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By JENNIFER McDERMOTT, Associated Press For years, proponents of green energy have argued that a slow, inefficient permitting process in the United States hinders a transition to clean sources of electricity. “Permitting reform,” as it’s called, is needed to unleash green energies like solar and wind, which don’t emit greenhouse gases that cause climate change, supporters have argued. The Trump administration agrees on the need to speed up energy projects, but not for wind or for solar, which is the fastest-growing source of electricity generation in the U.S. The Interior Department said late Wednesday it’s adopting an alternative process for…

For JJ Redick, the film from the Lakers’ Game 2 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in Los Angeles as part of their best-of-seven first-round series confirmed what was felt in real time. The Lakers’ coach saw his team have as good of a defensive performance as he felt they did in real-time, contributing to the Lakers holding the Timberwolves to 85 points as part of their nine-point win – Minnesota’s lowest scoring total in a game this season. When watching the film, Redick also saw an offensive performance that wasn’t very good despite the Lakers creating more open…

By DAMIAN J. TROISE, AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Tariff worries continue hanging over companies as they report their latest financial results and try to provide guidance on their path ahead. Some tariffs remain in place against key U.S. trading partners, but others have been postponed to give nations time to negotiate. The tariff and trade picture continues shifting and that makes it difficult for companies and investors to make a reliable assessment of any impact to costs and sales. Seemingly few industries or companies are being spared from the uncertainty. Food and beverage businesses, pharmaceutical companies, and makers of…

By TRAVIS LOLLER, Associated Press U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a personal story of his own heroin addiction, spiritual awakening and recovery at a conference on drug addiction Thursday and emphasized that young people need a sense of purpose in their lives to prevent them from turning to drugs. Kennedy called addiction “a source of misery, but also a symptom of misery.” In a speech that mentioned God more than 20 times, he pointed to his own experience feeling as though he had been born with a hole inside of himself that he needed to fill. “Every…

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased this week, though it remains close to its highest level in more than two months. The rate fell to 6.81% from 6.83% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.17%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell. The average rate dropped to 5.94% from 6.03% last week. It’s down from 6.44% a year ago, Freddie Mac said. Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including global demand for…

By ALI SWENSON NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from immediately enacting certain changes to how federal elections are run, including adding a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form. President Donald Trump had called for that and other sweeping changes to U.S. elections in an executive order signed in March, arguing the U.S. “fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections” that exist in other countries. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sided with voting rights groups and Democrats to grant a preliminary injunction to stop the citizenship requirement from moving forward…

Delinquent student debt could soon create a new hurdle to homeownership in an already challenging marketplace. On May 5, the Department of Education will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans, according to its April 21 announcement. The pandemic stalled collections haven’t happened in March 2020. More than 5 million borrowers have not made a monthly student loan payment in over 360 days and sit in default. Four million borrowers are in late-stage delinquency (91-180 days). As a result, there could be almost 10 million borrowers in default, which is almost 25% of the federal student loan portfolio, according to…

By Robbie Sequeira, Stateline.org Opponents are turning to legal challenges to try to block or delay major public transit expansions — even after voters approve them. Recent lawsuits in Arizona, Tennessee and Texas have attempted to slow voter-passed projects. In Nashville, voters passed a $3.1 billion referendum in November to raise the city sales tax half a cent and fund expanded bus service, pedestrian improvements and 54 miles of “all-access” transit corridors. But a Tennessee court, while upholding most of the project, ruled last week that the city could not use the funds raised to purchase land for affordable housing…

LOS ANGELES — In the span of three days, the Kings-Oilers series has run the gamut. First, we wondered if the Kings had it in them to smash the Edmonton curse. Now, with a power play that is percolating at 50% (5 for 10 in the first two games) after going 0 for the series a year ago, we wonder if a roster with two of the game’s very best offensive players can hope to contain the upstarts from L.A., or whether there are other, less pleasant surprises still in store for the Kings once the first-round series shifts north.…

By HOLLY RAMER CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s guidance forbidding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in K-12 public schools. The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by the National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union, which accused the Republican administration of violating teachers’ due process and First Amendment rights. In February, the U.S. Education Department told schools and colleges they needed to end any practice that differentiates people based on their race or they would risk losing their federal funding. Earlier this month, the department ordered states to gather…