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The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with El Mazatlan Inc., a Glasgow-based restaurant chain, requiring the company to pay $250,000 in penalties for violations of federal child labor laws. The investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division revealed that the restaurant employed a 13-year-old child and 37 teenagers aged 14 and 15 to work more hours than permitted by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

A team of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at the Port of Brownsville successfully intercepted a pest previously unseen in the area. The interception took place on September 18 when two specialists conducted an inspection aboard a motor vessel arriving from Vietnam.

The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with a Glasgow-based restaurant chain, mandating the payment of $250,000 in fines and the implementation of measures to ensure future compliance with federal child labor laws. This follows an investigation that revealed the company employed one child below the legal working age and 37 teenagers for more hours than legally permitted.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a cautionary message to emergency response and recovery workers, as well as residents in areas affected by hurricanes Milton and Helene. The department emphasizes the importance of recognizing and avoiding hazards associated with flooding, power loss, structural damage, fallen trees, and storm debris.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White Mountain Apache Tribe have reached an agreement to address non-compliance with the Clean Water Act concerning wastewater treatment on tribal land in Arizona. The Tribe operates five wastewater treatment plants, including those at Sunrise Park Resort, Hon-Dah Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, and Whiteriver Sewage Lagoons.

Microsoft Corp. has announced the release date for its fiscal year 2025 first-quarter financial results. The company will publish these results after the market closes on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Interested parties can access the information on the Microsoft Investor Relations website.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an extension of the public comment period for its proposed final cleanup plan for the 80-120 Lister Ave. portion of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site in Newark, New Jersey. The deadline, initially set for October 10, has been moved to November 12. This decision follows a public meeting held on September 19 where the EPA explained the proposed plan.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has unanimously approved changes to the premerger notification form and related instructions under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. These modifications aim to enhance the FTC's and the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division's ability to identify illegal mergers before they are finalized.

Ray Ficca is the President of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. He is an actor, director, producer, writer, and songwriter.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a significant investment exceeding $46 million to support veteran, underserved, and beginning farmers and ranchers across the United States. This initiative aims to assist new producers in entering the agriculture business while enhancing their skills and knowledge for long-term sustainability.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a settlement with Marriott International, Inc. and its subsidiary Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide LLC over data security failures that led to three significant breaches between 2014 and 2020. These breaches affected more than 344 million customers globally.

As another major hurricane approaches, the Justice Department, in collaboration with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), has issued a warning to consumers about potential fraud, price gouging, and collusive schemes during natural disasters.

The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a federal consent decree requiring Plateau Sawmill LLC, a lumber producer in Clarkrange, Tennessee, to cease violations of federal child labor regulations. The company must also pay fines and return profits made from products manufactured during the violations.

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced new regulations and funding aimed at addressing lead contamination in drinking water systems across the United States. The final rule, known as the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), mandates that all drinking water systems identify and replace lead pipes within a decade. It also requires stricter testing protocols and lower thresholds for action on lead exposure, aiming to enhance community awareness about the risks associated with lead-contaminated water.

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a final rule mandating that drinking water systems nationwide identify and replace lead pipes within ten years. This initiative is part of the administration's broader commitment to eliminate lead pipes across the country, ensuring access to clean drinking water for all communities.

On September 26, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reached a settlement with Alabama Power Company regarding alleged violations of federal Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) regulations at the James M. Barry Electric Generating Plant in Bucks, Mobile County, Alabama. The agreement mandates that Alabama Power enhance its groundwater monitoring efforts and revise its Emergency Action Plan at Plant Barry. Additionally, the company will pay a civil penalty of $278,000.

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a significant initiative to address lead contamination in drinking water across the United States. A new rule requires all drinking water systems to identify and replace lead pipes within the next decade. This is part of a broader effort by President Biden to ensure that every community can access clean drinking water.

As the nation prepares for another major hurricane, federal agencies are cautioning consumers about potential scams and price gouging in the aftermath of natural disasters. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have issued warnings to alert individuals about fraudulent activities that often arise during such times.

The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a federal consent decree against Plateau Sawmill LLC, a lumber producer in Clarkrange, Tennessee. The company is required to cease violations of federal child labor laws, pay penalties, and surrender profits earned during the period of violation.

The U.S. Department of State recently hosted 50 young scholars from Australia, India, Japan, the United States, and Southeast Asia in Washington, D.C. for the second Quad Fellowship Summit on October 7. This event marked the first inclusion of scholars from Southeast Asia since the program's inception in 2021.

U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, is set to visit Brasilia, Brazil from October 10-11. The purpose of the visit is to lead the U.S. delegation at the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group Ministerial.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry have detained a United States citizen wanted for alleged sexual assault of a child. The apprehension took place on October 7 at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge during an inspection of a commercial bus arriving from Mexico.

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a final rule mandating the identification and replacement of lead pipes in drinking water systems across the United States within the next decade. This move is part of a broader initiative to ensure access to clean water for all communities.

The Biden-Harris Administration is actively working to address the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The U.S. Department of Education has announced a series of resources aimed at assisting students, families, borrowers, and educational institutions affected by these natural disasters.

A recent investigation by federal workplace safety officials has found that a recycling company in Janesville, Wisconsin, continues to expose its workers to hazardous levels of lead and cadmium. This comes after the company was cited for similar violations in April 2023.