Latest News
National Transportation Safety Board: Mechanical and communications failures led to East Palestine train derailment
By Nicholas Malfitano | Jul 2, 2024
According to a recently-released National Transportation Safety Board report executive summary, a combination of mechanical failures and communications technology issues both caused and then exacerbated the severity of the February 2023 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials in East Palestine, Ohio.
Weekend Interview: Advocating for taxpayers, Brandon Arnold discusses the IRS, tax policies, and future reforms
By Federal Newswire reports | Jul 1, 2024
Brandon Arnold is Executive Vice President of the National Taxpayers Union, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization based in Washington, DC.
Supreme Court rules against Florida and Texas social media laws
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
The Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 that the First Amendment prohibits Florida and Texas from dictating what social media applications and websites may display. In CCIA’s joint challenge to two Florida and Texas social media statutes, several lower courts found that these statutes likely violate the First Amendment. The Supreme Court confirmed that online speech, including editorial decisions about online speech, deserves First Amendment protection.
Senator Murray supports Biden's supplemental funding for disaster relief
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement on President Biden’s supplemental funding request submitted to Congress today. The request includes updated funding to address urgent disaster relief needs across the country, building on the President’s previous domestic supplemental funding request from October.
Nigerian writer on ex-federal agent detained in Abuja: 'the U.S. now begins to look bad'
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
Nigerian writer Cheta Nwanze stated that the ongoing imprisonment of former U.S. federal agent Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria could reflect poorly on the U.S. government. Nwanze shared his statement on a June 17 episode of the Nigerian Politics Weekly podcast.
Commission to hold closed meeting on July 1 for law enforcement matter
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
The Commission will hold a closed meeting on July 1, 2024, at 11:00 AM EDT via Zoom to consider a nonpublic law enforcement matter. The decision to close the meeting was unanimous, with a vote of 5-0. The urgency of the matter necessitated consideration with less than seven days' notice to the public.
Federal aid announced for Iowa storm victims
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the implementation of federal disaster assistance for Iowa, following severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began on June 16, 2024. President Biden has issued a major disaster declaration for Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties.
Justice Department announces major crackdown on health care fraud
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
Health care fraud is a crime that impacts every American. It siphons off hard-earned tax dollars meant to provide care for the vulnerable and disabled. When health care providers and executives place greed above patients’ needs, it increases the cost of care for all Americans. Even worse, as the prosecutions announced on Thursday highlight, health care fraud can harm patients and fuel addiction.
U.S. Department announces terms with Rogue Valley Microdevices under CHIPS Act
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a preliminary memorandum of terms with Rogue Valley Microdevices (RVM) to support the construction of a new foundry facility in Palm Bay, Florida. The proposed investment, valued at up to $6.7 million under the CHIPS and Science Act, aims to nearly triple RVM’s production capacity.
EPA orders $369 million cleanup for second section of Gowanus Canal
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has amended its administrative cleanup order for the Gowanus Canal Superfund site in Brooklyn, New York, to address the middle segment of the canal, known as Remediation Target Area (RTA) 2. The announcement was made on June 27, 2024.
DOD announces winners of the 2024 Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today the 2024 recipients of the Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence.
U.S. Marshals locate 200 missing children during national operation
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), in collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies across seven federal judicial districts and geographical locations in the United States, concluded a six-week national operation that resulted in locating 200 critically missing children. The operation, titled "Operation We Will Find You 2" (OWWFY2), ran from May 20 to June 24 and targeted areas with high concentrations of missing children.
Experts urge UN leaders to maintain inclusive internet governance
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
A group of technical experts involved in the development and maintenance of the Internet and the Web, including CDT CTO Mallory Knodel, published an open letter today. The letter calls on the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology to "uphold the bottom-up, collaborative and inclusive model of Internet governance that has served the world for the past half century" as part of the upcoming Global Digital Compact (GDC).
Executives sentenced over $1B corporate fraud at Chicago-based health tech firm
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
Three former executives of Outcome Health, a Chicago-based health technology start-up, have been sentenced for their involvement in a fraud scheme that deceived the company’s clients, lenders, and investors, resulting in approximately $1 billion in fraudulently obtained funds.
Supreme Court allows challenge against Federal Reserve's debit card swipe fee cap
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has expressed approval of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow a lawsuit challenging the Federal Reserve's 2011 cap on debit card “swipe” fees to proceed. The lawsuit argues that the cap was set too high, despite claims that the suit was filed beyond the allowable time frame.
Novant Health terminates hospital acquisition amid FTC opposition
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Competition Director Henry Liu issued a statement in response to Novant Health, Inc.'s decision to terminate its proposed acquisition of two hospitals from Community Health Systems.
Department of Labor expands overtime protections effective July 1
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
On July 1, 2024, the Department of Labor's final rule titled “Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees” came into effect. This regulation extends overtime protections to millions of salaried workers across the United States.
Houston metal powder coating firm cited for multiple safety violations
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
A federal workplace inspection at a metal refinisher in Houston found the company exposing employees to more than 40 safety hazards with the potential to cause serious health concerns, including birth defects, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancers.
Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu face fraud charges amid legal dispute
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
(Hefei, Anhui Province – July 1, 2024) The case against Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu of Hefei Ganquan Church, charged with suspicion of "fraud," has recently been filed in court. The defense lawyers provided a detailed legal analysis, arguing that Ding Zhongfu and Zhou Songlin did not engage in any deceptive behavior as defined by the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China. They contend that there was no intention to illegally possess believers' property and that no misunderstanding arose among the believers due to any actions by Ding and Zhou. The...
Justice Department settles discrimination lawsuit over blocked Louisiana affordable housing project
By Federal Newswire | Jul 1, 2024
The Justice Department announced today that the Town of Franklinton, Louisiana, has agreed to pay $230,000 in damages and civil penalties to settle allegations that it violated the Fair Housing Act by blocking a proposed affordable housing development for low-income tenants in a predominantly white part of Franklinton.
