News published on Federal Newswire in December 2024

News from December 2024


St. Louis woman sentenced for prostituting minor

Carrie Little has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John A. Ross for prostituting a minor.


Small businesses face rising labor costs amid hiring challenges

NFIB's November jobs report indicates a rise in labor costs for small businesses, with 36% of owners reporting unfilled job openings, an increase from October.


Labor department cites Florida contractors for unsafe excavation practices

In Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. Department of Labor safety inspectors identified two contractors endangering their employees by not providing necessary safety measures against trench and excavation collapses.


Blinken receives Swedish royal honor for efforts in NATO accession

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has been awarded the Royal Order of the Polar Star by Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.


Pittsfield High School dean charged with cocaine trafficking conspiracy

Two men from Pittsfield, including the Dean of Pittsfield High School, were arrested and charged with conspiring to traffic cocaine in Western Massachusetts.


Illinois man sentenced to two-year prison term for fentanyl trafficking

Timothy M. O'Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Dantrell T. Stevenson from Matteson, Illinois, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for his involvement in fentanyl trafficking.


Vermilion County man sentenced for counterfeiting; faces five-and-a-half years in prison

Jacob R. Kirkley, a resident of Bismarck, Illinois, has been sentenced to four years in prison for his second federal counterfeiting conviction and an additional 18 months for violating his federal supervised release.


Boone man receives eight-year sentence for transporting child pornography via dark web

Jacob Elijah Kilgore, a 29-year-old resident of Boone, North Carolina, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for using the dark web to transport child pornography.


St. Louis man receives prison sentence for pandemic loan fraud

U.S. District Judge John A. Ross sentenced Robert Baines, a St. Louis resident, to 15 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining loans intended for pandemic relief.


House committee examines defense industrial base with expert testimonies

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party is conducting a hearing today titled "Rebuilding the Arsenal of Democracy: The Imperative to Strengthen America's Defense Industrial Base and Workforce."


House committee examines challenges facing US defense industrial base

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party convened a hearing in Washington, D.C., titled "Rebuilding the Arsenal of Democracy: The Imperative to Strengthen America's Defense Industrial Base and Workforce."


Blinken meets Israeli foreign minister to discuss Gaza conflict and regional security

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in Malta during the OSCE Ministerial.


Richmond man receives nine-year sentence for firearm possession

A Richmond man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.


Justice Department finds civil rights violations by Memphis Police

The U.S. Department of Justice has found significant civil rights violations by the Memphis Police Department and the City of Memphis, according to remarks delivered by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.


EPA fines Plaze Inc. for hazardous waste violations in Missouri

Plaze Inc., a company based in Pacific, Missouri, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $205,791.


Biden-Harris administration announces major CHIPS incentives awards for Absolics and Entegris

The Biden-Harris Administration has finalized two awards under the CHIPS Incentives Program’s Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities, aimed at enhancing U.S. technology leadership and supply chain security.


St. Paul man pleads guilty to robbing postal workers at gunpoint

A St. Paul man has admitted to committing armed robbery against U.S. Postal Service employees on two occasions, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.


Missouri man receives 15-year sentence for producing child pornography

A Missouri man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for producing child pornography. U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk delivered the sentence on Wednesday in St. Louis.


Columbia officer receives distinguished service award for community policing

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing.


Rock Hill man sentenced for drug trafficking as career offender

Freddie Antwon Thompson, a 34-year-old resident of Rock Hill, has been sentenced to over 14 years in federal prison.