Trump-Comey rift?; Blueberry growers' blues
Apparent rift
There’s a new twist in the drama over President Trump’s unsubstantiated claims he was wiretapped by his predecessor, Barack Obama. The White House is now rejecting reports that FBI Director James Comey approached the Justice Department to correct the record. It’s the latest sign of a strain in the Trump-Comey relationship.
In the details
Democrats are calling for a special prosecutor to look into President Trump’s alleged ties to Russia. Here’s what you need to know about the process -- and the possible ramifications of naming one for this issue.
The blues
Bill Mortellite, the third generation of his family to grow blueberries in Hammonton, New Jersey, the self–described “Blueberry Capital of the World,” typically needs about 125 workers to harvest his 240-acre farm. This year, he thinks he’ll be lucky to find 10 pickers because of the Trump administration’s plans to tighten the nation’s laws against illegal immigration.
Titans battle
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is expected to unveil plans today for the future of his space company, Blue Origin. His target isn’t just Earth’s nearest neighbor, the moon -- he’s also aiming at Elon Musk and rival company SpaceX. Industry observers say the competition between the two billionaires is intensifying.
Phonies
Beware of bogus IRS agents, fake offers of tech support and faux beaus -- in other words: impostors. They’ve overtaken identity thieves to become the nation’s top fraudsters, according to the latest consumer complaint data. We explore the reasons these scams are on the rise.
Noble pursuit
A pod of killer whales is spotted crossing a stretch of open Antarctica water. Researchers jump into small boats to chase them, just like in the old days. This hunt, though, isn’t about killing whales -- it’s about trying to save them -- using modern gear to give the whales a health checkup -- and finding some are in trouble.
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