The Supreme Court has sided with the Trump administration in a case about the power of federal regulators over telecommunications companies. In an 8-1 ruling Thursday, the justices preserved one of the Federal Communications Commission’s key enforcement tools. Verizon and AT&T challenged multimillion-dollar penalties imposed after the agency determined that the companies failed to safeguard customer location data. The companies argued that the FCC's process was unconstitutional and they hoped to build on a line of Supreme Court cases limiting the power of federal agencies. The high court disagreed, though after the administration said companies didn't have to pay the fines right away.

Many for-profit residential facilities in the so-called troubled teen industry nationwide that claim to treat severe mental and behavioral health issues in children and teens are deftly tapping into taxpayer money meant for students with disabilities. An Associated Press investigation finds that even amid increasing scrutiny, this money continues to flow given the fractured bureaucracy of the special education system. The playbook to profits include operating on stand-alone contracts with individual school districts and drawing out-of-state kids. Both strategies dilute regulatory oversight. Residential centers also capitalize on a catch-all disability category and rely on a shadow network of educational consultants who help generate business.

The UPS plane crash that killed 15 people after an engine flew off its left wing might have been prevented under the original inspection schedule. But the parts designed to secure engines to wings didn't get a close look after the schedule was relaxed in 2015. That's according to testimony at a National Transportation Safety Board hearing on Wednesday. Boeing also relied on older data when it asked for the less frequent inspections, and didn't seem to account for seven instances of other flaws in the parts in different planes. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said Federal Aviation Administration regulators should have raised more questions about the request, even if they weren't told of the other flaws.

The artificial intelligence boom is leading to fights in some states over growing utility profits. Governors, attorneys general and others are protesting rising electricity bills and say cash-strapped residents are stuck in a broken system. Officials in over a half-dozen states are going to new lengths to try to block rate increases proposed by utilities. Some are pressing utilities to completely change their model for financing major system upgrades. The push comes during a midterm election year in which “affordability” is the leading theme in Democrats’ attempts to loosen Republicans’ control of Washington.