AP-Newswatch

A tech company hired a top NYC official’s brother. A private meeting and $1.4M in contracts followed

NEW YORK (AP) — A consulting firm run by the brother of two top New York City officials is facing federal scrutiny over his work on behalf of companies that were seeking city contracts. Terence Banks is the brother of the city’s schools chancellor and deputy mayor for public safety. He started the firm in 2022 while working as a transit system supervisor. Good government groups say the arrangement raises questions about lobbying violations. An attorney for Terence Banks says Banks does not believe he is the target of the investigation.

Boar’s Head closing Virginia plant linked to deadly listeria outbreak

Boar’s Head is closing the Virginia plant tied to a deadly listeria outbreak. The Sarasota, Florida-based company said it will also permanently discontinue production of liverwurst, the product linked to the deaths of at least nine people in the U.S. Boar’s Head said an internal investigation at its Jarratt, Virginia, plant found that the contamination was the result of a specific production process used only for liverwurst. The Jarratt plant hasn’t been operational since late July, when Boar’s Head recalled more than 7 million pounds of products after tests confirmed listeria bacteria. The plant had a troubled history, with reports of mold, insects and other problems during safety inspections.

Fani Willis skips a Georgia state Senate hearing while challenging subpoena

ATLANTA (AP) — A special Georgia state Senate committee that had subpoenaed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis with plans to question her Friday about “alleged misconduct” related to her election case against former President Donald Trump was unable to do so because she didn’t show up. The Republican-led committee was formed earlier this year to look into allegations of “various forms of misconduct” against Willis, an elected Democrat. The committee last month sent subpoenas to Willis ordering her to appear and to produce piles of documents. Willis is challenging those subpoenas in court but her challenge has yet to be heard. Her lawyers have argued that the subpoenas are invalid.

Biden is taking on cheap products from China. It could mean higher prices

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is cracking down on the cheap products sold out of China by companies such as Temu and Shein. It expands a push to reduce dependence on Beijing and bolster homegrown industry but could lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers and small businesses. President Joe Biden’s proposed rule declares that foreign companies can’t avoid tariffs simply by shipping goods that they claim to be worth $800 or less. Sellers mainly from China have used the so-called de minimis exemption to flood the U.S. market, shipping dresses, shoes, toys and bags directly to American shoppers in small packages. The U.S. government says the exemption also makes it harder to block banned imports like fentanyl and synthetic drug content.

Congo court sentences 3 Americans and 34 others to death on coup charges

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — A military court in Congo has convicted 37 people, including three Americans, on charges of taking part in a coup attempt and sentenced them to death. The defendants, who also included a Briton, Belgian, Canadian and several Congolese, can appeal the verdict on charges that included terrorism, murder and criminal association. Thirteen people were acquitted in the trial, which opened in June. Six people were killed during the botched coup attempt led by the little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga in May that targeted the presidential palace and a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi. Malanga was fatally shot while resisting arrest The three Americans convicted were Malanga’s 21-year-old son Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr. and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun.

Stuck-in-space astronauts make first public comments since Boeing capsule left without them

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The astronauts stuck in space say it was hard to see their Boeing capsule leave without them. Their public comments Friday from the International Space Station come after last week’s return of the Boeing Starliner capsule that took them to the orbiting lab in June. The duo remained behind after NASA determined the problem-plagued capsule posed too much risk for them to ride back in. Starliner landed safely in the New Mexico desert. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now full-fledged station crew members, helping with routine maintenance and experiments.

Feds rarely punish hospitals for turning away pregnant patients

An Associated Press analysis has found that hospitals are rarely fined for violating a federal law that is supposed to guarantee that patients with medical emergencies get the treatment they need. Only a dozen hospitals have been penalized over the last two years for violations of that law. That’s despite more than 100 hospitals turning away pregnant patients in that time, leaving some to miscarry in restrooms, deliver babies in cars or develop risky infections. Some hospitals have repeatedly violated the law without consequence.

Justin Timberlake pleads guilty to impaired driving in New York

SAG HARBOR, N.Y. (AP) — Justin Timberlake is urging drivers not to get behind the wheel after even a single alcoholic drink, as part of his sentence for driving while impaired in the Hamptons in New York. The boy band singer-turned-solo star pleaded guilty Friday and was also sentenced to a $500 fine with a $260 surcharge, 25 hours of community service and a 90-day suspension. He expressed remorse for his actions and told people they shouldn’t drink and drive during comments outside the courthouse. Timberlake was arrested in June by Sag Harbor police. He told officers he had one martini at a local hotel.