National (U.S.)

"Across Michigan, in cities large and small, lead poisoning continues to plague children, limiting them in school and on the playground."

"The Senate will pick up debate on its energy overhaul bill in the coming week."

"The United States is monitoring Iraq's largest dam for signs of further deterioration that could point to an impending catastrophic collapse, US army officers said on Thursday."

"Senators on Thursday approved four amendments to an energy overhaul bill, the first of what will likely be several amendment votes while the energy bill is on the floor."

"The FBI has released the entire 26-minute video of the final moments of Arizona rancher and Oregon standoff leader LaVoy Finicum's life during their attempt to arrest him earlier this week."

"The NOAA designated an additional 39,414 square miles of water as critical habitat for the North Atlantic right whale. But could more be done?"

"The armed occupation of a wildlife refuge in eastern Oregon, which flashed into violent confrontation with law enforcement on Tuesday when eight members of the group were arrested and one was killed, appeared to be unraveling on Wednesday night when the jailed leader of the siege advised his followers to go home."

"The Senate on Wednesday started debating its first comprehensive energy legislation since the George W. Bush administration, a bipartisan measure meant to update the nation’s power grid and oil and gas transportation systems to address major changes in the ways that power is now produced in the United States."

"The Doomsday Clock remains unchanged this year, at three minutes to midnight. Managed by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the clock symbolizes how close humanity is to destroying itself, with midnight representing global apocalyptic disaster."

"North Carolina is one of the country's largest poultry producers — and getting bigger. Large-scale chicken farms are spreading across the state. Government regulations have allowed these farms to get much closer to where people live. That's not just a nuisance. Neighbors say it's also a potential health hazard."