Interior watchdog probes agency’s newly confirmed chief

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Interior Department’s internal watchdog has launched an ethics investigation of newly confirmed Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.
Deputy Interior Inspector General Mary Kendall notified Democratic senators in a letter Monday that her office has begun to investigate whether Bernhardt violated ethics rules on conflicts of interest or other issues.
The news comes days after the Senate confirmed Bernhardt — a former lobbyist for oil and gas and other large c