Midwest
Whistleblower alleges mistakes in initial East Palestine disaster response
Was East Palestine an EPA misstep?
Fox News chief Washington correspondent Mike Emanuel reports on how a public health emergency was never declared in East Palestine despite concerns on ‘Special Report.’
The Environmental Protection Agency disputed whistleblower claims of mistakes and “no confidence” in early data collected from the site where a Norfolk-Southern train hauling caustic materials derailed along the Pennsylvania-Ohio border last year.
A person who said he helped craft the technology and interpret data from advanced radiological sensors on a high-tech EPA plane used to survey the damage and take hazmat readings told The Associated Press the aircraft was enlisted too late. In turn, the whistleblower told the outlet, it may have been unnecessary to burn off toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars in a controlled release.
The EPA’s “ASPECT” single-engine turboprop based in Texas hosts what the agency calls a “suite of sensors and software” that provides vital data collection assistance in disaster areas. Those tools include an infrared line scanner, various spectrometers and a digital mapping camera, among other abilities.
Robert Kroutil told the AP the plane didn’t fly over the site, near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, until a day after the controlled release of vinyl chloride.
POLITICIANS REACT TO BIDEN VISITING EAST PALESTINE AFTER 1 YEAR: ‘TOO LITTLE TOO LATE’
“We could tell the data provided from the ASPECT plane’s two East Palestine flights on Feb. 7 was incomplete and irregular. We had no confidence in the data. We could not trust it,” said Kroutil, whose team considered the results of the flyover to be inconclusive, alleging chemical sensors were not active when the aircraft flew over now-polluted creeks in the area.
In comments to NewsNation, Kroutil called the deployment “the most unusual … I’ve ever seen.”
In a lengthy response to a Fox News Digital inquiry, the EPA pushed back on the allegations, saying whistleblower characterizations of the ASPECT plane’s response are “false,” adding weather conditions prevented the plane from prompt surveying of the location.
“EPA Region 5 [in the Midwest] requested ASPECT to fly to East Palestine late in the day on February 5, 2023. As soon as the request was made, the aircraft was deployed the same day from its home base in Addison, Texas, to Pittsburgh. Due to low ceilings and icing conditions, the flight crew made the determination that the aircraft was unable to fly safely on February 6, 2023, the day of the controlled burn.”
PENCE TORCHES ‘AWOL’ BIDEN: HE ‘DERAILED’ OHIO LONG BEFORE FAILURE TO ADDRESS TRAIN SPILL CRISIS
When Mother Nature cooperated the following day, ASPECT flew two missions over the location, the agency said, adding that EPA staff was already on scene “establishing a robust air monitoring network … within the community.”
The EPA told Fox News Digital readings from the ground on the first two days – before the plane flew over – depicted contaminants to be below detection levels with the exception of particulates. It said Kroutil, “the contractor mentioned,” was not part of the ASPECT flight crew in Ohio and that the agency does not comment on internal personnel matters relating to contractors.
Since the disaster, the agency said it has collected 28,000 air samples and that, in the time since residents were allowed back to their homes, there have not been “sustained chemicals of concern found in the air.” The agency added it will continue to honor public records requests and be transparent in its response to the tragedy.
Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s office said that when it comes to whistleblowers, anyone with time-sensitive and pertinent information has been asked repeatedly to come forward, including in the immediate aftermath of the Norfolk-Southern spill.
“They failed to bring it forward,” a spokesman for DeWine said.
“If there was a person who had knowledge at the time … they knew who was in charge and it was very clear who was on the ground,” he said, adding that Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and DeWine publicly made the same plea.
ERIN BROCKOVICH REBUKES FEDERAL RESPONSE TO EAST PALESTINE DISASTER
“We do understand there are experts who had other opinions [on the disaster response]. … Vance said no one brought [further information] forward,” the spokesman added.
Requests seeking comment from Vance’s office went unanswered, but the senator notably called President Biden’s visit to East Palestine one year after the derailment “pure politics” and akin to a “political stunt.”
Across the nearby Pennsylvania border, waterways, air and land were similarly affected by the disaster, including in the Beaver County district of State Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr.
“It is very disheartening to hear that these alleged delays and botched response approaches took place – especially since those in East Palestine, Ohio, and areas in my district here in Pennsylvania have been dealing with the aftermath of this derailment for over a year now,” Vogel told Fox News Digital regarding the whistleblower’s account prior to EPA pushback.
“Earlier intervention could have made a difference following the derailment and better assisted those responding to the incident.”
Former President Trump looks at Little Beaver Creek and water pumps as he visits East Palestine, Ohio, following the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern freight train derailment Feb. 22, 2023. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Sen. Doug Mastriano, R–Pa., of Gettysburg, held at least two hearings in Beaver County in response to the disaster, including one in March where residents sounded off about how they are still feeling long-term effects.
In April, Mastriano, Vogel and State Sen. Michele Brooks launched an effort to allow Pennsylvania-based victims of the disaster to claim an added tax deduction on any payouts from Norfolk-Southern.
Fox News Digital further reached out to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, who was also a public fixture in the aftermath of the disaster, but did not receive a response by press time. Calls placed to officials in the city of East Palestine for comment also went unanswered.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Another Watertown, South Dakota, standout hopes to follow in Spencer Waege’s footsteps.
North Dakota State added a tight end to the 2027 recruiting class on Monday, as the program’s first FBS recruiting class continues to fill out.
Watertown, South Dakota, standout Hunter Peterson announced his commitment to the Bison on Monday via social media. A 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior, Peterson tallied 28 catches for 365 yards and five touchdowns last season.
“Committed,” Peterson posted on X with a graphic that featured the Bison and his high school.
Before his junior season, Peterson worked with former Watertown and Bison standout Spencer Waege, who had a brief career in the NFL as a defensive end. Waege played for the Bison from 2017 to 2022 before he entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. He joined the Green Bay Packers in 2024 and participated in training camp and the preseason.
“He’s a big deal,” Peterson told InForum’s Dom Izzo on April 15 before his official social media announcement. “I got to work with him a little in my sophomore year when he was training for the NFL still, and I would talk to him a lot, and he kept always asking ‘hey, when are you going to commit?’”
Peterson also had an offer from Air Force, which also plays in the Mountain West Conference. The Bison will play their first season in the Mountain West this year and open conference play with Air Force.
“Ever since I’ve gone up there, I just felt like it’s been a fit every time,” Peterson told Izzo. “I love the coaches, facilities, and like the competitiveness they had. I think their mindset and approach is like pretty similar to mine.”
The All-State standout played both tight end and defensive end for the Arrows last season. He tallied 34 tackles on defense, as he helped his team reach the Class 11AA state quarterfinals amid a 5-5 record.
NDSU Has Produced NFL Tight Ends Before
NDSU has enjoyed success in developing tight ends who can reach the pros.
Ben Ellefson entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. He also played for the Minnesota Vikings between 2021 and 2022 before he joined the offensive staff. Ellefson won three FCS titles with the Bison between 2015 and 2019.
Noah Gindorff made it as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and he played briefly for the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers. Gindorff played for the Bison from 2017 to 2022 and won four FCS championships.
Josh Babicz played for the Bison between 2017 and 2021 with three FCS titles before he tried his hand at the NFL. He first signed as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, and he also spent time in the Green Bay Packers practice squad that year and in 2023.
How NDSU’s Tight End Room Looks Going Into 2026
Tight end has been a critical part of the NDSU offense over the years, NDSU will look to build the tight end room in Year One as an FBS program.
Last season, Reis Kessel was the go-to tight end in the passing game with 15 catches for 335 yards and a touchdown as a freshman. The Bison also have upperclassmen tight ends such as senior Luke Kokat, who played a major blocking role in 13 games last season. Fellow senior Kaden Zenzen also played in 13 games last year and had two starts.
Junior tight end Abraham Myers appeared in three games last year after he moved from defensive end. Younger tight ends in the room include sophomore Jett Zabel, who played in nine games last season, and redshirt freshman Gabriel Cunningham, who played one game last year.
Matthew Davis covers the NFL, WNBA and college sports for Heavy.com. As a contributing writer to the StarTribune, he has also covered Minnesota prep sports since 2016. More about Matthew Davis
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CINCINNATI — Anyone who needs to go to their polling location for Ohio’s primary election will be able to ride all Metro services for free Tuesday, May 5.
Metro announced all fixed-route buses will run their regular weekday schedules fare-free on Election Day. For those who need door-to-door help, Metro’s Access paratransit will be available for eligible riders, while MetroNow! — the on-demand shuttle service — will also be free to anyone who needs it.
“Access to transportation should never be a barrier to voting,” Brandy Jones, Metro’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, said in a release. “By offering fare-free service on election day, we’re helping ensure that more people can take part in shaping their community.”
Metro has already announced that it will also offer fare-free rides for the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as well.
To learn more about the different routes or transit options, download the Transit app or visit Metro’s website here.
After the Ohio Redistricting Commission passed new congressional maps last year, and some county board of elections announced polling consolidations this spring, there’s a chance your polling place has changed. If you are not sure where your polling location is, visit the Secretary of State’s website here.
South Dakota
South Dakota man loses appeal after being convicted of terroristic threats against President Trump
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced the South Dakota Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction and sentence of a South Dakota man after an attempted threat of felony terrorism.
“Threats against the President of the United States and public officials are taken seriously,” said Attorney General Jackley. “We will continue to prosecute individuals who seek to harm or intimidate public officials and their families.”
According to court docs, Lucian Celestine first contacted the FBI in September 2019, claiming he was hearing voices instructing him to kill President Trump.
In June 2020, Celestine attempted to purchase a sniper-style rifle through an online marketplace and requested a scope capable of shooting up to 600 yards.
The rifle’s seller was a Brookings Police Officer acting as a private citizen and became concerned about Celestine’s behavior. The officer reported the interaction to the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.
Police later contacted Celestine as President Trump was due to visit Mount Rushmore for the 2020 Independence Day fireworks celebration. During the encounter, Celestine said he had contacted the FBI and admitted he had recently obtained a rifle.
Officers located a rifle, ammunition, and targets in the truck of his vehicle.
After being taken into custody in Rapid City, Celestine told investigators that the voices in his head instructed him to kill the President. He told police of a plan to go to Mount Rushmore and position himself above the monument.
He was then arrested and indicted for threat of felony terrorism.
Celestine entered a guilty plea in November 2024 for Attempted Threat of Felony Terrorism. In March 2024, the Pennington County Circuit Court sentenced him to two and a half years in the South Dakota Penitentiary with credit for time served.
Celestine later appealed his conviction and sentence, but the South Dakota Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s sentence.
Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
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