News from October 2024
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
E&J Painting LLC, a company based in Leavenworth, Kansas, has agreed to pay a civil penalty following allegations of violating the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that E&J Painting did not adhere to regulations designed to minimize lead-based paint exposure risks during renovations.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a funding allocation of over $12 million to five Texas organizations under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants Program. The initiative aims to facilitate the upgrade or retirement of older diesel engines in favor of cleaner and zero-emission solutions, thereby improving air quality and public health.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has arrived in Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian leaders and affirm the United States' support for Ukraine's fight for freedom. This marks his fourth visit to the country as Secretary of Defense.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell will preside over the 2024 Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) ceremony on October 22, 2024, at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The event will honor six U.S. companies for their contributions to communities abroad.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education has announced a significant milestone in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, marking the approval of $4.5 billion in debt relief for 60,000 borrowers. This brings the total number of public servants who have benefited from the program to over one million, with nearly $74 billion in loans forgiven.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
The United States has welcomed a new investment in Brazil's Serra Verde rare earth elements project. The investment comes from Denham Capital and the Energy and Minerals Group from the United States, along with Vision Blue Resources from the United Kingdom. This initiative is expected to bolster global rare earth supply chains.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry recently seized heroin valued at over $267,000. The incident occurred on October 19 when a 2015 Ford van was subjected to a secondary inspection at the Camino Real International Bridge. During this examination, which involved a CBP canine and non-intrusive inspection technology, officers found five packages containing nearly 16 pounds of alleged heroin inside the vehicle.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
The Biden-Harris administration has announced a significant loan guarantee to support the development of solar and energy storage facilities in Puerto Rico. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Loan Programs Office (LPO), is providing a $861.3 million loan guarantee for the construction of two photovoltaic solar facilities equipped with battery storage and two standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the municipalities of Guayama and Salinas.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has commenced the cleanup of asbestos-contaminated debris at the former Columbian Enameling site in Terre Haute, Indiana. The cleanup is expected to take approximately one year.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
U.S. Ambassador to Angola Tulinabo S. Mushingi and the Republic of Angola Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Angolan Communities, Ambassador Domingos Custodio Vieira Lopes, have signed an Open Skies Air Transport Agreement in Luanda. This agreement aims to enhance bilateral aviation cooperation between the United States and Angola.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a preliminary agreement with Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC) to expand U.S. production capacity of semiconductor-grade polysilicon. The U.S. Department of Commerce and HSC have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) for up to $325 million in proposed funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. This investment aims to enhance the domestic supply chain and create over 1,000 jobs in manufacturing and construction.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
Officials from the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office), the U.S. Embassy in Lima, and the Republic of Peru, including members of the Multisectoral Commission against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, along with implementing partners, the International Labor Organization, and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, convened in Lima for the final Annual Dialogue of the U.S.-Peru Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
To mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry report on human rights in North Korea, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, South Korean Minister of Unification Kim Yung-ho, and Ambassador Shigeo Yamada hosted a trilateral meeting on North Korean human rights in Washington, D.C. This event reinforced commitments made at the August 2023 Camp David Trilateral Leaders’ Summit to address issues involving abductees, detainees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war while promoting human rights for North Koreans.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
Many language models are predominantly trained on English text, which is significantly more than texts in other languages. This imbalance has tangible effects on racialized and marginalized communities. "For example, they have resulted in inaccurate medical advice in Hindi, led to wrongful arrest because of mistranslations in Arabic, and have been accused of fueling ethnic cleansing in Ethiopia due to poor moderation of speech that incites violence."
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
The United States has announced a new military assistance package for Ukraine, valued at $400 million. This aid is intended to support Ukraine in its ongoing defense against Russian attacks. The assistance is provided under the Presidential Drawdown Authority from Department of Defense stocks.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
Truist Bank has agreed to pay $9,125,000 to the United States to settle allegations related to SunTrust Bank's administration of certain trust accounts. The claims fall under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) and involve actions by SunTrust between December 2011 and December 2015. Truist Bank emerged from the merger of SunTrust with Branch Banking and Trust Company in December 2019.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor has mandated a Jacksonville Beach water park to pay $151,606 in penalties after it was found to have violated child labor laws. This decision follows an investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division into 1944 Beach Boulevard LLC, which operates Adventure Landing.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a grant of $1,815,256 to Louisiana Clean Fuels, Inc. This funding is part of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants Program and aims to encourage the upgrade or retirement of older diesel engines in favor of cleaner and zero-emission alternatives. The initiative focuses on reducing emissions and improving air quality, with an emphasis on supporting disadvantaged communities facing significant environmental challenges.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 21, 2024
The Justice Department has initiated legal action against Rocket Mortgage LLC, Solidifi US Inc., Maverick Appraisal Group Inc., and Maksym Mykhailyna. The lawsuit alleges that these entities discriminated against a Black homeowner by undervaluing her home based on race during an appraisal required for a mortgage refinance application. Additionally, the complaint claims that Rocket Mortgage retaliated by canceling the homeowner's refinance application after she reported the alleged discrimination.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 20, 2024
Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya visited Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 18, 2024. During her visit, she expressed unwavering U.S. support to various Ukrainian officials including Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna and Minister of Veterans Affairs Natalia Kalmykova. She also engaged with leaders from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and other anti-corruption bodies.
