Patch Morning Briefing: Clean Power Plan; House Investigation Questioned; Tax Scams To Avoid

Good morning! It's Tuesday, and we hope your week is going well so far. Here's what you need to know today.

Clean Power Plan On The Chopping Block

President Trump plans to sign an executive order Tuesday rescinding Obama-era environmental regulations that target power plant carbon emissions, according to Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt. President Obama's Clean Power Plan was designed to lower national levels of carbon emissions and push the country as a whole to depend on cleaner sources of energy. In rescinding this policy, Trump would be carrying through on promises he made during the campaign to ease regulations on coal. (Patch)

Who Investigates The Investigator?

Rep. Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, faces intensifying scrutiny after a spokesman revealed that he visited the White House the day before he announced that Trump transition officials might have been picked up incidentally during surveillance. Rep. Adam Schiff, ranking member of the committee, has called on Nunes to recuse himself, given his ties to a White House that is potentially under investigation by the FBI. Nunes previously said the investigations have put a "big, gray cloud" over the administration — it may now extend over him as well. (Patch)

2017 Income Tax Season: Watch Out For Last-Minute Refund Scams

As tax filers race to meet the April 18 deadline, the Internal Revenue Service is warning of last-minute phishing email scams, especially those requesting last-minute deposit changes for refunds or account updates. Tax-related scams to trick people into divulging sensitive data are at their peak with less than a month to the filing deadline, says the IRS. (Patch)

Quick Hits

Santa Monica Firefighter Saves Dog With Mouth-To-Snout (Patch)

Wisconsin Photojournalist Detained In Moscow Protests (Patch)

Wife Of Texas Legend Willie Nelson Launches Cannabis-Suffused Line Of Chocolates (Patch)

Ohio TV Station Cuts Away From Game-Winning Elite Eight Shot (Patch)

News Minute

Sen. Bernie Sanders To Introduce Single-Payer Health Care Plan

The Vermont senator will soon introduce a single-payer health care reform bill in the Senate, according to an interview he did with CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday. (Patch)

ICE Arrests Portland 'Dreamer' Without Warrant, ACLU Says

Francisco J. Rodriguez Dominguez has lived in the U.S. since he was 5 years old. Friends and neighbors are demanding his release. (Patch)

Michigan To Pay $87M To Replace Flint's Lead Pipes By 2020

The state of Michigan will pick up the tab for the replacement of 18,000 lead or galvanized plumbing lines in Flint by 2020 under an agreement settling a lawsuit over the the city's contaminated water crisis, putting an end to lingering questions for financially strapped residents over who will pick up the tab. (Patch)

Try To Learn Something New Everyday

Ted Poe Quits House Freedom Caucus Over Health Care

U.S. Rep Ted Poe, a Republican from Humble, Texas, will no longer be a member of the House Freedom Caucus after the ultra-conservative group opposed the Republican-backed legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. (Patch)

Beaumont Police Crash Little Girl's Birthday Party, Make Her Day

"My daughter told me today was the best day ever!" said Amber Garcia Sibole. "And she can't wait to grow up and be an officer." (Patch)

This Day In History

1978 — The Supreme Court ruled in the case of Stump v. Sparkman that an Indiana judge who ordered a young woman to be sterilized when she was a minor was immune from prosecution over the order.

Famous Birthdays

1483 — Raphael, Italian painter and architect

1986 — Lady Gaga, American pop singer and performer

Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images