Texas maintains most truck inspections despite border congestion | nation

By PAUL J. WEBER and ACACIA CORONADO – Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday resisted mounting pressure over his new border policy that has blocked trucks bound for the U.S. and closed some of the world’s busiest trade bridges, like the Mexican government, businesses and even some allies urge … Read more

As the vote on the St. Louis Convention Center bonds draws near, new concerns are raised over costs | politics

CLAYTON — St. Louis County Council Chairwoman Rita Heard Days promised a final vote next week on a long-delayed bond package for the downtown convention center expansion, despite a council member sounding the alarm that a lack of building bids is blowing the project’s budget. Days’ bill would finally advance a $105 million bond issue … Read more

Texas maintains most truck inspections despite border congestion | health

By PAUL J. WEBER – Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday resisted mounting pressure to end inspections of trucks that have blocked the U.S.-Mexico border for days, securing miles of cargo and shipments of products have spoiled, and said he will not rescind his new policy on all bridges … Read more

CDC extends travel mask requirement through May 3 as COVID ramps up | health

By ZEKE MILLER – Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is extending the statewide mask requirement on public transit by 15 days as it monitors a spike in COVID-19 cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it would extend the order, which was due to expire on … Read more

China’s March exports grow despite virus; imported flat | health

By JOE McDONALD – AP Business Writer BEIJING (AP) – China’s exports surged 15.7% in March over a year ago while imports stagnated amid disruptions stemming from coronavirus outbreaks as the ruling Communist Party enforces a “zero-COVID” strategy to protect everyone isolate case. Exports rose to $276.1 billion despite antivirus controls in Shanghai and other … Read more

Shanghai releases more from virus watch during lockdown | health

AP BEIJING (AP) — Shanghai has released 6,000 more people from the central facilities where they were under medical observation to protect themselves from the coronavirus, the government said Wednesday, despite the lockdown of most of China’s biggest cities entering the third week was maintained. About 6.6 million people in the city of 25 million … Read more

Southwest pilots union says fatigue is a safety issue nation

AP DALLAS (AP) — Union officials say Southwest Airlines pilots are suffering from an epidemic of fatigue due to poor airline scheduling practices and that it is raising safety concerns. Union leaders said Tuesday in an open letter to Southwest CEO Robert Jordan and other executives that the troubles began last summer when the number … Read more

Report: ‘Significant problems’ may have led to fatal Amazon warehouse collapse in Edwardsville | local business

EDWARDSVILLE — An engineer with a regional search and rescue group who investigated last year’s deadly tornado at an Amazon warehouse said he saw “significant structural problems” that may have contributed to the building’s collapse, according to a report that was released on Tuesday by the law firm that represents one of the victims’ families. … Read more