News from September 2024
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced an additional $9 million investment in the Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITAC) Implementation Grants program. This funding, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aims to support 47 small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) across the country. The initiative will enable these manufacturers to implement various energy efficiency projects, including the installation of onsite solar and heat pumps, improvements in lighting and heating, and the electrification of industrial equipment and fleets.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today the allocation of $52.5 million in grants to community organizations as part of its ongoing efforts to prevent Veteran suicide. The funds will support tailored suicide prevention programs and services for Veterans and their families.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The United States has extended its condolences to the people of Vietnam affected by Typhoon Yagi. According to an announcement from the U.S. Mission to Vietnam, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing humanitarian aid to support Vietnam’s response efforts. This aid includes multipurpose cash assistance, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance, as well as non-food items to support disaster relief efforts led by the Government of Vietnam.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra has declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for Louisiana to address the health impacts of Hurricane Francine. This declaration follows President Biden’s emergency declaration for Louisiana and grants the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), healthcare providers, and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting the emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
Today, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop, with Estonian Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jonatan Vseviov in attendance, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Estonia on countering foreign state information manipulation.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The Justice Department announced today that it secured a settlement agreement with SP Plus Corporation (SP Plus), a transportation and parking management company headquartered in Chicago. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that SP Plus discriminated against a worker by rejecting a valid document that showed her permission to work and requesting that she provide unnecessary documentation, based on her national origin.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
On September 12, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a request for a permanent ban against student loan servicer Navient, citing repeated regulatory violations and pervasive predatory practices. This decision follows previous actions by the U.S. Department of Education and state officials to provide restitution to borrowers harmed by Navient’s history of illegal servicing practices. If granted, the CFPB’s order would require Navient to pay up to $120 million in penalties and redress to affected borrowers.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
A federal appeals court has upheld a decision that F.W. Webb Co. wrongly exempted inside sales representatives from overtime pay. The ruling, issued on August 1, 2024, by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, affirms a summary judgment from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
A jury today convicted Omali Yeshitela, 82, Penny Hess, 78, Jesse Nevel, 34, all of St. Louis, and Augustus C. Romain Jr., 38, of Atlanta, of conspiracy to act as agents of a foreign government. The defendants were charged in a superseding indictment on April 13, 2023.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken engaged in a conversation with Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu today, discussing Romania's recent donation of a PATRIOT strategic air defense system to Ukraine.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
Colombian nationals Andres Fernando Medina Rodriguez, 40, and Ciro Alfonso Gutierrez Ballesteros, 31, were sentenced today to 35 and 30 years in prison, respectively, for conspiring and attempting to murder U.S. soldiers by detonating a car bomb outside a military base near the Colombia-Venezuela border.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The Department of State has announced actions against five entities and one individual involved in the proliferation of ballistic missiles and controlled missile equipment and technology.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
Jeff Brabant, Vice President of Federal Government Relations for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance at a hearing titled, "The 2025 Tax Policy Debate and Tax Avoidance Strategies." Brabant emphasized the importance of making the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent and presented data highlighting the potential adverse effects on small businesses if Congress does not act.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The rise in extreme heat events across the United States, driven by climate change, has become a significant public health concern. These events result in more fatalities than any other severe weather or climate-related disasters and lead to numerous heat-related injuries and illnesses. The health impacts of extreme heat contribute to increased healthcare costs and decreased economic productivity. Populations most at risk include those with low incomes, individuals living in substandard housing, communities of color, outdoor and indoor workers, older adults, children,...
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), has finalized the 2024 Public Health Service (PHS) Policies on Research Misconduct. This new rule updates the 2005 regulation, aiming to enhance transparency, efficiency, and objectivity in research misconduct proceedings for PHS-funded research.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released two new resources to assist schools in complying with the 2024 amendments to Title IX Regulations, which became effective on August 1, 2024. These resources aim to clarify and update obligations related to Title IX coordinator duties and prohibitions on sex discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions, as well as parental, family, or marital status.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced today that Legacy Traditional Schools (LTS), a network of 22 charter schools in Arizona, has entered into a resolution agreement to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The agreement mandates LTS to provide language assistance to national origin minority students and parents with limited English proficiency (LEP) to ensure their meaningful access to the school's programs and activities.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The Office of Information Policy (OIP) has posted updates to its compilation of Exemption 3 resources, intended to assist agencies in their administration of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and to increase public understanding of the use of Exemption 3. These materials are located on the FOIA Resources page of OIP's site.
By Federal Newswire | Sep 12, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released two new resources to assist schools in complying with the 2024 amendments to Title IX Regulations, which took effect on August 1, 2024. These resources aim to clarify and update obligations related to Title IX coordinator duties and prohibitions on sex discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions, as well as parental, family, or marital status.
