Judge’s decision on Dakota Access likely months away

Judge’s decision on Dakota Access likely months away

BISMARCK, N.D.

A federal judge’s decision on whether a year’s worth of additional study of the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline adequately addresses American Indian concerns appears weeks if not months away.

The Army Corps of Engineers recently completed additional court-ordered study and said the work substantiated its earlier determination that the pipeline won’t adversely impact tribes.

But the Corps didn’t immediately release its lengthy analysis so it could be reviewed by federal regulators for sensitive information. That’s been done, and suing tribes and pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners now have it.

Judge James Boasberg has given the parties until Nov. 1 to submit proposals for how to proceed.

One tribal attorney expects Boasberg to give the tribes an opportunity to challenge the Corps analysis before he makes a final decision.

Man sues over 2-year wait for interview

DENVER

An Iranian man living in Colorado has filed a federal lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and other federal officials, claiming they are violating law for failing to conduct a citizenship interview.

The Denver Post reports Ali Nejatbaksh Azadani, who has been living in Aurora since 2011, has waited more than two years for a pre-naturalization interview, delaying his attempt to become a U.S. citizen.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Denver claims the legal deadline for such interviews are 180 days, and the delay violates the Administrative Procedures Act.

The lawsuit also names FBI Director Christopher Wray, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Lee Cissna.

Volunteers from Puerto Rico help hurricane victims

LUMBERTON, N.C.

They know what it’s like to suffer from a devastating hurricane, so chefs and volunteers from Puerto Rico are helping out in a North Carolina city damaged by Hurricane Florence.

Chef Lionel Rodriguez and others with a group called Operation Pay It Forward are preparing meals at the East Lumberton Baptist Church. Spokesman Jesus Flores said Wednesday the group arrived Monday and will serve lunch and dinner through Oct. 13.

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yul n Cruz organized the delegation, which is working through Operation Blessing, a Virginia-based nonprofit.

Flores says Operation Blessing volunteers are serving about 2,000 meals per day.

Puerto Rico is struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria, which killed almost 3,000 people and caused damages estimated at more than $100 billion last year.

Man shot in school parking lot

ANCHORAGE, Alaska

One man has been hospitalized and another is in custody following a shooting in an elementary school parking lot in Anchorage.

Anchorage TV station KTUU reports the shooting occurred before 10 a.m. Wednesday at a parking at Denali Elementary School. No students were hurt or involved.

Police spokesman MJ Thim says the shooting involved a dispute that was “domestic in nature” between the two men.

Thim says police are investigating why the men were in the parking lot and whether they have any connections to the school or students. He says the shooting appears to be an isolated incident.

Police say the injured man was shot in the upper body.

Associated Press