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Chemical and consumer product manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay $6 billion to settle lawsuits from U.S. service members who say they experienced hearing loss or other serious injuries after using faulty earplugs made by the company NEW YORK -- Chemical and consumer product manufacturer 3M said Tuesday it has agreed to pay $6 billion to settle lawsuits from U.S. service members who say they experienced hearing loss or other serious injuries after using faulty earplugs made by the company. The settle ment, consisting of $5 billion in cash and $1 billion in 3M stock, will be made in payments that will run through 2029. Hundreds of thousands of veterans and current service members have sued 3M and Aearo Technologies, a company that 3M acquired in 2008, over their Combat Arms Earplugs. The service members alleged that a defective design allowed the products — which were intended to protect ears from close-range firearms and other loud noises — to loosen slightly and allow hearing damage, ...

A New York City police officer is accused of punching a man more than a dozen times while responding to a call about an emotionally disturbed child last year. A New York City police office r faces charges for allegedly punching a man more than a dozen times while responding to a call about an emotionally disturbed child last year, prosecutors said Wednesday. NYPD officer Christian Zapata has been indicted on one count of assault in the third degree stemming from the December 2022 incident, prosecutors said. Zapata, 36, of the Bronx, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault and was released on his own recognizance on Wednesday. Officer Christian Zapata is seen in body-camera footage during the service call on Dec. 7, 2022. NYPD While responding with several officers to a call of an autistic teen in crisis in a Harlem apartment on Dec. 7, 2022, Zapata allegedly punched the boyfriend of the teen's mother approximately 13 times in the span of nine seconds, prosecutors said. The in...

The IRS is detailing the 2023 tax season resources as congressional Republicans try to rescind much of the Inflation Reduction Act's funding for the agency The Treasury Department is rolling out new measures aimed at improving customer service as the IRS starts to accept 2022 federal income tax returns. Treasury Department Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo told reporters on Friday that the agency has used funds from the Inflation Reduction Act to hire more customer service staff and modernize decades-old technology. That includes 5,000 new customer service workers to answer calls, Adeyemo said. Just 13% of 173 million calls to the IRS were fielded by live agents last year and 8% of calls were answered with automated assistance. MORE: Brace yourself for a smaller refund as COVID-era tax breaks expire A Treasury Department official said the new hires mean the IRS has a "historic number" of workers ready to answer the phones this tax season , with the goal of reducing average...