Search for news, organizations and people The Federal Newswire

A Rhode Island woman was arraigned today following her indictment on June 17 by a federal grand jury on charges of mail fraud and conspiracy for operating a direct-mail sweepstakes scheme that defrauded seniors and other vulnerable individuals across the country out of more than $10 million.

Federal investigators have determined that the Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System in Prescott has again failed to protect its healthcare workers from violent patients. This marks the second such finding in four years.

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced the selection of 11 university scientists and engineers for the 2024 class of the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship (VBFF), its flagship single-investigator award for basic research. The department will support this cohort with up to $33 million to explore new frontiers in knowledge and advance transformative, fundamental research at their respective institutions.

On July 2, 2024, Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) and the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships signed a Memorandum of Understanding for XTC to join the Coalition for Climate Entrepreneurship (CCE) public-private partnership.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the implementation of federal disaster assistance for Iowa, following severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began on June 16, 2024. President Biden has issued a major disaster declaration for Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a preliminary memorandum of terms with Rogue Valley Microdevices (RVM) to support the construction of a new foundry facility in Palm Bay, Florida. The proposed investment, valued at up to $6.7 million under the CHIPS and Science Act, aims to nearly triple RVM’s production capacity.

The European Commission has notified Meta of its preliminary finding that the social network’s advertising model violates European law. In response, Daniel Castro, Vice President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), issued a statement criticizing the decision.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has amended its administrative cleanup order for the Gowanus Canal Superfund site in Brooklyn, New York, to address the middle segment of the canal, known as Remediation Target Area (RTA) 2. The announcement was made on June 27, 2024.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today the 2024 recipients of the Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), in collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies across seven federal judicial districts and geographical locations in the United States, concluded a six-week national operation that resulted in locating 200 critically missing children. The operation, titled "Operation We Will Find You 2" (OWWFY2), ran from May 20 to June 24 and targeted areas with high concentrations of missing children.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has announced a settlement with Heritage Valley Health System regarding potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule following a ransomware attack. This marks OCR’s third ransomware settlement as the agency observes a 264% increase in large ransomware breaches since 2018.

Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Competition Director Henry Liu issued a statement in response to Novant Health, Inc.'s decision to terminate its proposed acquisition of two hospitals from Community Health Systems.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Moody v. NetChoice, ruling on Florida and Texas’ social media laws, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) issued a statement from Senior Policy Manager Ash Johnson.

Since launching one year ago, the OECD’s Semiconductor Informal Exchange Network (SIEN) continues to strengthen global semiconductor supply chains through collaboration with more than 50 global economies and nongovernmental stakeholders. In its first year, the network has enhanced cooperation among semiconductor policymakers and experts, promoted transparency in policymaking affecting the semiconductor ecosystem, and facilitated emergency response planning for supply chain disruptions.

BOSTON (July 1, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a $254,000 grant to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to enhance water quality monitoring at beaches. This funding is part of a broader $9.75 million initiative announced in June aimed at supporting coastal and Great Lakes communities with similar programs.

Chargé d’Affaires Kimberly R. Furnish, Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) Principal Deputy Director J. Douglas Dykhouse, U.S. Northern Command Brigadier General Maurizio Calabrese, U.S. Mission personnel, and Bahamian officials gathered during the Embassy Nassau’s July 4th celebration to recognize the near completion of the new U.S. embassy in Nassau with a ribbon cutting.

The Justice Department announced today that the Town of Franklinton, Louisiana, has agreed to pay $230,000 in damages and civil penalties to settle allegations that it violated the Fair Housing Act by blocking a proposed affordable housing development for low-income tenants in a predominantly white part of Franklinton.

A U.S. district court in central Florida today unsealed a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaint charging two related groups of defendants with defrauding consumers nationwide by enrolling them, without their knowledge, into continuity plans where they are shipped and charged repeatedly for personal care products that they did not agree to purchase.

The Green Grid Releases New Online Tool to Right-Size Data Center Cooling Units

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the allocation of $26.8 million in legal services grants to 108 public and non-profit organizations. The initiative aims to enhance access to legal services for eligible Veterans who are experiencing or at risk for homelessness.

Special Advisor on International Disability Rights (SAIDR) Sara Minkara will travel to Istanbul and Ankara, Türkiye, from June 30 to July 3. The visit aims to advance the inclusion of persons with disabilities across various policy areas.

From June 30 to July 2, Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Jessica Stern will travel to Dublin, Ireland. Special Envoy Stern will meet with senior Irish government officials to discuss Ireland’s efforts to advance LGBTQI+ equality via multilateral fora and domestically to address discrimination and provide mental health support for LGBTQI+ individuals. SE Stern will also meet with Irish parliamentarians to discuss legislative approaches and best practices to strengthen political support for advancing LGBTQI+ equality in Ireland.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

This week marked the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated federal protections for abortion. The ruling has highlighted the importance of digital privacy in defending gender justice.

Washington, D.C. — The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has moved to protect approximately 28 million acres of public lands in Alaska from development. This decision, detailed in a final environmental impact statement, reverses the Trump administration's efforts to open these lands for industrial development and potential transfer during its final weeks in office.