News from May 2015


Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on the Passing of Former  State Attorney General of Delaware Beau Biden, Son of  Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on the Passing of Former State Attorney General of Delaware Beau Biden, Son of Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden

News Release: "The thoughts and prayers of my entire family are with the Vice President, Dr. Biden and Beau Biden’s family as they mourn the tragic loss of their son, husband, brother and father. Beau was a man of courage, honor and deep patriotism. His full life of service, dedication, and love for his family and his country will inspire generations. Our hearts are overwhelmed by sadness for the Biden family and we offer our deepest condolences."


The Frederick Stake LDS Church and Catoctin Mountain Park Celebrate National Trails Day with Special Trail Activities

The Frederick Stake LDS Church and Catoctin Mountain Park Celebrate National Trails Day with Special Trail Activities

News Release: Catoctin Mountain Park joins the Frederick Stake LDS Church, Cunningham Falls State Park, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and Gambrill State Park in celebration of National Trails Day on Saturday, June 6.


Information:  Federal Court Arraignments

Information: Federal Court Arraignments

News Release: The United States Attorney’s Office announced that those persons listed below were arraigned before the U.S. Magistrate and the indictments handed down by the Grand Jury unsealed.


Wildflower Weekend at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument (Fritch)

Wildflower Weekend at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument (Fritch)

News Release: FRITCH, Texas -Lake Meredith National Recreation Area will host the first ever Wildflower Weekend Friday, June 5th beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Alibates Visitor Center.


Celebrate “Gertie Day” at Petrified Forest National Park

Celebrate “Gertie Day” at Petrified Forest National Park

News Release: Petrified Forest, AZ-Some 30 years ago, paleontologist Bryan Small discovered remains of a brand new dinosaur to science at Petrified Forest National Park. Chindesaurus bryansmalli was small carnivore, billed at the time as the oldest dinosaur ever found on the planet. Word of this discovery made international news and when "Gertie" (the nickname the fossil became known as) was airlifted out of the park's wilderness on June 6, 1985, it was a major media event.


20th Anniversary of "Apollo 13" Celebrated at the LBJ Ranch

20th Anniversary of "Apollo 13" Celebrated at the LBJ Ranch

News Release: Johnson City, Texas -- Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park continues its popular outdoor summertime movie series on Saturday, June 6, with the showing of the movie “Apollo 13" starring Tom Hanks at the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall. The film starts at dusk and will be presented on a large outdoor screen. Access to the ranch begins at7:00 pm. A movie trivia contest will precede the film. Prizes will be given out to lucky contest winners.


Conyers, Sensenbrenner, Nadler on Senate Rejection of the USA FREEDOM Act

Conyers, Sensenbrenner, Nadler on Senate Rejection of the USA FREEDOM Act

News Release: Following the Senate vote rejecting the USA Freedom Act, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.), Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), and Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) issued the following joint statement...


Wildflower Weekend at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument (Fritch)

Wildflower Weekend at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument (Fritch)

News Release: FRITCH,Texas -Lake Meredith National Recreation Area will host the first ever Wildflower Weekend Friday, June 5th beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Alibates Visitor Center.


Naperville Man Pleads Guilty to Setting Fire to Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center in Aurora

Naperville Man Pleads Guilty to Setting Fire to Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center in Aurora

News Release: CHICAGO - A Naperville man pled guilty today to federal charges he set fire to the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center in Aurora on Sept. 26, 2014, federal law enforcement officials announced today. Brian Howard, 37, of Naperville, was charged by information earlier this month with one count ...


DHS Announces Intent to Expand Preclearance to 10 New Airports

DHS Announces Intent to Expand Preclearance to 10 New Airports

News Release: U.S. seeking to enter negotiations to expand air preclearance operations in nine foreign countries For Immediate Release DHS Press Office Contact: 202-282-8010 WASHINGTON— Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson announced today the United States intends to enter into negotiations to expand air preclearance ...


USDA to Invest Up to $100 Million to Boost Infrastructure for Renewable Fuel Use, Seeking to Double Number of Higher Blend Renewable Fuel Pumps

USDA to Invest Up to $100 Million to Boost Infrastructure for Renewable Fuel Use, Seeking to Double Number of Higher Blend Renewable Fuel Pumps

News Release: WASHINGTON, May 29, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest up to $100 million in a Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership to support the infrastructure needed to make more renewable fuel options available to American consumers. ...


Fact Sheet: USDA Invests in Clean Energy Economy, Supporting U.S. Producers and Seeking to Double Number of Higher Blend Renewable Fuel Pumps Available to Consumers

Fact Sheet: USDA Invests in Clean Energy Economy, Supporting U.S. Producers and Seeking to Double Number of Higher Blend Renewable Fuel Pumps Available to Consumers

News Release: To create new markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers, help Americans save money on their energy bills, support America's clean energy economy, cut carbon pollution, and reduce dependence on foreign oil and costly fossil fuels, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to aggressively pursue investments in American-grown renewable energy.


Secretary Vilsack Announces Additional 800,000 Acres Dedicated to Conservation Reserve Program for Wildlife Habitat and Wetlands

Secretary Vilsack Announces Additional 800,000 Acres Dedicated to Conservation Reserve Program for Wildlife Habitat and Wetlands

News Release: Secretary Hails Program's 30th Anniversary, Announces General Signup Period MILWAUKEE, May 29, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that an additional 800,000 acres of highly environmentally sensitive land may be enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) under certain wetland and wildlife initiatives that provide multiple benefits on the same land.


Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Joins Community Partners to Expand Access to Summer Meals for Children

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Joins Community Partners to Expand Access to Summer Meals for Children

News Release: Program that feeds hungry kids during the summer commemorates 40th anniversary MILWAUKEE, May 29, 2015 – Today Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined representatives from Milwaukee's Hunger Task Force, the Kohl's Corporation, and members of the Milwaukee community to bring attention to childhood hunger. ...


Federal Officials Close the Investigation Into the Death of Otis James Byrd

Federal Officials Close the Investigation Into the Death of Otis James Byrd

News Release: The Department of Justice announced today that following its investigation into the death of Otis James Byrd that there is no evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges in the death of Byrd. Officials from the Justice Department=s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney=s Office for the ...


New Jersey Developer to Pay Civil Penalty for Stormwater Violations and Preserve Wetlands

New Jersey Developer to Pay Civil Penalty for Stormwater Violations and Preserve Wetlands

News Release: The Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it have reached an agreement with Garden Homes and its affiliated companies to settle their alleged failure to control stormwater discharges. These failures potentially resulted in pollutant discharges to the ...


Two Wyoming Residents and One Arizona Resident Convicted of Tax Fraud and Obstruction of Justice

Two Wyoming Residents and One Arizona Resident Convicted of Tax Fraud and Obstruction of Justice

News Release: On May 28, a jury in the District of Wyoming convicted two Cheyenne, Wyoming, residents and a Sedona, Arizona, resident on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstructing a grand jury investigation. The announcement was made by Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo ...


Two Tennessee Men Plead Guilty to Killing During Home Invasion Robbery

Two Tennessee Men Plead Guilty to Killing During Home Invasion Robbery

News Release: Two Tennessee men pleaded guilty to using a firearm to kill during a home invasion robbery they conducted on May 7, 2011, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David Rivera of the Middle District of Tennessee.


Federal Reserve names Payments Strategy Director to lead payment system improvement

Federal Reserve names Payments Strategy Director to lead payment system improvement

News Release: Federal Reserve Names Payments Strategy Director to Lead Payment System Improvement The Federal Reserve today named Gordon Werkema as Payments Strategy Director with responsibility for leading major payment system improvement initiatives described in its recently published "Strategies for Improving the ...


Federal bank regulatory agencies seek further comment on interagency effort to reduce regulatory burden

Federal bank regulatory agencies seek further comment on interagency effort to reduce regulatory burden

News Release: The federal bank regulatory agencies on Friday approved a notice requesting comment on a third set of regulatory categories as part of their review to identify outdated or unnecessary regulations applied to insured depository institutions.