News from May 2024
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, in collaboration with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission and the South Carolina Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation, has announced a webinar to mark National Waitstaff Day. The event will focus on federal wage and other protections for people employed in the state’s food service industry.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
Netflix has officially announced the renewal of 'The Believers' for a second season, following a successful debut that saw the series ascend to the top spot on Netflix Thailand charts in its first week. The series sparked intense discussions across Thai society and benefited from an impactful campaign led by The Believers Ltd., a pioneering charitable company in Thailand.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced new measures to enhance access to school-based mental health services. These actions include: (1) nearly doubling investments in the U.S. Department of Education’s School-Based Mental Health Services and Mental Health Service Professionals grant programs for the current fiscal year; (2) additional investments through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to improve student and educator mental health and wellbeing; and (3) offering new mental health and wellbeing training and...
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
In a recent development, the U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $4.8 million in back wages for 476 workers in California. The recovery was made after an investigation into multiple businesses in Los Angeles, including Fu Qian Chen Lu, Bruce Shu Hua Lok and others.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
An indictment was unsealed today, charging Kerontrez Lamar Kenon, a former correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Tallahassee, with sexual acts involving an inmate in federal custody. The indictment alleges that between June and August 2023, Kenon, 22, of Midway, Florida, engaged in sexual acts with an inmate while employed as a correctional officer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP).
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce have initiated an investigation into Georgia Tech's partnership with Tianjin University in China. The Chinese university is linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and has been blacklisted by the U.S. government for stealing American technology with military applications.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research Solomon Greene and Northwest Regional Administrator Andrew Lofton, visited Seattle this week as part of the national "Road to Innovation” Tour. The tour is a precursor to the 2024 Innovative Housing Showcase scheduled next month in Washington, DC.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
The U.S. Justice Department has announced the establishment of the Antitrust Division’s Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion (HCMC). The HCMC is set to guide the division's enforcement strategy and policy approach in health care, including facilitating policy advocacy, investigations, and civil and criminal enforcement in health care markets when necessary.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
Trevor Bickford, a 20-year-old resident of Wells, Maine, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for his attempted murder of U.S. Government officers and employees during a machete attack on New Year's Eve 2022. The attack took place in Times Square and targeted three New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers. Bickford pleaded guilty to terrorism charges on January 11.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco journeyed to San Francisco this week to attend the 2024 RSA Cybersecurity Conference. The trip was part of her effort to highlight the Justice Department's initiatives in combating cybercrime and other persistent and emerging threats to national security, including the misuse of disruptive technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI).
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
In the midst of widespread accusations against new technologies and the tech companies that produce them, a recently published book seeks to debunk these allegations. "Technology Fears and Scapegoats," authored by Robert D. Atkinson and David Moschella, leading experts on technology and innovation, presents an argument that many of these charges are myths, falsehoods, and exaggerations.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
In December 2022, the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity agreed to the Global Biodiversity Framework. This agreement includes a commitment to conserve 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030 through “ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.” The World Database on Protected Areas estimates that as of May 2024, marine protected areas cover 8.01 percent of the ocean.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
At the recent G7 Ministerial Meeting on Climate, Energy and the Environment held in Turin, Italy, energy and climate leaders achieved consensus on several key actions. These actions underscore a unified commitment to advance clean energy transition, bolster global energy security, and set the stage for further efforts at this year's G20 and COP29 in Azerbaijan.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken engaged in a discussion with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, as confirmed by Spokesperson Matthew Miller. During the conversation, Secretary Blinken expressed his appreciation for Egypt's continued efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. The two diplomats also discussed ongoing diplomatic strategies to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
"Privacy advocates, however, have been far from satisfied with the new amendments to FISA. For instance, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Brennan Center for Justice and FreedomWorks issued a paper stating: 'Making 56 ineffective tweaks to a fundamentally broken law is not reforming it.'"
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
With the recent implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act, Illinois has made history by becoming the first state to abolish cash bail in all cases. The Act shifts the focus from wealth to safety in pretrial decision-making, ensuring that individuals accused of a crime are not held in jail for extended periods while awaiting trial simply because they lack financial resources. A new issue brief from the Center for American Progress delves into how this act could improve both safety and justice throughout Illinois' pretrial system and potentially serve as a blueprint for...
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has announced the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars, honoring 161 high school seniors for their achievements in academics, arts, and career and technical education fields.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
The U.S. Department of State and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have issued a joint statement following their second U.S.-UK Strategic Sanctions Dialogue. The dialogue took place in London on May 8, 2024, continuing from the inaugural meeting held in Washington, D.C., in July 2023.
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
Retail sales in April experienced a modest increase from the previous month, but a shift in the timing of Easter led to a slight year-over-year decline, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions. The report was released today by the National Retail Federation (NRF).
By Federal Newswire | May 9, 2024
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo held a meeting with His Excellency Mohamed bin Hassan Alsuwaidi, the Minister of Investment of the United Arab Emirates, yesterday. The focus of their discussion was on shared investment priorities and potential avenues to expand commercial and investment ties between the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
