Headline News from The Associated Press
AP Headline News - Mar 29 2024 18:00 (EDT)
AP News, I'm Hayab and JLawney. The Vatican does Pope Francis skip the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum, adding to concern about his health during a particularly busy liturgical period. AP correspondent Norman Hall has more. Francis had been expected to reside over the way of the cross procession, which reenacts Christ's passion and crucifixion. But just as the event was about to begin, the Vatican announced that Francis was following the event from his home at the Vatican. A statement said Francis is conserving his health for a Saturday vigil en masse on Easter Sunday. The 87-year-old has been battling what he and the Vatican have described as the case of the flu, bronchitis, or cold, all winter long. I'm Norman Hall. U.S. safety regulators are investigating claims about forward pickup trucks abruptly shifting gears. AP correspondent Jennifer King reports. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration posted Friday that it's looking into whether F-150s from 2014 should be added to previous recalls, following complaints about a problem with the truck's automatic transmission. Dozens of consumers reported the trucks suddenly shifted to a lower gear without warning, and sometimes the rear wheels would lock up, increasing the risk of a crash. One complainant told the agency he and another driver were injured when he hit a concrete barrier and another vehicle. Ford says it's supporting the investigation. A similar problem led to recalls of some F-150 models from 2011, 2012, and 2013. I'm Jennifer King. The Environmental Protection Agency has set strict emission standards for heavy-duty trucks and buses in a bid to fight climate change. AP correspondent Matthew Daly reports that the EPA believes these new stricter standards will help climate goals and provide billions of dollars in health benefits. These trucks are, you know, about 6 percent of the vehicles on the road, but they spew about half of the smog and soot that we breathe. It's really a big change aimed at a smaller group. This is AP News. The Federal Reserve Chairman says policymakers need better inflation numbers before they're ready to cut rates. AP correspondent Jennifer King once again has the latest. We want to be more confident before we take that step. Jerome Powell spoke at a conference of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. We expect inflation to move down to 2 percent, but on a path that is sometimes bumpy. He was asked about the latest report on consumer spending released Friday. Core PC, as you mentioned, is at 2.8 percent on a 12-month basis. Headline is at 2.5 percent. That's what we were expecting, and it's good to see something coming in line with expectations. The central bank has signaled that it expects to cut rates three times this year. You know, growth is strong right now. The labor market is strong right now, and inflation has been coming down. We can, and we will be careful about this decision because we can be. He demurred when asked if he would ever be ready to declare victory over inflation. I don't want to speculate about, you know, well, jinx it. I'm Jennifer King. I'm Paya Punjwani, AP News. Call, clickgranger.com, or just stop by. Granger, for the ones who get it done. To see where Dubai takes you now, visit Dubai Presents.com. Is there anything more satisfying than finding something that perfectly lines up with your taste and checks all the boxes, like a suit from Indochino? Their suits are made to measure in totally customizable with endless options. Choose the cut, fabric, lining, and more for the suit of your dreams at a surprisingly affordable price. Go to Indochino.com and use code PODCAST to get 10% off any purchase of $3.99 or more. That's 10% off at inbochino.com with code PODCAST. When everyone is on the same page, getting things done at work is easy. No matter what you do or what industry you're in, how you communicate is key. Everything you type is equally important to collaboration, and Grammarly can help. Think of it as your AI writing partner, empowering you to communicate effectively and efficiently, so you can make a bigger impact in the workplace. 96% of Grammarly users say it helps them craft more impactful writing, and as the gold standard of responsible AI, Grammarly is your secure AI writing partner that allows your team to make their point and move faster. By understanding your writing and context, Grammarly provides relevant, personalized suggestions. And with tone suggestions, you can navigate even the most difficult work conversations. You can also save time from spending hours editing drafts to just seconds with one click. Sign up and download Grammarly for free at Grammarly.com/podcast, that's g-r-a-m-m-a-r-l-y.com/podcast. Easier said, done.