Stories by Trina Thomas on Federal Newswire


Sewell: 'Drug trafficking, illegal guns and brutal violence is a grave threat to our communities' in New York case

Two Brooklyn men received indictments June 15 for a marijuana deal that resulted in the death of a Brighton Beach resident.


Ellis: North Carolina man 'has earned every day of his life sentence' for kidnapping, murder

A North Carolina man received life in federal prison without parole for kidnapping and murdering a woman from South Carolina.


Energy Communities Alliance, governors check out Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) and a task force joined the National Governors Association (NGA) for a recent tour of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) while discussing waste issues that influence cleanup sites within the DOE complex near Carlsbad, New Mexico.


Commerce Department celebrates Pride Month with raising of flag

The Department of Commerce announced June 2 that during the LGBTQI+ Pride Month in June the department will fly the Progress Pride flag at the Herbert Hoover Building.


Secretary Granholm addresses high gas prices: ‘It's happening around the world’

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm on June 22 addressed actions being taken by the Biden administration to ease the burden of historic gas prices.


NOAA measurements show 'humans are altering our climate’

The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced June 3 that carbon dioxide measurements at the Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory in Hawaii hit an all-time high at 421 parts per million in May.


Independent Home Care of Michigan liable for unpaid overtime violations, 'ensuring employers comply with the law'

On May 17, Independent Home Care of Michigan, LLC, and owners Mary Clark and Kathryn Flick were found liable to pay 23 home health care workers after a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division investigation determined the company was in violation of overtime wages.


USDA announces 20 E. Kika De La Garza Fellows: 'These fellowships provide a unique professional development experience'

On June 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced 20 Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Hispanic-Serving School Districts faculty and staff members as new E. Kika De La Garza Fellows.


New study on historical Colorado River drought: 'this extreme drought event is also documented in paleoclimatic data'

The drought in the Colorado River Basin goes back further than anyone thought, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced this week.


'Thrilled to host' Cybersecurity Advisory Committee’s third ever meeting in Austin

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently held the third ever Cybersecurity Advisory Committee meeting in Austin, Texas.


Three insecticides harming endangered species, study finds: ‘We’re in the midst of a heartbreaking extinction crisis’

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released its final biological evaluations and confirms that three commonly used neonicotinoid insecticides cause harm to the majority of endangered plants and animals.


USDA Secretary: Child nutrition deal eases ‘uncertainty and brings a measure of relief to our schools’

The Department of Agriculture shared a statement June 22 on a congressional deal for child nutrition from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.


Walsh: 'We look forward to collaborating with the government of Mexico' regarding workers' rights

The United States recently asked Mexico to review if Teksid Hierro de México facility workers in Frontera, Coahuila, are being denied the rights of free association and collective bargaining.


Agriculture Department signs local food assistance cooperative agreement with New Mexico

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service announced June 9 that a cooperative agreement was signed with New Mexico under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA).


Vilsack: 'This signing reinforces USDA’s commitment to our partners at the 1890s institutions'

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Chair of 1890s Presidents Council Dr. Paul Jones signed a Memorandum of Understanding June 14 to build up the alliance of the 1890s community and the USDA.


House passes 'Protect Our Kids Act,' Biden calls for gun control: 'We need to ban assault weapons'

On June 2, the Judiciary House Committee passed a vote for the "Protect Our Kids Act" (H.R. 7910) as President Joe Biden addressed the nation that same day and called for stricter gun laws in the United States.


National Institute of Standards announces competition for first responder command technology

The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced June 7 a prize competition that enhances incident command dashboard technologies for real time tracking during emergency situations.


Vilsack: USDA 'to provide vital food assistance and relief' to New Mexico counties affected by wildfires

The USDA announced five low-income New Mexico counties recovering from wildfires from April of this year may be eligible for the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).


Johnson: 'ICE will consider U.S. military service' in civil immigration enforcement

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the Consideration of U.S. Military Service When Making Discretionary Determinations with Regard to Enforcement Actions Against Noncitizens policy directive June 7.


ICE changes subpoena issuance policy for members of press

U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement recently announced a new policy that works to change how the issuing of administrative subpoenas to members of the media are decided upon.