Former New Mexico lawmaker pleads guilty to diverting public school funds

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A former high-ranking Democratic legislator in New Mexico accused of diverting millions of dollars meant for vocational education in the state’s largest school district to businesses and charities in which she had an interest has pleaded guilty to state charges that include fraud and money laundering. Sheryl Williams Stapleton changed her plea…

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Records reveal safety complaints, poor maintenance at site of deadly Washington pulp mill disaster

SEATTLE — A pulp mill in Washington state where 11 workers died after a chemical tank collapsed in May had a history of safety complaints, poor maintenance and discharges of toxic chemicals, records reviewed by The Associated Press show. State inspectors had planned to visit the plant to interview workers about two unrelated safety complaints…

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US issues sanctions on Turkish bank that it calls a ‘critical financial lifeline’ for Iran

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury announced Friday it has imposed sanctions on a Turkish financial institution as part of its latest effort to sever “critical financial lifelines” for the Iranian government. The actions against Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi come nearly a week after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced “Operation Economic Outcast” as the…

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