EPA offers industrial polluters way past rules

As part of a push to roll back dozens of environmental regulations, the Trump administration is offering coal-fired power plants and other industrial polluters a chance to receive exemptions from rules requiring them to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals, including mercury, arsenic and benzene.

The Environmental Protection Agency has set up an electronic mailbox to allow regulated companies to request a presidential exemption under the Clean Air Act. Companies were asked to send an email by Monday seeking permission from President Donald Trump to bypass the new restrictions.

US economic growth to slow in next 30 years

Weak population gains and increased government spending will result in slower overall economic growth over the next 30 years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Thursday.

The CBO’s latest long-term budget and economic outlook report — for a timeframe that spans 2025 to 2055 — projects publicly held debt to reach 156% of gross domestic product, or GDP, in 2055.

Canada’s new PM says he’ll speak with Trump

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he will talk to U.S. President Donald Trump soon after Trump announced 25% tariffs on auto imports.

Carney said Thursday that Trump reached out Wednesday night to schedule a call. Carney said that “we will be speaking … in the course of the next day or two.”

ChatGPT’s images show AI copyright concerns

Fans of Studio Ghibli, the famed Japanese animation studio behind “Spirited Away” and other beloved movies, were delighted this week when a new version of ChatGPT let them transform popular internet memes or personal photos into the distinct style of Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki.

But the trend also highlighted ethical concerns about artificial intelligence tools trained on copyrighted creative works. Miyazaki, 84, is known for his hand-drawn approach to animation and whimsical storytelling.

Former Mars subsidiary exec charged with theft

A former executive of a subsidiary of famed candymaker Mars Inc. has been charged with stealing more than $28 million from the company in various schemes.

Paul Steed of Stamford, Connecticut, was arrested on multiple wire fraud and tax evasion charges on Wednesday.

Wall Street slips following latest tariffs

Wall Street edged lower after getting pulled in opposite directions as President Donald Trump’s latest tariff escalation creates winners and losers among auto stocks.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% Thursday after drifting between small gains and losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 155 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.5%.

Average US rate on 30-year mortgage dips

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. fell slightly this week, a welcome reversal for homebuyers in what’s traditionally the housing market’s busiest time of the year.

The rate dipped to 6.65% from 6.67% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.79%.

Applications for jobless benefits hold steady

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, a sign that the labor market remains healthy as companies continue to retain their employees.

Jobless claims filings ticked down by 1,000 to 224,000 for the week ending March 22, the Labor Department said Thursday.