News from April 2024
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a significant investment in residential solar projects in Alaska, aimed at lowering energy costs and advancing environmental justice. Through the Solar for All grant competition, the Alaska Energy Authority and the Tanana Chiefs Conference have been selected to receive $62,450,000 each to develop long-lasting solar programs for low-income and disadvantaged communities.According to EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller, the funding will be used to "supercharge the deployment of solar power in communities, create...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule to update federal overtime protections for American workers. In response, Lily Roberts, managing director for the Inclusive Growth department at the Center for American Progress, highlighted the significance of this update."Millions of American workers have been unfairly excluded from overtime pay because of an egregiously low standard set by the Trump administration in 2019. Without an appropriate overtime standard, employers have been able to make low- and middle-wage employees work more...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell held a meeting with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană on April 23, 2024, to discuss important agenda items for the upcoming Washington Summit. The meeting aimed at strengthening the partnership between the United States and NATO on various critical issues.According to Spokesperson Matthew Miller, Deputy Secretary Campbell and Deputy Secretary General Geoană engaged in discussions regarding key priorities for the Washington Summit. Miller stated, "Deputy Secretary Campbell and Deputy Secretary General Geoană discussed key...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
Apr 23 2024U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced today that Mario Diaz Albarran, head custodian at Lincoln Elementary School in Palatine, Illinois, has been named the 2024 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) honoree. This prestigious award, established by Congress in 2019, aims to recognize the exceptional contributions of classified school employees to the quality of PreK-12 education in the United States.Secretary Cardona praised Diaz Albarran for his dedication and impact, stating, “I am thrilled to announce Mr. Mario Diaz Albarran as this...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
A New Hampshire doctor, Adnan S. Khan, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and commit health care fraud. Khan, 48, of Grantham, allegedly orchestrated illegal prescribing and health care fraud through New England Medicine and Counseling Associates (NEMCA), operating clinics in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. According to court documents, Khan distributed drugs outside the usual course of professional practice, requiring patients to pay cash for prescriptions despite having insurance. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M....
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
The Blockchain Association (BA) and the Crypto Freedom Alliance of Texas (CFAT) have taken legal action against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by filing a lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas. The lawsuit aims to challenge the SEC's "Dealer Rule" expansion, which the plaintiffs argue poses a threat to the American digital asset industry and innovation.According to the complaint, the SEC's expansion of the Dealer Rule is deemed unlawful and arbitrary, violating the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The rulemaking process was criticized for lacking...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
Arlington, Va. (April 23, 2024) – The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the leading voice for the American aerospace and defense industry, today announced that national security leader Ryan McDermott has joined as Vice President of National Security Policy."The Aerospace Industries Association continues to strengthen our top-tier leadership team by bringing Ryan on board," said Eric Fanning, AIA’s President and CEO. "With expertise honed over years of diverse experience and a proven track record in strategic planning, organizational management, finance, and...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
The National Park Service has issued a notice soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before April 13, 2024, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places. Comments should be submitted electronically by May 8, 2024.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
PHILADELPHIA (April. 23, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the settlement of a multi-media case against a Maryland oil recycling facility. The penalty of $230,000 imposed on Petroleum Recovery and Remediation Management, Inc. (PMI) is to settle alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and Clean Water Act at its Baltimore, Maryland facility.According to the EPA, PMI will pay the fine for the violations related to the processing, recycling, and disposal of waste oil material, including the operation of...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
Arlington, Va. (April 23, 2024) – After the Senate voted today to send national security supplemental funding to the President’s desk, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning today commended Congress for bolstering the U.S. defense industrial base.In a statement, Fanning expressed gratitude, saying, "The Aerospace Industries Association thanks Congress for reaffirming their support for our national security and the defense industrial base that underpins it. This legislation provides a much-needed injection of funding that will safeguard...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced that the Hope Enterprise Corporation in Arkansas is set to receive over $62 million to deliver residential solar projects, aimed at lowering energy costs and advancing environmental justice. The grant is part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a historic initiative created under President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the significance of this investment, stating, "Today we're delivering on President Biden's promise that no community is left behind by investing $7 billion in...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
La Oficina de Gerencia y Presupuesto de Puerto Rico ha sido seleccionada para recibir $156.1 millones de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos a través del programa de subvenciones Solar for All. Esta iniciativa tiene como objetivo desarrollar programas que beneficien a comunidades desventajadas y de bajos recursos con energía solar a largo plazo.El administrador de la EPA, Michael S. Regan, expresó: “Hoy cumplimos la promesa del Presidente Biden de que ninguna comunidad quede rezagada al invertir $7 mil millones en proyectos de energía solar para más de...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
WASHINGTON, DC—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the establishment of the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse today, as part of President Biden's ambitious environmental justice plan. The Clearinghouse aims to assist the public in accessing federal and non-federal resources online to support the administration's environmental justice initiatives."The Environmental Justice Clearinghouse provides groundbreaking resource guides aimed at helping us achieve our shared environmental justice goals across all agencies," stated Theresa Segovia, Chief Deputy of...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is funding over 700 clean energy projects to lower energy bills, expand access to domestic biofuels, and create jobs for American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. The projects, funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, aim to combat the climate crisis and advance the Investing in America agenda."The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are committed to expanding access to modern clean energy systems and fueling options that strengthen the...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
A concrete contractor based in Virginia has been ordered to pay $1.2 million in fines pertaining to back pay. This comes after the U.S. Department of Labor discovered that the company had incorrectly classified 29 employees as independent contractors, thereby avoiding the obligation to pay them overtime wages.
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
"Netflix's latest Top 10 rankings for the week of April 15 have showcased the success of various shows and films across different categories. Zack Snyder's "Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver" made a remarkable debut at #1 on the English Films List with 21.4 million views, solidifying Snyder's track record of consecutive #1 films on Netflix. According to the report, Snyder's previous works, "Rebel Moon Parts One & Two" and "Army of the Dead," also claimed the top spot in recent times.On the TV front, the limited series "Baby Reindeer," created by Richard Gadd, surged to...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
The Office of Information Policy (OIP) has announced the upcoming NexGen 2.0 FOIA Tech Showcase for federal agencies, scheduled to take place on May 14-16, 2024. The event aims to address existing FOIA case processing and backlog challenges by identifying technology solutions and showcasing advanced technological capabilities.The event will feature a range of vendors providing video demonstrations of their technology products tailored for agency FOIA administration. Following each demonstration, there will be a Q&A session allowing agencies to interact with the vendors...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation and Indian Health Service (IHS) have joined forces to enhance safe drinking water and community sanitation infrastructure projects across Indian Country. The announcement was made at the White House’s Clean Water Summit, with key figures including Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Michael Brain, Indian Health Service Deputy Director Benjamin Smith, and Yakama Nation Chairman Gerald Lewis in attendance.Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Michael Brain...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
The Coca-Cola Company and Microsoft have entered into a five-year strategic partnership to accelerate cloud and generative AI initiatives. In a joint announcement, the companies revealed that Coca-Cola has committed $1.1 billion to the Microsoft Cloud and its generative AI capabilities. Judson Althoff, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Microsoft, expressed pride in the progress made through the partnership, stating, "We are proud to support Coca-Cola as it continues to embrace the era of AI and looks to solutions like Azure OpenAI Service and Copilot...
By Federal Newswire | Apr 23, 2024
Carl Harris, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), expressed his concerns regarding the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) new Federal Flood Risk Management Standards Rule. In a statement, Harris outlined the NAHB's stance on flood management strategies, emphasizing the importance of practical, adaptable, and locally informed approaches.Harris stated, "With respect to flood management strategies, NAHB encourages policies and programs that are practical, predictable, adaptable to local conditions and protective of lives and...
