News from May 2024
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Multifamily Housing Programs has completed a $750,000 grant transaction with Wesley Living of Tennessee to enhance the Woodland Homes apartment community in Lexington, Tennessee. The Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) funding will support energy efficiency and climate resilience renovations at the property.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration continues to build on progress made tackling sickle cell disease (SCD), recently holding a virtual panel to discuss SCD treatment, policy milestones, and future goals. The panel, hosted in observance of National Minority Health Month, by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), also highlighted SCD leaders who fostered advances in SCD treatment and delivery of care, their achievements, and new policy priorities and objectives.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that TPWR Developer, LLC, CBG Building Company LLC, and Bowman Consulting DC have settled alleged violations related to stormwater runoff, aimed to protect water quality in Washington, D.C. The companies agreed to pay a $27,000 penalty and implement a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) to address Clean Water Act violations at The Parks at Walter Reed construction site.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
The U.S. government is taking steps to regulate the use of data purchased from commercial brokers by intelligence agencies. The principles were released by a top spy official, aiming to provide a framework for the appropriate utilization of such information.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
Microsoft and LinkedIn released the 2024 Work Trend Index on the state of AI at work on May 8, 2024. The report, titled "AI at work is here. Now comes the hard part," is based on a survey of 31,000 people across 31 countries, labor and hiring trends on LinkedIn, and trillions of Microsoft 365 productivity signals, among other research sources. The study reveals the significant impact of AI on the global workforce and the challenges faced by leaders in harnessing its potential for business success.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
Microsoft today announced a broad investment package designed to strengthen the role of Southeast Wisconsin as a hub for AI-powered economic activity, innovation, and job creation. These investments include "$3.3B in cloud computing and AI infrastructure, the creation of the country’s first manufacturing-focused AI co-innovation lab, and an AI skilling initiative to equip more than 100,000 of the state’s residents with essential AI skills." President Joe Biden will join Microsoft President Brad Smith at Gateway Technical College to announce the new investment.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
On May 8, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a joint plan to update their regulations and oversight mechanisms for biotechnology products. This move comes in response to President Biden’s Executive Order 14081, “Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.”
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
The House Committee on Natural Resources is continuing its investigation into the use of 30x30 initiative funds allocated by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Committee members have expressed their frustration with CEQ's lack of response to previous oversight requests. A letter addressed to CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory highlights the committee's determination to ensure transparency in the use of public funds for the 30x30 initiative:
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has released an Advisory to aid financial institutions in identifying potentially illicit transactions linked to terrorist organizations backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Advisory outlines the methods through which these groups receive support from Iran and details various strategies they utilize to illegitimately access or bypass the global financial system in order to raise, transfer, and utilize funds. It also presents warning signs that can help financial institutions in...
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
"The United States, as Chair of the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), and MSP partners welcome the new deal finalized between STL, a subsidiary of La Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Belgian company Umicore that advances cooperation on germanium offtake and processing. This collaboration among MSP partners and the private sector is a powerful demonstration of the MSP’s capacity to secure and diversify critical mineral supply chains, which bring economic benefits to local communities and source countries like...
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
Reflections from Pastor John Cao is a series of poetry and writings from the recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience exclusively published by ChinaAid. The piece below was written on April 26, 2024 and has been minimally edited for clarity. To read more of Pastor John Cao’s poetry, one can purchase the collection written while he was imprisoned, Living Lyrics: Poems from Prison.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero has been confirmed as a speaker at the World Economic Forum’s Industry Strategy Meeting 2024. The event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, from 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. (EDT) at the Deutsche Bank Center in New York, NY. The announcement of Commissioner Goldsmith Romero's participation in the prestigious event was made recently, generating anticipation and interest among attendees and industry professionals. The Industry Strategy Meeting organized by the World Economic Forum is known for bringing together key figures...
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Money Laundering and Unlawful Export of Military Data
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
The Department of the Interior today announced more than $87 million in funding has been approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, providing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners the ability to help conserve, restore or enhance 315,823 acres of critical wetland and associated upland habitat for migratory birds across North America – including Canada and Mexico.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
The corporate provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, colloquially known as the “Trump tax cuts,” were largely permanent; however, the individual and estate tax provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025. A new Center for American Progress analysis based on a new set of Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates finds that permanently extending the expiring provisions of the Trump tax cuts would, in 2024 dollars, cost $10.3 trillion over 30 years.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer will travel to Nairobi to meet with Kenyan officials to discuss shared regional challenges. In Addis Ababa, Special Envoy Hammer will meet with the African Union, Ethiopian officials, and the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray regarding implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and the urgency of resolving outstanding issues through political dialogue and avoiding a return to conflict. Special Envoy Hammer will also discuss dialogue to end violence in the Amhara and Oromia regions and the need to...
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
Tech leaders discussed the integration of artificial intelligence and augmented reality in real estate business practices at the 2024 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings. The panel explored how these technologies are transforming the industry and shaping the future of real estate transactions.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis, along with other Biden-Harris administration officials, historians, museum leaders, conservation leaders, and others gathered today to honor the legacy and contributions of a diverse range of women and girls to our country. They also highlighted the Administration’s efforts to increase the representation of women’s history in sites across America.
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 2925, the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, a move that aims to reaffirm decades of mining law and precedent to provide certainty for America's mineral producers. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.). House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) commented on the significance of this act, highlighting the importance of domestic mineral production:
By Federal Newswire | May 8, 2024
Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya is on travel to Amman, Jordan, and Baghdad, Erbil, and Ninewa, Iraq from May 6-10, 2024, to advance regional humanitarian, human rights, and civilian security priorities.
