Featured Stories
Walk Through Ice Age History at White Sands National Park During National Fossil Day
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release:
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Walk Through Ice Age History at White Sands National Park During National Fossil Day
October programs showcase the ancient people and animals recorded in fossilized footprints beneath the dunes
September 28, 2026
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. - Throughout October, White Sands National Park will celebrate National Fossil Day (Oct. 14) with a series of special programs exploring the Ice Age human and mammal fossilized footprints preserved throughout the park.
Programs will be offered
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release:
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Walk Through Ice Age History at White Sands National Park During National Fossil Day
October programs showcase the ancient people and animals recorded in fossilized footprints beneath the dunes
September 28, 2026
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. - Throughout October, White Sands National Park will celebrate National Fossil Day (Oct. 14) with a series of special programs exploring the Ice Age human and mammal fossilized footprints preserved throughout the park.
Programs will be offeredfrom Oct. 2 - 28 and will include guided hikes along the new Ice Age Trail, ranger talks, drop-in programming and a special presentation associated with the October Full Moon Night on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 5:30 p.m. Through these activities, visitors can discover the scientific importance of White Sands' fossil resources and learn about ongoing research that uncovers stories from ancient lake shores and beneath the dunes.
White Sands National Park preserves one of the world's largest concentrations of Ice Age fossil footprints. The park's fossil trackways provide a rare record of life back as far as 21,000 - 23,000 years ago, offering important insights into the people and animals that once occupied the landscape.
National Fossil Day is an annual celebration highlighting paleontology's scientific and educational value and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations. This year's event takes place on Oct. 14. In recognition of the significance of the park's fossilized footprint resources, White Sands National Park is featured on the official 2026 National Fossil Day poster.
Throughout October, visitors can discover White Sands' remarkable fossil heritage and learn about Pleistocene megafauna and the human footprints preserved beneath the glistening white sands for thousands of years.
2026 National Fossil Day Program Schedule
Ice Age Life Within Drop-in Programs
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Drop in at the White Sands National Park visitor center courtyard to examine casts and molds of Ice Age fossilized footprints, along with replica skulls of large mammals that lived in the park tens of thousands of years ago. Rangers will discuss how humans and Ice Age animals traveled across the same landscape and interacted with one another.
Ranger-Guided Walks of the Ice Age Trail (formerly the Playa Trail)
Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Oct. 28 at 10 a.m.
Join park rangers for a guided walk along the 0.8-mile Ice Age Trail. Participants will learn about the Pleistocene landscape, its mammal and human inhabitants and the discovery of fossilized footprints in the park.
National Fossil Day Drop-in Program
Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Celebrate National Fossil Day in the visitor center courtyard. Park scientists will share information about the park's fossilized footprints, while visitors can view rarely exhibited footprint casts, molds and museum collections.
October Full Moon Night Presentation
Sunday, Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
Join Resource Management Program Manager David Bustos at the park's natural outdoor amphitheater for a special ranger presentation about the fossilized footprints found in the park. Bustos will explore the fascinating story of prey and predators as he guides visitors on a journey through life at White Sands that 23,000 years ago. Learn the tales of ancient humans, how they hunted, how they lived and the current study of the fossilized footprints found at White Sands.
The program is free, but park entrance fees will apply. Event parking will open at 4 p.m. The presentation will start at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 90 minutes, including time for questions and answers. The park will have extended hours until 8 p.m. that evening.
For more information, visit the park calendar webpage (https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/calendar.htm).
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About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America's most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/news/nr09282026.htm
SEC Charges New Jersey Resident as Additional Defendant in Alleged Insider Trading Scheme
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release:
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jordan Meadow, et. al., No. 1:23-cv-05573 (S.D.N.Y. filed June 29, 2023)
On September 29, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed an amended complaint to name Chris Farrant, a New Jersey resident, as an additional defendant in a previously filed insider trading case. According to the SEC's amended complaint, Farrant traded in the securities of two issuers based on material nonpublic information he received from his close friend, previously-charged
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release:
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jordan Meadow, et. al., No. 1:23-cv-05573 (S.D.N.Y. filed June 29, 2023)
On September 29, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed an amended complaint to name Chris Farrant, a New Jersey resident, as an additional defendant in a previously filed insider trading case. According to the SEC's amended complaint, Farrant traded in the securities of two issuers based on material nonpublic information he received from his close friend, previously-chargeddefendant Stephen Teixeira, who had obtained the information from the laptop of his then-romantic partner, an executive assistant at an investment bank.
Additionally, the SEC alleges that Farrant tipped the material nonpublic information he knew to be misappropriated to his close friend, previously-charged defendant Jordan Meadow. The amended complaint further alleges that Meadow then traded on the basis of that information and tipped his colleague and friend, Ronald Smith, who also traded on the basis of that information for himself, his then-girlfriend, and brokerage customers. The SEC previously filed charges against Smith in a separate action.
The amended complaint alleges that the scheme generated illicit profits of approximately $28,600 for Teixeira, $25,860 for Farrant, more than $730,000 for Meadow, and more than $530,000 for Smith. According to the amended complaint, Meadow and Smith allegedly used the misappropriated information to recommend profitable trades to their customers, who made millions of dollars on trades, while Meadow and Smith made hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions.
The SEC's amended complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, charges Farrant with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, and civil monetary penalties.
The SEC's investigation was conducted by Norman P. Ostrove of the SEC's Philadelphia Regional Office and Julia C. Green of the Division of Enforcement's Market Abuse Unit, with assistance from John S. Rymas of the Market Abuse Unit's Analysis and Detection Center. It was supervised by Scott A. Thompson of the Philadelphia Regional Office and Joseph G. Sansone, Chief of the Market Abuse Unit. The litigation will be led by Kara F. Sweet and supervised by Gregory Bockin of the Philadelphia Regional Office. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
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Resources
* SEC Complaint (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/complaints/2026/comp26653.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26653
OpenStar Technologies and PPPL are Building Partnership to Advance Fusion Energy
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Energy Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory issued the following news:
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OpenStar Technologies and PPPL are building partnership to advance fusion energy
Rachel Kremen
Sept. 29, 2026
Agreement highlights scientific cooperation in levitated-dipole reactor research
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OpenStar Technologies (OpenStar) and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), formalizing a new partnership to advance scientific, academic and educational cooperation in the science and technology of fusion energy.
Under
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Energy Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory issued the following news:
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OpenStar Technologies and PPPL are building partnership to advance fusion energy
Rachel Kremen
Sept. 29, 2026
Agreement highlights scientific cooperation in levitated-dipole reactor research
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OpenStar Technologies (OpenStar) and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), formalizing a new partnership to advance scientific, academic and educational cooperation in the science and technology of fusion energy.
Underthe MOU, OpenStar and PPPL intend to cooperate on research related to levitated-dipole fusion systems: an innovative approach to magnetic confinement under development by OpenStar. In a levitated-dipole device, a superconducting ring magnet floats freely inside the vacuum chamber, producing a magnetic field to hold the superheated plasma in place.
OpenStar aims to leverage the advantages of this approach, including inherent plasma stability and a modular design, which is predicted to allow straightforward maintenance at plant scale. The company has fully commissioned their first prototype device, Junior, and published designs for its grid-scale machine Tama Nui, demonstrating the concept's viability and laying the groundwork for a path to grid-scale energy. PPPL, a national laboratory funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by Princeton University, brings decades of expertise in plasma physics and fusion research to the partnership -- expertise that can support OpenStar's development of the levitated dipole.
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"PPPL is one of the world's leading institutions in fusion research and development. This partnership provides the opportunity for us to leverage their significant knowledge and infrastructure and for PPPL to work with a fast-moving company dedicated to making commercial fusion energy a reality."
-- Thomas Berry, Chief Product Officer, OpenStar Technologies
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"PPPL has been the beating heart of fusion plasma physics for 75 years. In fact, the first levitated-dipole experiment, LDX, began as a conversation in the control room of PPPL's flagship tokamak; two physicists sitting through post-disruption recovery, discussing a fusion configuration that doesn't disrupt at all. OpenStar carries the concept forward today, and we're thrilled to be partnering with PPPL, its incredible expertise, capabilities and history as a germinator of innovation."
-- Darren Garnier, Chief Science Officer, OpenStar Technologies
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"PPPL is excited to partner with OpenStar in support of their innovative approach to fusion energy. The plasma inside a levitated dipole behaves in ways you can't reproduce in other types of fusion systems, which provides the opportunity for unique scientific discovery and to address challenges facing other confinement approaches. We look forward to growing our partnership with the OpenStar team in support of their drive to fusion."
-- Laura Berzak Hopkins, Deputy Director for Research and Chief Research Officer, PPPL
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About OpenStar Technologies
OpenStar Technologies is a fusion energy company focused on developing levitated-dipole reactor technology as a pathway to commercial fusion power. The company is committed to advancing the scientific and engineering foundations necessary to make fusion energy a reality.
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PPPL is mastering the art of using plasma -- the fourth state of matter -- to solve some of the world's toughest science and technology challenges. Nestled on Princeton University's Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, New Jersey, our research ignites innovation in a range of applications including fusion energy, nanoscale fabrication, quantum materials and devices, and sustainability science. The University manages the Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, which is the nation's single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences. Feel the heat at https://energy.gov/science and https://www.pppl.gov.
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URL: OpenStar Technologies
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Original text here: https://www.pppl.gov/news/2026/openstar-technologies-and-pppl-are-building-partnership-advance-fusion-energy
Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission Orders Wisconsin Contractor to Pay $24,685 Penalty
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Administrative Law Judge William S. Coleman issued an order of default and dismissal against a Janesville, Wisconsin contractor on Aug. 28, 2026, affirming $24,685 in safety penalties after the business owner repeatedly failed to participate in administrative proceedings.
The ruling closes the case titled SECRETARY OF LABOR, Complainant, v. DAVID HERNANDEZ, d/b/a David Hernandez, Respondent (Docket No. 26-0233).
The matter began when the Madison area office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducted
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Administrative Law Judge William S. Coleman issued an order of default and dismissal against a Janesville, Wisconsin contractor on Aug. 28, 2026, affirming $24,685 in safety penalties after the business owner repeatedly failed to participate in administrative proceedings.
The ruling closes the case titled SECRETARY OF LABOR, Complainant, v. DAVID HERNANDEZ, d/b/a David Hernandez, Respondent (Docket No. 26-0233).
The matter began when the Madison area office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration conductedan inspection on September 12, 2025, at a construction worksite located at 7116 County Road K in Waunakee, Wisconsin. Safety officials issued a three-item citation on September 24, 2025, alleging violations of construction safety standards and proposing $24,685 in total penalties.
Following communication from the local area director, Hernandez sent a typewritten letter to the commission executive secretary postmarked February 3, 2026. In the letter, Hernandez expressed confusion regarding the penalties, claiming the government owed him $24,685 rather than recognizing his financial obligation to pay the assessment. He noted an attempted visit to the local office on October 7, 2025, which was closed due to a federal government shutdown, and requested payment disbursement.
The commission treated the letter as a notice of contest and docketed the case on February 11, 2026. The Secretary of Labor filed a complaint on April 23, 2026, serving it to the Janesville address provided by Hernandez.
After Hernandez failed to answer the complaint, Coleman issued an order to show cause on May 20, 2026, warning that failure to respond would result in affirming all violations and proposed penalties without a hearing. Certified mail containing the order was returned as refused, while regular mail was delivered. Hernandez did not respond.
On July 6, 2026, Coleman scheduled a telephone conference for July 30, 2026, offering a Spanish language interpreter if needed. Hernandez failed to attend the call.
In entering the default judgment, Coleman determined that Hernandez displayed a pattern of disregard for administrative proceedings, showing he either abandoned his case or held the process in disdain. Consequently, the commission dismissed the notice of contest, affirmed the citation in full, and assessed the $24,685 penalty.
-- Vidhi Gianani, Targeted News Service
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Original text here: https://www.oshrc.gov/wp-content/uploads/26-0233-David-Hernandez-ALJ-Decision-redacted.pdf
Federal Maritime Commission Denies SM Line Request to Deposit Award Funds in Samsung Shipping Dispute
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Federal Maritime Commission has denied a petition from ocean common carrier SM Line Corp. seeking to deposit roughly $2.3 million to stop interest from accruing on a reparations award owed to Samsung Electronics America Inc. The decision stems from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. v. SM Line Corp. (Docket No. 23-01).
Samsung Electronics America (SEA), acting as consignee, filed a complaint with the agency in April 2023. SEA alleged that ocean common carrier SM Line violated federal shipping laws--specifically 46 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 41102(c), 41104(a)(14), and 41104(a)(15)--by
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Federal Maritime Commission has denied a petition from ocean common carrier SM Line Corp. seeking to deposit roughly $2.3 million to stop interest from accruing on a reparations award owed to Samsung Electronics America Inc. The decision stems from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. v. SM Line Corp. (Docket No. 23-01).
Samsung Electronics America (SEA), acting as consignee, filed a complaint with the agency in April 2023. SEA alleged that ocean common carrier SM Line violated federal shipping laws--specifically 46 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 41102(c), 41104(a)(14), and 41104(a)(15)--byassessing improper demurrage and detention charges on container shipments between 2020 and 2022. In May 2025, an Administrative Law Judge determined SM Line liable for 115 improperly assessed charges linked to port congestion or chassis shortages, ordering reparations of $1,913,355.80 plus interest. Following exceptions from both parties, the agency affirmed the ruling on August 13, 2026. The agency maintained the reparations amount while adjusting the interest accrual start date from August 21, 2021, to November 30, 2021, to accurately match proved violations.
On August 31, 2026, SM Line submitted a Petition for Leave to Deposit Funds and Stop Accrual of Interest. The carrier stated that it attempted to pay SEA approximately $2.3 million--representing the reparations award plus interest calculated through August 21, 2026--but SEA refused the payment. SM Line subsequently transferred the funds into its counsel's Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA). The carrier requested that the agency either hold the funds in trust pending final resolution, drawing comparison to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 67, or recognize the trust deposit as satisfying its payment obligation to cap post-judgment interest.
SEA filed an opposition on September 8, 2026, arguing that the petition was an improper motion for reconsideration that could complicate the finality of the August 13 ruling for judicial review purposes. Under federal law, parties have 60 days to petition for judicial review of an agency order. SEA also asked the agency to issue a decision setting a firm payment deadline and requested an admonishment against SM Line for disclosing settlement interactions.
The agency rejected SM Line's petition, noting that federal shipping regulations do not establish a mechanism for accepting deposited funds in this manner. While federal district courts operate under Rule 67 procedures, the agency noted it was unnecessary to create such a process here. The agency clarified that SM Line remains free to hold funds in its counsel's trust account, but declining to rule on whether that action caps interest obligations now, noting that future events or judicial review may alter calculations.
The agency also rejected SEA's secondary requests. Commissioners noted that SM Line's petition did not seek changes to the underlying August 13 ruling, making it distinct from a motion for reconsideration. Additionally, the agency declined to issue a ruling setting a new payment date or to sanction SM Line, noting SEA provided no specific rule or authority justifying an admonishment regarding settlement disclosures.
The order was served on Sept. 29, 2026, by Secretary David Eng on behalf of Chairman Laura DiBella and Commissioners Rebecca F. Dye, Daniel B. Maffei, Max M. Vekich, and Robert J. Harvey.
-- Vidhi Gianani, Targeted News Service
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Original text here: https://www2.fmc.gov/readingroom/docs/23-01/(161)%2023-01%20Order%20on%20Petition%20to%20Deposit%20Funds%20(public).pdf/
FCC Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Issues Public Notice: Guidance for Filing in Network Outage Reporting System
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (PS Docket No. 15-80; ET Docket No. 04-35):
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The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) issues this Public Notice to remind communications service providers to submit accurate and complete Network Outage Reporting System (NORS) reports. NORS filings are a critical tool that provides the Commission, as well as federal, state, Tribal, and territorial public-safety agencies, with situational
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (PS Docket No. 15-80; ET Docket No. 04-35):
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The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) issues this Public Notice to remind communications service providers to submit accurate and complete Network Outage Reporting System (NORS) reports. NORS filings are a critical tool that provides the Commission, as well as federal, state, Tribal, and territorial public-safety agencies, with situationalawareness during outages, supports analysis of outage causes and trends, and enables the Bureau to promote implementation of network reliability best practices.
I. BACKGROUND
The Commission plays an essential role in "ensuring that the communications network promotes public safety, including matters involving the national security and emergency preparedness of the United States."/1 To perform these duties effectively, the Commission needs "timely, accurate and longitudinal information about the nation's communications infrastructure."/2 Cable communications providers, satellite operators, satellite communications providers, wireless service providers, wireline service providers, Signaling System 7 (SS7) providers, and submarine cable licensees must submit a Notification, Initial Report, and Final Report in NORS about outages that exceed certain thresholds./3 Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers must submit a Notification and a Final Report about reportable outages./4
II. GUIDANCE ON RECURRING NORS REPORTING ISSUES
A. Describe the Incident Clearly and in Detail
The web-based NORS reporting form includes a freeform text "Description of Incident" field. Providers must enter information in that field sufficient to enable a reader who is unfamiliar with the provider's internal systems to understand what happened./5 The content of the "Description of Incident" field should include "the sequence of events leading up to the incident, the steps taken to try and resolve the incident once it . . . occurred, and the action(s) that finally resolved the incident," as well as any contributing factors./6 Providers should also "[i]nclude any factors that may have contributed to the duration of the event, 'quick fix' actions that may have resolved or at least mitigated the immediate problem but were not the final, long-term solution, and any other contributing factors."/7 The Commission expects that the Initial Report will contain as much of this information as is available at the time of filing,/8 and that complete information will be available by the time the Final Report is filed./9 Providers should complete this field using clear, plain language. Descriptions that merely contain technical terminology or codes, unintelligible notes from internal ticketing systems, or bare, generic statements that the matter remains "under investigation," are not helpful and fail to satisfy the requirement of our rules./10
B. Provide a Reasonable Estimate of the Number of "Users Affected"
Providers should use the best estimate reasonably available at each filing stage to identify the number of users potentially affected by an outage,/11 by using the metric applicable to the service type under section 4.7./12 For telephony and certain paging services, that metric is based on assigned or working telephone numbers;/13 for other services, it is generally based on the number of "end users" potentially affected, subject to any service-specific calculation./14 When determining the number of end users potentially affected by an outage, a provider should base its assessment on the number of individual users affected by the outage rather than the number of individual customer accounts./15 As the Commission explained in 2004, reporting an outage affecting a business or government entity as affecting a single user, where the relevant customer account might include tens of thousands of telephone lines, may grossly underestimate the outage's impact./16
Similarly, a provider must not use a figure representing its entire subscriber base as a nominal placeholder for the true number of users potentially affected when information actually available to the provider supports a different figure./17 The number of potentially affected users in an outage is essential to help the Commission assess the outage's scope and scale./18 At the Initial Report and Final Report stages, presenting accurate information about an outage's scope is part of a provider's obligation to include "all pertinent information then available on the outage. . . ."/19 If the exact number of users potentially affected is not yet known, the provider must provide the best estimate reasonably available at each filing stage by using the metric applicable to the service type under section 4.7, identify the figure as an estimate where appropriate, and update the figure as more accurate information becomes available./20
C. Submit NORS Reports for Outages Arising on Facilities that Are Leased or Otherwise Utilized
The Commission's rules require cable communications providers, satellite operators, SS7 providers, wireless service providers, wireline service providers, and interconnected VoIP providers to report outages that they have "experienced on any facilities that they own, operate, lease, or otherwise utilize."/21 Thus, these providers must submit outage reports for outages that arise not only in their own call origination networks but also in other network locations and platforms, such as the "middle mile" or transport network facilities./22 This requirement applies to the extent the reporting provider "leases or otherwise utilizes" the affected facilities and the outage otherwise meets the applicable reporting criteria in section 4.9./23
D. Non-Facilities-Based Providers Must Report in NORS
We remind non-facilities-based resellers, including mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), of their NORS outage reporting obligations./24 A review of NORS data shows that very few MVNOs submit outage reports./25 Non-facilities-based resellers, including MVNOs, must submit NORS reports when they fall within a provider category covered by section 4.9 and "lease or otherwise utilize" facilities to provide communications services to their customers./26 Such resellers are uniquely equipped to provide information to the Commission about how outages affect their customers./27
E. Select the Most Precise Root Cause Supported by the Information Available
NORS enables providers to identify an outage's root cause by selecting from among a dropdown menu of root causes. A provider should select the most specific root cause supported by the information available before the Final Report deadline./28 The fact that an outage began on another provider's network does not obviate the requirement that the reporting provider conduct a reasonable investigation of the outage to determine its root cause./29 Providers should only select "Insufficient Data" in rare instances when, after a reasonable investigation, they cannot identify the root cause./30 The Commission has explained that, by the Final Report deadline, "complete information will, in almost all cases, be available and the [F]inal [R]eport must contain this information,"/31 including the root causes and any contributing factors./32 Moreover, the fact that an outage investigation may continue after the 30-day Final Report deadline does not, standing alone, justify selecting "Insufficient Data" when the available evidence supports a more specific cause./33 Section 4.11 requires providers to submit "all pertinent information" about an outage./34 Even where a provider must select the "Insufficient Data" root cause, it should explain what is known about the outage, why a more specific cause cannot be identified, and any known contributing factors. In addition, providers should only select "Other" as the root cause when the cause is known but no listed root cause accurately describes it./35 When selecting "Other," providers should provide a plain-language explanation of the specific cause in their report, including any known contributing factors./36
III. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We expect NORS filers' submissions to provide informative incident descriptions, specific root cause information, and the best estimate of impacted users. Consistent with the Commission's rules, we also expect that non-facilities-based providers will submit NORS reports concerning reportable outages, and we expect that outages that arise from facilities that the NORS filer leases or otherwise utilizes in its provision of service will be reported as well. These measures will help ensure the Commission and its public-safety partners have visibility into the impacts, causes, and resolution of all outages that must be reported in NORS.
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Original text plus footnotes here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-1047A1.pdf
ATF, U.S. Marshals Arrest Suspect in Illegal Gun Purchase Connected to 2024 Shooting That Claimed the Lives of Four Law Enforcement Officers
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued the following news release:
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Tuesday, September 29, 2026
ATF, U.S. Marshals arrest suspect in illegal gun purchase connected to 2024 shooting that claimed the lives of four law enforcement officers
WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with support from the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested Natasha Renee Gibbs, 42, on Sept. 28, in Dallas, Texas, for her alleged role in illegally purchasing a firearm for convicted felon Terry Clark Hughes Jr. Hughes
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued the following news release:
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Tuesday, September 29, 2026
ATF, U.S. Marshals arrest suspect in illegal gun purchase connected to 2024 shooting that claimed the lives of four law enforcement officers
WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with support from the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested Natasha Renee Gibbs, 42, on Sept. 28, in Dallas, Texas, for her alleged role in illegally purchasing a firearm for convicted felon Terry Clark Hughes Jr. Hughesused that firearm during the April 29, 2024, shooting in Charlotte that killed multiple law enforcement officers.
"Purchasing or providing a firearm for someone prohibited from possessing one is far more than a paperwork violation," said ATF Director Rob Cekada. It is a serious act and a flagrant disregard for the law that can place a weapon in the hands of someone who should never have had it in the first place. As this case tragically demonstrates, the consequences can be devastating."
"Nearly two and a half years later, the families of all four fallen law enforcement officers we lost that day are still carrying that grief, and so are we. The United States Marshals Service will forever mourn the loss of Deputy U.S. Marshal Tommy Weeks, N.C. Department of Adult Correction Officers Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Joshua Eyer," said U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta. "This arrest reflects the determination of every investigator and partner agency who refused to let this case go. Straw purchasers, and those who aid and abet them, share responsibility for what prohibited persons do with the firearms they help put in their hands. We will keep working alongside our partners to deliver accountability for Tommy, Sam, Alden, Joshua, their families, and the community."
Gibbs is charged with knowingly making false or fictitious statements during the acquisition of a firearm from a licensed dealer and illegally transferring firearms. These offenses carry potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The investigation determined that Gibbs purchased firearms that Hughes later possessed before opening fire on members of a U.S. Marshals Service Task Force serving a federal warrant. The shooting resulted in the deaths of four law enforcement officers:
* Officer Joshua Eyer, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
* Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr.
* Officer Sam Poloche, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction
* Officer Alden Elliott, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction
ATF Special Agents and U.S. Marshals Deputies arrested Gibbs in Dallas. Gibbs is expected to appear later this week in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
"The firearm used in this crime was illegally and intentionally purchased and put into the hands of a deadly criminal," continued Cekada. "ATF follows the gun, pursues the evidence, and holds accountable those responsible. We owe that to Officer Joshua Eyer, Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks, Officers Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott, their families, and every officer who serves."
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ATF protects American communities from violent crime driven by the illegal use of firearms, explosives, and acts of arson. Through crime gun intelligence, forensic analysis, and relentless investigation, we identify and arrest violent offenders and gang members, dismantle trafficking networks, and sever the supply chains arming cartels, prohibited persons, and terrorist organizations. We defend the rights of law-abiding citizens by safeguarding lawful commerce and upholding the Constitution of the United States. Learn more about what ATF is doing to reduce violent crime in your community by following us on X @ATFHQ, Instagram @ATFHQ, LinkedIn @ATF, and Facebook @HQATF, or on the web at www.atf.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.atf.gov/news/press-releases/atf-u-s-marshals-arrest-suspect-illegal-gun-purchase-connected-to-2024-shooting-claimed-lives-four-law-enforcement-officers
