Featured Stories
Seminole County Marijuana Farm Employees Indicted on Federal Charges Relating to Illegal Foreign Pesticides
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Seminole County Marijuana Farm Employees Indicted on Federal Charges Relating to Illegal Foreign Pesticides
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WASHINGTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced the unsealing of a federal indictment against two employees of a state-registered Seminole County marijuana farm on charges relating to illegal foreign pesticides.
The Indictment charges Jin Zhao Chi, a/k/a/ a Chi LU, a/k/a A Chi, age 44, with one count of Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods into
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Seminole County Marijuana Farm Employees Indicted on Federal Charges Relating to Illegal Foreign Pesticides
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WASHINGTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced the unsealing of a federal indictment against two employees of a state-registered Seminole County marijuana farm on charges relating to illegal foreign pesticides.
The Indictment charges Jin Zhao Chi, a/k/a/ a Chi LU, a/k/a A Chi, age 44, with one count of Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods intothe United States, one count of Smuggling Goods into the United States, and one count of Unlawful Distribution and Sale of Pesticides-Misdemeanor.
The Indictment also charges Dian Lin Jiang, a/k/a Dianlin Jiang, age 65, with one count of Unlawful Distribution and Sale of Pesticides-Misdemeanor.
"We will not tolerate anyone profiting from polluting our lands and poisoning our citizens with dangerous, illegal Chinese pesticides smuggled into the American Heartland," said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "These illegal pesticides are often used in sophisticated criminal enterprises like illicit marijuana grows. EPA's criminal enforcement program is working with state and federal law enforcement to disrupt smuggling networks, shut down illegal importers and distributors, remove these products from commerce, and protect the health of all Americans."
The Indictment alleges that while employed at the marijuana growing operation:
* On February 25, 2025, and continuing to on or about March 19, 2025, Chi willfully and knowingly conspired to import unregistered and misbranded pesticides from Hong Kong into the United States, knowing that the importation was contrary to law;
* On February 25, 2025, and continuing to on or about March 19, 2025, Chi fraudulently and knowingly imported merchandise contrary to law, to wit, unregistered and misbranded pesticides, and did receive, conceal, buy, sell, and in any manner facilitate the transportation, concealment, and sale of such merchandise after importation, knowing it to have been brought into the United States contrary to law;
* Beginning in or about June 2022, and continuing to in or about February 2025, Chi knowingly distributed, sold, offered for sale, held for distribution, held for sale, held for shipment, shipped, delivered for shipment, released for shipment, and received, delivered, and offered to deliver an unregistered pesticide; and
* Beginning on or about April 27, 2022, and continuing to on or about May 8, 2023, Jiang distributed, sold, offered for sale, held for distribution, held for sale, held for shipment, shipped, delivered for shipment, released for shipment, and received, delivered, and offered to deliver an unregistered pesticide.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Homeland Security Investigations.
A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/seminole-county-marijuana-farm-employees-indicted-federal-charges-relating-illegal
SBA Commends U.S. Department of War's Suspension of CMMC Phase II for Small Defense Contractors
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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SBA Commends U.S. Department of War's Suspension of CMMC Phase II for Small Defense Contractors
Modernization of Key Cyber Framework Will Grow Defense Industrial Base and Arsenal of Freedom
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) commended the U.S. Department of War (DoW) for suspending its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program Phase II requirements, which were originally scheduled to go into effect on November 10, 2026. The suspension follows
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WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on July 13, 2026:
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SBA Commends U.S. Department of War's Suspension of CMMC Phase II for Small Defense Contractors
Modernization of Key Cyber Framework Will Grow Defense Industrial Base and Arsenal of Freedom
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) commended the U.S. Department of War (DoW) for suspending its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program Phase II requirements, which were originally scheduled to go into effect on November 10, 2026. The suspension followsmonths of engagement between the DoW, SBA, and small business stakeholders, who warned that the current CMMC framework imposes costly bureaucratic burdens on the small contractors that are essential to growing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base (DIB). These pressures caused many firms to leave or consider leaving defense-related work, prompting the DoW to launch a comprehensive review to recalibrate the CMMC program so it preserves strong cybersecurity while eliminating regulatory barriers that impede the Department's Acquisition Transformation System (ATS) to rapidly expand defense supply chains.
"Let there be no doubt: the small businesses that undergird our defense industrial base are committed to protecting our nation's digital domain -- but cybersecurity cannot come at the cost of bureaucracy that shuts out the very companies our warfighters depend on," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Working closely with the Department of War, the Trump SBA has heard directly from mission critical small businesses that CMMC compliance was becoming an untenable barrier pushing them out of the Defense Industrial Base, even though these firms are the backbone of national security. With over 100,000 small businesses impacted and compliance costs approaching as much as $600,000, the SBA strongly supports the Department of War's decisive action to preserve strong cybersecurity while cutting red tape, bringing American innovators into our defense supply chain, and advancing the DoW's efforts to rapidly expand modern capabilities essential to warfighter readiness."
The suspension is a key step in advancing the ATS, which prioritizes "speed to capability" by replacing burdensome compliance regimes with scalable, resilient cybersecurity measures. By suspending the Phase II requirements and initiating a comprehensive review, the Department is working with SBA and other partners to ensure cybersecurity requirements protect federal data without driving innovative small firms out of the Defense Industrial Base or slowing the delivery of critical capabilities to the warfighter.
CMMC is a top concern among small businesses across the DIB, which seek a framework that preserves cybersecurity while easing costly burdens that prevent many qualified small firms from competing for DoW contracts. Established through a final rule published during the Biden Administration in 2024, the CMMC program was designed to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI) through three tiers of cybersecurity requirements and certification.
Under the current rule, Phase II requires many small contractors to complete either a self-assessment or a third-party assessment, depending on contract requirements. SBA analysis estimates that total compliance costs can reach approximately $593,800 per CMMC certification for small firms requiring third party assessment, and about $388,600 for firms eligible for self assessment.
If implemented on its planned launch date, CMMC Phase II would have required more than 120,000 DIB small businesses to seek compliance through a cost-prohibitive system supported by only about 100 approved assessors. Rushing the certification process would have increased assessment costs, delayed certification, and locked otherwise qualified suppliers out of the defense contracting process, threatening our national security. For small manufacturers and other defense suppliers, those delays mean lost revenue, reduced competition, and greater strain on critical supply chains.
SBA hears consistently from small manufacturers that CMMC is among the most burdensome regulatory issues they face. Through its nationwide manufacturing tour and the SBA Red Tape Hotline, the agency has engaged with DoW and other federal partners since last year to identify ways to reduce unnecessary compliance costs while preserving strong cybersecurity protections.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/07/13/sba-commends-us-department-wars-suspension-cmmc-phase-ii-small-defense-contractors
National Gallery's Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts Announces 2026-2027 Fellows
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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National Gallery's Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts Announces 2026-2027 Fellows
The Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts (the Center), the National Gallery's world-renowned research institute, announced today its fellows for the 2026-2027 academic year. Over 30 fellows will conduct research that spans continents, centuries, and disciplines. Their topics include visualizing the apocalypse in medieval Europe, the material culture of death and dying in premodern India, and painted soundscapes
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WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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National Gallery's Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts Announces 2026-2027 Fellows
The Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts (the Center), the National Gallery's world-renowned research institute, announced today its fellows for the 2026-2027 academic year. Over 30 fellows will conduct research that spans continents, centuries, and disciplines. Their topics include visualizing the apocalypse in medieval Europe, the material culture of death and dying in premodern India, and painted soundscapesin Korean Buddhist art, among many others.
Liza S. Kirwin, deputy director emerita of the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, will be the Kress-Beinecke Professor, researching 19th-century Hudson River School painter Jervis McEntee. Kathleen Christian, this year's Edmond J. Safra Visiting Professor, will bring her understanding of the Renaissance reception of antiquity to the National Gallery's forthcoming exhibition Broken: The Power of the Fragment in Sculpture. Professor and curator Erica Moiah James begins her two-year appointment as Andrew W. Mellon Professor.
"I am honored to usher in our 47th fellowship year--and my first as dean--with such an exceptional cohort of scholars whose research reflects the depth and global reach of the visual arts fields today," said C. D. Dickerson III, dean of the Center.
Beyond the National Gallery's campus, 13 predoctoral fellows will conduct research in the field. In addition to this list, the Center will announce over a dozen visiting senior fellowships with two-month-long residencies throughout the year.
Center fellows in residence have offices in the National Gallery's East Building. Throughout the academic year, they have opportunities to share their research and are encouraged to attend lectures, programs, tours, and gallery talks organized by the Center.
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About Center Fellowships
Since its inception in 1979 with the opening of the National Gallery's East Building, the Center has promoted the study of the production, use, and cultural meaning of art, artifacts, architecture, urbanism, photography, and film from all places and periods through the formation of a community of scholars. In selecting its fellows, the Center seeks to broaden scholarship in the visual arts. Center fellowships are made possible by the generous support of private benefactors. More information about the Center's fellowships can be found here.
Fellows
Professors
Liza S. Kirwin, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution (emerita)
Kress-Beinecke Professor, 2026-2027
Erica Moiah James, University of Miami
Andrew W. Mellon Professor, 2026-2028
Kathleen Christian, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin
Edmond J. Safra Visiting Professor, 2026-2027
Senior Fellows
Alexander Bevilacqua, Williams College
Samuel H. Kress Senior Fellow
The Mask of Battle: European Chivalry in the Age of Discovery
Subhashini Kaligotla, Columbia University
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Senior Fellow
Seeing Ghosts: Death and the Afterlife in the Art of Premodern India
Alison Locke Perchuk, California State University, Channel Islands
Samuel H. Kress Senior Fellow
Visualizing the Apocalypse in Medieval Europe: Narrative Structure, Location, Function, Meaning
Daniel Savoy, Manhattan University
Paul Mellon Senior Fellow
Architecture of the Soul: Buildings, Cities, and the Construction of Life in Early Modern Italy
Maya Stiller, University of Kansas
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Senior Fellow
Sensing the Buddha Land: Architecture, Sound, and Devotion in Late Choson Korea
Jennifer Van Horn, University of Delaware
William C. Seitz Senior Fellow
To Make Otherwise: Disabilities and US Art History, 1780-1950
Ailsa Mellon Bruce National Gallery of Art Sabbatical Fellows
Maggie Wessling, Department of Photograph Conservation
Oral History and Genealogy of Master Photograph Printers
Postdoctoral Fellows
Carole Nataf
A. W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, 2026-2028
Rococo Enlightenment: Art, Decoration, and the Natural Sciences in the 18th-Century French World
Ana Cristina Perry, Oberlin College and Conservatory
Beinecke Postdoctoral Fellow, 2025-2027
Methods of Encounter: Raphael Montanez Ortiz and an Anti-Colonial Alternative Art
Predoctoral Dissertation Fellows (in Residence)
Sylvia Faichney, University of California, Santa Barbara
Wyeth Fellow, 2025-2027
The Domesticated Landscape of War: Army Family Housing, Settler Belonging, and Environmental Toxicity in the United States
Elizabeth Keto, Yale University
Twenty-Four-Month Chester Dale Fellow, 2025-2027
Reconstruction's Objects: Art in the United States South, 1865-1900
Ekaterina Koposova, Yale University
Samuel H. Kress Fellow, 2025-2027
The Flow of Art in the Franco-Dutch War
Khushmi Mehta, CUNY Graduate Center
Andrew W. Mellon Fellow, 2025-2027
Entangled Narratives: Formations of Collectivity and Community at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda (1960s-1980s)
Sharon Mizbani, Yale University
Twenty-Four-Month Ittleson Fellow, 2025-2027
Mediated Waters: Architecture of Thirst and Nourishment in Late Ottoman Istanbul
Emily Whitehead, Emory University
David E. Finley Fellow, 2024-2027
Variance and Innovation in Middle Kingdom Coffins at a Time of Standardization and Homogeneity
Margaret Wilson, The Ohio State University
Paul Mellon Fellow, 2024-2027
Making and Breaking Enclosure: The Movement of Art Through Late Medieval Convents
Predoctoral Dissertation Fellows (Not in Residence)
Diane Ahn, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Twenty-Four-Month Chester Dale Fellow, 2026-2028
"Alien Trends" in American Art: Issei Painters, Cultural Performance, and National Identity (1885-1942)
Trevor Brandt, University of Chicago
David E. Finley Fellow, 2025-2028
Prints and Piety at the Edges of the German-Speaking World, c. 1650-1800
Tony Y. Cui, University of Maryland, College Park
Twelve-Month Chester Dale Fellow, 2026-2027
A Temperate Vision: Art and Climate in the Early Modern Atlantic World
Anahit Galstyan, University of California, Santa Barbara
Twenty-Four-Month Ittleson Fellow, 2026-2028
Living with the Dead: Commemorative Architecture and the Senses in Medieval Ahlat
Timothy Hampshire, Harvard University
Paul Mellon Fellow, 2026-2029
The Vatican Virgil and Its Public
Bennett Harrison, Yale University
David E. Finley Fellow, 2026-2029
Lapidary Drift: Architectural Sculpture Between Catalonia and Aragonese Italy, 1440-1530
Angelika Ellen Joseph, Princeton University
Twelve-Month Wyeth Fellow, 2026-2027
Red Power Take-Over: Native American Activists, Colonial Landscapes, and the Design of Sovereignty
Clare Frances Kemmerer, Johns Hopkins University
Samuel H. Kress Fellow, 2026-2028
Always with Us: Arts of Poverty and Care in Central Europe, 1400-1600
Janina Lopez, University of Pittsburgh
Twenty-Four-Month Wyeth Fellow, 2026-2028
The Royal Chicano Air Force's Comuniversidad: Public Art and Education in Northern California Since 1969
Sofia Pitouli, University of California, Los Angeles
Paul Mellon Fellow, 2025-2028
The Pindos Mountains: Land, Art, and Community (13th-15th Centuries)
Cecilia Resende Santos, Columbia University
Andrew W. Mellon Fellow, 2026-2028
Building the Coffee Cycle: Architecture, Infrastructure, and Landscape in Brazil, c. 1880-1930
Joseph Shaikewitz, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University
Twelve-Month Ittleson Fellow, 2026-2027
Unimaginable: Travesti Visualities in Latin/x America, 1890s-1960s
Emilela Thomas-Adams, The Ohio State University
Robert H. and Clarice Smith Fellow, 2026-2027
Silk and Skin: Repair and Recycling in Late Medieval Objects
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year--with even more online--making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery's renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/center-fellows-2026-2027
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.97 Trillion in June
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:
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Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.97 Trillion in June
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.97 trillion as of June 2026. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $53.9 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $20.6 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of 339,562 first-time homebuyer loans year to date.
Key highlights from the June issuance include:
* $52.4 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $1.5 billion in Ginnie Mae I
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:
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Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.97 Trillion in June
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.97 trillion as of June 2026. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $53.9 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $20.6 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of 339,562 first-time homebuyer loans year to date.
Key highlights from the June issuance include:
* $52.4 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $1.5 billion in Ginnie Mae IMBS, including $1.3 billion for multifamily housing loans.
* The pooling and securitization of loans for more than 157,000 American The pooling and securitization of loans for more than 157,000 American households, including more than 68,000 first-time homebuyers.
For detailed information on monthly MBS issuance, unpaid principal balance, Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) issuance, and a broader analysis of global market trends, visit Ginnie Mae Disclosure (https://www.ginniemae.gov/data_and_reports/reporting/Pages/monthly_issuance_reports.aspx).
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About Ginnie Mae
Ginnie Mae is a wholly government-owned corporation that attracts global capital into the housing finance system to support homeownership for veterans and millions of homeowners throughout the country. Ginnie Mae MBS programs directly support housing finance programs administered by the Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public and Indian Housing, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service. Ginnie Mae is the only MBS to carry the explicit full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Additional information about Ginnie Mae is available at www.ginniemae.gov and on X, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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Original text here: https://www.ginniemae.gov/newsroom/press-release/ginnie-mae-mortgage-backed-securities-portfolio-reached-297-trillion-june
GSA Solicits Industry Feedback to Enhance American-Made Product Procurement
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Solicits Industry Feedback to Enhance American-Made Product Procurement
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The Request for Information (RFI) for private sector solutions to make it even easier for federal agencies to buy American-made products through GSA Advantage !
WASHINGTON - The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather industry insights on how to reinforce American producers that provide goods and materials to federal agencies through the GSA Advantage! marketplace.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Solicits Industry Feedback to Enhance American-Made Product Procurement
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The Request for Information (RFI) for private sector solutions to make it even easier for federal agencies to buy American-made products through GSA Advantage !
WASHINGTON - The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather industry insights on how to reinforce American producers that provide goods and materials to federal agencies through the GSA Advantage! marketplace.
"As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, GSA is prioritizing American suppliers and seeking industry feedback to reach this goal most effectively," said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst. "The Trump Administration's and GSA's enhanced focus on procuring US-made products will strengthen our economy, create resilient supply chains, and bolster America's workforce."
GSA Advantage! is the government's leading online catalog and ordering system providing federal, state, and local agencies access to millions of products and services from thousands of GSA Schedule contractors. Every year, GSA Advantage! facilitates hundreds of millions of dollars worth of sales.
Beyond this RFI, GSA has made significant advancements in its commitment to the Made in America initiative, strengthening its oversight of contractor compliance with the Trade Agreements Act (TAA) within its programs including the Federal Supply Schedules (FSS).
GSA is committed to managing supply chain risk. It uses a variety of reviews and supply chain illumination tools to preclude prohibited items from receiving a contract award. GSA also regularly monitors its FSS contracts to immediately respond to emergent risks. Through this, GSA guards against products not from authorized resellers, items manufactured by congressionally prohibited entities, and out of date IT equipment that pose security risks. In FY25, GSA prevented 70,915 TAA non-compliant items from ever being awarded to a GSA contract and removed approximately 39,000 items for non-compliance.
The Request for Information is now available.
Visit madeinamerica.gov for more information.
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing approximately 360 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $126 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services to millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA's mission is to deliver exceptional customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology. To address nearly $50 billion in deferred maintenance, GSA is leading a coalition of every cabinet agency and many federal leaders urgently advocating for full Federal Buildings Fund access and raising the prospectus threshold from $3.96 million to $75 million. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow @USGSA.
Contact
press@gsa.gov
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Original text here: https://www.gsa.gov/about-gsa/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-solicits-industry-feedback-to-enhance-americanmade-product-procurement-07142026
EPA Announces $800,000 for Small Businesses Developing Environmental Technologies in Colorado, Wyoming
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Announces $800,000 for Small Businesses Developing Environmental Technologies in Colorado, Wyoming
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PAGE Technologies, Inc., and Acadian Research & Development, LLC, will receive $400K each
DENVER - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced $800,000 in funding to two recipients to develop and commercialize environmental technologies through EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. EPA is one of 11 federal agencies participating in the SBIR program, which
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Announces $800,000 for Small Businesses Developing Environmental Technologies in Colorado, Wyoming
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PAGE Technologies, Inc., and Acadian Research & Development, LLC, will receive $400K each
DENVER - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced $800,000 in funding to two recipients to develop and commercialize environmental technologies through EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. EPA is one of 11 federal agencies participating in the SBIR program, whichis a competitive, award-based initiative that helps small businesses explore technological solutions with the goal of bringing successful innovations to market. These awards will support solutions to complex environmental challenges, including monitoring water quality, addressing PFAS contamination, reducing indoor air toxins and pathogens, enhancing recycling systems, and developing safer chemicals.
"Congratulations to these small businesses for their dedication to driving innovation and tackling today's environmental challenges. Their groundbreaking ideas not only address critical needs but also pave the way for a healthier planet and a stronger, more sustainable economy," said Teresa Booeshaghi, Associate Administrator for EPA's Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions.
"Small businesses are driving the next generation of environmental technologies, and these Region 8 awardees are leading that effort," said Regional Administrator Cyrus Western. "These grants recognize innovation and help advance technologies that address real-world environmental challenges while supporting jobs, American ingenuity and long-term economic growth throughout our region."
Acadian Research & Development, LLC, based in Laramie, Wyoming, will use the $400,000 Phase II grant to increase the strength, durability and longevity of concrete using biochar-derived from graphene oxide (GO) additives. Their synthesis method uses a single reagent to convert biochar to graphene oxide products, resulting in a low-cost concrete additive derived by renewable resources that can reduce concrete CO2 emissions. According to the company, this technology will improve economic efficiency, durability, concrete performance and production capacity.
PAGE Technologies, Inc., based in Boulder, Colorado, will use the $400,000 Phase II grant to improve the accuracy of its electrochemical nitrate sensor technology to address contamination in wastewater treatment plants. This technology provides a compact, cost-effective alternative to current technology designed for long-term in-situ deployment with real-time monitoring capabilities.
Background
For more than 40 years, EPA's SBIR program has funded small businesses to develop environmental technologies and bring them to market. Funding is awarded in phases: in Phase I, EPA provides $100,000 over six months to support "proof of concept" for the proposed technology. Small businesses that complete a Phase I award can then compete for a Phase II award of $400,000 to further develop and commercialize the technology -with the potential for up to $100,000 in additional matching funds if the recipient secures an equivalent third-party investment during the project period.
To see the full list of SBIR Phase II Awardees, please visit our webpage.
Learn more about EPA's SBIR program.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-800000-small-businesses-developing-environmental-technologies-colorado
Caterpillar Foundation To Give $2.3 Million to Smithsonian in Celebration of America's 250th Anniversary
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Caterpillar Foundation To Give $2.3 Million to Smithsonian in Celebration of America's 250th Anniversary
Donation Brings Hands-On STEM Learning Resources to 40 Communities Across America
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In honor of the nation's 250th anniversary, the Smithsonian received a donation of $2.3 million from the Caterpillar Foundation to produce science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming and resources for 40 communities in 21 states over the next three years. With this gift, the Smithsonian Science
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Caterpillar Foundation To Give $2.3 Million to Smithsonian in Celebration of America's 250th Anniversary
Donation Brings Hands-On STEM Learning Resources to 40 Communities Across America
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In honor of the nation's 250th anniversary, the Smithsonian received a donation of $2.3 million from the Caterpillar Foundation to produce science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming and resources for 40 communities in 21 states over the next three years. With this gift, the Smithsonian ScienceEducation Center will provide educators with professional development and hands-on teaching resources, create an AI-focused learning guide and deliver virtual training for teachers across the country.
The donation enables the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) to expand the newly launched Smithsonian STEAM Schools of Distinction program, a first-of-its-kind Smithsonian program designed to support middle schools and high schools that are taking a systemic approach to integrating STEAM education into their teaching and learning. The program aims to prepare students nationwide for emerging, high-demand careers.
"We thank the Caterpillar Foundation for this gift, which will help us provide tens of thousands of students around the country with the resources they need to engage more deeply in an engaging and high-quality education," said Monique M. Chism, Ph.D., the Smithsonian's Under Secretary for Education. "The work that SSEC will do with teachers, through this gift, will help increase capacity and support the development of the next generation of leaders."
Twenty-four schools will be sponsored to participate in the Smithsonian's STEAM Schools of Distinction. For these schools, the Smithsonian will provide immersive professional learning, ongoing virtual support and access to Smithsonian museums and research centers.
"A solid science education sets students up for a life of success," said Carol O'Donnell, Ph.D., director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center. "Students who receive support in science education tend to perform better across all subjects. The Caterpillar Foundation's gift ensures students across the country will be ready to address the challenges that lie ahead in science, technology, engineering, and beyond."
The Smithsonian's learning guide will include lessons and hands-on activities to help students discover uses of AI in their communities; understand and investigate AI tools used in the STEM workforce; and practice using AI to solve local needs. Finally, the Smithsonian will host virtual training sessions for about 40 communities around the country to provide teachers with the most relevant Smithsonian STEM resources for their classrooms.
"America's 250th anniversary is a moment to support the people and possibilities that will shape our nation's future," said Asha Varghese, president of the Caterpillar Foundation. "The Foundation is committed to enabling pathways for the next generation through expanded access to STEM education, while inspiring individuals to share their time, talent and passion in communities around the world. Together, these efforts help build a more innovative and resilient nation for the generations to come."
More information about the Smithsonian STEAM Schools of Distinction program is on the Smithsonian Science Education Center's website (https://ssec.si.edu/event/Smithsonian-STEAM-Schools-of-Distinction-2026-SPI).
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About the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future
This gift is part of the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future, which will secure funds for all Smithsonian museums, education and research centers and the National Zoo in support of a single, bold vision: to build a better future for all. Learn more about Our Shared Future.
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About the Smithsonian Institution's Office of the Under Secretary for Education
The Smithsonian Institution's Office of the Under Secretary for Education (OUSE) advances the Smithsonian's mission to increase and diffuse knowledge through educational leadership, research and collaboration. OUSE works across the Smithsonian's museums, research and education centers to develop and share high-quality educational resources, professional learning opportunities and partnerships that support teaching and learning nationwide. Through its work, OUSE helps connect learners of all ages to the Smithsonian's collections, scholarship, and expertise.
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About the Smithsonian Science Education Center
The Smithsonian Science Education Center, a unit within the Smithsonian's Office of the Under Secretary for Education, is transforming K-12 education through science in collaboration with communities across the globe. The Smithsonian Science Education Center is nationally and internationally recognized for the quality of its programs and its impact on K-12 science education. Learn more about the center on its website.
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About Caterpillar Foundation
Since its founding in 1952, the Caterpillar Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Caterpillar Inc., has contributed to helping improve the lives of people around the world. As a company, Caterpillar works alongside its dealers and customers to build the societal infrastructure needed to make the world run. Caterpillar Foundation focuses on the complementary human; natural and basic services infrastructure needed for individuals to thrive and communities to be resilient. Learn more on the foundation's website and LinkedIn.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/caterpillar-foundation-give-23-million-smithsonian-celebration-americas-250th
