Federal - Executive Branch
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from the U.S. Executive Branch, covering all aspects of the Obama administration including cabinet departments, federal agencies, regulatory and independent agencies.
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Two Counties Added to Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance Funding
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 20 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:
Two more Arkansas counties are now eligible to apply for FEMA's Public Assistance funding to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas that sustained damage from April 26 to May 19.
Fulton and Searcy counties may now request reimbursements under the Public Assistance grant program. Assistance would cover eligible disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or rebuilding of public facilities, such as roads,
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 20 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:
Two more Arkansas counties are now eligible to apply for FEMA's Public Assistance funding to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas that sustained damage from April 26 to May 19.
Fulton and Searcy counties may now request reimbursements under the Public Assistance grant program. Assistance would cover eligible disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or rebuilding of public facilities, such as roads,bridges, water control facilities, buildings, equipment, public utilities, parks and recreational facilities.
The president's June 15, 2017, major disaster declaration was amended to add the two counties to 28 counties already designated for Public Assistance. Public Assistance reimbursements are made on a cost-sharing basis (75 percent federal) to municipalities and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work, restoration of infrastructure and direct federal assistance.
The 28 counties previously approved for Public Assistance are Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Cross, Faulkner, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Montgomery, Newton, Ouachita, Perry, Poinsett, Prairie, Randolph, Saline, Washington, White, and Woodruff.
Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at state/federal applicant briefings in the affected area. Approved projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA.
FEMA's Public Assistance program is for repairs by municipalities and certain private nonprofits such as school districts and electric utilities. FEMA's Individual Assistance program is for assistance to individual disaster survivors. Fulton County was approved earlier for FEMA's Individual Assistance program.
For updates on the Arkansas response and recovery, follow the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (@AR_Emergencies) on Twitter and Facebook and adem.arkansas.gov. Additional information is available at fema.gov/disaster/4318.
SBA Disaster Assistance Now Available in Jackson and Jefferson Counties for Private NonProfit Organizations in Tennessee
ATLANTA, July 20 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that Jackson and Jefferson counties have been added to the Presidential disaster declaration for Public Assistance resulting from damages caused by severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding on May 27- 28, 2017. Certain Private NonProfit organizations (PNP) that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low-interest rate disaster loans.
PNP's located in Blount, Cumberland,
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ATLANTA, July 20 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that Jackson and Jefferson counties have been added to the Presidential disaster declaration for Public Assistance resulting from damages caused by severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding on May 27- 28, 2017. Certain Private NonProfit organizations (PNP) that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low-interest rate disaster loans.
PNP's located in Blount, Cumberland,Fayette, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Sevier, Shelby and Smith counties in Tennessee are eligible to apply. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to; food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.
PNP organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. The interest rate is 2.5 percent with terms up to 30 years. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may now include a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
The SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs, such as ongoing operating expenses to PNP organizations. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the organization suffered any physical property damage.
PNP organizations are urged to contact their County's Emergency Manager for information about their organization. The information will be submitted to FEMA to determine eligibility for a Public Assistance grant or whether the PNP should be referred to SBA for disaster loan assistance.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from http://www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to submit applications for physical property damage is Aug. 22, 2017. The deadline to submit economic injury applications is March 23, 2018.
Photos: Pruitt Stops in Arkansas for State Action Tour
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 20 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt continued his state action tour in Arkansas today. Administrator Pruitt met with Governor Asa Hutchinson and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, and representatives from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to discuss restoring cooperative federalism by re-visiting the 2015 "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) rule. He also announced EPA's approval of Arkansas' 303(d) water quality standards that list impaired waters
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 20 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt continued his state action tour in Arkansas today. Administrator Pruitt met with Governor Asa Hutchinson and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, and representatives from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to discuss restoring cooperative federalism by re-visiting the 2015 "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) rule. He also announced EPA's approval of Arkansas' 303(d) water quality standards that list impaired watersfor the state of Arkansas, dating back to 2010. EPA is clearing the backlog that existed for the years 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016.
"Under the Trump Administration, EPA is focused on partnering with states to achieve the best environmental outcomes," said EPA Administrator Pruitt. "I am proud to announce that EPA is now approving the 303(d) list that recognizes Arkansas's water quality improvements made under Governor Hutchinson's leadership."
"I appreciate Administrator Pruitt and the administration for the work they're doing with the states and for listening to governors about how regulations affect our citizens," said Governor Asa Hutchinson. "His decision to begin the process to rescind this burdensome and overreaching rule, enacted under the Obama Administration, is welcome news and shows a return to cooperative federalism with the states. In addition, I am pleased with EPA's approval of Arkansas's 303(d) list. Arkansas supports clean water and has taken great strides to protect and enhance our natural environment. The clear and efficient regulations from EPA under Administrator Pruitt-as well as the agency's focus on a more balanced partnership with the states-is good news for Arkansans."
"I am proud to welcome EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to the Natural State," said Attorney General Rutledge. "Administrator Pruitt's decision last month to completely re-evaluate the WOTUS rule, minimizing the regulatory burden on countless landowners, demonstrates his commitment to building stronger relationships with state partners. Preserving and protecting our clean air and clean water through a cooperative, lawful and thoughtful process based on science and data is a priority for Arkansas."
As a result of Arkansas's efforts, 76 percent of water bodies impaired in 2008 are no longer showing impairments and a total of 335 waters are now meeting Arkansas Water Quality Standards.
Administrator Pruitt also held a breakfast roundtable this morning hosted by The Poultry Federation where he discussed EPA's decision to re-evaluate the 2015 WOTUS Rule. All segments of Arkansas' agriculture were represented.
"Agriculture is Arkansas' largest industry adding $16 billion to the state's economy each year," said Marvin Childers, President of The Poultry Federation. "We are pleased to have Administrator Pruitt is Arkansas and we look forward to the changes he discussed."
New Law Prohibits Handheld Device Use While Driving
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash., July 20 -- The U.S. Air Force Fairchild Air Force Base (92nd Air Refueling Wing) issued the following news:
By Senior Airman Janelle Patino
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
More austere rules regarding handheld devices will be in effect July 23, for all Washington State drivers.
Typing or reading any kind of message, picture or data while driving will be prohibited as well as using handheld devices at a stop sign or red-light signal. Photography while driving is also illegal. This new law permits "minimal use of a finger" to activate an application or
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FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash., July 20 -- The U.S. Air Force Fairchild Air Force Base (92nd Air Refueling Wing) issued the following news:
By Senior Airman Janelle Patino
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
More austere rules regarding handheld devices will be in effect July 23, for all Washington State drivers.
Typing or reading any kind of message, picture or data while driving will be prohibited as well as using handheld devices at a stop sign or red-light signal. Photography while driving is also illegal. This new law permits "minimal use of a finger" to activate an application ordevice.
"A police officer can pull someone over just for using a handheld device," said Tech. Sgt. Nicole Sevigny, 92nd Air Refueling Wing safety craftsman. "The Driving Under the Influence of Electronics is a primary offense."
The standard traffic fine of $136 would nearly double to $235 on the second distracted-driving citation. Distracted-driving citations will be reported on a motorist's record for use by the insurance industry.
"Miscellaneous distractions such as grooming or eating will be a secondary offense, meaning a ticket may be issued if a law enforcement officer pulls you over for some other offense, such as speeding or a dangerous lane change," Sevigny said. "The penalty will be an extra $30 fine."
Cellphones mounted in a dashboard cradle are still allowed. Example of which is using a handheld device for navigation, but not to watch videos or play games.
Other actions that remain legal are built-in electronic systems, such as hands-free calling and maps, calls to 911 or other emergency services, urgent calls between transit employees and dispatchers, amateur radio equipment and citizens-band radio.
"Handheld devices may be used if the driver has pulled off the roadway or traffic lanes where the vehicle can safely remain stationary and is placed in park position," Sevigny added.
For more information about the new legislation, contact the 92nd ARW Safety office at (509) 247-4809.
NIH-Supported Scientists Elicit Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies to HIV in Calves
WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases issued the following news release:
Scientists supported by the National Institutes of Health have achieved a significant step forward, eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) to HIV by immunizing calves. The findings offer insights for HIV vaccine design, and support further study of modified bovine antibodies as HIV therapeutics or prevention tools in humans, scientists reported in a paper published online today in Nature.
Researchers have observed that about
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WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases issued the following news release:
Scientists supported by the National Institutes of Health have achieved a significant step forward, eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) to HIV by immunizing calves. The findings offer insights for HIV vaccine design, and support further study of modified bovine antibodies as HIV therapeutics or prevention tools in humans, scientists reported in a paper published online today in Nature.
Researchers have observed that about10 to 20 percent of people living with HIV naturally develop bNAbs to the virus, but usually only after about two years of infection. These bNAbs have been shown in the laboratory to stop most HIV strains from infecting human cells, and to protect animal models from infection. However, scientists have so far been unsuccessful in prompting the human immune system to produce bNAbs through immunization. Further, while bNAbs isolated from people with HIV infection have demonstrated promise in primate studies and have entered human studies for HIV prevention (https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/passive-antibody-transfer) and treatment (https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/future-hiv-treatment), questions remain about whether effective antibodies could be produced rapidly and at a scale suitable for widespread distribution.
Cattle may offer some help solving these problems, report researchers supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of NIH, at the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and Texas A&M University. While cattle do not naturally acquire the human virus HIV, their immune systems have unique features that the researchers thought would allow them to produce potent antibodies when injected with HIV immunogens, or proteins designed to mimic proteins on the surface of HIV.
In their study, the researchers injected HIV immunogens into the flanks of four calves and waited for their immune systems to respond. All four cows developed bNAbs to HIV in their blood as rapidly as 35 to 50 days following two injections. This immunogen -- a BG505 SOSIP trimer -- can elicit HIV bNAb responses consistently and rapidly.
While bovine bNAbs are not likely suitable for clinical use in humans in their current form, exploring this rapid production may help answer important research questions.
"From the early days of the epidemic, we have recognized that HIV is very good at evading immunity, so exceptional immune systems that naturally produce broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV are of great interest -- whether they belong to humans or cattle," said Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., NIAID Director.
The TRSI investigators isolated specific antibodies from the immunized calves to study their properties. One of these antibodies is particularly potent, and binds to a key site that HIV uses to attach to and infect immune cells. Called NC-Cow 1, it neutralized about two-thirds of a panel of diverse HIV isolates. This activity is somewhat similar to bNAbs isolated from humans, such as VRC01, an agent currently in clinical trials (https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/nih-launches-large-clinical-trials-antibody-based-hiv-prevention) as an HIV prevention tool that neutralizes 90 percent of HIV strains but is less potent.
"A minority of people living with HIV produce bNAbs, but only after a significant period of infection, at which point virus in their body has already evolved to resist these defenses," said Dennis R. Burton, Ph.D., a lead author on the study, director of the NIH's Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery and scientific director of the IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Consortium at TSRI. "The potent responses in this study are remarkable because cattle seem to produce bNAbs in a relatively short amount of time. Unlike human antibodies, cattle antibodies are more likely to bear unique features and gain an edge over complicated HIV immunogens."
HIV researchers previously discovered that bNAbs isolated from people living with HIV for many years tend to have longer versions of a looped region called HCDR3. These extended loops help to penetrate sugar molecules on the surface of HIV, enabling the high performing antibodies to reach and recognize concealed regions of HIV proteins and neutralize the virus. In previous experiments, the TSRI team and their collaborators observed that cattle produce antibodies with long HCDR3 loops at a much higher frequency than humans, that these HCDR3 loops are ultra-long, and that bovine immune cells may produce antibodies with effective immunogen binding through a fundamentally different mechanism than takes place in human immune cells. The researchers note that a promising approach to HIV vaccine development may be to promote the human immune system's development of long HCDR3 loops.
While no one knows definitively why these powerful antibodies evolved in cattle, one theory holds that the long HCDR3 loops are tied to the animals' extensive gastrointestinal systems. Cattle and other ruminant animals have multi-chambered stomachs and a robust population of bacteria in their digestive tracts to help break down a diet of tough grasses. However, these bacteria can pose an infection risk if they escape the gut, so cattle with a versatile mechanism for producing potent antibodies would greatly benefit from the increased protection. Further study on how this mechanism contributed to the elicitation of bNAbs to HIV in cattle may inspire novel approaches to HIV vaccine development.
"HIV is a human virus," said Devin Sok, a study leader and Antibody Discovery and Development Director at IAVI, "but researchers can certainly learn from immune responses across the animal kingdom."
Researchers may also explore mimicking or modifying the potent isolated bNAb or those like it to develop experimental antibody-based HIV therapeutics and prevention tools, as well as treatments for other pathogens that have evolved to avoid human antibody responses. The pharmaceutical industry already uses cattle and other animals associated with agriculture, such as chickens and pigs, to produce antibody therapeutics and prophylactics, immunogens for vaccines and therapeutic hormones. Because the current research indicates that the bovine immune system may typically work quickly to produce effective antibodies against difficult pathogens such as HIV, immunizing cattle and discovering such antibodies may become a useful approach to ensure these tools are readily accessible.
Reference: D Sok et al. Rapid elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV by immunization in cows (https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature23301). Nature DOI: 10.1038/nature23301 (2017).
Frontiers in Science Talk Explores Space Weather
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., July 20 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory issued the following news release:
Geoff Reeves, a Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow and scientist in the Space Science and Applications group, will discuss the science behind space weather during three Frontiers in Science lectures titled "Whether There's Weather in Space" beginning July 24 in Santa Fe.
"Space is not a dark, cold void as many people think. Instead, it churns with energy--in the form of magnetic fields and electrically-charged particles," Reeves said. "Intense solar storms can disrupt
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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., July 20 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory issued the following news release:
Geoff Reeves, a Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow and scientist in the Space Science and Applications group, will discuss the science behind space weather during three Frontiers in Science lectures titled "Whether There's Weather in Space" beginning July 24 in Santa Fe.
"Space is not a dark, cold void as many people think. Instead, it churns with energy--in the form of magnetic fields and electrically-charged particles," Reeves said. "Intense solar storms can disruptcommunications, compromise power grids and even influence your day-to-day life on Earth."
In his talk, Reeves will discuss his research on how space weather impacts our planet and the discoveries still to be made. Reeves talks about the perils of space weather in a recent video posted to the Laboratory's YouTube channel.
All Frontiers in Science presentations begin at 7 p.m. and are free of charge. The talks are:
* Monday, July 24 at the James A. Little Theater at the New Mexico School for the Deaf, 1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe
* Wednesday, July 26 at the Crossroads Bible Church, 97 East Road, Los Alamos
* Friday, July 28 at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, 1801 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque
Sponsored by the Fellows of Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Frontiers in Science lecture series is intended to increase local public awareness of the diversity of science and engineering research at the Laboratory.
For more information, call (505) 665-9196 or email Linda Anderman at anderman@lanl.gov.
Canton Man Indicted on Child Pornography Charge
CLEVELAND, July 20 -- The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, David A. Sierleja, issued the following news release:
A Canton man was indicted on child pornography charges, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.
Larry P. Smith, 65, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Smith knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between Oct. 7 and 10, 2013, according to the indictment.
The
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CLEVELAND, July 20 -- The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, David A. Sierleja, issued the following news release:
A Canton man was indicted on child pornography charges, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.
Larry P. Smith, 65, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Smith knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between Oct. 7 and 10, 2013, according to the indictment.
Theindictment also charges that on or about November 20, 2013, Smith possessed several laptop computers, an Apple computer and several external hard drives, each of which contained child pornography.
If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
