News and reports from the .

Javan King, a 42-year-old resident of Laurel, Maryland, has been charged with mail fraud in connection with the theft of thousands of government cell phones while employed as an information technology contractor for the Department of Justice (DOJ).

House subcommittee schedules hearing on FirstNet reauthorization

Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Richard Hudson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, have announced an upcoming hearing titled "Evaluating FirstNet:...

CBO reports over $589 million spent on National Guard city deployments under Trump

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has informed Senator Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, that the deployment of National Guard personnel to U.S. cities under President Donald Trump has cost taxpayers more than $589...

Senators urge court to uphold protections for minors in immigration detention

A group of 23 U.S. Senators, led by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the...

Shiprock man charged with federal assault after alleged dispute

By C. M. Ingle | Jan 28, 2026

A Shiprock resident, Brian Adam Archuleta, 41, has been charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury following an incident that took place on September 18, 2025.

Moolenaar questions Ford over partnership with Chinese firms and federal tax credit use

Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has sent a letter to Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley regarding Ford's plans to use technology from Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), a...

Durbin criticizes federal actions after fatal shooting by agents in Minneapolis

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, addressed the recent killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a VA hospital in Minneapolis, by federal agents.

House committee proposes U.S. minerals reserve to reduce reliance on China

The U.S. House has unveiled a bipartisan plan known as the SECURE Minerals Act aimed at reducing reliance on China for critical minerals used in electric vehicle batteries by establishing a $2.5 billion reserve fund

Brooklyn man sentenced for role in Iranian-directed plot targeting journalist

A Brooklyn man, Carlisle Rivera, also known as “Pop,” has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in a murder-for-hire plot and conspiracy to stalk Masih Alinejad, a journalist and outspoken critic of the Iranian government.

Durbin urges reforms as Senate Judiciary reviews expiring FISA section

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement at a committee hearing focused on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and executive...

Arizona man pleads guilty in Boston federal court over fentanyl trafficking scheme

A man from Tucson, Arizona, has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston for his involvement in distributing large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine and laundering the proceeds.

WSJ: Florida’s 2023 tort reforms linked to lower insurance costs

By C. M. Ingle | Jan 28, 2026

Florida's tort reforms under Governor Ron DeSantis are reportedly showing positive impacts on the state's insurance market.

Senate committee hears testimony on economic costs linked to federal permitting uncertainty

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led a hearing in Washington, D.C., to examine the effects of federal environmental review and permitting processes on businesses, workers, consumers,...

Former Corpus Christi labor leader sentenced for embezzling over $280K

A former labor union president from Corpus Christi has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud and embezzlement. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced that Robert Cirilo, 42, received a sentence of 21...

Long Island tax preparer admits guilt in multimillion-dollar COVID relief fraud

Earlier today in Central Islip federal court, Damaris Beltre, a former tax preparer from Freeport, New York, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.

Repeat offender sentenced to five years for illegal reentry into United States

A Mexican national living illegally in Houston has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for reentering the United States without authorization, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Eagle Butte man convicted for threatening Indian Health Service official

A federal jury in Pierre, South Dakota, has found Joseph Lafferty, 68, of Eagle Butte, guilty of threatening a federal official.

Financial planner sentenced for failing to file tax returns and pay over $250K in federal taxes

A financial planner from Marion, Iowa, has been sentenced to three months in federal prison for failing to file income tax returns and pay taxes on nearly $1.5 million in earnings over several years.

House Budget Committee reviews rising healthcare costs during fiscal future hearing

By T. P. Broyles | Jan 28, 2026

Last Wednesday, the House Budget Committee convened a hearing titled “Reverse the Curse: Skyrocketing Health Care Costs and America's Fiscal Future” to examine how rising health care costs are affecting Americans’ access to affordable care and...

Durbin questions witnesses on FISA reforms during Senate Judiciary Committee hearing