Three Things for March 2
1. Explosive device found during bag search at Pennsylvania airport
On Monday, Feb. 27, Marc Muffley was arrested and charged with “possession of an explosive in an airport and possessing or attempting to place an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.” Earlier that day, he had checked a bag in at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Pennsylvania.
The bag was flagged for further search due to an alarm going off during standard TSA screenings. Special Agent Eddie Garcia of the FBI said the bag was pulled aside for further inspection, where TSA agents discovered a “circular compound with fuses attached inside the suitcase.” The FBI was then called in, and made the final determination it was an explosive. It was at this point Muffley was paged over the airport intercom. However, video footage has him leaving the airport at 11:40 am.
Muffley remains in custody while he awaits a court hearing on Thursday, March 2. According to the complaint, Special Agent Special Agent Jared Witmier, an explosives expert, determined the explosive was made from commercial grade fireworks powder and flash powder.
According to a statement from TSA, when the device was discovered, TSA evacuated the airport “out of an abundance of caution,” however the device never went off and no one was injured.
For more information about the incident, click here.
2. Waste caused legal scrutiny
A disposal site in Detroit for hazardous materials is current listed as being a “Significant Noncomplier” according to an EPA website. Last summer, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy found the facility to be violating operational regulations.
While the problems have been fixed, the site will remain listed as a non-complier until the settlement deal is finalized between Michigan and the site’s owner, Republic Services.
“We’re working on it, it’s probably a couple months away,” according to a state spokesman.
Many politicians in both parties, as well as Michigan environmental groups have protested the import of hazardous materials from Ohio into Michigan. Local republican politicians spoke at a rally on Sunday, Feb. 26, in which they say the hazardous waste from Ohio “should stay in Ohio.”
“it shouldn’t be in populated communities. John Dingell opposed this Romulus injection well 20 years ago, and many more including myself still do. Let’s work together to keep our communities safe,” said Democrat Representative Debbie Dingell in a statement.
Currently, the EPA has halted hazardous waste shipments to Michigan due to the local backlash.
For more information about clean-up efforts, click here.
3. President concerned about outcome of student loan forgiveness
On Wednesday, March 1, President Biden told CNN he was “not confident of the outcome of the decision yet,” regarding the Supreme Court case over the student loan forgiveness program. There are currently two challenges before SCOTUS which could kill the loan program if SCOTUS finds those challenges valid.
As the hearings have progress throughout the week, conservative justices have signaled they have doubts over the Executive Branch’s authority to allow debt forgiveness. However, Amy Coney Barrett seems to be swinging more in favor towards the program. On Wednesday, the administration brought an argument which focused on the opinion that the plaintiffs didn’t have footing to bring the challenges in the first place. It was this argument which seemed to be swaying Barrett.
While Biden himself seems to be concerned, others in his administration are not as concerned.
“Our Administration is confident in our legal authority to adopt this plan, and today made clear that opponents of the program lack standing to even bring their case to court,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona wrote in an email.
For more information about the case, click here.
