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FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Farmers could soon get a new tool to help the effort to keep fields fertile and relatively pest free. The federal Aviation Administration has given rare approval to a drone helicopter large enough to carry tanks of fertilizers and pesticides. The drone, called the RMAX, is remotely piloted and weighs in at 207 pounds. Yamaha U.S.A developed the aircraft. Rice farmers in Japan have already used it.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan will have to go back to the drawing board to figure out how to fix some of the country's worst roads and bridges. Voters have resoundingly rejected a bipartisan ballot measure that would have increased taxes to pump $1.2 billion a year more into transportation infrastructure. The state's fuel taxes aren't keeping pace with construction and snow-plowing costs.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is hoping to push reluctant residents to really cut back on their water use amid an ongoing drought crisis. The latest effort includes 'sweeping, unprecedented restrictions on how people, governments and businesses can use water. Gov. Jerry Brown has said voluntary conservation efforts have so far not yielded the water savings needed to cope with a drought now going on four years old.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — The death of a University of Virginia student is now a capital case and the prosecutor says she'll seek the death penalty. Jesse Matthew Jr. has been indicted on the capital murder charge in the death of Hannah Graham, who disappeared in September. Albemarle County Commonwealth's Attorney Denise Lunsford says the case has been bolstered by new forensic evidence.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Come June, international airlines might find themselves canceling flights to and through Afghanistan because there won't be any air traffic control. The United States is taking care of that right now but its contract expires in June and without some alternative, the result would effectively be a no-fly zone over Afghanistan.
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