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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has adjusted for inflation three monetary exemption thresholds used to determine whether the sale of a franchise qualifies for an exemption under the agency’s Franchise Rule. The rule mandates franchisors to disclose essential information prospective buyers need to evaluate the risks and benefits of investing in a franchise.

The U.S. Departments of State and Justice convened the third meeting of the Counterterrorism Law Enforcement Forum (CTLEF) in The Hague, the Netherlands on July 10-11. The CTLEF, which focuses on countering the global threat of racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE), brought together law enforcement, prosecutors, other criminal justice practitioners, financial regulators, and policymakers from Europe, North and South America, and the Indo-Pacific; alongside specialists from Europol, INTERPOL, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law,...

Chris Frascella, counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, highlighted that cell site ID numbers can be used to deduce approximate locations, potentially revealing sensitive information. For instance, if an individual made a call near a protest, this could be inferred from the data. It remains unclear whether individuals who are not AT&T customers but received calls from those within the breached data set would be affected by approximate location metadata.

A Texas pharmaceutical marketer was sentenced today to two years and five months in prison and ordered to pay over $59 million in restitution for conspiring to defraud the United States, receiving illegal kickbacks in exchange for compounded medications prescription referrals, and money laundering.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that allocates over $153 million for the Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grant Program. This funding aims to cover operating costs for projects establishing new routes, restoring former intercity passenger operations, and enhancing existing services. These initiatives align with ongoing major rail projects nationwide, supported by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

EPA New England's Healthy Communities Grant Program is now accepting applications for projects of up to $40,000 in federal funding aimed at benefiting New England communities in specific target areas. The deadline for proposal submissions is Friday, November 1, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EPA plans to award approximately 15 cooperative agreements.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an order to the city of Marietta, Ohio, to address alleged violations of the Clean Water Act at its wastewater treatment facility located at 440 East Eighth Street.

Washington D.C. — In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) are seeking detailed information on FERC’s capacity to manage the increasing electricity demand, particularly driven by the expansion of AI data centers.

On June 18, the Department of Commerce Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships, in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, organized the National Youth Summit 2.0 in Washington, DC. Secretary Raimondo, Deputy Secretary Graves, Acting Under Secretary Morrissette, and President and CEO of BGCGW Gabrielle Webster led the event with keynote remarks emphasizing the Administration's commitment to celebrating, empowering, and uplifting youth from communities nationwide.

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) have sent a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Willie Phillips and the FERC Commissioners. The letter demands information on how FERC is preparing for the potential impacts of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan 2.0 (CPP2.0) on the electric grid.

On July 11, 2024, the Argentinian Federal Court of Criminal Cassation issued a decision regarding a criminal complaint filed by the Uyghur Human Rights Project, World Uyghur Congress, and Lawyers for Uyghur Rights. The complaint alleges genocide and crimes against humanity. The Court of Cassation determined that the Court of Appeal of Buenos Aires had erred in agreeing with the Prosecutor’s decision to archive the complaint and ordered an investigation to be opened. This ruling mandates that the first instance judge initiate the investigatory stage of proceedings.

WASHINGTON – Today, global tech trade association ITI released a first-of-its-kind set of consensus tech sector practices that companies are using to develop and deploy AI technology safely and securely, aiming to build trust with consumers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $14.8 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Palmdale Water District (PWD) in southern California. This loan will support the district’s regional advanced water augmentation program, aimed at establishing a drought-proof drinking water supply for over 125,000 residents.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice announced a $241.5 million settlement with Marathon Oil Company to address Clean Air Act violations at its oil and gas production operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. This settlement includes a civil penalty of $64.5 million, the largest ever for such violations at stationary sources like oil and gas tank systems.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued a supplemental alert concerning the financing of Israeli extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. This alert builds upon a previous one released on February 1, 2024, and provides additional red flags to aid U.S. financial institutions in identifying and reporting suspicious activities that finance violence in the region.

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the Biden-Harris Administration is making investments to strengthen American food supply chains, increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, create new markets for producers, and lower food costs.

Today, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Subcommittee on Administrative Law, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Ranking Member Lou Correa (D-CA) introduced the Corner Post Reversal Act. The legislation aims to reverse the effects of the Supreme Court’s ruling by reestablishing limits on when private interests and large corporations can challenge rules that protect consumers, the workforce, and the environment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice announced a $241.5 million settlement with Marathon Oil Company to address Clean Air Act violations at its oil and gas production operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The settlement includes a civil penalty of $64.5 million, the largest ever for such violations at stationary sources like oil and gas tank systems.

On July 11, 2024, a warning was issued regarding the prevalence of scam calls. While it is possible that an unknown number on your phone could be legitimate, there is also a significant chance that it may be a scammer. Phone scammers have successfully defrauded people out of substantial amounts of money.

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has led to the recovery of $48,914 in back wages and damages for 18 cooks at two Davenport, Iowa locations of El Compita Mexican Bar and Grill. The investigation revealed that the restaurant failed to pay overtime at time and one-half the hourly rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today a historic Conciliation Agreement with The Appraisal Foundation (TAF). TAF is responsible for setting standards and qualifications for real estate appraisers and providing voluntary guidance for industry valuation professionals. This agreement resolves a Secretary-initiated complaint against TAF, alleging discriminatory barriers preventing qualified Black individuals and other persons of color from entering the appraisal profession on the basis of race, in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Get Foreign Money Out of U.S. Elections Act. The legislation aims to prevent U.S. corporations with significant foreign ownership from influencing election outcomes and ballot measures. This bill seeks to address a loophole created by the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $45,732 in back wages and damages for 14 workers who were denied overtime pay by El Molino Taqueria in Walnut Creek, California. An investigation by the Department's Wage and Hour Division revealed that the restaurant owner did not compensate employees for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, which is a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer was found to have willfully paid overtime hours at straight-time rates and in cash.

Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, has sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation ahead of its hearing on privacy and artificial intelligence. The following statement is attributed to President and CEO Linda Moore:

BRIDGEPORT, CT – An Easton concrete and earthwork contractor could have prevented an employee from suffering fatal injuries in a December 2023 trench collapse at a New Canaan work site but failed to follow federal safety standards for excavations.