WERE CLEANED UP AND THEY AREN'T AWARE OF ANY RISK TO THE ENVIRONMENT OR PEOPLE.