Search for news, organizations and people The Federal Newswire

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The owner of a Benton tavern and restaurant has agreed to comply with a preliminary injunction obtained by the U.S. Department of Labor to stop the employer from violating federal regulations.

Two Missouri men pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring with bankers to willfully fail to implement appropriate anti-money laundering (AML) controls at a Missouri bank, as required by the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the third round of the Department’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program. The FY24 NOFO includes funding from FY24-26, totaling over $600 million for capital construction and community planning grants. This initiative is part of the ongoing investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aimed at enhancing infrastructure across the nation.

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced settlements in two cases involving agricultural worker protection with Olomana Orchids Inc., in Kaneohe, and Mari’s Gardens LLC, in Mililani. Both nurseries are located on the island of Oʻahu.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income Iowa residents recovering from the impact of flooding beginning June 16, 2024, could be eligible for assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).

LIVERPOOL, PA – The owner of a Liverpool roofing company risked the lives of two of his children by exposing them to falls from heights while they worked on roofs atop a Mechanicsburg apartment complex in June 2024, a U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income New Mexico residents recovering from the impact of wildfires and flooding beginning June 17, 2024, could be eligible for assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).

Federal Trade Commission staff sent warning letters to eight companies regarding their warranty practices, which may impede consumers' right to repair products they have purchased. The warnings highlight concerns that these practices violate the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (MMWA), a law governing consumer product warranties and enforced by the FTC.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced a series of resources and tips to help the public address extreme heat conditions currently affecting the nation. The agencies are emphasizing the importance of planning and taking action to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths.

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that it is seeking electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before June 22, 2024, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places. Comments should be submitted electronically by July 17, 2024.

The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against online used car dealer Vroom for misrepresenting that it thoroughly examined all vehicles before listing them for sale and failing to obtain consumers’ consent to shipment delays or provide prompt refunds when cars weren’t delivered in the time Vroom promised.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Petroleum Reserves has announced the awarding of contracts for the sale and liquidation of 1 million barrels (42 million gallons) of gasoline from the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve (NGSR). This action follows a Request for Proposal (RFP) announced on May 21, 2024. The gasoline is being sold at an average price of $2.34 per gallon to help reduce gas prices ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

Kate Kelly will be joining the Center for American Progress (CAP) as senior director for the Women’s Initiative. In this role, she will lead CAP’s efforts to advocate for reproductive rights and freedom, expand abortion access, and advance policies to ensure all women can participate in the economy and live healthy, productive lives.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a settlement with Sunrise Power Company regarding claims of Safe Drinking Water Act violations at the company's Sunrise Power Plant in Kern County, California. The company has agreed to pay a penalty of $55,788 to resolve permit violations related to the Underground Injection Control Program.

Following the introduction of the "Expanding Partnerships and Competitiveness Act" in the Senate, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a leading think tank for science and technology policy, released a statement from Nigel Cory, associate director of trade policy:

SAN JOSE, CA – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has revealed that Intuit, a Silicon Valley-based multinational provider of payroll and financial software applications, failed to keep accurate pay records and did not compensate employees for certain work hours, including required training time. This resulted in more than 2,500 employees being deprived of over $555,000 in overtime pay.

The Justice Department announced a settlement agreement today to resolve its investigation into race and disability discrimination in Wichita Public Schools, Kansas' largest school district. Under the settlement, the district will revise practices to prevent discrimination in discipline and referrals of students to law enforcement, end the use of seclusion, reform restraint practices, and improve services to students with disabilities in certain schools and classrooms.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposed Prospective Purchaser Agreement (PPA) open for public comment regarding the Olin property, a 50-acre parcel at 51 Eames Street in Wilmington, Massachusetts. This site, previously used for chemical manufacturing and waste disposal, was designated as a federal Superfund site in 2006 due to extensive environmental contamination.

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) have initiated an investigation into alleged misconduct at Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). In a letter addressed to Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Director Tony Dearman, they expressed concerns about how these allegations were handled.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has unanimously voted to block Tempur Sealy International, Inc.’s proposed $4 billion acquisition of Mattress Firm Group Inc. The Commission issued an administrative complaint and authorized a lawsuit in federal court to halt the acquisition, alleging that Tempur Sealy—the world’s largest mattress supplier and manufacturer—would gain the ability and incentive to suppress competition and raise prices for mattresses for millions of consumers.

SAVANNAH, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor has determined that a Hazlehurst sawmill could have prevented the fatal injuries of a 24-year-old employee if federal safety regulations had been followed.

The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), announced a new funding round of approximately $504 million in implementation grants to 12 Tech Hubs. This initiative aims to scale up the production of critical technologies, create jobs in innovative industries, and strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.

The U.S. Department of Labor has released a proposed rule aimed at protecting millions of workers from the health risks associated with extreme heat. If finalized, the rule would safeguard approximately 36 million workers in both indoor and outdoor settings, potentially reducing heat-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths.

On June 24, government officials, civil society representatives, and academics convened at the "Artificial Intelligence & The First Amendment: Protecting Free Speech in the AI Era" symposium hosted by CDT and The Future of Free Speech. Experts discussed the importance of free expression considerations in regulatory debates around AI.

Following the announcement of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs implementation grant winners, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a leading think tank for science and technology policy, released a statement from Robert D. Atkinson, president of ITIF.