Stories by John Kelly on Federal Newswire


'A fantastic leader': Lara Grillos promoted to civil rights position

The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) recently chose Lara Grillos to manage the Bureau’s Civil Rights Division.


Olsen: A man is charged for 'criminal and reprehensible' actions as an illegal agent of the Chinese government

A man was charged with a transnational repression campaign while acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government in the United States. 


Dawson: Little Rock man 'produced child sexual abuse material and lured a vulnerable minor'

A jury found a Little Rock man guilty of sex trafficking and the distribution and production of child pornography. 


Mayorkas: 'Title 42 remains in place until May 23'

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas issued an April 1 statement on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's termination of the Title 42 order.


Sundberg: 'Justice has prevailed' after Connecticut couple is fined for COVID-19 relief fraud

A Connecticut couple reportedly paid $169,000 in response to allegations of COVID-19-relief loan fraud.


Vilsack: Prince Edward Island table stock potato imports will continue 'with appropriate safeguards in place'

Prince Edward Island table stock potato imports from Canada will continue in the United States.


Manchin and Kelly: U.S. 'can and should increase its renewable energy production'

Senators Joe Manchin and Mark Kelly, of West Virginia and Arizona respectively, are reportedly pushing the Biden administration to create a new five-year oil and gas leasing plan for the Gulf of Mexico.


NIFA spends millions of dollars to advance knowledge of agriculture systems 'across the rural-urban continuum'

National Institute of Food and Agricluture reportedly invested more than $6 million in support of foundational knowledge of agricultural support systems, according to a March 23 news release.


Vilsack: Program funding deadline extended to ensure 'interested and eligible meat and poultry processors have ample time' to apply

The U.S. Department of Agriculture extended the deadline to May 11 to apply for Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program funding, as reported in a March 25 news release put out by the Rural Development Office.


FECM's Wilcox: DOE-funded 'projects will move us toward' transitioning electric grid off fossil fuels

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) is putting $2.4 million toward next-generation energy storage technologies.


FERC Chair Glick: 'I'm all for providing further clarity' on changes in gas policies

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reversed course on policies regarding natural gas projects, including a system for estimating how pipelines and related facilities affect the environment.


'We're all in': President Biden, Congress and the Department of Energy all fund plans to fight climate change

After Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in November 2021, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and the Department of Energy have been making alterations to improve energy and infrastructure systems around the United States.


President Biden to increase energy support for Europe: 'Consistent with, not in conflict with, the zero climate goal that we're shooting for.'

United States President Joe Biden increases LNG exports to Europe as they deal with an energy crisis with Germany and other E.U. nations


Mayorkas: Mexico and Costa Rica 'strong partners of the United States' following recent meeting

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited Mexico and Costa Rica to discuss collaborating on mutual challenges and goals, such as regional issues and management of migration, according to a March 15 news release.


Miller: Texas man arrested and charged for 'unspeakable crimes' against children

A man from Denton County, Texas, received a 45-year federal prison sentence for five counts of production of child pornography and one count of transportation of pornography, according to a March 16 news release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.


'The most pressing challenges of our time': Mayorkas names members to Homeland Security Advisory Council

Secretary Mayorkas swore in new members of the Homeland Security Advisory Council at its first meeting. 


Salazar: 'Endangering any worker is inexcusable' regarding Zaxby's child labor law violations

The U.S. Department of Labor discovered two Zaxby's locations in Georgia violated child labor and overtime laws, putting their young workers in danger, a March 9 news release said.


ICE: 'Crowder pleaded guilty' to child pornography charges

A Marionville, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for reportedly producing, receiving and distributing child pornography, according to a March 17 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement news release.


Southern Arizona human smuggler sentenced for transporting and harboring over 100 people

A human smuggler in southern Arizona was sentenced for transporting and harboring more than 100 individuals after an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations.


'We will not tolerate hateful acts': DHS investigates extremists

The United States Department of Homeland Security released a report on their internal review of domestic violent extremism.