News published on Federal Newswire in May 2024

News from May 2024


Sixty-Two Members of Violent Gang Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in Puerto Rico

Sixty-two alleged gang members from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, have been charged with drug trafficking and firearms violations following a federal grand jury indictment. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed gratitude to various law enforcement agencies for their efforts in the operation, stating, "The residents of public housing projects deserve better than to be terrorized by violent drug trafficking gangs." ATF Director Steven Dettelbach emphasized the commitment of law enforcement to protect innocent residents from gun violence and drug dealing in public housing...


Oversight Project Uncovers White House Attempts to Rig Election

WASHINGTON—The Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project has raised concerns about the Biden Administration's alleged attempts to manipulate the election process in favor of the Democratic Party. The Project recently obtained records revealing a concerning level of coordination between the White House and left-wing groups to boost left-wing voter registration.According to a memo released by the Oversight Project, documents obtained through a FOIA request indicated that the Department of Justice engaged with left-wing organizations in discussions related to voter...


A Poem on Toothaches and More from Pastor John Cao

"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 pieces below were written on April 20, 2024 and has been minimally edited for clarity."During his time in prison, Pastor John Cao endured toothaches and dental issues, highlighting the lack of dental care in the detention center. The struggles with dental problems were poignantly expressed in a poem where Pastor John Cao described the difficulty of chewing tough meat due to missing teeth and...


Commissioner Mersinger to Participate in a Keynote Q&A at the MFA Legal & Compliance Conference

Commissioner Summer K. Mersinger is set to partake in a Keynote Q&A session at the MFA Legal & Compliance Conference. The event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 2, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EDT) at the New York Athletic Club located at 180 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019.The conference, organized by the Managed Funds Association (MFA), will provide a platform for industry professionals to discuss legal and compliance matters within the financial sector. More information about the event can be found on the MFA Legal & Compliance New York 2024...


U.S. Government Cybersecurity Alert: DPRK Adopts New Tactic in Cyber Operations

Today the Department of State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Security Agency have issued a Cybersecurity Advisory alerting the public to a new strategy employed by the DPRK cyber group Kimsuky in their social engineering operations. According to an unnamed spokesperson for the agencies, the DPRK is utilizing improperly configured DNS DMARC record policies to enhance their spearphishing attempts.The Cybersecurity Advisory highlights that Kimsuky, a cyber group within the DPRK's military intelligence organization, the Reconnaissance General Bureau,...


EPA Announces $28.7 Million for California Lead Pipe Replacement to Advance Safe Drinking Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a significant investment of $28.7 million towards replacing lead service lines in California, as part of President Biden's commitment to ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans. The funding, made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to protect public health and advance environmental justice by addressing the risks associated with lead exposure in drinking water.Martha Guzman, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "Every...


NVIDIA AI Microservices for Drug Discovery, Digital Health Now Integrated With AWS

NVIDIA AI Microservices for Drug Discovery and Digital Health are now available on AWS Marketplace, as announced by a spokesperson from NVIDIA. The integration of these services with AWS allows customers to access the cutting-edge technology offered by NVIDIA for drug discovery and digital health.According to the NVIDIA spokesperson, "We are excited to offer NVIDIA AI Microservices for Drug Discovery and Digital Health on AWS Marketplace." This collaboration signifies a significant step in bringing advanced AI capabilities to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries....


Secretary Haaland Celebrates President Biden’s Expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument

Secretary Deb Haaland expressed her appreciation for President Biden’s expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, stating, “Locally led conservation efforts are at the heart of what we are advancing in the Biden-Harris administration. Molok Luyuk is sacred to the Tribes who have long advocated for its protection and maintain a deep connection with this land and thanks to President Biden’s leadership, it will now be protected for future generations.” Haaland further added, “Today I am honored to stand with the Tribal leaders, local communities, and...


R&E Detachment Leverages Reservists' Expertise for S&T Innovation

The Joint Reserve Directorate (JRD) recently held its inaugural executive session at the Pentagon, focusing on defining objectives to better support the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E). The organization updated its mission statement to "Flexible force accelerating innovation," highlighting its role as a reserve detachment composed of military reservists leveraging their civilian expertise for science and technology solutions.Air Force Col. Reza Grigorian, JRD director, emphasized the importance of innovation within the...


HUD Issues Fair Housing Act Guidance on Applications of Artificial Intelligence

Washington, May 2, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released two guidance documents aimed at addressing potential discriminatory uses of artificial intelligence in tenant screening and housing-related advertising.HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman stated, "Under this Administration, HUD is committed to fully enforcing the Fair Housing Act and rooting out all forms of discrimination in housing." The guidance documents are in line with President Joe Biden's Executive Order, which called for actions to combat discrimination enabled by...


New Study Finds Canadian Bill C-59 Could Cost U.S. Businesses up to $2.3 Billion Annually

A new analysis published by the CCIA Research Center reveals that Canadian Bill C-59, which proposes a digital services tax of 3% on various online activities, could have significant financial implications for U.S. businesses. The study suggests that this tax could lead to annual costs ranging from $0.9 billion to $2.3 billion for U.S. businesses, potentially resulting in job losses affecting between 1,207 and 3,140 American workers.The bill, currently in the final stages of review by Canada’s Parliament, specifically targets sectors where U.S. businesses hold a prominent...


New Measures in Response to Russia’s Full-Scale War and Use of Chemical Weapons Against Ukraine

In response to Russia's ongoing full-scale war and use of chemical weapons against Ukraine, the United States and its Allies have announced new measures to increase pressure on the Kremlin. The United States Departments of State and the Treasury have taken significant actions to impose sanctions on individuals and entities enabling Russia's illegal war.The Department of State has targeted over 80 entities and individuals involved in various sectors crucial for Russia's military operations in Ukraine. According to the Department, these sanctions are aimed at disrupting...


OVW Commemorates Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

OVW, the Office on Violence Against Women, recently commemorated Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, highlighting the theme of "Building Connected Communities." The agency emphasized the importance of collaboration and community support in preventing sexual assault and aiding survivors. According to OVW, creating strong, connected communities is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals.Speaking about the impact of sexual assault, OVW expressed a commitment to addressing systemic barriers and providing support to survivors. They...


Biden-Harris Administration Allocates Over $28 Million for Rhode Island Lead Pipe Replacement

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a significant investment of $28,650,000 from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to assist Rhode Island in identifying and replacing lead service lines, ultimately safeguarding public health and ensuring safe drinking water. The funding, made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and EPA's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), aims to advance the administration's commitment to environmental justice and eliminate exposure to lead in drinking water.EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan...


EPA Announces $184 Million for Ohio Lead Pipe Replacement to Ensure Safe Drinking Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a significant funding of $184,273,000 from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to aid Ohio in identifying and replacing lead service lines, ultimately safeguarding the public from exposure to lead in drinking water. The initiative is part of President Biden’s commitment to replace every lead pipe in the nation to ensure the delivery of safe drinking water.EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the urgency of removing lead pipes, stating, “The science is clear, there is no safe level of lead...


Secretary Blinken to Headline the McCain Institute’s Annual Sedona Forum

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is set to take center stage at the McCain Institute’s 2024 Sedona Forum, where he will engage in a keynote conversation with U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (Utah) on May 3, 2024. The event, scheduled for 7:50 p.m. MST / 10:50 p.m. EDT, will be a platform to discuss global challenges and opportunities in light of Blinken's recent diplomatic travels to China and the Middle East.The forum, open to the press, will also be livestreamed on the Department homepage and YouTube channel, allowing a wider audience to tune in to the insightful dialogue...


Monument Expansions Center Equity and Justice in Conservation

President Joe Biden is set to announce plans today to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in Southern California and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California. The expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument will provide access to nature for many nonwhite, low-income communities in the Greater Los Angeles area. Nicole Gentile, senior director for Conservation at the Center for American Progress, highlighted the importance of these monument expansions in promoting equity and justice in conservation efforts. She stated,...


CDT Responds to Oversight Board's Call for Public Comments on "Explicit AI Images of Female Public Figures"

On April 30, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) submitted a response to the Oversight Board's request for public comments on "Explicit AI Images of Female Public Figures." In their submission, CDT highlighted the concerning issues surrounding deepfakes and their impact on women in the public eye.CDT emphasized the harmful nature of deepfakes, stating that they are a form of online gender-based violence and gender disinformation. According to CDT, deepfakes targeted at women in politics are designed to challenge, control, and attack their presence in public spaces...


EPA Announces Over $30M for Iowa Lead Pipe Replacement to Advance Safe Drinking Water, as Part of Investing in America Agenda

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a significant investment of $30,066,000 from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to assist Iowa in identifying and replacing lead service lines, ultimately protecting public health and ensuring safe drinking water. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “The science is clear, there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking water is through lead pipes.”EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister also...


VA supporting nationwide ‘Memorial May’ marches honoring Veterans, service members

Washington - VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Matt Quinn expressed, “We honor our nation’s heroes interred in our national cemeteries every day, but most especially throughout Memorial May.” The Department of Veterans Affairs is set to participate in a 20,000-mile nationwide march with 214,000 volunteers to honor Veterans, service members, and their families.The collaboration between Carry The Load and VA’s National Cemetery Administration will see rallies at 32 VA national cemeteries covering 20,000 miles along five different routes across 48 states. Participants...