Patch Morning Briefing: Health Care Bill Under Fire; Staples Closes 70 Stores; EPA Chief Ponders CO2

Good morning! Seems like this week either flew by or dragged on forever, but it's definitely Friday. Here's what you need to know going into the weekend.

The GOP Health Care Bill Is Moving Right Along, But What Will It Cost?

Trumpcare — or is it Ryancare? — is set to cruise through preliminary committee approvals in the House, potentially before the Congressional Budget Office officially releases an evaluation of its effects sometime next week. Lawmakers have been staying up late as Republicans insist on pushing it through and Democrats work to slow down the process. The bill is already facing serious opposition from the right and the left. (Patch)

Staples To Close 70 Stores

Office supply superstore Staples will close 70 stores in North America by the end of the year. The announcement came as the company reported that sales decreased 3 percent to $18.2 billion in 2016, down from the previous year. Staples tried to merge with competitor Office Depot, but the deal was blocked by the Federal Trade Commission a year ago. (Patch)

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Is Not So Sure Carbon Dioxide Is Warming The Planet

President Trump's recently appointed administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency voiced doubt Thursday in an interview with CNBC that carbon dioxide emissions are a primary contributor to climate change. "I would not agree that [carbon dioxide] is a primary contributor to the global warming that we see," Pruitt said. NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and his own agency see things differently. (Patch)

Quick Hits

Runaway Dog Found In Germantown, 130 Miles Away From Home, 4 Months Later (Patch)

Divorce Rate For People 50 And Older Has Doubled Since 1990: Pew (Patch)

Some AT&T Mobile Customers Were Unable to Call 911 in 4 States and DC (Patch)

Demand For IUDs On The Rise After Presidential Election: Study (Patch)

News Minute

Gerber Recalls Baby Food Over Allergy Concerns

The Gerber baby food company is recalling its Cheese Ravioli Pasta Pick-Ups because the egg allergen is missing from the “contains” statement on the back of the packaging statement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. (Patch)

When President Trump Deletes A Tweet, Is He Breaking The Law?

They may be covered by the Presidential Records Act, which would mean they cannot be destroyed. (Patch)

Everything About Mars Is The Worst

"But this jerk planet is still humanity’s best hope for another home in the cosmos." (FiveThirtyEight)

If The News Makes You Stressed, This Will Help

Can Star Trek Help You Solve Workplace Dilemmas?

"My spiritual anchor, at least as far as workplace tech dilemmas are concerned, is 'Star Trek.'" (Wall Street Journal)

This Day In History

1969 — James Earl Ray pleads guilty to crime of assassinating of Martin Luther King Jr.

Famous Birthdays

1947 — Kim Campbell, the first and only female prime minister of Canada

1983 — Carrie Underwood, American country singer

Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images News/Getty Images