Rachel Cohen

That was Why Americans Are Moving In With Strangers Twice Their Age, written by Rachel Cohen for The Highlight by Vox, produced by Apple News.

Xcel Energy says it reached an agreement to settle all the claims over the 2021 Marshall Fire.

The development comes the same week a trial was set to begin.

Excel says it agreed to pay about $640 million.

Two telecommunications companies have also agreed to contribute to the settlement.

In the lawsuit, more than 4,000 homeowners, businesses, and insurers alleged that power lines played a role in the late December blaze four years ago.

It burned more than 6,000 acres and destroyed 1,000 homes.

Losses topped $2 billion.

Xcel is not admitting any fault or wrongdoing in the settlement.

It maintains its equipment did not cause or contribute to the Marshall Fire.

For NPR News, I'm Rachel Cohen.