News from August 2024
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today that Wisconsin will join IRS Direct File for Filing Season 2025. This development, enabled by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, will allow more than 600,000 Wisconsinites to utilize a free online tax filing tool next year.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) marks the 28th anniversary of the signing of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). On this day in 1996, President Bill Clinton signed this bipartisan legislation into law, introducing significant health care reforms. HIPAA is primarily known for establishing standards to safeguard the privacy and security of individually identifiable health information, which OCR administers and enforces.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
ACT | The App Association released a statement from President Morgan Reed following the introduction of the National Science Foundation (NSF) AI Education Act and the Small Business AI Advancement Act in the House of Representatives.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez will travel to Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru from August 21-29 to engage key partners in the Western Hemisphere on critical minerals supply chains and developments in the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, and to promote trade and economic opportunities with the United States.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
This week, World Humanitarian Day was celebrated to honor the daily sacrifices of humanitarian aid workers who operate in some of the world's most challenging environments. These individuals often face significant risks to their own safety as they provide aid and relief to vulnerable and desperate populations. The United States acknowledges their dedication, compassion, and humanity.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an initial award of $2 million in emergency grant funding to Texas. This allocation aims to support employment and training for workers involved in cleanup and recovery activities across 67 counties impacted by Hurricane Beryl.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
COLUMBIA, SC – The U.S. Department of Labor is encouraging employers and stakeholders in South Carolina’s highway construction industry to participate in a statewide survey to help its Wage and Hour Division establish prevailing wage rates for construction workers on federally funded and assisted construction projects.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas has ruled against the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) rule banning non-compete agreements, deeming it unlawful. The decision was made in the case Ryan, LLC v. Federal Trade Commission, where the court determined that the FTC's rule exceeded its statutory authority and should not be implemented or enforced.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its preliminary annual benchmark report for nonfarm payrolls, revealing a decline of 818,000 jobs. This revision is the most substantial since 2009 and represents approximately 30% of the job growth for the 12-month period ending in March 2024.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
The Office of Information Policy (OIP) has announced new dates for FOIA training sessions for the first half of Fiscal Year 2025. As part of its mandate to promote agency compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), OIP offers various training opportunities throughout the year aimed at agency FOIA professionals and individuals with FOIA responsibilities.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
Election officials face an increasingly demanding set of responsibilities, from protecting their systems from cybersecurity threats to managing and responding to emergencies. At the same time, election officials increasingly report facing threats and harassment, often motivated by mis- and disinformation, which may be contributing to increasing turnover rates. These challenges are compounded by limited budgets for training staff on new and emerging threats.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
Global tech trade association ITI has issued recommendations for the U.S. government as preparations begin for the next generation of mobile communications. Responding to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) request for comments on the advancement of Sixth Generation (6G) telecommunications technology, ITI emphasized what is needed for U.S. industry to advance 6G deployment and utilize innovations in AI, sustainable networks, and cybersecurity, with 6G anticipated to be released in 2030.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt will travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from August 21-22 to engage with industry representatives, academia, community leaders, and NGOs. The visit aims to highlight the Bureau of Energy Resources' (ENR) work on energy security, the energy transition, and U.S. support for Ukraine’s energy sector.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi. The Secretary emphasized the urgent need to finalize the ceasefire deal aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people and securing the release of hostages.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
Protesters at Citi Field represented 11 organizations that signed an open letter opposing the use of facial recognition systems at stadiums. The groups included Fight for the Future, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and Amnesty International. The letter contends that “not only does facial recognition pose unprecedented threats to people’s privacy and safety, it’s also completely unnecessary.”
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $133,000 in wages and damages for 56 landscaping workers who were denied overtime by Turf Paradise Inc., a snow removal and landscaping company based in Longmont, Colorado. The Wage and Hour Division's investigation revealed that the company improperly claimed an exemption for seasonal recreational and amusement workers, leading to the failure to pay overtime.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
Quentin Allen Jackson, a former Harlem Globetrotter, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in a COVID-19 fraud scheme.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
The Department of Defense announced today two awards to Oak Harbor Public Schools from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. This includes a $66,345,276 grant as the Federal share of a larger $80,411,292 project for Hand in Hand Learning Center and a $70,631,558 Federal award to Crescent Harbor Elementary School as part of a larger $84,300,054 project that replaces these two schools at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today the implementation of federal disaster assistance for Kansas, following severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding on May 19, 2024. This action aims to supplement state, Tribal, and local recovery efforts.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 21, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $25.5 million in grants through a new program aimed at supporting drinking water systems in underserved, small, and disadvantaged communities while mitigating the impacts of climate change. This marks the inaugural distribution of funds under the Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program, with 16 recipients selected from across the United States, ranging from Connecticut to Alaska.
