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WASHINGTON – On a unanimous voice vote, a Senate committee approved legislation Oct. 4 that authorizes self-driving car makers to sell as many as 80,000 vehicles a year within three years that would be exempt from current safety standards as manufacturers develop technology for autonomous vehicles.

Norfolk Southern Corp. systematically refused to hire or retain people with a wide range of real or perceived medical problems including cancer, diabetes, arthritis and heart problems, the federal government claims in a federal lawsuit filed Sept. 27 in Pittsburgh

As the Obamacare reform debate rages on in full force, U.S. Sen. John Thune doesn’t have his sights set entirely on the headline-stealing topics of health care and tax reform. The always busy South Dakota Republican is also eyeing legislation for the growing autonomous vehicle market, or self-driving cars.

Daviess County, Ky., Judge-Executive Al Mattingly says he will introduce an ordinance to Fiscal Court next month that would prohibit the commercial use of golf carts or other low-speed utility vehicles for delivering packages or mail.

Louisiana regulators Sept. 20 allowed more companies to haul toxic waste in the state, but the Public Service Commission did not go as far as a newly passed state law demands, which will force the courts, ultimately, to decide how to handle hazardous leftovers from industry and the oilfield.

Arizona is the first state in the country to have inspectors travel across the border to train commercial truck drivers on how to cut crossing times at ports of entry while improving safety.

A proposal for a second ballot measure to repeal a new 12-cent-per-gallon gas tax was filed with the state Sept. 14, with backers boasting they have 200,000 Californians pledged to sign the petition to qualify the initiative for the November 2018 election.

Navistar’s president and CEO told a Senate panel last week that autonomous vehicle technology likely won’t eliminate the need for truck drivers, but drivers may need to gain new skills as they’re asked to manage several trucks at once.

Sutter County may move to temporarily halt any new trucking operations in unincorporated areas as tensions mount with area residents over trucking terminals off Highway 99 south of Yuba City.