WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12779) on Oct. 8, 2024, by telecommunications policy specialists Jill C. Gallagher and Amanda H. Peskin. Here are excerpts: * * * Restoration of Cell Phone Services: Hurricane Helene On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida. The hurricane caused flooding and damage to personal property and critical infrastructure, including roads, power, and co  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Deborah Ross, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) introduced a resolution to designate November 4 through November 10 as Forensic Nursing Week. For survivors of violence and abuse, forensic nurses provide specialized care that addresses the specific needs of the individual. Along with providing health care for survivors, forensic nurses often provide other critical support for victims of violence, including l  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations: Army Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue for appointment to the grade of general, with assignment as commanding general, U.S. Army Europe-Africa; and commander, Allied Land Command, NATO, Germany. Donahue is currently serving as commanding general, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty, Fort Liberty, North C  more

OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory issued the following news release: The American Nuclear Society has recognized Arnold Lumsdaine and Walid Metwally, group leaders within the Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, with ANS Presidential Citations. ANS Presidential Citations are awarded to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding effort for the benefit of the Society. The citations wil  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Nov. 16 -- The North Carolina Department of Public Safety issued the following news release: The N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) is seeking public comments through Dec. 14 on a proposed amendment to the action plan for administering HUD Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation funds. The proposed action plan amendment is intended to address homeowner mitigation needs, including establishing the Residential Property Elevation Fund, which will be used t  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Nov. 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina issued the following news release: A Jacksonville man was sentenced to 108 months in prison for armed drug trafficking in Jacksonville after being found in his car with his child, a loaded gun, and drugs. On August 9, 2024, Antwone Hatchell, age 24, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug tr  more

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Nov. 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina issued the following news release on Nov. 15, 2024: A member of the Inglewood Family Gangster Bloods was sentenced to 20 years in prison today after he was caught trying to smuggle 46 kilograms of methamphetamine through the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Rashad Jamal Blanchard, 47, of Los Ang  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Nov. 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina issued the following news release: Seth Allen Hall, 29, was sentenced to 190 months in prison for his involvement in the trafficking of methamphetamine and fentanyl after fleeing from law enforcement on four separate occasions. On August 16, 2024, Hall pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing methamphet  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Rep. Alma S. Adams, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release on Nov. 15, 2024: CHARLOTTE - Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) celebrated two recently-awarded federal grants in her district. Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA), the public health authority of Cabarrus County, received a $1,000,000 STOP School Violence Program grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant enables CHA to reduce rates of suspension for students targeted for violen  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Nov. 15, 2024: This week, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) joined two letters demanding answers and accountability from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell following troubling reports that agency staff was instructed to avoid providing aid to hurricane victims displaying Trump for President campaign signs. Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06)   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release: Today, the Federal Trade Commission released the National Do Not Call Registry Data Book for Fiscal Year 2024 which shows that consumer reports about unwanted calls continue to drop for the third straight year, with complaint volume down by more than half since 2021. The FTC has pursued a multifaced strategy to crack down on unwanted calls. In 2023, the agency announced Operation Stop Scam Calls, the largest  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) are continuing their investigation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response to recent hurricanes, including reports that some FEMA employees in   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that people recovering from Tropical Storm Helene may be eligible for food assistance through USDA's Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Approximately 22,858 households in nine counties are estimated to be eligible for this relief to help with grocery expenses. Through this program, which USDA makes available through states in  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement to mark the three-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law becoming law: "In the past three years, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which we authored and helped pass, has been transformative for communities across Virginia. This law has upgraded our roads, railways, and airports, made our air and wate  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement to mark the three-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law becoming law: "In the past three years, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which we authored and helped pass, has been transformative for communities across Virginia. This law has upgraded our roads, railways, and airports, made our air and wa  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (TNSfact) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet on Nov. 15, 2024: * * * Biden-Harris Administration Transforms Nation's Infrastructure, Celebrates Historic Progress in Rebuilding America for the Three-Year Anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - Over $695 billion in funding and over 74,000 projects announced thanks to President Biden's Investing in America agenda For far too long, this country's infrastructure was under resourced and neglected, lea  more