McConnell

breaks silence

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Mitch McConnell has for the first time revealed what led to his hospitalization. McConnell, 84, in a statement Sunday said a fall was what landed him in the hospital four weeks ago.

The statement comes after weeks of mounting speculation about the Kentucky Republican’s health. McConnell explained his long silence as being hesitant to “share the vulnerability that comes with growing older.”

McConnell said he will not be returning to the Senate “quite yet” but continues to work with his staff on Senate business. McConnell had polio in his early childhood and has long acknowledged difficulty walking and climbing stairs.

Deadly fire

in Bangkok

BANGKOK (AP) — A huge fire that engulfed a pub in Bangkok overnight has killed at least 27 people and injured dozens more. Firefighters brought the blaze under control early Monday.

Rescuers said the fire was reported around midnight Sunday. Footage shared online by first responders shows a huge blaze raging and plumes coming out of the front door of the pub in the northern part of the Thai capital.

People are seen trying to flee as thick black smoke billows into the sky. Thailand’s prime minister told reporters at the scene that several people have been taken to the hospital. He said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Philadelphia

area digs out

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Residents of Philadelphia and some surrounding counties are cleaning up and assessing damage after a series of severe storms called microbursts swept through with winds up to 60 or 70 miles per hour.

The storms came through Saturday, downing trees and power lines, flooding several streets and even causing at least one building to collapse that left bricks and debris in the street, crushed cars and blocked trolley tracks. City and housing authority officials evacuated at least two apartment buildings that were heavily damaged.

South Bow to

pay penalty

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A proposed legal settlement with the U.S. government would require the Keystone Pipeline system’s operator to pay a civil penalty of nearly $27 million over a major oil spill in Kansas in December 2022.

Canada-based South Bow also would spend about $40 million to prevent future accidents under terms of the agreement filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Kansas.

The agreement would resolve allegations that South Bow violated U.S. and Kansas clean water laws in operating the pipeline. The 2002 rupture dumped nearly 13,000 barrels of heavy crude oil into a creek in Washington County, about 150 miles northwest of Kansas City. The company disputes the allegations.