US Domestic News Round-Up: House Committee Eyes EV Fees, Amazon Steps Up Delivery Game, and More

The latest US domestic news includes the chair of the House Transportation Committee planning to collect EV fees for road repairs, while Amazon launches 1-hour shipping across major US cities. In legal updates, minority contractors face challenges post-Trump DEI rollback, and Elon Musk's xAI faces a lawsuit from Tennessee minors over inappropriate image generation.

The House Transportation Committee, led by Representative Sam Graves, aims to impose fees on electric and hybrid vehicles to fund highway repairs, pending a surface transportation bill. This comes as the existing five-year law nears expiration in September.

A legal blow to minority contractors arises after a federal court upholds changes affecting minority-owned businesses, originally favored by the Trump administration. The survival of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program remains uncertain, amidst the ongoing infrastructure funding allocations.

On the commercial front, Amazon unveils a one-hour and three-hour delivery service in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, intensifying its competition with Walmart. The move aligns with Amazon's strategy to enhance ecommerce efficiency and customer attraction.

(With inputs from agencies.)