5 at 5: U.S releases ambitious climate-change plan

Five of the top news stories making headlines this afternoon.

U.S. releases a tough new climate-change plan. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today unveiled its toughest climate-change plan yet, which aims to cut carbon pollution from the country’s power plants by 30 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. Specifically, the plan targets the country’s coal-power plants, which are one of the main emitters in the country. Potentially, coal-fired plants in the U.S. could be shut down as the country shifts to less polluting power sources. However, legal challenges are expected. President Barack Obama’s aggressive vision does make Canada look like even more of an environmental laggard, and there is more on the renewed pressure on Canada to clean up its act over here.

Trial for young Conservative staffer charged in robocalls affair underway in Guelph. The trial for Michael Sona, the only person who was charged in the robocalls affair during the 2011 federal election, kicked off today, with his former coworkers telling the court that they overheard Sona discussing unscrupulous ways to sway the vote. The trial concerns some 6,700 automated phone calls made during the 2011 election campaign that instructed voters in the Guelph area to go to the wrong polling station. Sona, now 25, has been charged with willfully preventing or endeavouring to prevent an elector from voting. He was the only person charged in the investigation.

Man and one-year-old boy dead after Via train collides with car. Police say a deadly collision that claimed the life of a man in his 40s and a one-year-old near St-Liboire, east of Montreal, Monday morning may have been a “voluntary act.” A Via spokesperson said the barriers were down at the rail crossing and the lights were flashing as a Via train barreled into an SUV that had stopped on the tracks. Both the boy and the man lived in the area, police said.

Ann B. David, “Alice” on The Brady Bunch, dies at 88. The actress best known for playing Alice on The Brady Bunch died in a hospital in San Antonio yesterday. Though David was known for her role as the Brady’s housekeeper, she earned two Emmys for her work on The Bob Cummings Show and appeared in films and on Broadway throughout her career.

Deadly sandstorm in Iran kills four people. At least four people are dead and 30 more injured after a sudden sandstorm swept through Tehran, the Iranian capital, on Monday. High winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour downed trees and knocked out power to thousands of residents, as a dark cloud of dust blanketed the city. Many were forced to rush for cover, as the storm hit during the city’s rush hour.

Massive storm hits Tehran VIDEO from Milad tower http://t.co/e5sm9t4rn2 pic.twitter.com/9Uh5jlhYfD

— Negar Mortazavi نگار (@NegarMortazavi) June 2, 2014