News from October 2024
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division recently held a meeting to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and civil rights. This marks the fourth gathering of its kind by the division, coinciding with the upcoming one-year anniversary of President Biden’s Executive Order on AI development and use.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
The Justice Department has initiated legal action against the City of South Bend, Indiana, accusing it of discriminatory practices in its police officer hiring process. The lawsuit claims that the South Bend Police Department's (SBPD) methods violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by employing a written examination that discriminates against Black applicants and a physical fitness test that disadvantages female applicants.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Buffalo have identified multiple shipments containing psilocybin over the past month at the Peace Bridge warehouse. The discovery involved commercial shipments labeled as "chocolate and other food preparations." Upon further inspection, officers found that these chocolate bricks contained psilocybin, a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
Today, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a conversation with Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. During the call, Secretary Blinken expressed the United States' commitment to achieving a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict across the Blue Line, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. This resolution aims to facilitate the return of displaced citizens in both Israel and Lebanon to their homes.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
Marta Youth, the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), is set to travel to Geneva. She will lead the United States delegation at the UN Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) Executive Committee from October 12-16, 2024.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
A federal administrative law judge has mandated that CSX Transportation Inc., a subsidiary of one of the nation's largest transportation companies, compensate two railroad workers with $453,510 and reinstate them after their wrongful termination. The workers were dismissed for reporting safety concerns at a Waycross, Georgia railyard in 2017.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
Retail sales experienced a minor decline in September compared to the previous month, yet showed growth over the same period last year. This is according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions and released by the National Retail Federation (NRF).
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Region has announced the availability of $40 million for subgrants to communities through the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program. This initiative is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America Agenda and was established under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo held a meeting with Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti today. The discussion focused on enhancing trade and investment between the United States and Italy. Secretary Raimondo emphasized the potential for U.S. companies to aid in Italy's economic growth. She also expressed gratitude to Italy for its leadership role as host of the G7 this year.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Stanley Brown is set to visit Finland and Switzerland from October 14-18, 2024. During his trip, he will engage with senior civilian and military officials to address bilateral security cooperation and regional security matters.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
Following the release of the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program final rule, the global tech trade association ITI has issued a statement. Leopold Wildenauer, Senior Manager of Public Sector Policy at ITI, commented on this development.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
The United States has announced Tonga's endorsement and participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). This move aligns with efforts to further the counterproliferation objectives outlined in the PSI's Statement of Interdiction Principles. Tonga becomes the 115th nation to endorse the initiative and is one of nine governments to do so this year. The endorsement follows Tonga's involvement in PSI Exercise Pacific Protector, which was held in Sydney, Australia, from September 24-27, 2024.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 11, 2024
The American Sheriffs Alliance has expressed concerns over the growing influence, reach, and power of drug cartels, which they say will continue to expand unless there are policy changes regarding the border and immigration. This statement was made in a report released in September 2024.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 10, 2024
On October 10, 2024, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken extended his best wishes to the people of Fiji as they celebrated their 54th anniversary of independence. Blinken highlighted the strong bilateral relationship between Fiji and the United States, emphasizing their collaboration in creating a more free, secure, and prosperous Pacific region.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 10, 2024
The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) has submitted new recommendations to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) concerning its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. This marks a continuation of ITI's ongoing involvement with the DoD's efforts to enhance cybersecurity measures within the defense sector.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 10, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss the longstanding partnership between the United States and Malaysia. During their meeting, Secretary Blinken highlighted the comprehensive nature of this partnership, which has been in place for a decade. He emphasized the mutual commitment to strengthening ties and delivering benefits for both nations' citizens through inclusive economic growth, security cooperation, and people-to-people connections.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 10, 2024
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo held a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Secretary Raimondo is currently in Italy to attend the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Industry and Technological Innovation, which is taking place in Rome.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 10, 2024
Josh Jarrett has initiated a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over its policy of taxing cryptocurrency block rewards as income upon their creation. The IRS's stance has been criticized by Coin Center, which is assisting Jarrett in this legal battle, as it advocates for tax parity for block rewards.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 10, 2024
Two former deputies from Crawford County, Arkansas, have been sentenced for their roles in a violent assault on a man they arrested. Levi White, aged 34, received a 63-month prison sentence, while Zackary King, aged 28, was sentenced to 12 months.
By Federal Newswire | Oct 10, 2024
The United States government is prioritizing the safety and security of Americans amid the volatile situation in Lebanon. Since September 28, 2024, over 5,000 airplane seats have been secured for U.S. citizens, their immediate family members, and lawful permanent residents wishing to leave Lebanon.
