McClatchy, a national media company owning 30 newspapers, laid off a third of unionized staff across Washington and Idaho publications on Thursday, including reporters covering local government, schools, and investigations. The company cited a 41% drop in subscriber revenue over five years, prompting cuts that union leaders warn will leave communities less informed and reduce accountability journalism.
A cargo plane operated by 21 Air crashed in Miami on Sunday, killing five people. The incident has revived attention to a 2022 Department of Labor complaint filed by former pilot Karl Seuring alleging that 21 Air retaliated against him for raising safety concerns, including inadequate pilot rest and a culture discouraging safety reporting. The NTSB investigation is ongoing and it remains unclear whether Seuring's allegations are connected to the crash.
The U.S. Energy Department will lend up to $1.9 billion to NextEra Energy to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Iowa, which shut down in 2020. Google has agreed to purchase electricity from the plant to power its AI data centers. This loan is part of broader efforts to revive nuclear energy, with similar restart projects underway in Michigan and Pennsylvania.