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Winners Selected for the TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's 2025-2026 University Design Competition for Addressing Airport Needs
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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Winners Selected for the TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's 2025-2026 University Design Competition for Addressing Airport Needs
The Transportation Research Board's Airport Cooperative Research Program has selected winners for its latest ACRP University Design Competition. This annual competition encourages students to design innovative and practical solutions to challenges at airports.
Four first-place winners were chosen across the four technical challenge areas:
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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Winners Selected for the TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's 2025-2026 University Design Competition for Addressing Airport Needs
The Transportation Research Board's Airport Cooperative Research Program has selected winners for its latest ACRP University Design Competition. This annual competition encourages students to design innovative and practical solutions to challenges at airports.
Four first-place winners were chosen across the four technical challenge areas:Airport Environmental Interactions; Airport Safety, Operations, and Maintenance; Passenger Experience and Innovations in Airport Terminal Design; and Airport Management and Planning.
"TRB congratulates these students for their winning proposals and their innovative spirit. We look forward to their continued contributions to the industry in the years to come," said Ann Brach, TRB executive director.
The first-place winning teams in each category are:
Airport Environmental Interactions Challenge:
Hunter Lisle, Zackrey Schaeder, and Christopher Sidor from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's School of Graduate Studies won first place for their proposal titled Modernization of Deicing Operations Utilizing Uncrewed Aircraft Systems. Their faculty advisers were Chuyang Yang and Ryan Wallace.
Airport Safety, Operations, and Maintenance Challenge:
Kathleen Brening, Tomas Chacon, Brian Finn, Andrew Kirschenmann, and William Seaman from University of Colorado, Boulder, won first place for their proposal titled Tool Aerie. Their faculty adviser was Azadeh Bolhari.
Passenger Experience and Innovations in Airport Terminal Design Challenge:
Kyle Choate, Jakeb Jackson, and Kayla Kamposh from Lawrence Technical University won first place for their proposal titled BreatheWell Modular Seating System. Their faculty adviser was Julia Jovanovic.
Airport Management and Planning Challenge:
Dale Klika, Jason Kwong, and Yinxiao Zhang from Purdue University won first place for their proposal titled Parking Availability & Routing Knowledge Systems (PARKS). Their faculty adviser was Mary Johnson.
Additionally, teams from University of California, Berkeley, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Lawrence Technical University, and Bowling Green State University won second-place awards. Teams from St. Louis University, Kent State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Institute of Technology, and Lawrence Technical University won third-place awards.
Students were invited to propose innovations in any of the four technical challenge areas. The competition requires that students work with a faculty adviser and that they reach out to airport operators and industry experts for advice and to assess the practicality of their proposed design solutions. ACRP manages the competition while funding is provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. Volunteer panels of airport industry practitioners review and judge the submissions based on a standard scoring criteria.
Winning teams receive $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place, and will be given the opportunity to present their proposals at an industry professional conference or workshop in 2026.
The names of all winners and copies of designs receiving place awards will be made available at https://www.trb.org/ACRP.
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The Airport Cooperative Research Program is an industry-driven, applied research program that develops near-term, practical solutions to airport challenges. The ACRP is managed by the Transportation Research Board, which is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine -- private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. The National Academies operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln. For more information, visit https://national-academies.org.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news?type[]=136&pagination-page-select=https://www.nationalacademies.org/news?page=1
White House Fact Sheet: Thwarting Cyber Crimes
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The White House issued the following fact sheet on Aug. 12, 2026:
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President Donald J. Trump Expands Capabilities to Combat Transnational Cyber-Enabled Crime
THWARTING CYBER CRIMES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) empowering U.S. Federal law enforcement to use cyber tools to disrupt transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that operate in foreign jurisdictions to attack Americans.
* The NSPM directs the Homeland Security Task Force's National Coordination Center (NCC) to create a program to conduct specific
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The White House issued the following fact sheet on Aug. 12, 2026:
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President Donald J. Trump Expands Capabilities to Combat Transnational Cyber-Enabled Crime
THWARTING CYBER CRIMES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) empowering U.S. Federal law enforcement to use cyber tools to disrupt transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that operate in foreign jurisdictions to attack Americans.
* The NSPM directs the Homeland Security Task Force's National Coordination Center (NCC) to create a program to conduct specificcyber operations that disrupt foreign TCOs, with two Executive Directors from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.
* The NSPM directs the NCC to leverage the capability and innovation of the private sector to help conduct these cyber operations under the direction, control, and authority of the U.S. Government.
* The NSPM establishes a framework where private sector companies that willingly participate in the program are encouraged to enter into agreements with other private entities as well Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial agencies to gather TCO threat information and propose cyber operations that address those threats.
* The NSPM directs the Program's Executive Directors and the Homeland Security Council to create rigorous procedures for the review and conduct of these limited cyber operations at the direction of the U.S. Government, ensuring strict compliance with the U.S. Constitution and laws, as well as applicable international agreements.
DISRUPTING CRIMINALS TARGETING AMERICANS: President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-based organized criminal organizations that exploit Americans in cyberspace.
* Ransomware attacks, phishing campaigns, financial frauds, sextortion schemes, and impersonation scams are often coordinated campaigns run by sophisticated TCOs based outside of the United States.
* The most vulnerable among us--seniors, children, and low-income families--are disproportionately targeted, with scammers draining life savings, stealing the benefits of years of work, and destroying lives.
* In 2025, American consumers reported losing more than $20.8 billion to cyber-enabled crime.
* 73% of U.S. adults have experienced some kind of online scam or attack and 98% of Americans believe scams pose a threat to individuals in the U.S., with two-thirds saying it is a "major" threat.
* One in seven young people who experienced sextortion as a minor reported harming themselves in response to the abuse. Until now, outdated frameworks, gaps in coordination, and the absence of meaningful consequences have allowed these networks to thrive.
* The American private sector is the most innovative and technologically advanced in the world--which provides a critical offensive cyber advantage for the United States.
- By partnering with vetted U.S. companies, we will enhance our ability to counter TCO threats and combat transnational cybercrime, fraud, and other predatory schemes against American citizens.
DELIVERING SECURITY AND JUSTICE FOR AMERICANS: President Trump is committed to addressing crime targeting Americans regardless of where it originates.
* In 2025, the United States saw its steepest year over year decline in violent crime, murder rates dropping to their lowest rate ever, and a record number of criminals on the FBI's Most Wanted List captured.
- In just the first half of 2026, murder-rates are on track to hit new record lows, and robberies, rapes, aggravated assaults, and overall violent crime are all falling steeply.
* In May 2025, President Trump signed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a historic and bipartisan new law championed by First Lady Melania Trump, focused on protecting children and families from online extortion and exploitation through the non-consensual distribution of intimate images and deepfake abuse.
- In April 2026, the first person was convicted under THE TAKE IT DOWN Act.
* In June 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order strengthening the nation's cybersecurity by focusing on critical protections against foreign cyber threats and enhancing secure technology practices.
* In September 2025, the Trump Administration issued a Notice to help financial institutions detect and disrupt financially motivated sextortion.
* In March 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order combating cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes targeting American families, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
* In June 2026, President Trump signed a NSPM bolstering the cybersecurity of America's National Security Systems (NSS) and modernizing NSS governance to meet the cyber challenges of 2026 and beyond.
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Original text here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/08/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-expands-capabilities-to-combat-transnational-cyber-enabled-crime/
USCIS Plays Key Role in Takedown of Decade-Long Marriage Fraud Ring
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued the following news release on Aug. 12, 2026:
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USCIS Plays Key Role in Takedown of Decade-Long Marriage Fraud Ring
11 accused of multimillion-dollar sham marriage scheme
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NEW YORK - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services played a key role in the indictment unsealed today charging 11 individuals with conspiring, over the course of more than a decade, to orchestrate more than 1,000 sham marriages. The marriages allegedly enabled foreign nationals, primarily citizens of the
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued the following news release on Aug. 12, 2026:
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USCIS Plays Key Role in Takedown of Decade-Long Marriage Fraud Ring
11 accused of multimillion-dollar sham marriage scheme
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NEW YORK - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services played a key role in the indictment unsealed today charging 11 individuals with conspiring, over the course of more than a decade, to orchestrate more than 1,000 sham marriages. The marriages allegedly enabled foreign nationals, primarily citizens of thePeople's Republic of China, to fraudulently obtain immigration status. Some individuals paid up to $100,000 per sham marriage, according to the indictment.
"This Department of Justice is rooting out fraud everywhere, including in our immigration system," said Attorney General Todd Blanche. "The individuals who were arrested today allegedly orchestrated elaborate schemes to illegally obtain citizenship for foreign nationals through sham marriages. Schemes like this are a deliberate affront to the United States and our laws and will not be tolerated under the Trump Administration."
"Anyone willing to lie, cheat or steal their way to legal immigration status is a direct threat to America's national security. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is aggressively pursuing marriage fraud schemes and the criminal organizations and ringleaders who profit from them. USCIS will continue to expose fraud, defend the rule of law, and ensure immigration status is reserved for those who truly qualify," said USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow.
The defendants were arrested this morning and are expected to be arraigned today. The defendants are:
* Amy Cheng, also known as "Amy Zhou," 72, of Brooklyn, New York;
* Xiao Mei Chan, also known as "Carmen," 64, of Queens, New York;
* Christine Lu, also known as "Lily," 52, of Queens;
* Jing Yan Ye, also known as "Serene," 43, of Staten Island, New York;
* Xiao Yan Chen, also known as "Anna," 48, of Brooklyn;
* Gang Zheng, also known as "Michael" and "Mike," 61, of Queens;
* Anthony Cheng, 47, of Staten Island;
* Michelle Duenas, 35, of Staten Island;
* Angela Duenas, 26, of Staten Island;
* Sigrid Cetino, 32, of Peekskill, New York; and
* Erika Johnson, 43, of Ossining, New York.
According to the indictment, from at least 2016 through July 2026, the defendants operated a nationwide and international marriage fraud network that arranged sham marriages between foreign nationals, primarily citizens of the People's Republic of China, and U.S. citizens. Based principally in New York City, the network allegedly also arranged sham marriages throughout the United States and overseas, including in China, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Vanuatu.
"The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly operated a nationwide and international, multimillion-dollar marriage fraud scheme, using participants to abuse United States immigration laws for their own profit," said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald for the Southern District of New York. "Today's arrests have dismantled a central component of one of the largest marriage fraud schemes charged in United States history. As this prosecution shows, we and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue those seeking to corrupt and exploit our nation's lawful immigration system."
"As alleged, this decade-long scheme turned marriage fraud into an international business model arranging countless sham marriages and causing hundreds of fraudulent Green Card applications to be submitted to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services," said Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon of Homeland Security Investigations. "Through the Homeland Security Task Force, HSI and our partners will continue to dismantle criminal networks that undermine the rule of law, exploit federal laws, and profit from fraud."
The network included facilitators who oversaw the scheme and identified foreign-national customers; recruiters who found willing U.S. citizens and helped ensure their continued participation; and assistants who prepared immigration paperwork and coordinated the submission of fraudulent Green Card applications to USCIS. The scheme also relied on marriage officiants, attorneys, tax preparers, insurance providers, and other service providers.
Foreign nationals paid facilitators as much as approximately $100,000 for a sham marriage and assistance obtaining lawful permanent resident status. Facilitators, in turn, allegedly paid participating U.S. citizens as much as approximately $30,000, generally in installments tied to milestones in the Green Card application process, and paid recruiters commissions of as much as approximately $5,000 for each citizen recruited. The defendants and their co-conspirators recruited hundreds of U.S. citizens to enter into sham marriages.
The defendants carried out the fraud by pairing foreign nationals with U.S. citizens, who often met for the first time immediately before obtaining a marriage license, arranging sham wedding ceremonies, and staging photographs designed to make those marriages appear legitimate. Some examples are below, including a photograph of a sham marriage that took place in China:
After the ceremonies, scheme participants manufactured evidence to make the marriages appear genuine, such as staging additional photographs, opening joint financial and utility accounts, filing joint tax returns, and obtaining insurance policies. The defendants and their co-conspirators then prepared and submitted Green Card applications containing materially false statements and, when interviews with USCIS were required, coached the marriage participants on how to conceal the true nature of their relationships and provide false answers to immigration officers.
The defendants allegedly caused at least hundreds of fraudulent Green Card applications and supporting documents to be submitted to USCIS. Based on the scale and duration of the scheme, the defendants' network is believed to have collected tens of millions of dollars from foreign nationals seeking lawful permanent resident status.
At the time the defendants were arrested, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at multiple locations in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and Flushing, Queens.
The defendants have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, which, if convicted, carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
HSI, Hudson Valley; the FBI Safe Streets Task Force; USCIS' Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate; the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division; and the Westchester County District Attorney's Office are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jake Sidransky and Reyhan Watson for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
To report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse to USCIS, please use the USCIS Tip Form (https://www.uscis.gov/report-fraud/uscis-tip-form).
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Original text here: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-plays-key-role-in-takedown-of-decade-long-marriage-fraud-ring
Taste of Discovery: Real-time X-Ray Data Analysis With DONUT Accelerates Materials Science at Argonne
ARGONNE, Illinois, Aug. 13 (TNSjou) -- The U.S. Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory issued the following news release:
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A taste of discovery: Real-time X-ray data analysis with DONUT accelerates materials science at Argonne
Physics-aware machine learning method enables faster breakthroughs at the Advanced Photon Source
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DONUT makes it easier to cut through layers of complex data and reach the sweet spot of scientific discovery.
What if scientists could get a taste of discovery as soon as their experiment finishes? Thanks to a new machine learning tool called DONUT, researchers
... Show Full Article
ARGONNE, Illinois, Aug. 13 (TNSjou) -- The U.S. Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory issued the following news release:
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A taste of discovery: Real-time X-ray data analysis with DONUT accelerates materials science at Argonne
Physics-aware machine learning method enables faster breakthroughs at the Advanced Photon Source
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DONUT makes it easier to cut through layers of complex data and reach the sweet spot of scientific discovery.
What if scientists could get a taste of discovery as soon as their experiment finishes? Thanks to a new machine learning tool called DONUT, researchersat the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are transforming how experiments are run at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), a DOE Office of Science user facility. By delivering results in real time, DONUT allows scientists to make faster decisions, adapt their experiments on the fly and unlock deeper insights into the structure of advanced materials. This breakthrough will accelerate research and also lower barriers for new users -- no sprinkles required.
DONUT, short for Diffraction with Optics for Nanobeam by Unsupervised Training, is a physics-aware neural network. This means the tool is built with an understanding of the physical laws that govern how focused X-ray beams interact with materials.
Developed and tested using data from the Hard X-ray Nanoprobe beamline shared by the APS and the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM), DONUT helps scientists quickly interpret complex X-ray images produced by scanning X-ray nanodiffraction microscopy (SXDM), revealing the internal structure of materials at the nanoscale. The CNM is also a DOE Office of Science user facility at Argonne.
Until now, analyzing this data has been a slow and painstaking process, often taking weeks or months. With DONUT, researchers can get results in real time, sometimes hundreds of times faster than traditional methods.
"DONUT lets us see what's happening inside materials as the experiment unfolds," said Aileen Luo, assistant computational scientist at Argonne and Cornell University. "Instead of waiting for weeks to find out if an experiment worked, we can now get answers on the spot. That means more productive experiments and more opportunities for discovery."
A sweet solution to a tough problem
SXDM is a powerful technique that uses a focused X-ray beam to scan across a sample, collecting information about its crystal structure. This helps scientists understand how materials behave in technologies such as batteries, catalysts that speed up chemical reactions and advanced electronic or magnetic devices. However, SXDM generates complex data with multiple layers and dimensions, making it challenging for scientists to analyze and interpret.
Traditionally, scientists have relied on manual comparisons between measured and simulated X-ray patterns, a process that is both time-consuming and prone to errors. DONUT changes the recipe by combining artificial intelligence (AI) with a built-in physics model. This allows the system to learn directly from experimental data, without needing labeled training examples, where each X-ray pattern must first be matched with the correct answer by experts or simulations -- a major advantage for busy beamline users.
"DONUT is flexible and customizable," said Mathew Cherukara, a computational scientist and group leader at Argonne. "You can train it on the data you collect at the start of the experiment and even adjust what you want it to predict during the experiment. It's like having a fresh DONUT recipe for every new scientific question."
Rolling out real-time science
The speed and accuracy of DONUT make it possible for scientists at the APS to try new kinds of experiments, including autonomous "self-driving" research, where the next step is chosen automatically based on the latest results. This is especially helpful for studies that test materials in real-world conditions, where things can change quickly and researchers need to respond right away.
"Being able to analyze data as it's collected means researchers can make decisions on the fly," said Luo. "It's a gamechanger for experiments that need quick feedback. No more waiting for the dough to rise."
DONUT's approach also lowers the barrier for new users at the APS and CNM, including graduate students and visiting scientists, by eliminating the need for expert-labeled datasets. Traditionally, preparing labeled data requires significant time and specialized knowledge because experts must carefully analyze or simulate each dataset to assign the correct labels. This process can slow down research and limit participation to those with advanced training.
This capability is especially valuable as the upgraded APS delivers brighter X-ray beams and collects data at much higher speeds. With DONUT, researchers can keep up with the rapid pace of data generation, making real-time decisions and exploring new types of dynamic experiments. This combination of advanced machine learning and the upgraded APS promises to accelerate discoveries across materials science and beyond.
The next bite: DONUT's future
The team is now working to expand DONUT's impact from real-time analysis to experimental automation. Efforts are underway on new flavors of DONUT for autonomous microscopy, where AI tools could help guide portions of experiments without constant human input. They are also exploring how DONUT's physics-aware approach could help solve challenges in other advanced imaging techniques, which generate similarly complex datasets that require sophisticated analysis.
Looking ahead, DONUT's physics-aware training framework is expected to support major initiatives like the DOE's Genesis Mission. DONUT forms the foundation for the light and neutron source project of Genesis, a bold national initiative that aims to double scientific productivity and accelerate innovation through AI. This will help scientists across disciplines tackle new scientific questions and make the most of next-generation research facilities.
No actual donuts were harmed in the making of this research. But the results are sure to fuel scientists' hunger for discovery.
The results of this research were published in npj Computational Materials (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-025-01860-7).
Other contributors to this work include Tao Zhou, Ming Du and Martin Holt (Argonne) and Andrej Singer (Cornell University).
This study was funded by the DOE Office of Science, Advanced Scientific Computing Research and Basic Energy Sciences. This work was also supported by the DOE Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists.
Amber Rose is a science writer and editor for Argonne specializing in coverage of chemical sciences and engineering, materials science, microelectronics and physics. She holds a master's degree in chemistry from the University of California San Diego. Rose joined Argonne in 2024 and has been a science writer for more than 3 years. She previously worked as a science writer for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Grainger College of Engineering.
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About Argonne's Center for Nanoscale Materials
The Center for Nanoscale Materials is one of the five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers, premier national user facilities for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale supported by the DOE Office of Science. Together the NSRCs comprise a suite of complementary facilities that provide researchers with state-of-the-art capabilities to fabricate, process, characterize and model nanoscale materials, and constitute the largest infrastructure investment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The NSRCs are located at DOE's Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. For more information about the DOE NSRCs, please visit https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities/User-Facilities-at-a-Glance.
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About the Advanced Photon Source
The U. S. Department of Energy Office of Science's Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory is one of the world's most productive X-ray light source facilities. The APS provides high-brightness X-ray beams to a diverse community of researchers in materials science, chemistry, condensed matter physics, the life and environmental sciences, and applied research. These X-rays are ideally suited for explorations of materials and biological structures; elemental distribution; chemical, magnetic, electronic states; and a wide range of technologically important engineering systems from batteries to fuel injector sprays, all of which are the foundations of our nation's economic, technological, and physical well-being. Each year, more than 5,000 researchers use the APS to produce over 2,000 publications detailing impactful discoveries, and solve more vital biological protein structures than users of any other X-ray light source research facility. APS scientists and engineers innovate technology that is at the heart of advancing accelerator and light-source operations. This includes the insertion devices that produce extreme-brightness X-rays prized by researchers, lenses that focus the X-rays down to a few nanometers, instrumentation that maximizes the way the X-rays interact with samples being studied, and software that gathers and manages the massive quantity of data resulting from discovery research at the APS.
This research used resources of the Advanced Photon Source, a U.S. DOE Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357.
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Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
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The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science.
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Original text here: https://www.anl.gov/article/a-taste-of-discovery-realtime-xray-data-analysis-with-donut-accelerates-materials-science-at-argonne
Surface Transportation Board Issues Decision Involving Flint Hill Resources Railroad
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Surface Transportation Board issued the following decision (Docket No. FD 36439) entitled "Flint Hill Resources Railroad LLC - Construction and Operation Exemption - Hardin County, Iowa":
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On February 1, 2021, Flint Hill Resources Railroad, LLC (FHRR), a noncarrier, filed a petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. Sec. 10901 for authorization to construct and operate an approximately 2.3-mile rail line (the Line) in Hardin County, Iowa. According to the petition, FHRR is
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Surface Transportation Board issued the following decision (Docket No. FD 36439) entitled "Flint Hill Resources Railroad LLC - Construction and Operation Exemption - Hardin County, Iowa":
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On February 1, 2021, Flint Hill Resources Railroad, LLC (FHRR), a noncarrier, filed a petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. Sec. 10901 for authorization to construct and operate an approximately 2.3-mile rail line (the Line) in Hardin County, Iowa. According to the petition, FHRR isa newly organized rail corporation and a subsidiary of FHR B&I Holdings, LP (FHR), and FHR also is the parent company of Flint Hill Resources Iowa Falls, LLC, an ethanol producer with a facility (the Plant) that is currently exclusively served by Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP)./1 (Pet. 2.) The petition states that the proposed Line will provide the Plant with a new, permanent, direct connection to the Canadian National Railway Company's nearby mainline while preserving the Plant's connection with UP. (Id.)/2
By letter filed June 24, 2021, FHRR reported that POET, the world's largest producer of biofuels, had acquired all the bioethanol assets of FHR, including FHRR and the Plant. (FHRR Letter 1, June 24, 2021.) FHRR stated that POET was interested in increasing its competitive transportation options but needed time to carefully evaluate the project proposed in the petition and whether it aligned with POET's long-term objectives. (Id.) FHRR therefore requested that the Board hold the proceeding in abeyance for 90 days while POET evaluated the project. (Id.) In a decision served July 9, 2021, the proceeding was placed in abeyance until further Board order, and POET was directed to file a status report by October 6, 2021. Flint Hill Res. R.R.-- Constr. & Operation Exemption--Hardin Cnty., Iowa, FD 36439 (STB served July 9, 2021).
In a status report filed on September 23, 2021, POET explained that it needed additional time to evaluate the project and that it was exploring commercial solutions with UP. (See Status Rep. 1, Sept. 23, 2021.) POET therefore requested that the proceeding continue to be held in abeyance. (Id.) By decision served September 30, 2021, POET's request was granted, and POET was directed to file a status report by February 6, 2022. Flint Hill Res. R.R.--Constr. & Operation Exemption--Hardin Cnty., Iowa, FD 36439 (STB served Sept. 30, 2021). Since that decision, four requests filed by POET to continue to hold the proceeding in abeyance have been granted, to accommodate ongoing negotiations between POET and UP regarding a long-term commercial solution. The most recent of those decisions directed POET to file a status report by June 30, 2026. Flint Hill Res. R.R.--Constr. & Operation Exemption--Hardin Cnty., Iowa, FD 36439 (STB served July 14, 2025).
On July 14, 2026, POET filed a status report indicating that POET and UP continue to hold commercial negotiations seeking to reach a mutually beneficial commercial agreement. (Status Rep. 1, July 14, 2026.) POET states that negotiations with UP have produced short-term solutions, even as the parties continue to work towards a more comprehensive long-term solution. (Id. at 1-2.) POET requests that Boad continue to hold the proceeding in abeyance so POET can explore all options before proceeding with the project and commits to filing a status report by June 30, 2027. (Id. at 2.)
POET's request will be granted, and the proceeding will continue to be held in abeyance until further Board order. In addition, POET will be directed to file a status report by June 30, 2027. POET is encouraged to conclude its related commercial negotiations with UP within the next year so that a further abeyance extension request would not be necessary.
It is ordered:
1. POET's request to continue to hold the proceeding in abeyance is granted, as explained above.
2. POET is directed to file a status report by June 30, 2027.
3. This decision is effective on its service date.
By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel.
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Footnotes:
1/ According to FHRR, FHR is a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc. (Pet. 2 n.1.)
2/ FHRR states that the "substantial majority" of the proposed Line will be constructed on or next to existing railroad rights-of-way or on land already owned by the Plant. (Id. at 3.) According to FHRR, the final alignment of the proposed Line has not been decided but will involve crossing UP's line at some point. (Id. at 2 n.3.) FHRR states that it intends to negotiate the terms and exact crossing location with UP, but, absent an agreement with UP, it will file a separate petition to cross UP's line. (Id.)
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Original text here: https://dcms-external.s3.amazonaws.com/DCMS_External_PROD/1786549392856/53172.pdf
State Department Issues Public Schedule for Aug. 13, 2026
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for Aug. 13, 2026:
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SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
Secretary Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State and White House.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER LANDAU
Deputy Secretary Landau attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES MICHAEL J. RIGAS
Deputy Secretary Rigas attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ALLISON M. HOOKER
Under Secretary Hooker
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for Aug. 13, 2026:
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SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
Secretary Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State and White House.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER LANDAU
Deputy Secretary Landau attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES MICHAEL J. RIGAS
Deputy Secretary Rigas attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ALLISON M. HOOKER
Under Secretary Hookerattends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS S. PAUL KAPUR
Assistant Secretary Kapur is on travel to India, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan from August 4-13, 2026.
BRIEFING SCHEDULE
No Department Press Briefing.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/08/public-schedule-august-13-2026/
Smithsonian Institution: Sensory Overload Makes It Harder for Female Treefrogs To Select a Mate
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Sensory Overload Makes It Harder for Female Treefrogs To Select a Mate
When Faced With Too Many Mating Calls, Female Treefrogs Take Longer To Decide or Abandon the Search Altogether
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When shopping for a new appliance, choosing a movie to watch or even ordering a cup of coffee, people often experience "choice overload." New research from the Smithsonian suggests that female Cope's gray treefrogs face a similar challenge when selecting a mate. In a study published today in iScience, researchers
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
* * *
Sensory Overload Makes It Harder for Female Treefrogs To Select a Mate
When Faced With Too Many Mating Calls, Female Treefrogs Take Longer To Decide or Abandon the Search Altogether
-
When shopping for a new appliance, choosing a movie to watch or even ordering a cup of coffee, people often experience "choice overload." New research from the Smithsonian suggests that female Cope's gray treefrogs face a similar challenge when selecting a mate. In a study published today in iScience, researchersfrom the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the University of Tennessee found that when female treefrogs are confronted with too many males calls at once, they become less likely to successfully choose a mate. The findings reveal how cognitive limits may influence mating behavior not only in treefrogs, but also across the animal kingdom.
During the breeding season across Eastern North America, Cope's gray treefrogs gather in large choruses with males calling simultaneously to attract females. The resulting wall of sound can make it difficult for females to identify a suitable mate. Previous research has focused on "energetic masking," in which overlapping calls make individual males difficult to hear. But few studies have explored choice overload, where frogs are confronted with too many calls at once. To separate the effects of these two phenomena, researchers played recorded mating calls through speakers in a laboratory and measured female responses when confronted with increasing numbers of potential mates, varying levels of background noise, or both.
"We were really interested in disentangling why female treefrogs have trouble finding a mate, whether it's because they have trouble hearing males against a noisy backdrop, or if the females simply become overwhelmed by the number of options," said Claire Hemingway, a research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee and the lead author on the paper. "In human terms, is it like entering a crowded bar and not being able to hear anyone talk, or is it like using a dating app and not being able to choose among the many options?"
The researchers presented females with one target mating call and varying numbers of competing calls. As the number of options increased, the frogs' ability to make decisions declined. When presented with only two calls, females pursued their mate 97% of the time. When the number of calls increased to eight, the proportion dropped to 82%. Even when females did make a choice, they were less likely to select the target call, and it took significantly longer for them to decide. With two calls, females selected the target 76% of the time and reached it in an average of 114 seconds. With eight calls, target selection fell to just 25%, and decision times increased to 183 seconds.
"We were shocked by how straightforward the results were," said Jessie Tanner, an assistant professor at the University of Tennesee and the paper's senior author. "With or without noise, when we presented more calls to the females at once, their performance declined in several ways, making the effect of choice overload clear."
The findings demonstrate that treefrogs, like humans, are susceptible to choice overload and suggest that cognitive constraints may play a larger role in sexual selection among animals than previously recognized. By highlighting the limits of how animals process information in complex environments, the research opens new avenues for understanding how cognition affects mate choice and evolution across species.
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About the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Headquartered in Panama City, Panama, STRI is a unit of the Smithsonian Institution. Our mission is to understand tropical biodiversity and its importance to human welfare, to train students to conduct research in the tropics and to promote conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems. Watch our video, and visit our website, Facebook and Instagram for updates.
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View journal here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.117086
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/sensory-overload-makes-it-harder-female-treefrogs-select-mate
