QUANTICO, Virginia, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command issued the following news release: A former U.S. soldier was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for the murder of a pregnant, 19-year-old fellow soldier on a U.S. Army base in Germany over 22 years ago. On May 7, a jury in Pensacola, Florida, found Shannon L. Wilkerson, 44, guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Amanda Gonzales. According to court documents, Wilkerson beat and strangled Amanda Gonzales to d  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, issued the following news release: The Federal Transit Administration, alongside Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24), announced that it is advancing the Miami-Dade County Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project into the Engineering phase of the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. This means the Federal Transit Administration will invest $389,474,434 in Miami-Dade County. The total project plan is $927.3 million, and under this   more

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Jacksonville District issued the following news release: SARASOTA, Fla. -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Operation Blue Roof teams will be stationed at the following locations: October 30: * Pinellas County - St. Pete Beach, Beach Access Parking Lot 4700 Gulf St. Pete Beach, Florida 33706- hours for this collection location are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. * Lake County - Lake County Multi Agency Resource Center-Career Sourc  more

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Jacksonville District issued the following news release: SARASOTA, Fla. -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Operation Blue Roof teams will be stationed at the following locations: Sunday October 27: * Pinellas County - Pinellas County Tax Collector 2500 34th St N, St. Petersburg, Florida 33713 * Hillsborough County - 406 30th St. SE, Ruskin, Florida 33570 (CHANGE OF VENUE) * Manatee County - Palmetto's Manatee County Fai  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), alongside Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Rick Scott (R-FL), announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program. On October 15th, the SBA announced the Disaster Loan Fund had run out of money. Senator Budd said in a statement: "The citizens of Western North  more

HURLBURT FIELD, Florida, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command issued the following news: ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations & Environment has recognized four installations as recipients of the 2024 Air Force Community Partnership (AFCP) Awards. The AFCP Awards honor installations who develop mutually beneficial partnerships with their local communities to improve quality of life for Airmen, Guardians and  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Rick Scott (R-FL) announced plans to introduce the Restoring an Economic Lifeline with Immediate Emergency Funding (Relief) Act that would replenish the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program. On October 15th, the SBA announced the Disaster Loan Fund had run out of money. The senators plan  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Navy issued the following news story: From Cierra Burch, Shauna Love-vonKnoblauch, Katherine Mapp and Jeremy Roman PANAMA CITY, Florida - Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) James Honea visited Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), Oct. 24. Franchetti and Honea's visit provided the opportunity for them to see firsthand how NSWC PCD, one of the Navy's premiere research, d  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a notice and receipt of application for a permit modification, published in the Federal Register on Oct. 28, 2024: Endangered Species; File No. 21467 SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Karen Holloway-Adkins, Ph.D., East Coast Biologists, Inc., P.O. Box 33715, Indialantic, FL 32903, has requested a modification to scientific research Permit No. 21467-02. DATES: Written comments  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12452) on Oct. 28, 2024, by American national government analyst Barry J. McMillion. Here are excerpts: * * * United States Bankruptcy Courts: Overview and Analysis of Bankruptcy Filings for the 12-Month Period Ending June 30, 2024 This Insight provides information and statistics related to bankruptcy filings in the United States bankruptcy courts for the 12-month period ending   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration issued the following news release on Oct. 28, 2024: * * * Incremental funding provides disaster recovery, workforce training in 33 counties * * * The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $5 million in funding to support continued disaster-relief employment and workforce training for Florida residents as the state continues to recover after Hurricane Idalia. On Sept. 18, 2023, the depa  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the following news release: * * * Phoenix Rigging & Erecting, Maxim Crane Works exposing workers to falls * * * FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found two contractors could have prevented a crane collapse at a Fort Lauderdale residential construction site in April 2024, which caused a 27-year-old rigger to suffer fatal injuries after falling approximately 30   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 24-506) on Oct. 28, 2024: * * * Re: Copper Retirement Network Change Certification Received BellSouth Telecommunications, LLC d/b/a AT&T Florida (AT&T) an incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC), has filed certification that public notice of network change(s) involving the retirement of copper has been provided through its publicly accessible Internet sit  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Oct. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute issued the following white paper (No. 102) on October 15, 2024, by Bulent Guler and Amanda Michaud entitled "Online Appendix: Dynamics of Deterrence: A Macroeconomic Perspective on Punitive Justice Policy". Here are excerpts: * * * 1 Datasets and Variable Construction The empirical counterpart to incarceration in the model is incarceration in a state or federal pris  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: Federal, state and local partners remain throughout the Southeast to help survivors affected by recent storms The Biden-Harris Administration has approved more than $1.2 billion in direct assistance to Hurricanes Helene and Milton survivors. These funds help survivors with housing repairs, personal property replacement and other essential recovery efforts. Addi  more

MIAMI, Florida, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release on Oct. 28, 2024: Today, Martinez Builders Supply, LLC, d/b/a East Coast Truss (ECT), a Florida limited liability company, pled guilty in federal court in Fort Pierce to conspiring to harbor aliens by means of employment. On Aug. 29, Kelly Yanira Del Valle (Del Valle), a former employee of ECT, also pled guilty to conspiring to harbor aliens by means of employm  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida issued the following news release on Oct. 29, 2024: A federal jury convicted Brian Assi, also known as Brahim Assi, yesterday of conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), attempted unlawful export of goods from the United States to Iran without a license, attempted smuggling goods from the United States, su  more

TAMPA, Florida, Oct. 29 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release on Oct. 28, 2024: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Mitchell Bunkowske (32, Land O Lakes) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids and possession of an unregistered firearm. Bunkowske faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet b  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the following issue brief on October 22, 2024, by Kenneth Finegold, Kristen L. King, Bisma A. Sayed and Rachael Zuckerman entitled "Medicare Part D Enrollees Reaching the Out-of-Pocket Limit by June 2024." Here are excerpts: * * * The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) established a limit on out-of-pocket spending ("the 2024 cap") for enrollees with very high prescription drug spending in Medicare Part D, for t  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wisconsin, chairman of the House Administration Committee, issued the following news release on Oct. 29, 2024: Today, Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01) sent a letter to ActBlue, a major Democratic fundraising platform, demanding documents and information related to the platform's donor verification policies and potential vulnerabilities that foreign actors may exploit to illegally participate in the U.S. political process.   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following news release on Oct. 29, 2024: Last week, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Asheville, North Carolina, to tour areas impacted by Hurricane Helene and receive a briefing on the response and recovery operations by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), along with other federal, state,  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has released the following public communication dated Oct. 21, 2024, from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, New England Fishery Management Council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Here are excerpts: * * * To: Seth Theuerkauf Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Office of Renewable Energy Programs 45600 Woodland Road Sterling, Virginia 20166 * * * Dear Dr. Theuerkauf, Pleas  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has released the following public communication dated Oct. 17, 2024, from the National Wildlife Federation and four collaborators: * * * To: Director Elizabeth Klein Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 1849 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20240 RE: Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Central Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf-Central Atlantic 2- Call for Information and Nominations, 89 FR  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has released the following public communication dated Oct. 21, 2024, from the Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia: * * * To: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs 45600 Woodland Road (VAM-OREP) Sterling, Virginia 20166 RE: Central Atlantic 2 Call for Information and Nominations Area [Docket No. BOEM-2024-0040] * * * Dear Program Manager, Please accept The Na  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Oct. 29, 2024: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana permanently enjoined an Indianapolis-area tax return preparer and his company yesterday from preparing federal tax returns for others and from owning or operating any tax return preparation businesses in the future. According to the civil complaint filed in the case, Juan Santiago resides in Lakeland, Florida, but travels to Indi  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a notice, published in the Federal Register on Oct. 28, 2024: Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act On October 17, 2024, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in the lawsuit entitled United States v. Petroleum Products Corp., et al., Civil Action No  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Oct. 28, 2024: * * * First Sentence for Defendant Related to Afghan Allies Protection Act * * * A U.S. Navy Reserve Commander from Florida was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in a years-long bribery scheme involving Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals. According to court documents and evidence submitted at trial, Jeromy Pittmann, 53, of Pensacola, accepted bribe pay  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, as Americans prepare for the burdensome chore of switching the clocks backward this weekend, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio are continuing their push for their bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act to end the twice-yearly time change and make Daylight Saving Time the national year-round standard. In 2018, as Governor of Florida, Senator Scott signed legislation which, pending federal approval, would e  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- NASA issued the following news release: In preparation for the arrival of NASA's SpaceX 31st commercial resupply services mission, four crew members aboard the International Space Station will relocate the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft to a different docking port Sunday, Nov. 3. Live coverage begins at 6:15 a.m. EST on NASA+ and will end shortly after docking. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media. NASA astrona  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: An experiment to demonstrate the integration of unmanned systems in multiple domains, transmit real-time data and showcase the value of partnering with industry and other government organizations was conducted on the Florida Gulf Coast Test Ranges, Aug. 12 16. More than 45 participants from four NavalX Gulf Coast Tech Bridge partner commands--Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), the Naval R  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, in response to resident and industry complaints regarding late or lost mail, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) demanded USPS Inspector General Tammy Hull and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit and investigate the Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC) in Jacksonville, FL. Congressman Bean was joined by Buddy Carter (GA-01), Mike Waltz (FL-06), John Rutherford (FL-05), and Kat Cam  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: CARNEGIE, PA - This week, Representatives Chris Deluzio (PA-17) joined as an original co-sponsor of the Stop Wall Street Landlords Act reintroduced by Ro Khanna (CA-17), Katie Porter (CA-47), and Mark Takano (CA-39). This bill would end large institutional investors' ability to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize the acquisition of single-family residential homes. Since the 2008 housing crash and subse  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. W. Greg Steube, R-Florida, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) is urging the U.S. House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure to expeditiously consider his legislation, the Clean Up DEBRIS Act. The legislation mandates that FEMA provide debris removal assistance to privately owned communities after major disasters, making common interest communities, such as housing cooperatives, condominiums, and mobile homes that are   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Oct. 29, 2024: Today, Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) demanded Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin explain why the Pentagon has promoted an alleged member of a covert Iranian influence network to a senior post overseeing military training. Congressman Mast is further demanding the Pentagon open an investigation into the individual and other employees who may have lied about their ties to Iran to obtain a security   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Oct. 29, 2024: Today, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) will introduce the "Judicial Action to Impose Liability for Alien Voters Act," also known as the JAIL for Alien Voters Act, following President Donald Trump's warning to illegal aliens: "[i]f you vote illegally, you are going to jail!" The legislation, if enacted, would make voting by an illegal alien a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Oct. 28, 2024: Today, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) and U.S. Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) introduced the "Americans First Disaster Relief Act." This legislation would provide an additional $10 billion to FEMA for disaster relief. The bill would move $10 billion set aside to hire thousands of additional IRS agents and instead use the money to provide critical disaster assistance. Upon introduction, C  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Oct. 28, 2024: Today, Reps. Vern Buchanan and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chairs of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, led a letter calling for a report into the potential maltreatment and poor living conditions of horses at Arlington National Cemetery. The death of two horses within days of one another led to the suspension of horse-drawn funeral procession for our nation's fallen soldiers. "Th  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, issued the following news release: A National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study failed to publish its findings on the effects of puberty blockers on children years after completing the research. The researchers are concerned their findings would justify puberty blocker bans for minors. Political manipulation of research is a gross misuse of taxpayer funds, compromises scientific integrity, and could lead to the endangerment of America's   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Due to Hurricane Milton's impact on the Seminole Tribe of Florida, their communities, and property, the tribe requested a major disaster declaration to assist in their response and recovery efforts. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging his immediate approval of the Seminole Tribe of Florida's request for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration.   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, issued the following weekly column: * * * Good News Abounds in Natural State Mister Rogers once encouraged his young viewers, during difficult times, to look for the "helpers" - because seeing others step forward to offer aid as well as hope was certain to lift their own spirits. That's advice we can all take to heart. It is a useful exercise to help us see past the daily barrage of negative stories and drown out the loudest voices that a  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Rick Scott and Mrs. Ann Scott announced that they have donated a portion of his Senate salary to Operation BBQ Relief. Operation BBQ Relief aids communities and first responders affected by natural disasters by providing the one hot meal that matters during times of need, including recent Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida. With a wide network of volunteers and equipment across the country,  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, following the October 15th announcement where the SBA announced the Disaster Loan Fund had run out of money, Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Thom Tillis, along with Senators Ted Budd, Tim Scott and Bill Cassidy, M.D. to announce the upcoming introduction of legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program. The senators plan to seek passage of the legislati  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The Senate Finance Committee released the following testimony by Michele Bratcher Goodwin, a professor of constitutional law and global health policy at Georgetown University, from a Sept. 24, 2024, hearing entitled "Chaos and Control: How Trump Criminalized Women's Health Care": * * * Committee Chairman Wyden, Committee Ranking Member Crapo, and distinguished members of the Senate Finance Committee, thank you for inviting me to participate in today's hearing on "Chaos a  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The Senate Finance Committee released the following testimony by Indivar Dutta-Gupta, a distinguished visiting fellow at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University and a tax fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, from a Sept. 12, 2024, hearing entitled "The 2025 Tax Policy Debate and Tax Avoidance Strategies": * * * Thank you, Senator Wyden, Senator Crapo, and members of the Senate Finance Committee. I am a Doris Duke Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Mc  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The Senate Finance Committee released the following testimony by Heather G. Hacker, a partner at Hacker Stephens LLP, from a Sept. 24, 2024, hearing entitled "Chaos and Control: How Trump Criminalized Women's Health Care": * * * Chairman Wyden, Ranking Member Crapo, and Members of the Committee, Thank you for the opportunity to present testimony on this topic based on my expertise as an attorney and practicing litigator. There is a lot of misinformation and confusion su  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The Senate Finance Committee released the following testimony by OB/GYN Amelia Huntsberger from a Sept. 24, 2024, hearing entitled "Chaos and Control: How Trump Criminalized Women's Health Care": * * * Good morning Chairman Wyden, Ranking Member Crapo, and members of the committee. My name is Dr. Amelia Huntsberger, and I am a board-certified OB/GYN. I currently live and work in Oregon but previously practiced medicine in rural Idaho for more than a decade. Prior to lea  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth released the following testimony by Joe Bishop-Henchman, executive vice president of the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, from a Sept. 25, 2024, hearing entitled "Providing Small Business Relief from Remote Sales Tax Collection": * * * Senator Hassan, Senator Grassley, and members of the Subcommittee, My name is Joe Bishop-Henchman, and I am Executive Vice President of the National Taxpayer  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), along with Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Tim Scott (R-SC), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Rick Scott (R-FL), announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program. The Senators plan to seek passage of the legislation when Congress returns to session. On October 15th, the SBA announced the Disaster Loan  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on Oct. 29, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing Chipola Slabshell and Fat Threeridge From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to remove the Chipola slabshell ( Elliptio chipolaensis) and fat threeridge ( Amblema  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the following news release on Oct. 28, 2024: Two species of freshwater mussels living in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint basin may no longer require federal protection after decades of partnered habitat restoration work. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to remove the Chipola slabshell (Elliptio chipolaensis) and fat threeridge (Amblema neislerii) from the protections of the End  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development issued the following remarks on Oct. 28, 2024, by Administrator Samantha Power at a swearing-in ceremony for Emily Coffman-Krunic as Mission Director for Bosnia and Herzegovina: * * * ADMINISTRATOR SAMANTHA POWER: It's really great to be part of this event. Jim [Hope], really lovely to hear from your perspective. Jim has most recently been our Mission Director in Ukraine, and this is the first ceremony that I've had the chanc  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development issued the following news release: The United States, through USAID, committed $57.4 million, working with Congress, to accelerate food security initiatives and advance novel climate-smart agricultural solutions to reduce global hunger, poverty, and undernutrition. Announced at the 2024 World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue in Iowa, more than $38 million will support Feed the Future the U.S. government's global hunger initiative I  more