News from June 2024
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
Since President Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) two years ago, the United States and 13 other IPEF partners have worked to deepen long-term regional economic engagement. Over this period, these partners have progressed from a vision to three innovative economic cooperation agreements.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
Seven new games are joining Apple Arcade’s catalog, which features more than 200 games with no ads or in-app purchases. Today, the service launches four titles: Rabbids: Legends of the Multiverse, Return to Monkey Island+, Tomb of the Mask+, and Fabulous - Wedding Disaster+. On July 3, players can look forward to three additional games: Outlanders 2: Second Nature, Punch Kick Duck+, and Zen Koi Pro+.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland discussed the Justice Department’s efforts to combat violent crime, emphasizing the use of advanced crime gun intelligence technology during his remarks at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)’s third annual Chiefs of Police Executive Forum on Crime Guns. The forum brought together police chiefs from across the country.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
Apple announced the winners of its 2024 Apple Design Awards, recognizing 14 outstanding apps and games. This year’s winners were selected for their design, technical achievement, and innovation.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
The Justice Department’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) has updated safeguards for bankruptcy funds by introducing a revised and modernized depository agreement for banks and financial institutions that accept bankruptcy estate deposits.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
Chief Information Officer John B. Sherman will step down from his position at the end of June.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
On June 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Lucia Lammers, a senior at Harrison High School in Harrison, New York, has won EPA’s 2024 Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, CA. Lucia’s project, titled “Spectroscopic and Colorimetric Analysis of Textiles Dyed with Local Invasive Plant Species and Waste-Derived Mordants,” explored eco-friendly textile dyes to mitigate the negative environmental impact of local invasive plant species, municipal wastes, and synthetic dyes.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In two letters to the Department of Homeland Security, Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) has presented new evidence implicating major Chinese battery manufacturers Gotion and CATL in state-sponsored slave labor and the ongoing Uyghur genocide. Despite these ties, both companies have expanded their operations in the United States.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the allocation of $51.1 million in Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) Grants to 38 communities across 26 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Additionally, HUD has released a $72 million funding opportunity for the FY 2023 Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) and supportive services programs.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
On June 6, 2024, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement regarding the Supreme Court decision in the case of Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al. v. San Carlos Apache Tribe.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
This week, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) initiated an investigation into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) "Operation Long Tail Liberation." The inquiry addresses concerns over the use of taxpayer funds to pay a Chinese national informant in efforts to investigate illegal primate smuggling.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
On May 15, 2024, the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules & Administration marked up and advanced three bills addressing the role of AI in elections: the Preparing Election Administrators for AI Act, the AI Transparency in Elections Act, and the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act. The first two of these bills aim to address some risks posed by AI in elections, though they could benefit from improvements. The third bill raises significant constitutional and implementation concerns.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
A federal jury has convicted a California man for sending threatening emails to the FBI, including threats to bomb its Los Angeles Field Office and references to the notorious "Unabomber." Mark William Anten, 52, of Sun Valley, was found guilty of two counts of threats by interstate communication. He has been in federal custody since December 2023.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $2.4 million in refunds to consumers who were misled by Lurn’s business consulting programs. The FTC filed a lawsuit against Lurn in September 2023, accusing the online business coaching company of making unsubstantiated claims to sell its various money-making programs.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) monthly jobs report, a net 18% of small business owners plan to raise compensation in the next three months as of May, marking a decrease of three points from the previous month and reaching the lowest level since March 2021. Seasonally adjusted, a net 37% of owners reported raising compensation, down one point from April but still historically high.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
NUEVA YORK – En una significativa inversión para mejorar la infraestructura de agua en Puerto Rico, la Agencia Federal de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA), junto con las autoridades locales, anunció fondos para mejoras en la Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Sanitarias de Bayamón. Las mejoras, valoradas en $22.7 millones y financiadas por la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura (BIL), modernizarán la instalación con tecnología avanzada para asegurar el tratamiento efectivo del agua usada para las comunidades atendidas por la segunda planta más grande de su tipo en...
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
On June 6, 2024, approximately two years after President Joe Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), the United States and its 13 IPEF partners – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam – inaugurated the IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum. The forum aims to catalyze investment in sustainable infrastructure and climate technology projects aligned with strong environmental, social and governance-based (ESG) investing and labor standards....
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced $7.8 million in grants for 17 projects aimed at improving public transportation for people with disabilities, older adults, and low-income individuals. These grants will support organizations that coordinate public transportation for underserved groups, facilitating access to healthcare, community services, education, and jobs through partnerships among health, transportation, and human services providers.
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
A federal grand jury in Fresno, California, has returned a superseding indictment charging former Sanger Police Department officer DeShawn Torrence with deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law for sexually assaulting four women during his duties. Torrence was previously indicted in July 2022 on charges of engaging in various forms of nonconsensual sexual conduct while serving as a police officer. The new indictment adds a charge involving an additional victim, whom Torrence allegedly assaulted after locking her in his patrol vehicle and driving her to an...
By Federal Newswire | Jun 6, 2024
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations:
