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CDT research indicates that parents desire more involvement in decision-making about how schools use data and technology (EdTech) to educate their children. However, schools often fail to provide opportunities for meaningful parental input. Concurrently, parents are demanding greater visibility and rights concerning school administrators' interactions with educational services beyond just EdTech. This demand has led to the introduction and sometimes passage of federal and state parental rights bills.

Washington D.C. — President Joe Biden has officially designated the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument in Springfield, Illinois, using the Antiquities Act. The site marks one of the most violent race riots in U.S. history, which occurred on August 14, 1908. During this three-day attack, the Black community and prosperous Black businesses were targeted, resulting in the lynching of two Black men and widespread destruction of homes and businesses. This event led to the formation of the NAACP.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources have proposed a cleanup plan to address PCB-contaminated soil and sediment at Cedar Creek Operable Unit 2B, part of the Cedar Creek Superfund alternative site in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. The proposal will be open for public comment until September 12.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement released an interim report regarding Juan Carlos Garcia Rodriguez, a criminal illegal alien whose release into the United States was expedited by the Biden-Harris Administration.

A lack of affordability and buyer hesitation stemming from elevated interest rates and high home prices contributed to a decline in builder sentiment in August.

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a $50 million investment to support small- and medium-sized manufacturers in six states with significant automotive workforces. This initiative aims to help these suppliers adapt their manufacturing facilities for the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain, maintaining union jobs in traditional auto communities. The funding is part of the Department of Energy's (DOE) $2 billion Domestic Automotive Manufacturing Conversion Grant program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.

A convicted felon and member of an anti-government extremist group who took part in online discussions to kidnap and attack federal officials on Thanksgiving Day 2022 was sentenced to prison for illegally possessing firearms during a trip to Georgia.

Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party have identified a growing risk posed by Chinese Wi-Fi routers in the United States, specifically those manufactured by TP-Link Technologies. They have called on the Department of Commerce to verify this threat and investigate the company.

The United States is imposing sanctions on one individual and six companies, and blocking three vessels, for their involvement in illicit revenue generation to support the Houthis' destabilizing activities on behalf of Iran-based Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force-backed Houthi financier Sa’id al-Jamal.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered Menard Inc. of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to immediately cease the sale and distribution of unregistered pesticides. This action is in response to violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

The Bloom Firm, a California law firm, and its senior managers Lisa Bloom and Braden Pollock have agreed to pay $274,000 to settle allegations of violating the False Claims Act. The allegations involve providing false information in support of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application.

On August 15, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned several companies, individuals, and vessels for their involvement in the shipment of Iranian commodities to Yemen and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These actions are linked to Iran-based Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF)-backed Houthi financial official Sa’id al-Jamal. The Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) entry for the vessel ARTURA has been updated to reflect its new name, OHAR.

The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with the New Jersey Judiciary to improve access to court services for people with limited English proficiency (LEP).

Two years after the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law, a new analysis from the Center for American Progress (CAP) warns that far-right extremists behind Project 2025 are planning to undo all the climate progress this historic legislation has achieved.

Today, global tech trade association ITI issued a statement from its Executive Vice President of Policy, Gordon Bitko, in response to the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) proposed rule on implementing the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program in DoD contracts.

Washington, D.C. — The Medicare program provides critical health care coverage for more than 67 million older Americans. However, the plan known as Project 2025 puts this coverage at risk. Project 2025 includes plans to make Medicare Advantage (MA)—privatized Medicare—the default option for all Medicare enrollees, pushing the United States toward a future of fully privatized Medicare. A new Center for American Progress article examines the threat Project 2025 poses to Medicare enrollees and the solvency of the Medicare trust fund.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the prices of the first 10 prescription drugs subject to the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Medicare drug price negotiation program. In response, Andrea Ducas, vice president of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued a statement.

BOSTON (Aug. 15, 2024) – New England state air quality forecasters are predicting elevated concentrations of fine particle air pollution due to wildfires in Quebec and Western Canada. The primary concern is high concentrations of fine particle air pollution that is unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups such as people with respiratory disease, the elderly, or people with compromised health. Areas forecasted to exceed the Federal air quality standard for 24-hour particle pollution level concentrations include:

Today, new web features for Threads were announced, aimed at helping users understand their content's performance and streamline the planning process. These updates are expected to be particularly beneficial for creators and businesses utilizing Threads to connect with audiences.

A Michigan company was sentenced today to pay a criminal fine of $6.5 million for its role in conspiracies to rig bids for asphalt paving services contracts in the State of Michigan.

The Justice Department announced today that it issued a letter to state and local police departments and governments about programs that may violate federal housing protections. The letter describes common features of these widespread programs, sometimes known as “crime-free” or “nuisance” programs, and cautions that they may be unlawful when they unfairly penalize communities of color, individuals with disabilities, or survivors of domestic violence.

Some of the provisions in the proposed FTC rule mirror the language in COPPA 2.0, while others are only in the legislation.

A Maryland man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison in Baltimore federal court for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

The Virginia law received an F grade in a 2024 report by the Electronic Privacy Information Center and US PIRG Education Fund due to its lack of substantial consumer protections.

As Michigan’s harvest season intensifies, the U.S. Department of Labor is reminding employers of their responsibilities and seasonal workers of their rights under federal law.