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Yuma sector rescues distressed migrants crossing Sonoran Desert

An aircrew from the Yuma Air Branch collaborated with U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Sector earlier this week to assist a group of migrants in distress in the Sonoran Desert. The incident began when U.S. Border Patrol agents in Ajo, Arizona, were alerted to activity within the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge on Monday evening. Wellton Station agents were informed about five individuals in distress south of Sentinel, Arizona.


Mauritius-UK agreement ensures continued operation of Diego Garcia military base

The Department of Defense has expressed approval for the recent agreement between the Republic of Mauritius and the United Kingdom regarding the status of the Chagos Archipelago. The department is confident that the negotiations have led to an agreement ensuring the secure and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military base on Diego Garcia.


Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks reviews Navy research projects at warfare centers

Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon reported that Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks visited the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Division in Virginia and NSWC Indian Head Division in Maryland. The purpose of the visit was to observe Navy research, development, testing, and evaluation projects, particularly focusing on counter-Uncrewed Systems technologies (c-UXS) and energetics.


Heritage experts criticize federal response to Hurricane Helene

This week, Hurricane Helene struck the Southeastern United States, resulting in the deaths of at least 200 people and displacing millions. In response, experts from The Heritage Foundation have criticized the Biden-Harris administration for what they describe as mismanagement of federal emergency resources both before and after the disaster.


Treasury Deputy Secretary addresses economic recovery at Wisconsin conference

Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo addressed attendees at the Wisconsin Building Trades Conference in Milwaukee, reflecting on the impact of recent legislative measures and the administration's commitment to economic recovery and growth. Adeyemo highlighted the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that unemployment rates soared to nearly 15 percent nationwide, with even higher figures in Milwaukee.


Four men charged with exporting firearms illegally from US

Haitham Al-Dulaimi, Haider Lazem, Hasan Wasak, and Abdullah Alsajee have been arrested in Louisville, Kentucky. The arrests followed an unsealed indictment charging them with conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, smuggling goods from the United States, engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, making false statements in firearm purchases, and defrauding the U.S. government. Additionally, Alsajee, Lazem, and Wasak face charges for making false statements when purchasing firearms.


EPA allocates $30M for rural community water system support

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of up to $30.7 million in grant funding aimed at providing technical assistance and training for small drinking water and wastewater systems, particularly those serving rural communities. The funding is also intended to help private well owners improve water quality.


USDA invests over $11M in initiatives for U.S. dairy industry resilience

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an investment of $11.04 million to bolster the dairy industry through its Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program. The funding aims to assist small and mid-sized dairy businesses in enhancing their development, production, marketing, and distribution processes.


Former Las Vegas official convicted in charity fraud scheme

A former Las Vegas city councilwoman has been convicted by a federal jury in Nevada on charges related to a charity fraud scheme. Michele Fiore, 54, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud. The charges stem from her actions while serving as a city councilwoman, during which she misled donors into believing their contributions would fund memorials for police officers killed in the line of duty.


G7 summit addresses AI market competition challenges

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Justice Department's Antitrust Division recently participated in a summit with G7 enforcement partners to address competition challenges related to artificial intelligence (AI). The event, known as the G7 Competition Authorities and Policymakers Summit, focused on ensuring fair competition in AI technologies, products, and applications.


Congressional leaders urge Biden to act on detainees in China

The Chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), Representative Christopher Smith and Senator Jeff Merkley, have issued a letter to President Biden.


Blinken reaffirms U.S. support for Ukraine in call with Foreign Minister Sybiha

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken recently held a conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, according to Spokesperson Matthew Miller. The discussion focused on the United States' ongoing support for Ukraine amidst its conflict with Russia.


Experts discuss bridging gaps between child safety research and policy

Last week, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) hosted a symposium to discuss child safety online. The event brought together academics, researchers, digital rights advocates, and government representatives to explore how research can inform policy decisions in this area.


Labor Secretary Su comments on September jobs report showing economic growth

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su has released a statement regarding the September 2024 Employment Situation report. The report indicates that the U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs in September, with the unemployment rate decreasing to 4.1 percent. According to Su, "With an average of 186,000 jobs added over the past three months, it’s clear that people who need a job are finding a job."


Biden-Harris Administration supports Latino workforce through education partnerships

Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has reported the creation of nearly 16 million jobs, with unemployment among Latinos reaching a record low. Latino entrepreneurs have been starting new businesses at an unprecedented rate in over 25 years. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Secretary Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Graves participated in events that highlighted these achievements. They emphasized the administration's dedication to fostering a skilled and diverse workforce for future generations of Latinos.


Boston marks cleanup milestones at Lower Neponset River sites

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Boston city officials have marked significant milestones in the cleanup efforts at the Lower Neponset River, specifically focusing on the Lewis Chemical Site and Riverside Square PCB Site in Hyde Park. The event was attended by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Massachusetts' Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs' Undersecretary Stephanie Cooper, MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple, and other local partners.


Labor Department allocates $5M for disaster relief jobs after Hurricane Helene

The U.S. Department of Labor has approved up to $5 million in emergency grant funding for Florida to support disaster-relief jobs and training services in response to Hurricane Helene. This initiative targets 31 counties affected by the hurricane, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 26, 2024, at Dekle Beach in Taylor County.


Facebook unveils local tab, AI tools, video updates at Austin event

Facebook has announced a series of updates and new features for its platform and Messenger at the Facebook IRL event in Austin. These changes aim to enhance user experience by fostering connections and facilitating content discovery.


Justice Department awards $84M in grants to tribal communities

The Justice Department has allocated 152 grants to 90 American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes, totaling over $84 million. These funds are distributed through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) program.


U.S. Customs and Border Protection releases August statistics

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents encountered 58,000 undocumented migrants along the Southwest border in August, according to a September 16 news release.