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3 episodes with surface transportation board
3 episodes with surface transportation board
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2 episodes with surface transportation board
2 episodes with surface transportation board
2 episodes with surface transportation board
This episode highlights Airbus kicking its A350 freighter program into high gear, with the prototype finalized and flight tests set for next October, aiming for a late 2027 service entry. Learn how the A350F promises a 40% reduction in fuel consumption and features a massive 175-inch wide cargo door, giving it a significant edge in handling bulky industrial cargo. We also examine major rail consolidation, specifically the Surface Transportation Board approval of Fortress Investment Group's acquisition of two new regional lines, the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway and the Akron Barberton Cluster Railway. This deal expands Fortress's roster of Class III railroads, and the STB agreed that the move would enhance the railways' access to capital for strategic investment and growth. Finally, we cover the worrying financial distress facing the 3PL sector as Odyssey Logistics was hit with a second debt downgrade from Moody's in less than three months, dropping its corporate family rating deep into Caa-1 "junk status". Moody's noted this rapid deterioration was driven by sky-high leverage—expected well over seven times operating profit—which creates serious refinancing risk ahead of the company's significant debt maturities in 2027. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode highlights Airbus kicking its A350 freighter program into high gear, with the prototype finalized and flight tests set for next October, aiming for a late 2027 service entry. Learn how the A350F promises a 40% reduction in fuel consumption and features a massive 175-inch wide cargo door, giving it a significant edge in handling bulky industrial cargo. We also examine major rail consolidation, specifically the Surface Transportation Board approval of Fortress Investment Group's acquisition of two new regional lines, the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway and the Akron Barberton Cluster Railway. This deal expands Fortress's roster of Class III railroads, and the STB agreed that the move would enhance the railways' access to capital for strategic investment and growth. Finally, we cover the worrying financial distress facing the 3PL sector as Odyssey Logistics was hit with a second debt downgrade from Moody's in less than three months, dropping its corporate family rating deep into Caa-1 "junk status". Moody's noted this rapid deterioration was driven by sky-high leverage—expected well over seven times operating profit—which creates serious refinancing risk ahead of the company's significant debt maturities in 2027. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We explore why BNSF Railway opposes the proposed UP-NS mega-merger, arguing it would eliminate competitive options for shippers and fail the strict Surface Transportation Board standard requiring mergers to actively enhance competition. The air freight sector faces an immediate capacity crisis due to two simultaneous events hitting just before peak season. Learn how the extended grounding of MD-11 freighters—following the discovery of fatigue cracks after a fatal UPS crash—has led to indefinite pilot furloughs at Western Global Airlines, while a BP pipeline leak near Everett, Washington, forced United Airlines to place a temporary embargo on most narrowbody cargo shipments at Sea-Tac airport. Financial pressure continues in the trucking sector, exemplified by the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of P. Judge & Sons, a legacy firm whose high vehicle out-of-service rate (46.2%) stood out as significantly worse than the national average. Conversely, bipartisan regulatory relief may be coming for drivers in cold climates through the "Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act of 2025," which aims to prevent automatic engine shutdowns in extreme cold (below 12° F) by requiring the EPA to authorize the suspension of derate functions. Finally, we examine the intense cross-border risk in Mexico, where massive highway blockades across more than 20 states are snarling major corridors, causing anticipated transit and customs delays. These widespread protests, driven by truckers demanding action against rampant cargo theft and police extortion, underscore the critical necessity for supply chain professionals to diversify planning and build resilience against simultaneous regulatory, financial, and physical threats across all transportation modes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We explore why BNSF Railway opposes the proposed UP-NS mega-merger, arguing it would eliminate competitive options for shippers and fail the strict Surface Transportation Board standard requiring mergers to actively enhance competition. The air freight sector faces an immediate capacity crisis due to two simultaneous events hitting just before peak season. Learn how the extended grounding of MD-11 freighters—following the discovery of fatigue cracks after a fatal UPS crash—has led to indefinite pilot furloughs at Western Global Airlines, while a BP pipeline leak near Everett, Washington, forced United Airlines to place a temporary embargo on most narrowbody cargo shipments at Sea-Tac airport. Financial pressure continues in the trucking sector, exemplified by the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of P. Judge & Sons, a legacy firm whose high vehicle out-of-service rate (46.2%) stood out as significantly worse than the national average. Conversely, bipartisan regulatory relief may be coming for drivers in cold climates through the "Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act of 2025," which aims to prevent automatic engine shutdowns in extreme cold (below 12° F) by requiring the EPA to authorize the suspension of derate functions. Finally, we examine the intense cross-border risk in Mexico, where massive highway blockades across more than 20 states are snarling major corridors, causing anticipated transit and customs delays. These widespread protests, driven by truckers demanding action against rampant cargo theft and police extortion, underscore the critical necessity for supply chain professionals to diversify planning and build resilience against simultaneous regulatory, financial, and physical threats across all transportation modes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Experts at the Trimble Insight conference are forecasting a "significant reduction" in employment levels as rapidly maturing AI tools become cheaper and more efficient than human workers. This technological shift is already translating into measurable gains, with companies like C.H. Robinson openly connecting rising profitability directly to a shrinking workforce. However, achieving the full strategic potential of AI requires clean and comprehensive data, meaning much of the current investment is directed toward routine tasks that don't rely on perfect data, such as calling drivers or getting quotes. Regulation is increasing alongside technological pressure where the Department of Transportation is developing a data-driven severity scoring system to proactively identify and shut down dangerous "chameleon carriers". This federal crackdown will flag patterns of fraud, including shared addresses and recycled phone numbers, while also reflecting heightened attention to operational risks, such as the electrical fire that shut down four terminals at the Port of Los Angeles following an explosion on the ONE Henry Hudson. We also analyze the high-stakes future of North American rail with the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger necessary to compete effectively with the evolving trucking sector. Nevertheless, analysts are highly skeptical of the forecast for 10% volume growth within three years given the rail industry's decade of flat volume, ensuring the Surface Transportation Board will conduct a stringent and independent review. Finally, we touch upon the tentative contract agreement reached between Canada Post and its largest union after two years of contentious talks, which came right after Canada Post reported a record quarterly loss of $385 million. Ultimately, the intense demands from AI and the new government scrutiny raise a critical question for managers across the supply chain: how quickly will clean data become the single most defining competitive advantage in the entire freight ecosystem? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Experts at the Trimble Insight conference are forecasting a "significant reduction" in employment levels as rapidly maturing AI tools become cheaper and more efficient than human workers. This technological shift is already translating into measurable gains, with companies like C.H. Robinson openly connecting rising profitability directly to a shrinking workforce. However, achieving the full strategic potential of AI requires clean and comprehensive data, meaning much of the current investment is directed toward routine tasks that don't rely on perfect data, such as calling drivers or getting quotes. Regulation is increasing alongside technological pressure where the Department of Transportation is developing a data-driven severity scoring system to proactively identify and shut down dangerous "chameleon carriers". This federal crackdown will flag patterns of fraud, including shared addresses and recycled phone numbers, while also reflecting heightened attention to operational risks, such as the electrical fire that shut down four terminals at the Port of Los Angeles following an explosion on the ONE Henry Hudson. We also analyze the high-stakes future of North American rail with the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger necessary to compete effectively with the evolving trucking sector. Nevertheless, analysts are highly skeptical of the forecast for 10% volume growth within three years given the rail industry's decade of flat volume, ensuring the Surface Transportation Board will conduct a stringent and independent review. Finally, we touch upon the tentative contract agreement reached between Canada Post and its largest union after two years of contentious talks, which came right after Canada Post reported a record quarterly loss of $385 million. Ultimately, the intense demands from AI and the new government scrutiny raise a critical question for managers across the supply chain: how quickly will clean data become the single most defining competitive advantage in the entire freight ecosystem? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Three major companies—Mega Nice Trucking, Ryder Last Mile, and Costco Wholesale Corp—are facing what is likely the first significant enforcement action of California's AB5 regulation in the trucking industry, resulting in an $868,000 fine. The California Labor Commission cited the trio for contractor misclassification and resulting wage theft, finding that Ryder and Costco exercised both direct and indirect control over delivery drivers, thereby establishing a joint employer relationship with the carrier. The trucking industry continues to monitor the fight over the Department of Transportation's non-domiciled Commercial Driver's License rules following the cancellation of 17,000 CDLs in California. Although California Governor Gavin Newsom and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are engaged in a heated public dispute over the cause, industry experts warn that the evolving enforcement signals new restrictions that will significantly impact carrier liability and freight capacity across the country, with analysts expecting more CDL cancellations in the near future. A group of Attorneys General from nine states is urging the Surface Transportation Board to conduct a "thorough and exacting" review of the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. These AGs, representing GOP states, argue that the consolidation of rail services will compromise national security and stifle competition, leading to exacerbated existing problems such as higher costs and lower reliability for key strategic American industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Three major companies—Mega Nice Trucking, Ryder Last Mile, and Costco Wholesale Corp—are facing what is likely the first significant enforcement action of California's AB5 regulation in the trucking industry, resulting in an $868,000 fine. The California Labor Commission cited the trio for contractor misclassification and resulting wage theft, finding that Ryder and Costco exercised both direct and indirect control over delivery drivers, thereby establishing a joint employer relationship with the carrier. The trucking industry continues to monitor the fight over the Department of Transportation's non-domiciled Commercial Driver's License rules following the cancellation of 17,000 CDLs in California. Although California Governor Gavin Newsom and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are engaged in a heated public dispute over the cause, industry experts warn that the evolving enforcement signals new restrictions that will significantly impact carrier liability and freight capacity across the country, with analysts expecting more CDL cancellations in the near future. A group of Attorneys General from nine states is urging the Surface Transportation Board to conduct a "thorough and exacting" review of the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. These AGs, representing GOP states, argue that the consolidation of rail services will compromise national security and stifle competition, leading to exacerbated existing problems such as higher costs and lower reliability for key strategic American industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The FAA has mandated flight reductions—ramping up toward a 10% cut at 40 of the busiest domestic hubs due to air traffic controller shortages—which severely restricts domestic "belly cargo" capacity for high-value shipments but largely spares all-cargo carriers like FedEx and UPS. The ground market is defined by a financial squeeze hitting 3PLs like RXO, who are struggling as locked-in, lower contractual sales rates are undercut by suddenly spiking buy rates for trucks, evidenced by the National Truckload Index climbing from $1.68 per mile to $1.80 more recently. RXO's CEO calls this structural capacity exit—driven by tighter regulations and spiking insurance costs forcing smaller carriers out—one of the largest structural changes since deregulation, prompting the company to execute $165 million in total cost cuts and rely heavily on technology to achieve a 19% boost in broker productivity. We pivot to the ocean sector, where Maersk upgraded its full-year EBITDA guidance ($9.0-$9.5 billion) despite facing a jaw-dropping 30.7% year-over-year decline in Q3 freight rates, a success attributed to superior operational execution, 7% container volume growth, and an integrated network that provides a "better moat" against spot volatility. Finally, we track localized labor pressure, including over 900 supply chain layoffs in Texas across diverse sectors like crude oil transport, and monitor the rigorous, impartial review promised by Surface Transportation Board nominees for the massive proposed $85 billion Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The FAA has mandated flight reductions—ramping up toward a 10% cut at 40 of the busiest domestic hubs due to air traffic controller shortages—which severely restricts domestic "belly cargo" capacity for high-value shipments but largely spares all-cargo carriers like FedEx and UPS. The ground market is defined by a financial squeeze hitting 3PLs like RXO, who are struggling as locked-in, lower contractual sales rates are undercut by suddenly spiking buy rates for trucks, evidenced by the National Truckload Index climbing from $1.68 per mile to $1.80 more recently. RXO's CEO calls this structural capacity exit—driven by tighter regulations and spiking insurance costs forcing smaller carriers out—one of the largest structural changes since deregulation, prompting the company to execute $165 million in total cost cuts and rely heavily on technology to achieve a 19% boost in broker productivity. We pivot to the ocean sector, where Maersk upgraded its full-year EBITDA guidance ($9.0-$9.5 billion) despite facing a jaw-dropping 30.7% year-over-year decline in Q3 freight rates, a success attributed to superior operational execution, 7% container volume growth, and an integrated network that provides a "better moat" against spot volatility. Finally, we track localized labor pressure, including over 900 supply chain layoffs in Texas across diverse sectors like crude oil transport, and monitor the rigorous, impartial review promised by Surface Transportation Board nominees for the massive proposed $85 billion Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Port of Los Angeles, which handled 10.3 million TEUs in 2024 and forms the busiest U.S. container gateway with Long Beach, plans to build a brand new terminal to accommodate the world's largest container ships. The new Pier 500 project will comprise two berths and 3,000 feet of wharf on 200 acres of land along the Pier 400 channel, with LA currently seeking proposals for a pre-development agreement regarding financial feasibility and other requirements. In legal news, former Surface Transportation Board member Robert Primus filed a federal lawsuit challenging his August 27th dismissal by President Trump, who removed him without giving a reason. Primus, the sole STB member to vote against the 2023 Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, claims his firing violated the law requiring STB members to be removed only for causes like neglect of duty or malfeasance, and he is suing the President, STB Chairman Patrick Fuchs, and the STB. Walmart announced plans to build a $300 million fulfillment center in Kings Mountain, near Gastonia, North Carolina, which will be a 1.3 million square foot facility expected to open in 2027. This new center is designed to help Walmart serve customers faster, potentially shipping large items, while creating 300 jobs supported by a potential $4 million state job development grant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Port of Los Angeles, which handled 10.3 million TEUs in 2024 and forms the busiest U.S. container gateway with Long Beach, plans to build a brand new terminal to accommodate the world's largest container ships. The new Pier 500 project will comprise two berths and 3,000 feet of wharf on 200 acres of land along the Pier 400 channel, with LA currently seeking proposals for a pre-development agreement regarding financial feasibility and other requirements. In legal news, former Surface Transportation Board member Robert Primus filed a federal lawsuit challenging his August 27th dismissal by President Trump, who removed him without giving a reason. Primus, the sole STB member to vote against the 2023 Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, claims his firing violated the law requiring STB members to be removed only for causes like neglect of duty or malfeasance, and he is suing the President, STB Chairman Patrick Fuchs, and the STB. Walmart announced plans to build a $300 million fulfillment center in Kings Mountain, near Gastonia, North Carolina, which will be a 1.3 million square foot facility expected to open in 2027. This new center is designed to help Walmart serve customers faster, potentially shipping large items, while creating 300 jobs supported by a potential $4 million state job development grant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BNSF Railway claims Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern combination will severely hurt competition and service. BNSF's position paper argues that the $85 billion deal will force UP to drive up rates and favor high-density lanes, prompting the railway to urge shippers to contact the Surface Transportation Board with their concerns. Trade tensions are mounting in the trans-Pacific maritime sector as Beijing prepares a regulatory volley in response to U.S. charges on Chinese ships. China amended regulations to allow "necessary countermeasures," potentially including fees on vessels or prohibiting U.S.-service ships from entering or leaving Chinese ports, in retaliation for costly U.S. port fees. Finally, we look at the logistics impact of new U.S. duties on construction and home goods materials. The proclamation introduces a 10% tariff on imported softwood lumber and timber, and a 25% duty on imported kitchen cabinets, vanities, and upholstered wood furniture, all effective starting October 14. Critics caution that these tariffs, which the administration states are aimed at protecting the U.S. wood industry, will inevitably lead to higher costs for American consumers and builders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's daily update tackles extreme market volatility, starting with the unprecedented regulatory about-face by the California Air Resources Board. CARB has essentially wiped out the two biggest components of their Advanced Clean Fleets rule, including the High Priority Fleets regulation covering fleets over 50 trucks and rules that were set to bar non-ZEV trucks from port operations. We analyze the looming threat of a federal shutdown, noting that while essential safety functions like FMCSA roadside inspections and CBP cargo inspections are expected to continue, critical oversight functions will largely cease. Agencies like the Federal Maritime Commission and the Surface Transportation Board, which handles shipping disputes and vital transportation data, will suspend case processing, potentially leading to increased dwell times at major ports like LA-Long Beach. Moving to efficiency gains, we examine how AI startup Oatway is tackling the “dirty secret of full truckload”—partially filled trailers—by dynamically matching partial shipments with empty capacity on existing FTL run. This innovation optimizes existing infrastructure using machine learning and ELD data, potentially boosting net annual revenue for carriers by up to 30% while cutting shipper costs by up to 50% compared to traditional LTL. In corporate news, Interstate Personnel Services , the parent company of Paschall Truck Lines, is in formal talks to acquire J&R Sugar Trucking, which would create a combined fleet of around 2,000 trucks and 5,000 trailers. This merger strategically adds temperature-controlled refrigerated transport capacity to IPS's existing dry van network, highlighting the current premium placed on reefer capacity. Finally, Texas has halted the issuance of Commercial Driver's Licenses to non-citizens, including DACA recipients and refugees, following a federal directive aimed at tightening commercial licensing rules. Since 2015, Texas has issued almost 52,000 non-domiciled CDLs, and this regulatory move presents an immediate challenge for fleet staffing and recruitment efforts across the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BNSF Railway claims Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern combination will severely hurt competition and service. BNSF's position paper argues that the $85 billion deal will force UP to drive up rates and favor high-density lanes, prompting the railway to urge shippers to contact the Surface Transportation Board with their concerns. Trade tensions are mounting in the trans-Pacific maritime sector as Beijing prepares a regulatory volley in response to U.S. charges on Chinese ships. China amended regulations to allow "necessary countermeasures," potentially including fees on vessels or prohibiting U.S.-service ships from entering or leaving Chinese ports, in retaliation for costly U.S. port fees. Finally, we look at the logistics impact of new U.S. duties on construction and home goods materials. The proclamation introduces a 10% tariff on imported softwood lumber and timber, and a 25% duty on imported kitchen cabinets, vanities, and upholstered wood furniture, all effective starting October 14. Critics caution that these tariffs, which the administration states are aimed at protecting the U.S. wood industry, will inevitably lead to higher costs for American consumers and builders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's daily update tackles extreme market volatility, starting with the unprecedented regulatory about-face by the California Air Resources Board. CARB has essentially wiped out the two biggest components of their Advanced Clean Fleets rule, including the High Priority Fleets regulation covering fleets over 50 trucks and rules that were set to bar non-ZEV trucks from port operations. We analyze the looming threat of a federal shutdown, noting that while essential safety functions like FMCSA roadside inspections and CBP cargo inspections are expected to continue, critical oversight functions will largely cease. Agencies like the Federal Maritime Commission and the Surface Transportation Board, which handles shipping disputes and vital transportation data, will suspend case processing, potentially leading to increased dwell times at major ports like LA-Long Beach. Moving to efficiency gains, we examine how AI startup Oatway is tackling the “dirty secret of full truckload”—partially filled trailers—by dynamically matching partial shipments with empty capacity on existing FTL run. This innovation optimizes existing infrastructure using machine learning and ELD data, potentially boosting net annual revenue for carriers by up to 30% while cutting shipper costs by up to 50% compared to traditional LTL. In corporate news, Interstate Personnel Services , the parent company of Paschall Truck Lines, is in formal talks to acquire J&R Sugar Trucking, which would create a combined fleet of around 2,000 trucks and 5,000 trailers. This merger strategically adds temperature-controlled refrigerated transport capacity to IPS's existing dry van network, highlighting the current premium placed on reefer capacity. Finally, Texas has halted the issuance of Commercial Driver's Licenses to non-citizens, including DACA recipients and refugees, following a federal directive aimed at tightening commercial licensing rules. Since 2015, Texas has issued almost 52,000 non-domiciled CDLs, and this regulatory move presents an immediate challenge for fleet staffing and recruitment efforts across the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
All eyes are on Washington today as the Supreme Court is scheduled to discuss whether to grant review in two critical broker liability cases under the F4A. The fundamental issue is whether the safety exception, which allows state action for negligence causing physical harm, extends to third-party logistics providers or brokers. The FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database modernization, part of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's broader Pro-Trucker Package, has officially gone live with Phase One. This long overdue tech upgrade is mobile-optimized and creates an official federal mechanism for reporting broker complaints, which can directly influence a company's safety ratings and audit priorities. The Surface Transportation Board is seeking more time to review the proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern by Union Pacific. The board has proposed a procedural schedule that slightly tweaks the original timeline and grants the Justice Department and Department of Transportation an extra 15 days to file their official comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
All eyes are on Washington today as the Supreme Court is scheduled to discuss whether to grant review in two critical broker liability cases under the F4A. The fundamental issue is whether the safety exception, which allows state action for negligence causing physical harm, extends to third-party logistics providers or brokers. The FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database modernization, part of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's broader Pro-Trucker Package, has officially gone live with Phase One. This long overdue tech upgrade is mobile-optimized and creates an official federal mechanism for reporting broker complaints, which can directly influence a company's safety ratings and audit priorities. The Surface Transportation Board is seeking more time to review the proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern by Union Pacific. The board has proposed a procedural schedule that slightly tweaks the original timeline and grants the Justice Department and Department of Transportation an extra 15 days to file their official comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week in the Rail Market Update:STB Developments: President Trump nominated Dick Closter to replace Marty Oberman on the Surface Transportation Board and renominated Michelle Schultz, while Robert Primus continues to contest his firing. These moves come as the STB prepares to weigh the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern transcontinental merger. Rail Traffic Trends: For the week ending September 13, North American rail traffic was down 0.9% y/y. Carloads declined in coal, forest products, and farm products (ex-grain), but chemicals and grains grew strongly. Intermodal fell 1.3%, largely due to weakness among U.S. western carriers. Big Picture Outlook: Recent weeks show continued carload weakness (coal, forest products, metallic ores) but some rebounds in chemicals and grains. U.S. intermodal volumes have been flat to down, with the latest week at their weakest since June, tied to softer port activity in Los Angeles and Long Beach.The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR's Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Towers. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation.Download the PDF: https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcastSupport the show
Jared Cassidy, National Safety and Legislative Director for the SMART Transportation Division, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss rail safety, the potential Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger and the removal of Surface Transportation Board member Robert Primus. Davida Russell, Vice President of the North Coast Labor Federation and Cleveland Heights City Council member, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her mayoral campaign, legislative accomplishments and vision for the city.
In this Friday edition of What The Truck?!, host Malcolm Harris welcomes Erin Field from Chevron to discuss the company's role in advancing renewable fuels and supporting fleets on their sustainability journeys. Erin reflects on her nearly decade-long career at Chevron, highlighting innovations in biodiesel, renewable diesel, renewable natural gas (RNG), and hydrogen. She introduces Chevron's demo program with Cummins and PACCAR, which allows fleets to test next-generation CNG trucks with diesel-like power and torque, addressing common misconceptions about performance, fueling, and driver experience. The conversation also touches on Erin's leadership journey, advice for women in energy, and her passion for volunteering in Houston's community. Beyond the interview, Malcolm covers breaking logistics headlines, including a container mishap at the Port of Long Beach, new nominations to the Surface Transportation Board, Werner's response to a Kenyan driver recruitment rumor, and a proposed bill targeting trucker English proficiency at weigh stations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's Headlines: Newly confirmed CDC director, Susan Monarez, was “officially removed” by HHS Secretary RFK Jr.—even though she insisted only the president can fire her, making The CDC mess even messier. Meanwhile, RFK Jr's ally Jim O'Neill has been tapped as acting director, prompting dozens of CDC staff in Atlanta to walk out in protest. Over at the Surface Transportation Board, Trump is trying to oust a Democratic member just as the board weighs a huge merger between Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific that could essentially create one mega-railroad controlling freight across the U.S. At the same time, Trump is also closing the “de minimis” loophole, meaning imported packages under $800 will now get slapped with tariffs ranging from 10–50%—and several countries, including Japan, Germany, and Mexico, say they'll stop sending packages here altogether. In Minneapolis, police gave more details about the horrific school shooting that killed two children and injured 18 others. Officials say the gunman plastered his weapons with over 100 hate slogans and had been openly posting about his plans for weeks, though law enforcement somehow missed it. And in DC, the infamous “sandwich thrower” who hurled lunch at a federal agent during Trump's new troop patrols has been charged only with a misdemeanor after prosecutors couldn't get a felony indictment. Truly, the first time a ham sandwich wasn't indicted. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: The Guardian: CDC in crisis: who are the top officials resigning or being forced out? | Trump administration NBC News: Trump administration live updates: White House taps Kennedy deputy as acting CDC director; Fed governor Lisa Cook sues over removal Axios: Massive CDC walkout erupts amid internal chaos Bloomberg: Trump Moves To Fire Rail Regulator WIRED: The Duty-Free Loophole Is Closing. What That Means for You—and Your Packages NBC News: Minneapolis shooting live updates: Shooter 'wanted to watch children suffer' as 120 shell casings are recovered, officials say AP News: DC man seen throwing sandwich at agent charged with misdemeanor after grand jury declines indictment Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s not as well-known as the Federal Reserve or the CDC, but the Surface Transportation Board is the latest agency in the Trump administration’s sights. President Trump abruptly fired Robert Primus, one of only two Democrats on the five-member board, just as regulators weigh the largest railroad merger ever proposed. Geoff Bennett spoke with Primus about the timing of his firing. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
8.28.2025 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Louisiana Voting Rights SCOTUS Battle, Trump Firing Spree, U.S. Open Racism, Emmett Till 70thLouisiana is taking its fight over voting rights straight to the U.S. Supreme Court. The state seeks to gut a key provision of the Voting Rights Act by prohibiting the use of race in redistricting. Activist Gary Chambers will be here to discuss what's really at stake for Black political power.Trump's firing spree continues. His latest casualty, Surface Transportation Board member Robert Primus. Could it be his stance on a merger that got him fired?Controversy at the U.S. Open... A French player is under fire after making racist remarks toward American Taylor Townsend, a Black woman, right after losing their match.And the family of Emmett Till takes the same train ride from Chicago to Mississippi to commemorate the 70th anniversary of his brutal lynching. #BlackStarNetwork partner: Fanbasehttps://www.startengine.com/offering/fanbaseThis Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. You should read the Offering Circular (https://bit.ly/3VDPKjD) and Risks (https://bit.ly/3ZQzHl0) related to this offering before investing.Download the Black Star Network app at http://www.blackstarnetwork.com! We're on iOS, AppleTV, Android, AndroidTV, Roku, FireTV, XBox and SamsungTV.The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Story of the Week (DR):The Cracker Barrel BSCracker Barrel scraps new logo design, keeps 'Old Timer' after listening to customersRestaurant chain's stock price sank following removal of 'Uncle Herschel' from brandingUncle Herschel wasn't just a marketing creation, he was a real person. Born Herschel McCartney, he was the younger brother of Cracker Barrel founder Dan Evins' mother and served as an early goodwill ambassador for the brand. A salesman for Martha White Flour Company for over three decades, Herschel traveled through rural America, building relationships in small-town general stores — the very kinds of places that inspired Cracker Barrel's original design and ethos.When Cracker Barrel introduced its iconic logo in 1969, the old-timer sitting beside the barrel was long thought by fans to be based on Herschel himself, though the company later clarified that this wasn't the case.In 2004, the Justice Department (during the George W. Bush administration) sued the chain for discriminating against Black customers. In 2006, they settled a lawsuit involving three of their Illinois restaurants for “discriminatory practices, racially charged language, and inappropriate touching.”Cracker Barrel's inconvenient fact: all the customers who loved its old logo had stopped going to the restaurantFounder Dan EvinsHis tone was considerably harsher when it came to defending a January 1991 directive to all the company's restaurants to fire employees “whose sexual preferences fail to demonstrate normal heterosexual values.” Mr. Evins's explanation for the edict was that gay people made customers in rural areas uncomfortable. As many as 16 openly or suspected gay employees were promptly fired.“They actually put a policy like this in writing, which was, and still is, shocking,” David Smith, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign.The New York City Employees Retirement System, which owned more than $6 million of Cracker Barrel shares, led other stock owners in using their votes and other legal means to organize resistance. In March 1991, Mr. Evins apologized and said the policy had been rescinded. But New York and its allies fought until 58 percent of the shareholders in 2002 persuaded Cracker Barrel's board to vote unanimously to explicitly forbid antigay discrimination in its equal employment policy.In July 2001, shareholders replaced Evins as CEO with Michael A. Woodhouse, who at the time was serving as the company's chief operating officer. Evins maintained his position as chairman of the board.Prior to founding the company, Dan worked for Consolidated Oil, a company founded by his grandfather.Cracker Barrel took down Pride page after rebrand fiascoCompany faced criticism over modernist redesign and support for LGBT causes before stock reboundThe website link for Cracker Barrel's Pride page, which used to boast that the company was "bringing the porch to Pride," now redirects to its "Culture and Belonging" page.Cracker Barrel previously sponsored the Nashville Pride Parade in 2024 and unveiled a line of rainbow-colored rocking chairs for Pride month. The company also has an LGBTQ employee resource group called the "LGBTQ+ Alliance," along with groups for veterans and other communities.Despite claims it's 'too woke,' Cracker Barrel actually has a fraught LGBTQ+ historyCracker Barrel received a score of zero on the inaugural index in 2002. The chain was criticized in the 1990s for discrimination against gay employees. In 1991, the company adopted a corporate policy stating that any worker who failed to demonstrate "normal heterosexual values" would be fired. Eleven employees were terminated under the rule, leading to boycotts and protests nationwide. Over time, Cracker Barrel's HRC score improved, reaching 80 in 2021 after the company took several public pro-LGBTQ stances.58 percent of the shareholders in 2002 persuaded Cracker Barrel's board to vote unanimously to explicitly forbid antigay discrimination in its equal employment policy.Proud Representation: Business Resource Groups: These voluntary, employee-led organizations are open to all employees and provide opportunities to network, develop leadership skills, and serve as cross-functional resources for our teams.AMPT (Advancing Modern Professionals for Tomorrow) aims to connect and empower modern professionals by promoting a community of inclusive, ambitious, and diverse members that unify through the Cracker Barrel to equip our community and leaders for the future. This BRG provides networking, development, and community outreach opportunities that supplement the professional and personal lives of its members.The mission of Be Bold is to cultivate and develop Black Leaders within the Cracker Barrel organization utilizing allyship, mentorship, and education to create a path to continued excellence as well as a vibrant and diverse community.B-Well: Cracker Barrel's Wellness BRG partners with the Benefits Department to improve the employee experience by sponsoring health and wellness activities that nurture employees' physical, emotional, financial, and intellectual well-being. Balance in these areas reduces distractions and allows employees to improve their focus and productivity.HOLA's mission is to promote Hispanic and Latino culture through hiring, developing, and retaining talent within Cracker Barrel. To create a culture of inclusivity and awareness through community outreach.LGBTQ+ Alliance: Supporting Home Office and Field employees to bring their whole selves to work while strengthening Cracker Barrel's relationship to the LGBTQ+ community.NeuroVerse Collective is focused on advocacy and education around Neurodiversity.Our Veteran's BRG, SERVE, is dedicated to advocating for leadership and development opportunities for its members. We foster an environment of networking and volunteerism while focusing on recruitment, retention, and advancement of Veterans at this company.Women's Connect: Our mission & goal is to inspire the women of Cracker Barrel by empowering, educating and engaging to achieve the strategic initiatives of Cracker Barrel.The anti-DEI purge continues: MMFed emphasizes its commitment to 'independence' as Lisa Cook pledges to sue over Trump's 'illegal' firingWhite House fires CDC director [Susan Monarez] who says RFK Jr. is ‘weaponizing public health'White House names RFK Jr deputy Jim O'Neill as replacement CDC directorUnlike Monarez, O'Neill, a former investment executive, does not have a medical or scientific background. He served as a speechwriter for the health department during the George W Bush administration, and went on to work for the tech investor and conservative mega-donor Peter Thiel.Trump Fires Member of Board That Approves Railroad MergersRobert E. Primus received an email from the White House terminating his position, but he said he would continue his duties.The Oligarchy Rules!: Trump makes the government Intel's largest investorIntel has entered into an agreement with the U.S. government, specifically the Department of Commerce, for an $8.9 billion investment in the company. This investment is in the form of the government purchasing Intel common stock.The U.S. government will gain a nearly 10% stake in Intel.This funding is part of the CHIPS and Science Act and the Secure Enclave program, aimed at boosting the domestic semiconductor industry.The government's ownership will be passive, with no board representation or governance rights.Each Warrant represents the right to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $20.00 per share.On August 18, 2025, Intel Corporation entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with SoftBank Group Corp. pursuant to which SoftBank agreed to purchase 86,956,522 shares of the Company's common stock for an aggregate purchase price in cash of $2.0 billion, representing a price per share of $23.00 per share.Goodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Korea passes boardroom reform, curbing chaebol power MM DRMM: Red Lobster Is Betting on Black Diners With Its Brand ComebackMM: Bluesky now platform of choice for science communityAssholiest of the Week (MM):Shareholder democracyFrom Mike Levin, host of Shareholder Primacy and writer of the Activist Investor newsletter: Followers here should recall ten current and former TSLA directors agreed to repay about $735 million in comp they received from 2017-2020 as part of a settlement of a derivative lawsuit, Detroit v. Tesla.February 25, 2025 - TSLA receives $735 million in cash and returned options from ten director defendants, five of which currently serve on the TSLA BoD, without specifying how much each defendant paidMarch 31 - We filed our opening brief, acknowledging that receipt of the damages and noting the five director defendants currently on the TSLA BoD had not filed SEC Form 4 showing a change in options holdings to reflect returned optionsApril 29 or 30 - TSLA BoD authorizes cancellation of options to reflect the settlementMay 1 - The five defendants currently on the TSLA BoD file Form 4 showing return of options as part of the settlement.It is impossible for Tesla to have received Settlement Options from Current Director Defendants by February 25, 2025 and for Current Director Defendants to have conveyed them to Tesla on May 1, 2025. Either Tesla misrepresented receipt of the Settlement Amount in a sworn affidavit or Current Director Defendants failed to timely file Form 4 with the SEC.From Kevin Barnes of K-Bar Holdings LLC, shareholder proponent at Eagle Materials:Files shareholder proposal to de-classify the board by amending the charter via Special Meeting in the June 23, 2025 proxy statementAt the AGM held August 4, 2025, Barnes wins the advisory vote… by a LOT - 92% in favor (92%!!!) - made more impressive given that 37.3% of shares are held by Fidelity, Vanguard, BlackRock, and JPM, not exactly communistsKevin emailed me Tuesday to say Eagle “has yet to notice a Special Meeting to formalize [the amendments]”On August 16th, 19 days after Samsara (where Marc Andreessen and Sue Wagner spend their time) held its AGM, the company added Gary Steele (whose company Shield AI is private and funded in large part by Andreessen Horowitz) to the boardQorvo, after John Cheveddan's shareholder proposal asking for the right of investors to call special meetings failed with 44% in favor and approved pay with just 59% in favor, ONE DAY after the annual meeting the board “approved” giant golden parachutes for the executivesMeritocracyRobert Primus: Trump Fires Member of Board That Approves Railroad Mergers“Robert Primus did not align with the president's America First agenda, and was terminated from his position by the White House.” He added, “The administration intends to nominate new, more qualified members to the Surface Transportation Board in short order.”Primus is a black man who went to Harvard and Hamton and has more than 20 year experience in politics - he was given the position originally by TrumpLisa Cook: Trump says he's removing Fed governor Lisa Cook, citing his administration's allegations of mortgage fraudLetitia Jones: Justice Dept. Abruptly Escalates Pressure Campaign on a Trump AdversaryMuriel Bowser, Karen Bass: Cities led by Black women are the first targets of Trump's political power grabKnow your surrendering boards DRCracker Barrel CEO Under Pressure To Resign After Logo U-TurnCarl Berquist (2019), Chair, ex Arthur AndersenJody Bilney (2022), ex HumanaSteve Bramlage (2025), Casey's GeneralGilbert Davila (2020), diversity marketing CEO (PoC!)John Garratt (2023), ex Dollar GeneralMichael Goodwin (2024), tech at PetSmart (PoC!)Cheryl Henry (2024), ex Ruth'sJulie Felss Masino, CEOGisel Ruiz (2020), ex Sam's Club (PoC!)Daryl Wade (2021), ex Union Square Hospitality (PoC!)Cracker Barrel board member under fire for DEI backgroundTrump makes the government Intel's largest investorFrank Yeary (2009), Chair, PE/VC tech guyJim Goetz (2019), SequoiaAndrea Goldsmith (2021), dean at PrincetonAlyssa Henry (2020), ex CEO of BlockEric Meurice (2024), ex ASML HoldingsBarbara Novick (2022), ex Blackrock founderSteve Sanghi (2024), Microchip TechnologyGreg Smith (2017), ex BoeingStacy Smith (2024), ex KioxiaDion Weisler (2020), ex HPHeadliniest of the WeekDR: Pork Industry Leader David Newman Selected as National Pork Board's Next CEOMM: Jeff Bezos Said He Would Have 'Felt Icky' Had He Taken Any More Shares Of Amazon: 'I Just Didn't Feel Good...'MM: Sam Altman says colleagues are glad he's a dad now, because they think raising a child will help him make ‘better decisions for humanity'Who Won the Week?DR: Hopeful Susan Collins slayer and oyster farmer Graham Platner: “I did four infantry tours in the Marine Corps and the army. I'm not afraid to name an enemy, and the enemy is the oligarchy. It's the billionaires who pay for it, the politicians who sell us out.”MM: Journalists who listen to Business Pants: Cracker Barrel's inconvenient fact: all the customers who loved its old logo had stopped going to the restaurant - where Dee Ann Durbin of the AP literally took my rant about foot traffic and stock movements part for partPredictionsDR: The following lines will be deleted from Cracker Barrel's next proxy statement:[The Public Responsibility Committee ] “Reviews the Company's progress in its diversity and inclusion initiatives and compliance with the Company's responsibilities as an equal opportunity employer”“ In addition, our nominees — including five (5) women and three (3) individuals who are racially or ethnically diverse — embody the diversity that we believe is critical to the effective functioning of any public company board today, particularly in a consumer-facing industry such as ours.”“Board Diversity Matrix”Or at least the following term from that matrix: “Non-Binary”“Gilbert R. Dávila, age 61, first became one of our directors in July 2020. Since 2010, Mr. Dávila has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of DMI Consulting — a leading multicultural marketing, diversity & inclusion, and strategy firm in the United States.”Cracker Barrel board member under fire for DEI background after restaurant ditches traditional logo MM: Ramon Laguarta, the CEO of Pepsi, quietly scraps a plan for their brand Quaker Oats to remove the picture of the old white quaker guy from the cartons of oats and instead asks the marketing team to make the quaker guy even older and whiter and possible they should consider adding a shotgun in his hands with “boobs rule” written on the side of it
It’s not as well-known as the Federal Reserve or the CDC, but the Surface Transportation Board is the latest agency in the Trump administration’s sights. President Trump abruptly fired Robert Primus, one of only two Democrats on the five-member board, just as regulators weigh the largest railroad merger ever proposed. Geoff Bennett spoke with Primus about the timing of his firing. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
On today's episode: Israel declares Gaza’s largest city a combat zone as the remains of 2 hostages are recovered. Thai court dismisses prime minister over compromising phone call with Cambodian leader. Mauritania's coast guard says at least 49 die when a boat carrying migrants capsized this week. Father of 8-year-old boy killed in Minneapolis church shooting wants him remembered for his love. Jim O’Neill to serve as acting CDC director as leadership turmoil leaves agency reeling. Former Colts owner Irsay continued battling addiction relapses prior to death in May, report says. Low value imports are losing their duty-free status today02 Trump administration announces a $825 million arms sale to Ukraine. Trump fires Democratic member of Surface Transportation Board ahead of huge rail merger decision. Departing CDC officials say Monarez's firing was the final straw and political meddling is a problem. Closure of Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center can proceed, judge says. Fed official sues Trump over attempt to fire her, challenging his power over the independent agency. Trump administration asks military base outside Chicago for support on immigration operations. New trial ordered for 3 Memphis ex-officers in connection with the beating death of Tyre Nichols. It's not known yet why shots were fired at a Minnesota church. Minneapolis shooter talked of depression and left behind a list of grievances. 780,000 pressure washers are under recall after some consumers report explosions and impact injuries. Stocks add a bit to their records on Wall Street. Average rate on a 30-year mortgage slips to 10-month low. Venus Williams triumphs in return to U.S. Open doubles and top stars advance into third round, a Phillies slugger makes history with a four-homer game, a former World Series champion has surgery, one of football’s top defensive stars is traded and an SEC football coach gets a lifetime contract. Former MLB star Mark Teixeira announces bid for US House seat in Texas. Lebanese official says disarmament of Palestinian camps could pave way for new refugee rights. European nations start process to impose a 'snapback' of Iran nuclear sanctions at UN. Journalist Mariam Dagga's final images show where she was killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza. What to know after the US deports more migrants to Africa. Floods affect 1.2 million, displace nearly 250,000 in eastern Pakistan. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Theme music The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX Mediterranean rescues find 3 Sudanese sisters dead on an overcrowded migrant boat.
AP correspondent Haya Panjwani reports on the firing of a member of a transportation board with a decision making role in rail mergers.
The legal case will determine if the Central Bank can keep its independence. Yes, she sued. This is the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 28th of August and thanks for listening. In other news, President Trump fires a member of the Surface Transportation Board and we'll share why. Mystery surrounds a detention camp in Texas…and it's a wild story. Tesla sales falter again in Europe…and we'll share why. Hundreds of thousands of pressure washers have been recalled. We'll check the numbers from the Wall Street Report and Walgreens goes…private. Let's get into the news! Thanks for listening! The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.
Union Pacific’s $88 billion bid for Norfolk Southern could usher in a new era for the North American railroad industry if the companies can show the Surface Transportation Board that the deal will enhance competition and is in the public interest. In this Talking Transports podcast, Tony Hatch, founder and president of ABH Consulting, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about the merits and challenges of a possible merger between the two large railroads. UP and NS will need to make their case to all stakeholders, which include shippers, workers, Norfolk shareholders and regulators, who could be the most difficult to persuade. The downstream effect of a deal or perceived likelihood of regulatory approval could lead to further consolidation among Class I carriers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A significant legal setback for rail shippers dropped as a federal court has tossed out the Surface Transportation Board's (STB) 2024 reciprocal switching rule, ruling that the STB exceeded its authority and that the rule was inconsistent with the Staggers Act of 1980, a decision challenged by major railroads including CSX, Canadian National, and Union Pacific. Watt EV has broken ground on its sixth electric charging depot at the Port of Oakland, establishing a vital zero-emission freight corridor connecting the Bay Area to Sacramento, Nevada, and Southern California. This new facility will feature 15 240-kilowatt CCS dispensers and six MCS dispensers, significantly expanding the region's heavy-duty electric truck charging The Small Business and Transportation Coalition (SBTC) has petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation to repeal regulations allowing new entrant non-North America domiciled carriers to apply for operating authority in the US, alleging unfair competition against American trucking companies. However, federal data from the FMCSA contradicts this claim, showing very few non-North America-based operating authorities currently exist, with all such companies required to complete a safety audit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A significant legal setback for rail shippers dropped as a federal court has tossed out the Surface Transportation Board's (STB) 2024 reciprocal switching rule, ruling that the STB exceeded its authority and that the rule was inconsistent with the Staggers Act of 1980, a decision challenged by major railroads including CSX, Canadian National, and Union Pacific. Watt EV has broken ground on its sixth electric charging depot at the Port of Oakland, establishing a vital zero-emission freight corridor connecting the Bay Area to Sacramento, Nevada, and Southern California. This new facility will feature 15 240-kilowatt CCS dispensers and six MCS dispensers, significantly expanding the region's heavy-duty electric truck charging The Small Business and Transportation Coalition (SBTC) has petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation to repeal regulations allowing new entrant non-North America domiciled carriers to apply for operating authority in the US, alleging unfair competition against American trucking companies. However, federal data from the FMCSA contradicts this claim, showing very few non-North America-based operating authorities currently exist, with all such companies required to complete a safety audit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Surface Transportation Board regulates railroad freight markets, maintaining a competitive landscape in the industry and ensuring that shippers have good service. Chairman Fuchs explains to JP Hampstead and Stuart Chirls how the STB is also enabling American reindustrialization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This case concerned the question of whether the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an agency to study environmental impacts beyond the proximate effects of the action over which the agency has regulatory authority. When the Surface Transportation Board granted a petition from the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition to construct and operate an 80-mile Utah […]
This case concerned the question of whether the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an agency to study environmental impacts beyond the proximate effects of the action over which the agency has regulatory authority. When the Surface Transportation Board granted a petition from the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition to construct and operate an 80-mile Utah railway, they conducted an environmental review in which they considered direct impacts of the highway on nearby land, water, and air. But they did not consider certain environmental “downline impacts” or possible effects on historic sites along the Union Pacific line in Eagle County. The county challenged their review as inadequate, while the Board argues that these effects were either too minimal for serious analysis, or outside the scope of their authority.This case was decided 8-0 on May 29. The Court ruled in favor of the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, concluding that the federal environmental review process does not have to consider “downline” impacts. Join us in discussing the case and its decision with Mario Loyola and Austin Lipari, who wrote amicus briefs in support of petitioners.Featuring:Prof. Mario Loyola, Senior Fellow for Law, Economics, and Technology, The Heritage Foundation; Professor, Florida International UniversityModerator: Austin Lipari, Counsel, Boyden Gray PLLC--To register, click the link above.
In this case, the court considered this issue: Does the National Environmental Policy Act require an agency to study environmental impacts beyond the proximate effects of the action over which the agency has regulatory authority?The case was decided on May 29, 2025.The Supreme Court held that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to consider the environmental effects of federal projects by preparing a detailed environmental impact statement (E-I-S), but it does not impose substantive limits on agencies' decisions. NEPA only applies to the environmental consequences of the proposed project itself, not to impacts from future or geographically separate projects that the proposed project might cause. The Surface Transportation Board complied with NEPA by addressing the environmental effects of constructing and operating an 88-mile freight railroad in Utah. NEPA did not require the Board to evaluate environmental impacts from increased oil drilling in the Uinta Basin or increased oil refining along the Gulf Coast—both of which were separate activities outside the Board's regulatory control. Justice Brett Kavanaugh authored the 5-3 majority opinion of the Court, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Amy Coney Barrett.NEPA's role is procedural: it ensures agencies and the public are informed about potential environmental effects but does not direct agencies to reject projects with environmental downsides. Courts reviewing an E-I-S must apply a “rule of reason” and defer to the agency's decisions about the scope and detail of environmental analysis, recognizing that such decisions depend on scientific, technical, and policy judgments that fall within the agency's expertise. Agencies have discretion to omit analysis of speculative or weakly connected effects—particularly when those effects depend on future decisions by other entities or fall under the authority of other regulators. The Board's choice not to analyze upstream drilling or downstream refining effects was reasonable because those were not part of the project under review and because the Board lacks the authority to control such activities.A mere possibility that a project might lead to additional development does not impose an obligation under NEPA to assess all environmental impacts of hypothetical, unrelated projects. Even if a project's effects are foreseeable, NEPA does not make one agency responsible for evaluating the far-reaching environmental costs of others' conduct unless those effects are directly caused by the agency's decision and fall within its regulatory scope. Therefore, the Board's approval of the railway project, based on an E-I-S that focused on the rail line itself, satisfied NEPA's requirements.Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored an opinion concurring in the judgment, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, agreeing that the Board was not responsible for assessing the environmental effects of oil production because it lacked authority to regulate those downstream and upstream activities.The opinion is presented here in its entirety, but with citations omitted. If you appreciate this episode, please subscribe. Thank you.
This week, we have several topics to cover. We'll start with weekly rail traffic, then move on to tariffs, and finally wrap up with some recent announcements from the Surface Transportation Board.The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR's Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Tower. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation.Download the PDF: https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcastSupport the show
No commitments yet as feasibility study continues Although it's not yet known if Dutchess County will commit to a 13-mile rail trail connecting Beacon and Hopewell Junction, a planning firm it hired told the City Council on Monday (March 3) that it has found no major roadblocks. "This is all buildable," Tom Baird, an engineer from Barton & Loguidice, the Albany firm conducting a feasibility study with the county, told the council. "There aren't big obstacles, there aren't major environmental concerns. We don't have any real hazardous materials to worry about, either." Dutchess County released a report on conditions along the Beacon Line, an abandoned rail spur, in November. A final report, with detailed concepts, cost estimates and phasing recommendations, should be finished by the summer. The Monday presentation to the City Council can be viewed at highlandscurrent.org/rail-trail-deck. The proposed trail would begin at the Beacon Metro-North station, a stone's throw from the Hudson River, then wind for 4 miles around the city's southern perimeter before running parallel with Tioronda Avenue and the east end of Main Street. Major crossings would include Churchill Street and East Main Street (at the dummy light). The trail would run underneath Route 9D (at Tioronda Avenue) and hug northbound Route 52 (Fishkill Avenue) to the city line. The trail would connect with the proposed Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail near the bridge at Madam Brett Park, where the planners said a trailhead could be located. Scenic Hudson, which is building the Fjord Trail between Beacon and Cold Spring, is a member of the Beacon-to-Hopewell Trail Advisory Committee. Once the rail trail leaves the city, it would veer back and forth over Fishkill Creek on its way through the Village of Fishkill and the towns of Fishkill and East Fishkill. At Hopewell, it would connect with the Dutchess Rail Trail, the Maybrook Trailway and, overlaying both, the 750-mile Empire State Trail. The abandoned rail line is owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. A year ago, Metro-North, an agency of the MTA, "railbanked" the line, reserving the right to revive service, although an agency representative told The Current in February 2024 that it had no plans to do so. The important takeaway from the conditions study is that "the majority of the corridor is in really good condition," said Chris Hannett, another Barton & Loguidice engineer, on Monday. There are two options for constructing a trail, although one would be a much heavier lift. A "rail-with-trail" conversion, in which the tracks remain in place, would present many challenges, including a 20- to 25-foot buffer required between the tracks and any trail. Bridges in the corridor, which are no longer safe for trains, would have to be rebuilt, adding significant cost and environmental impacts, and right-of-way acquisitions would be required. The second option, a "rail to trail," would permit the reuse of bridges and ballast stones, the rocks used to stabilize the tracks, but the rails would be removed. A rail to trail would minimize environmental impacts, with little and possibly no rights-of-way needed. When the study began, Metro-North's abandonment of the line had not been approved by the federal Surface Transportation Board, so the engineers studied both options. The final report will include both but won't recommend either, instead letting "the engineering and the cost speak for itself, as well as the environmental impacts," Baird said. The planners anticipate a 12-foot-wide path made with a crushed-stone mix or asphalt, depending on the location. It would likely be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and could be lighted because of its proximity to dense urban areas. Baird said the county is conducting the study because funders often consider projects "and some will scratch their heads [and say], 'Can they really do that?' " With a report analyzing environmental impacts and other factors, "it...
Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh is joined by guest Patrick Fuchs, Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Together they discuss who the STB is, how and why the STB was created, and they do a deep dive into not only all the various functions of the STB, but also all the different ways in which the STB is a valuable resource to the rail industry. Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading! You can find this episode and more on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net , and watch our YouTube Channel at the link below. Welcome aboard!KEY POINTS: The American Railroading Podcast remains in the Top 10% of all podcasts globally!Mr. Fuchs was designated as Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board by President Donald J. Trump, effective January 20, 2025.Among his impressive career accomplishments, Patrick worked on legislation to increase safety by addressing opioid abuse in transportation, with reforms enacted as part of the Support for Patients and Communities Act, enacted during the 115th United States Congress. Founded in 1996, the STB is an independent federal agency that is charged with the economic regulation of surface transportation, primarily freight rail.Their primary functions are regarding rates, services, licensing, complaints and preemption. The STB website at www.STB.gov is a tremendous resource including legal resources, litigation alternatives, an environmental review process, a railroad map depot and general assistance.More valuable resources that the STB offers are the Stakeholder Committees including the Railroad Shipper Transportation Advisor Council, the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee, the National Grain Car Council and the newly created Passenger Rail Advisory Committee.While the STB is made up of Republican and Democrat members, transportation is not political as we all want things to get from A to B, faster, safer and cheaper.The STB's Rail Customer & Public Assistance Program (RCPA) at (202) 245-0238 offers to help solve problems in a confidential manner, in ways ranging from a simple answer to a phone inquiry, to lengthy informal mediation assistance.If you like what we do, please leave us a 5-Star Review!LINKS MENTIONED: https://www.americanrailroading.nethttps://www.therevolutionrailgroup.com https://www.youtube.com/@americanrailroadingpodcast https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX https://www.aldonco.comhttps://www.enviroserve.com https://www.stb.gov
Our guest on this week's episode is Kristen Purvis, product manager at ePost Global. Retailers have just completed a very successful holiday shopping season. But now those same retailers are dealing with many unwanted gifts in the form of returns. Are there ways they can successfully managing them? Our guest has some insights into ways to cut costs, be more sustainable in reverse logistics operations, and incorporate artificial intelligence into returns processes.Technology is vital to any business operation, but a recent study shows that logistics leaders view it as fundamental to managing growth in an increasingly complex global trade environment. The study, which was released this week by logistics technology vendor Descartes Systems Group, found that 74% of supply chain and logistics leaders view technology as fundamental or highly important to their organization's growth strategy in the face of rising global trade challenges. It's been a busy week in Washington DC as the new administration has officially started the process of appointing directors to top posts, including those that oversee and regulate our supply chains. We talk about the new nomination for Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, as well as important appointments to head the Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Maritime Commission. Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more. All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:ePost GlobalSupply chain leaders say technology is key to business growth as global trade complexities riseDuffy wins Senate committee approval as Transportation nomineeTrump names new heads of federal transportation panelsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025Other linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply
This case concerns the question of whether the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an agency to study environmental impacts beyond the proximate effects of the action over which the agency has regulatory authority. When the Surface Transportation Board granted a petition from the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition to construct and operate an 80-mile Utah […]
This case concerns the question of whether the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an agency to study environmental impacts beyond the proximate effects of the action over which the agency has regulatory authority. When the Surface Transportation Board granted a petition from the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition to construct and operate an 80-mile Utah railway, they conducted an environmental review in which they considered direct impacts of the highway on nearby land, water, and air. But they did not consider certain environmental “downline impacts” or possible effects on historic sites along the Union Pacific line in Eagle County. The county challenged their review as inadequate, while the Board argues that these effects were either too minimal for serious analysis, or outside the scope of their authority. Oral Argument is set for December 10, 2024. Join us in discussing this case and its argument with Prof. Andrew Mergen, who assisted respondents in the court of appeals, and Prof. Paul Salamanca, who wrote an amicus brief in support of petitioners. Featuring:Prof. Andrew Mergen, Emmett Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor of Law in Environmental Law & Faculty Director, Emmett Environmental Law and Policy ClinicProf. Paul Salamanca, Acting Dean and Wendell H. Ford Professor of Law, University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of LawModerator: Eric Grant, Partner, Hicks Thomas LLP--To register, click the link above.
rWotD Episode 2658: Pennsylvania Lines LLC Welcome to Random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia’s vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Tuesday, 13 August 2024 is Pennsylvania Lines LLC.Pennsylvania Lines LLC was a limited liability company that owned railroad lines in the United States that are owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway. The company was formed in 1998 to own Conrail lines assigned to Norfolk Southern in the split of Conrail between Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation; operations were switched over on June 1, 1999. The company is named after the old Pennsylvania Railroad, whose old main line was a line of the new company. In November, 2003, the Surface Transportation Board approved a plan allowing Norfolk Southern to fully absorb Pennsylvania Lines LLC,[1] which was done on August 27, 2004.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:13 UTC on Tuesday, 13 August 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Pennsylvania Lines LLC on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Emma.
Friday News Flyover, January 19, 2024Oil train delayed | Abortion rights advocates speak with Senators | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and GOP-dominated legislature's priorities | and OH Sen. Sherrod Brown and MO Rep. Jason Smith make big bi-partisan deal on Child Tax CreditIf you're new to our shows make sure you subscribe and leave a 5 star rating wherever you listen. You can also find Heartland POD content on Youtube and on social media @ THE heartland pod, and learn more at thehearltandcollective.com This train is not leaving the stationForest Service withdraws key permit for controversial Utah oil-train project opposed by ColoradansProject would dramatically increase hazardous shipments through Colorado communitiesBY: CHASE WOODRUFF - JANUARY 18, 2024 9:18 AMA controversial Utah oil-train proposal opposed by Colorado communities and environmentalists was dealt another blow this week when the U.S. Forest Service withdrew a key permit for the project.In an announcement published Wednesday, Ashley National Forest Supervisor Susan Eickhoff blocked the issuance of a permit to the Uinta Basin Railway to construct 12 miles of railroad track through a protected area of the national forest in northeast Utah. The stretch of track in question is part of the proposed railway's 88-mile connection between the oil fields of eastern Utah's Uinta Basin and the existing national rail network.The project has drawn fierce opposition from Coloradans. A federal “downline analysis” estimated that 90% of the resulting oil-train traffic — as many as five fully loaded, two-mile-long trains of crude oil tankers per day — would be routed through environmentally sensitive and densely populated areas in Colorado, en route to oil refineries on the Gulf Coast. The oil trains would more than quadruple the amount of hazardous materials being shipped by rail through many Colorado counties.Colorado's Eagle County and five environmental groups sued to overturn the Uinta Basin Railway's approval, and in August 2023 a panel of federal judges ruled that the approval process contained “numerous” and “significant” violations of the National Environmental Policy Act. The ruling vacated portions of the project's environmental impact statement and ordered the federal Surface Transportation Board to redo its analysis of key environmental risks.Because the Forest Service's decision in August 2022 to grant a right-of-way permit to the project was based on that flawed analysis, the agency has withdrawn its decision pending further proceedings at the STB.Ted Zukoski, senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the groups that sued to block the project. “This is wonderful news for the roadless forest in Utah's Indian Canyon and the wildlife who call it home. It's a victory for the Colorado River and nearby communities that would be threatened by oil train accidents and spills. If the oil train's backers attempt to revive this dangerous scheme, we'll be there to fight it again.”In a press release, Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, who had urged multiple federal agencies to put a stop to the project, applauded the Forest Service's move.“A derailment along the headwaters of the Colorado River could have catastrophic effects for Colorado's communities, water, and environment. I'm glad the Forest Service has taken this important step to protect the Colorado River and the tens of millions of people who depend on it.”U.S. Senators and Abortion Rights Advocates Discuss State Abortion Access LimitationsBY: JENNIFER SHUTT - JANUARY 17, 2024WASHINGTON — During a Capitol Visitors Center briefing, abortion rights advocates and Democratic U.S. Senators called for reinstating legal and safe abortion access nationwide. The nearly three-hour session featured physicians discussing the difficulties faced in states with restrictive abortion laws following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.Dr. Austin Dennard, a Texas OB-GYN involved in a lawsuit against the state's abortion laws, spoke about the validity and personal nature of each abortion decision. He highlighted patients' fears about family planning in states with restrictive laws, noting the adverse impact on what should be a joyful life chapter.The briefing preceded the annual anti-abortion March for Life, with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Chris Smith scheduled to speak. Senate Democrats criticized efforts to limit abortion access and discussed two upcoming Supreme Court cases with significant implications.One case focuses on mifepristone, a key medication in abortion and miscarriage treatments, while the other revolves around the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). The Biden administration argues that EMTALA should protect doctors performing abortions as emergency medical treatment in states with strict anti-abortion laws.Dr. Serina Floyd, a Washington, D.C. OB-GYN and Physicians for Reproductive Health fellow, expressed confusion over Republican efforts to target EMTALA, emphasizing the potential life-saving importance of emergency abortion care. She noted research indicating severe consequences for patients denied abortion access, including health risks, economic hardship, and staying in violent relationships.Dr. Floyd advocated for non-interference from the government in medical decisions, stressing that patients are capable of making informed choices about their health and lives with their healthcare providers.Senator Patty Murray of Washington highlighted her state's influx of abortion patients from restrictive states like Idaho. Murray and other senators at the briefing expressed concern that residents in states with abortion protections might not realize the impact of a potential nationwide abortion ban or Supreme Court decisions.Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan pointed out that even states with constitutional reproductive rights, like Michigan, are not fully shielded from the effects of a national abortion ban. After hearing doctors' testimonies, Stabenow expressed astonishment at the challenges facing both physicians and women needing abortion access, questioning the progress made in women's rights, asking, “is it 2024 or are we back in 1984?”Kansas Legislature Fast-Tracks Tax Reform Opposed by Governor KellyBY: TIM CARPENTER - JANUARY 17, 2024TOPEKA — Kansas Republican legislative leaders are expediting a tax reform bill focusing on income and sales tax changes, including a single-rate state income tax of 5.25%, which Democratic Governor Laura Kelly has threatened to veto.The bill, bypassing regular committee processes, is set for early-session debate in the Senate. The proposed tax overhaul would lead to a state revenue reduction exceeding $1.5 billion over three years, surpassing Governor Kelly's proposed $1 billion cut. The plan to implement a flat tax rate of 5.25%, replacing Kansas' three-rate income tax structure, has been met with opposition from Governor Kelly because it disproportionately benefits the wealthy.The bill also proposes eliminating the state income tax on Social Security benefits, aligning with Kelly's proposal. Additionally, it seeks to remove the state sales tax on groceries starting April 1, advancing the timeline from the previously set January 1, 2025. The measure includes an exemption for the first $100,000 in state property taxes from all Kansas homeowners for school finance purposes, adjustable for inflation.Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, both Republicans, view the bill as a compromise, claiming it addresses issues faced by retirees and families while tackling inflation.Governor Kelly vetoed two major tax reform bills in 2023, which the Republican-dominated Legislature couldn't override. “We must get that money back into Kansans' pockets — and we will — in a fiscally responsible and targeted way,” Kelly said. “In a way that doesn't threaten progress on all the other issues Kansans care about. Unfortunately, that's exactly what one proposal — the flat tax — would do. ” Kansas' Governor Kelly calls for hearing on Medicaid expansion bill that would cover 150,000 KansansBY: RACHEL MIPRO - JANUARY 17, 2024 2:35 PM TOPEKA — A Medicaid expansion proposal has been enrolled into state House and Senate committees despite continued opposition from top legislative Republicans. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who has spent the months leading up to the legislative session rallying across the state for Medicaid expansion, called for a hearing on the bill by Jan. 29. “It's easy to sum up the Cutting Healthcare Costs for All Kansans Act: health care coverage for 150,000 Kansans, cost savings for everyone else. We protect our rural hospitals, and Kansas taxpayers pay nothing extra,” Kelly said in a Wednesday announcement of the proposal's enrollment. “The legislature should listen to the over 70% of Kansans who support Medicaid Expansion and give this bill a hearing by Kansas Day.” Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, introduced the bill in the House Appropriations Committee and on the Senate side, Sen. Pat Pettey, D- Kansas City, introduced the bill into the Senate Ways and Means Committee. “Medicaid expansion is not only popular, but it saves lives, creates jobs and saves our rural hospitals. Hardworking Kansans shouldn't die because of legislative inaction,” Miller said.Medicaid expansion would unlock $700 million in annual federal funding and could potentially save 59 rural hospitals at risk of closing. Kelly unveiled her latest Medicaid expansion package in December, but Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins remain opposed to expansion, calling the move a way to expand the “welfare state.” Lawmakers last came close to expansion in 2020, when former Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning worked out a bipartisan deal with Kelly. But the deal fell apart as Republicans, outraged by a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that established a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy, focused on placing a constitutional amendment on abortion before voters instead,Child Tax Credit and Business Incentives Merged in New Tax ProposalBY: ASHLEY MURRAY - JANUARY 16, 2024WASHINGTON — Leading members of Congress released a bipartisan, bicameral tax proposal Tuesday, promising a middle-path deal to help low-income families and provide incentives for businesses as Trump-era tax breaks expire.The framework led by U.S. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri would raise the child tax credit incrementally through 2025 and restore tax relief for affordable housing projects.The three-year proposal would also make exempt disaster payments to wildfire victims and to those who suffered losses after the massive train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Sen. Wyden, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said in a statement that “(f)ifteen million kids from low-income families will be better off as a result of this plan, and given today's miserable political climate, it's a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead.”Democrats have been pushing to permanently raise the tax credit that low-income families receive per child after a temporary increase during the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated significant reductions in child poverty. Wyden also praised the deal's potential to spur affordable housing construction and said that his goal “remains to get this passed in time for families and businesses to benefit in this upcoming tax filing season, and I'm going to pull out all the stops to get that done.”Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said “American families will benefit from this bipartisan agreement that provides greater tax relief, strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China, and creates jobs.”“We even provide disaster relief and cut red tape for small businesses, while ending a COVID-era program that's costing taxpayers billions in fraud. This legislation locks in over $600 billion in proven pro-growth, pro-America tax policies with key provisions that support over 21 million jobs. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation,” Smith continued in a statement Tuesday.And for those who file 1099 forms, a provision tucked away in the framework would increase the threshold to file to $1,000 from the current $600.The proposal won praise from across the tax policy spectrum.Business Roundtable, an advocacy organization representing a wide range of U.S. CEOs, described the deal's pitch to revive expired pro-business policies as “critical to strengthening America's global competitiveness.”Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat and key supporter of the child tax credit, urged his colleagues to pass the deal, calling it a “win-win for Ohio families and Ohio manufacturers.”Sen. Brown said, “The deal's expansion of the Child Tax Credit will help parents keep up with the rising cost of living and ensure that their hard work pays off. The business provisions will support American companies that invest in our nation's research and manufacturing. The deal also ensures that residents of East Palestine won't get hit with a surprise tax bill for payments they received from Norfolk Southern after last year's derailment.”Pretty, pret-ty good. Welp that's it for me, from Denver I'm Sean Diller. Stories in today's show can be found in the Missouri Independent, Ohio Capital Journal, Kansas Reflector and Michigan Advance. Thanks for listening, see you next time. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/
Friday News Flyover, January 19, 2024Oil train delayed | Abortion rights advocates speak with Senators | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and GOP-dominated legislature's priorities | and OH Sen. Sherrod Brown and MO Rep. Jason Smith make big bi-partisan deal on Child Tax CreditIf you're new to our shows make sure you subscribe and leave a 5 star rating wherever you listen. You can also find Heartland POD content on Youtube and on social media @ THE heartland pod, and learn more at thehearltandcollective.com This train is not leaving the stationForest Service withdraws key permit for controversial Utah oil-train project opposed by ColoradansProject would dramatically increase hazardous shipments through Colorado communitiesBY: CHASE WOODRUFF - JANUARY 18, 2024 9:18 AMA controversial Utah oil-train proposal opposed by Colorado communities and environmentalists was dealt another blow this week when the U.S. Forest Service withdrew a key permit for the project.In an announcement published Wednesday, Ashley National Forest Supervisor Susan Eickhoff blocked the issuance of a permit to the Uinta Basin Railway to construct 12 miles of railroad track through a protected area of the national forest in northeast Utah. The stretch of track in question is part of the proposed railway's 88-mile connection between the oil fields of eastern Utah's Uinta Basin and the existing national rail network.The project has drawn fierce opposition from Coloradans. A federal “downline analysis” estimated that 90% of the resulting oil-train traffic — as many as five fully loaded, two-mile-long trains of crude oil tankers per day — would be routed through environmentally sensitive and densely populated areas in Colorado, en route to oil refineries on the Gulf Coast. The oil trains would more than quadruple the amount of hazardous materials being shipped by rail through many Colorado counties.Colorado's Eagle County and five environmental groups sued to overturn the Uinta Basin Railway's approval, and in August 2023 a panel of federal judges ruled that the approval process contained “numerous” and “significant” violations of the National Environmental Policy Act. The ruling vacated portions of the project's environmental impact statement and ordered the federal Surface Transportation Board to redo its analysis of key environmental risks.Because the Forest Service's decision in August 2022 to grant a right-of-way permit to the project was based on that flawed analysis, the agency has withdrawn its decision pending further proceedings at the STB.Ted Zukoski, senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the groups that sued to block the project. “This is wonderful news for the roadless forest in Utah's Indian Canyon and the wildlife who call it home. It's a victory for the Colorado River and nearby communities that would be threatened by oil train accidents and spills. If the oil train's backers attempt to revive this dangerous scheme, we'll be there to fight it again.”In a press release, Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, who had urged multiple federal agencies to put a stop to the project, applauded the Forest Service's move.“A derailment along the headwaters of the Colorado River could have catastrophic effects for Colorado's communities, water, and environment. I'm glad the Forest Service has taken this important step to protect the Colorado River and the tens of millions of people who depend on it.”U.S. Senators and Abortion Rights Advocates Discuss State Abortion Access LimitationsBY: JENNIFER SHUTT - JANUARY 17, 2024WASHINGTON — During a Capitol Visitors Center briefing, abortion rights advocates and Democratic U.S. Senators called for reinstating legal and safe abortion access nationwide. The nearly three-hour session featured physicians discussing the difficulties faced in states with restrictive abortion laws following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.Dr. Austin Dennard, a Texas OB-GYN involved in a lawsuit against the state's abortion laws, spoke about the validity and personal nature of each abortion decision. He highlighted patients' fears about family planning in states with restrictive laws, noting the adverse impact on what should be a joyful life chapter.The briefing preceded the annual anti-abortion March for Life, with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Chris Smith scheduled to speak. Senate Democrats criticized efforts to limit abortion access and discussed two upcoming Supreme Court cases with significant implications.One case focuses on mifepristone, a key medication in abortion and miscarriage treatments, while the other revolves around the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). The Biden administration argues that EMTALA should protect doctors performing abortions as emergency medical treatment in states with strict anti-abortion laws.Dr. Serina Floyd, a Washington, D.C. OB-GYN and Physicians for Reproductive Health fellow, expressed confusion over Republican efforts to target EMTALA, emphasizing the potential life-saving importance of emergency abortion care. She noted research indicating severe consequences for patients denied abortion access, including health risks, economic hardship, and staying in violent relationships.Dr. Floyd advocated for non-interference from the government in medical decisions, stressing that patients are capable of making informed choices about their health and lives with their healthcare providers.Senator Patty Murray of Washington highlighted her state's influx of abortion patients from restrictive states like Idaho. Murray and other senators at the briefing expressed concern that residents in states with abortion protections might not realize the impact of a potential nationwide abortion ban or Supreme Court decisions.Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan pointed out that even states with constitutional reproductive rights, like Michigan, are not fully shielded from the effects of a national abortion ban. After hearing doctors' testimonies, Stabenow expressed astonishment at the challenges facing both physicians and women needing abortion access, questioning the progress made in women's rights, asking, “is it 2024 or are we back in 1984?”Kansas Legislature Fast-Tracks Tax Reform Opposed by Governor KellyBY: TIM CARPENTER - JANUARY 17, 2024TOPEKA — Kansas Republican legislative leaders are expediting a tax reform bill focusing on income and sales tax changes, including a single-rate state income tax of 5.25%, which Democratic Governor Laura Kelly has threatened to veto.The bill, bypassing regular committee processes, is set for early-session debate in the Senate. The proposed tax overhaul would lead to a state revenue reduction exceeding $1.5 billion over three years, surpassing Governor Kelly's proposed $1 billion cut. The plan to implement a flat tax rate of 5.25%, replacing Kansas' three-rate income tax structure, has been met with opposition from Governor Kelly because it disproportionately benefits the wealthy.The bill also proposes eliminating the state income tax on Social Security benefits, aligning with Kelly's proposal. Additionally, it seeks to remove the state sales tax on groceries starting April 1, advancing the timeline from the previously set January 1, 2025. The measure includes an exemption for the first $100,000 in state property taxes from all Kansas homeowners for school finance purposes, adjustable for inflation.Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, both Republicans, view the bill as a compromise, claiming it addresses issues faced by retirees and families while tackling inflation.Governor Kelly vetoed two major tax reform bills in 2023, which the Republican-dominated Legislature couldn't override. “We must get that money back into Kansans' pockets — and we will — in a fiscally responsible and targeted way,” Kelly said. “In a way that doesn't threaten progress on all the other issues Kansans care about. Unfortunately, that's exactly what one proposal — the flat tax — would do. ” Kansas' Governor Kelly calls for hearing on Medicaid expansion bill that would cover 150,000 KansansBY: RACHEL MIPRO - JANUARY 17, 2024 2:35 PM TOPEKA — A Medicaid expansion proposal has been enrolled into state House and Senate committees despite continued opposition from top legislative Republicans. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who has spent the months leading up to the legislative session rallying across the state for Medicaid expansion, called for a hearing on the bill by Jan. 29. “It's easy to sum up the Cutting Healthcare Costs for All Kansans Act: health care coverage for 150,000 Kansans, cost savings for everyone else. We protect our rural hospitals, and Kansas taxpayers pay nothing extra,” Kelly said in a Wednesday announcement of the proposal's enrollment. “The legislature should listen to the over 70% of Kansans who support Medicaid Expansion and give this bill a hearing by Kansas Day.” Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, introduced the bill in the House Appropriations Committee and on the Senate side, Sen. Pat Pettey, D- Kansas City, introduced the bill into the Senate Ways and Means Committee. “Medicaid expansion is not only popular, but it saves lives, creates jobs and saves our rural hospitals. Hardworking Kansans shouldn't die because of legislative inaction,” Miller said.Medicaid expansion would unlock $700 million in annual federal funding and could potentially save 59 rural hospitals at risk of closing. Kelly unveiled her latest Medicaid expansion package in December, but Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins remain opposed to expansion, calling the move a way to expand the “welfare state.” Lawmakers last came close to expansion in 2020, when former Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning worked out a bipartisan deal with Kelly. But the deal fell apart as Republicans, outraged by a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that established a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy, focused on placing a constitutional amendment on abortion before voters instead,Child Tax Credit and Business Incentives Merged in New Tax ProposalBY: ASHLEY MURRAY - JANUARY 16, 2024WASHINGTON — Leading members of Congress released a bipartisan, bicameral tax proposal Tuesday, promising a middle-path deal to help low-income families and provide incentives for businesses as Trump-era tax breaks expire.The framework led by U.S. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri would raise the child tax credit incrementally through 2025 and restore tax relief for affordable housing projects.The three-year proposal would also make exempt disaster payments to wildfire victims and to those who suffered losses after the massive train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Sen. Wyden, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said in a statement that “(f)ifteen million kids from low-income families will be better off as a result of this plan, and given today's miserable political climate, it's a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead.”Democrats have been pushing to permanently raise the tax credit that low-income families receive per child after a temporary increase during the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated significant reductions in child poverty. Wyden also praised the deal's potential to spur affordable housing construction and said that his goal “remains to get this passed in time for families and businesses to benefit in this upcoming tax filing season, and I'm going to pull out all the stops to get that done.”Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said “American families will benefit from this bipartisan agreement that provides greater tax relief, strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China, and creates jobs.”“We even provide disaster relief and cut red tape for small businesses, while ending a COVID-era program that's costing taxpayers billions in fraud. This legislation locks in over $600 billion in proven pro-growth, pro-America tax policies with key provisions that support over 21 million jobs. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation,” Smith continued in a statement Tuesday.And for those who file 1099 forms, a provision tucked away in the framework would increase the threshold to file to $1,000 from the current $600.The proposal won praise from across the tax policy spectrum.Business Roundtable, an advocacy organization representing a wide range of U.S. CEOs, described the deal's pitch to revive expired pro-business policies as “critical to strengthening America's global competitiveness.”Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat and key supporter of the child tax credit, urged his colleagues to pass the deal, calling it a “win-win for Ohio families and Ohio manufacturers.”Sen. Brown said, “The deal's expansion of the Child Tax Credit will help parents keep up with the rising cost of living and ensure that their hard work pays off. The business provisions will support American companies that invest in our nation's research and manufacturing. The deal also ensures that residents of East Palestine won't get hit with a surprise tax bill for payments they received from Norfolk Southern after last year's derailment.”Pretty, pret-ty good. Welp that's it for me, from Denver I'm Sean Diller. Stories in today's show can be found in the Missouri Independent, Ohio Capital Journal, Kansas Reflector and Michigan Advance. Thanks for listening, see you next time. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/
Update: Since the original episode audio was recorded, new information was released about the Wednesday's crash involving a motorcyclist and bus. The podcast was updated to include the new information.Stories referenced– Cedar Rapids motorcyclist who crashed into bus has died– Canadian National buys Iowa Northern Railway– ‘Mary Poppins' ready to work magic in Coralville centerEpisode TranscriptsYou are listening to The Gazette's Daily News Podcast on Friday, December 8. I'm Bailey Cichon filling in for Stephen Schmidt.A Cedar Rapids man has died from his injuries after a Wednesday crash in Cedar Rapids. 29-year-old Lewis McColley crashed his motorcycle into a bus that was turning into a Casey's gas station on the corner of Ellis Boulevard and O Avenue Northwest Wednesday afternoon. A Cedar Rapids police officer had attempted to pull him over for not having a license plate. He had been fleeing police for about a minute before the crash. McColley was taken to Saint Luke's hospital in Cedar Rapids with serious injurie, then transferred to University of Iowa hospitals and clinics where he died Thursday. The bus driver, 63-year-old Mark Campbell of Cedar Rapids, was the only person in the bus at the time and was not injured.Linn County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation. The case remains under investigation.Canadian National is adding 275 miles of track with its purchase of Iowa Northern Railway. Montreal-based Canadian National made the announcement Thursday. The sale is pending regulatory review by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. Canadian National is one of North America's six biggest railroads and operates more than 18 thousand miles of track across Canada and the United States. Meanwhile, Iowa Nothern Railroad serves agricultural and industrial markets. The line runs diagonally through Iowa from Manly to Cedar Rapids with branch lines from Waterloo to Oelwein and Forest City to Belmond. Iowa Nothern Railway chairman Daniel Sabin said the Iowa carrier believes Canadian National shares the railroad's commitment to local stakeholders and that the sale will benefit customers, employees and the local Iowa economy.The magical musical ‘Mary Poppins' is coming to Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. City Circle Theatre Company will bring the show to life onstage and in the air December 8 through 17. Allison Dixon of Iowa City plays Mary Poppins, a magical nanny joined by her chimney sweep Bert, played by Cedar Rapids' Calvin Boman. Boman will defy gravity as Bert in an upside down tap dancing number. Read more backstage details in The Gazette's story by Diana Nollen, available online. Use the link in this episode description to get there.Finally, let's take a look at today's weather in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Today will be partly cloudy with temperatures reaching a high of 54 and a low of 38. Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday will be cloudy and colder than the past few days. Expect a high of 39 and low of 23. Sunday, temperatures will continue their downward slide. Expect a high of 32, a low of 20 and mostly sunny skies.Thank you for listening to The Gazette's Daily News Podcast. I'm Bailey Cichon.
Mike Baudendistel and Joanna Marsh discuss the CSX train derailment, potential rail safety legislation, the Surface Transportation Board and the rail intermodal market. Follow the People Speaking Rail Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mike Baudendistel and Joanna Marsh discuss the Surface Transportation Board's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on reciprocal switching and run through SONAR charts. Follow the People Speaking Rail Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rice is moved by road, rail, & water. Each mode of transport has advantages and drawbacks, but poor service is making rail a costly and frustrating option. Keith Glover, president & CEO of Producers Rice Mill, has been running point for the industry on holding Class 1 railroads accountable. He comes by to offer history and an update. Also, Michael sat down with Robert Primus, a member of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to talk about problems, accountability, and where shippers can go from here. With special guests: Keith Glover, President & CEO, Producers Rice Mill and Robert Primus, Member, U.S. Surface Transportation Board Hosted by: Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon
FreightWaves' Mike Baudendistel and Joanna Marsh discuss the regulatory outlook for the freight railroad industry in 2023.
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