News from August 2024
By Federal Newswire | Aug 30, 2024
On September 12, 2024, the Department of State’s Advisory Committee on International Postal and Delivery Services will convene to review developments in the Universal Postal Union (UPU), including proposals being developed for next year’s regular UPU Congress in Dubai.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 30, 2024
The Department of the Interior has announced a $12 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to aid four Tribal Nations in cleaning up orphaned oil and gas wells on their lands. This initiative aims to support Tribal land rights, address legacy pollution, reduce methane leaks, and mitigate environmental hazards affecting Tribal communities. The funds will be used for plugging, remediating, or reclaiming orphaned wells, restoring soil and habitat in degraded areas, decommissioning infrastructure, identifying undocumented wells, and establishing...
By Federal Newswire | Aug 30, 2024
The following is the Joint Statement released by the Governments of the United States and New Zealand on the occasion of the New Zealand – United States Strategic Dialogue in Auckland, New Zealand.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
Binance CEO Richard Teng said that the U.S. government has the authority to designate Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance employee imprisoned in Nigeria, as an "unlawfully detained" citizen abroad to secure his release. Teng made his statement in a post on the company's website on August 27, six months after Gambaryan was detained by the Nigerian government.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12), Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), and 10 other state lawmakers have co-introduced a bill aimed at bolstering U.S.-based manufacturing and returning next-generation iron and steel production to the Pittsburgh area. Titled the Modern Steel Act, the legislation also seeks to revitalize deindustrialized communities.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
Six months after his arrest on disputed money laundering charges, former IRS crypto investigator Tigran Gambaryan remains detained in Nigeria, with concerns mounting over his declining health.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a $3,916,000 loan guarantee to Madison County, Illinois for renovations to Gordon Moore Park. The 704-acre public park features various attractions, sports fields, and gardens. This funding will support the construction of public restrooms, locker rooms, concession areas, and a new multi-purpose space in partnership with the City of Alton, Illinois. The project aims to benefit low- and moderate-income persons as a community amenity for local sports programming and is expected to drive local economic growth.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced an $8,081,000 loan guarantee to the City of Mount Vernon, New York for the Mount Vernon Public Facilities Improvement Fund Project. The funds will enable the city to enhance municipal facilities by improving accessibility in line with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and repurposing historical landmarks as public facilities. This initiative aims to benefit residents, particularly low- and moderate-income families. Additionally, the project includes essential repairs to local fire stations...
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
Inaugural Event Honors America's First Games at the National Mall with Games, Nutrition Education, and Native Traditions
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
The 17th U.S.-Japan Joint Working-Level Committee (JWLC) Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation took place in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 2024. Rahima Kandahari, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science and Space in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, and H.E. Kaji Misako, Ambassador for Science and Technology Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan co-chaired the JWLC.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
Meta has launched Creator Lab in India, an educational resource designed specifically for aspiring content creators. This initiative aims to support young people across India interested in content creation.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $326,836 in back wages and damages for 504 employees of Passavant Memorial Homes. The investigation by the Wage and Hour Division found that the Pittsburgh-area residential homes operator failed to include non-discretionary bonuses when calculating overtime pay rates. This omission is a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which mandates that such bonuses be factored into overtime calculations.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
Amazon's use of consumer data, particularly in relation to grocery purchases and prescription drug sales, has raised concerns about privacy laws and protections. Suzanne Bernstein, a legal fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), highlighted the limitations of HIPAA, the federal law that protects health privacy. According to Bernstein, "HIPAA only applies to health care providers, insurers, and companies that manage medical records," which means it does not cover Amazon purchases.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida has issued a permanent injunction against Miami tax return preparer Richard Louis, prohibiting him from preparing federal income tax returns, working for or owning any stake in a tax preparation business, assisting others in preparing tax returns, and transferring or assigning customer lists to any other person or entity. The court also ordered Louis to disgorge $390,000 in ill-gotten gains from his return preparation business. Louis agreed to both the injunction and the ordered disgorgement.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
At the U.S.-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit in Nairobi, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins, joined by U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Assistant Secretary Aleshia Duncan, Ghana Deputy Minister of Energy Collins Adomako-Mensah, and Ghana Ministry of Energy Chief Director Wilhelmina Asamoah, observed a significant milestone in civil nuclear cooperation between U.S. and Ghanaian nuclear industries — the signing of a commercial agreement between Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) and Regnum Technology Group, the U.S. developer for a small...
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $80,346 in wages for 55 employees of UMS Heavy Equipment Rental Inc., a construction subcontractor engaged in debris removal following Typhoon Mawar in Guam. The investigation by the Wage and Hour Division found that the employer violated federal contract labor laws, failing to pay minimum and prevailing wages, fringe benefits, and overtime.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
An Arizona man pleaded guilty yesterday to wire fraud and filing a false refund claim with the IRS.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
Alison Barkoff, the senior official performing the duties of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, announced her departure from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in early October.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
In a significant move to bolster clean energy initiatives, the Biden-Harris administration has announced an offshore wind energy lease sale off southern Oregon. The Department of the Interior revealed that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will auction two areas on October 15, 2024. These areas have the potential to generate over 3.1 gigawatts of renewable energy, enough to power approximately one million homes.
By Federal Newswire | Aug 29, 2024
The Department of the Interior announced today the availability of over $55 million in funding through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This initiative aims to enhance water supply resilience in Western communities affected by drought and climate change. The funding is sourced from the Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations.
