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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Issues Final Report on August 2025 Fatal Coke Oven Gas Explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (TNSrpt) -- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued the following news release:
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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Issues Final Report on August 2025 Fatal Coke Oven Gas Explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works
Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final report on the fatal August 11, 2025, explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works facility in Clairton, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred when toxic flammable coke oven gas was released and exploded -- fatally injuring two people, injuring 11 others, five of them seriously,
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (TNSrpt) -- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued the following news release:
* * *
U.S. Chemical Safety Board Issues Final Report on August 2025 Fatal Coke Oven Gas Explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works
Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final report on the fatal August 11, 2025, explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works facility in Clairton, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred when toxic flammable coke oven gas was released and exploded -- fatally injuring two people, injuring 11 others, five of them seriously,and causing an estimated $52.5 million in property damage.
CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said, "This deadly incident was the result of an ad hoc informal procedure, poor facility siting, and an ineffective process safety management system at the Clairton facility. It should never have happened."
The U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works facility was built in 1901 and is the largest coke manufacturing facility in the Western Hemisphere. The Clairton facility processes coke inside "coke ovens," which are connected by common walls and operated as one unit, called a "coke battery." U.S. Steel Clairton currently operates six coke batteries, with a total of 455 ovens.
The process of producing coke involves heating raw metallurgical coal to approximately 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, for a minimum of 18 hours. The nearly pure carbon that remains in the oven is called "coke," which is often used as fuel in blast furnaces for iron and steel production. During the production process, gases, known collectively as "coke oven gas," are released and driven off into an off-gas piping system. Coke oven gas is highly flammable, toxic, and colorless with a sulfurous odor. After tar, ammonia, light oil, and elemental sulfur is removed, the remaining coke oven gas is a mixture of hydrogen, methane, nitrogen and carbon monoxide, which is used, in part, to burn as fuel to heat the coke ovens.
The August 11, 2025 fatal explosion occurred during a maintenance operation in which U.S. Steel employees and contractors from MPW Industrial Services (MPW) were attempting to fully close and reopen a double disc gate isolation valve in the piping that supplied coke oven gas to one of U.S. Steel's coke oven batteries, called Battery 13.
The CSB found that U.S. Steel maintained an operating procedure for "exercising" Battery 13's cast iron double gate isolation valve, as well as other valves at the facility. Exercising a valve included closing it and then reopening it, to ensure that the valve could successfully operate through its full range. U.S. Steel employees told the CSB that they occasionally had difficulty fully closing a valve when exercising it due to the coke oven residue that accumulated in the valve seat over time.
The CSB also found that U.S. Steel had a practice of injecting steam or high-pressure water into a valve's cleanout port when the valve would not close fully, in an attempt to remove residue. However, the company's exercising procedure did not mention the use of water, and the company had no formal procedure for washing valves with water. Nevertheless, despite the lack of a formal procedure for using water, U.S. Steel employees had utilized pressurized water to clean valves on an ad hoc basis for at least three years prior to the incident.
On the day of the incident, a U.S. Steel supervisor decided to exercise the Battery 13 isolation valve, to confirm that the valve operated correctly. The supervisor arranged for contractors from MPW, a company that provides industrial cleaning services, to use a pump truck to apply pressurized water to the valve. While applying pressurized water to the valve's seats, the workers closed or nearly fully closed the valve's double gates, which created an enclosed space between the two gates. The pressurized water filled this space inside the valve and caused the pressure inside the valve to increase beyond the valve's ability to contain it. The valve then failed catastrophically, releasing toxic flammable coke oven gas into the surrounding area. Within minutes, the released gas ignited and exploded.
The failed valve was made from cast iron and was over 70 years old. The valve was originally manufactured in 1953 and had been refurbished in 2013. Cast iron is widely recognized as a brittle material, and numerous safety publications either prohibit or warn against using cast iron equipment in certain hazardous applications, including for flammable substances like coke oven gas.
The explosion occurred in an area located between Batteries 13 and 14 called the "transfer area," where there were multiple buildings routinely occupied by employees. The buildings were located less than 20 feet directly above the coke oven gas piping that was the source of the release. None of those buildings were designed or constructed to withstand an explosion, and all of them were catastrophically damaged.
At the time of the explosion, the two fatally injured workers were each in or near separate control rooms directly above the coke oven gas piping, and two of the five seriously injured workers were inside a break room, also directly above the coke oven gas piping. One of the fatally injured employees was propelled by the force of the explosion and was found underneath rubble by emergency responders on the ground level adjacent to the coke batteries. The other fatally injured worker was buried in debris and was found by a search and rescue team roughly nine hours after the explosion.
Both of the workers in the break room at the time of the explosion were seriously injured by debris from the room's walls and ceiling. One of them suffered burns, broken ribs, broken vertebrae, and a broken tibia, The other suffered explosion shrapnel to his face, burns, and broken bones in his spine, ankle, lower legs, knees, and hands. One of these two workers freed himself from the rubble, crawled out of the debris, and found help. The other was trapped under debris and was unable to free himself. Emergency responders located him, alive, roughly four hours after the explosion.
Nine other people outside of those buildings were also injured, three of them seriously.
CSB Investigator in Charge Drew Sahli said, "When buildings are occupied by personnel, they must be adequately designed or located to protect the personnel or equipment from fires, explosions, or toxic releases. Had these buildings been located in a different area of the facility, away from coke batteries, this incident could have been far less severe."
The CSB identified three key safety issues that led to the severity of the incident: (1) procedures and hazard analysis, (2) facility siting, and (3) process safety management systems. As a result of its investigation, the CSB made a number of recommendations to U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel North America (NSNA), and MPW.
The CSB recommended that U.S. Steel conduct a siting evaluation for all occupied and potentially occupied buildings at the Clairton Coke Works and mitigate all facility siting hazards that are identified. The CSB also recommended that U.S. Steel develop a written procedure for washing valve seats with pressurized water to minimize the hazards of the operation and develop a comprehensive process safety management system for all coke oven gas processes at the Clairton facility.
Additionally, the CSB recommended that NSNA develop a corporate process safety governance program that will implement process safety management at its facilities, as well as conduct regular audits of facilities throughout the company's organization and promptly correct process safety deficiencies. The CSB recommended that MPW develop written policies and procedures for cleaning piping systems containing flammable or toxic gas and ensure that all workers involved in such operations are trained on the policies and procedures.
CSB Board Member Sylvia Johnson said, "This incident was the result of workers routinely performing a task incorrectly over a period of years until it ultimately led to a catastrophic explosion. Companies must outline procedures for any task that could potentially cause harm to workers and make sure that workers are fully trained on those procedures."
The CSB is an independent, nonregulatory federal agency charged with investigating incidents and hazards that result, or may result, in the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances. The agency's core mission activities include conducting incident investigations to identify root cause of releases; formulating preventive or mitigative recommendations based on investigation findings and advocating for their implementation; issuing reports containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations arising from incident investigations; and conducting studies on chemical hazards.
The agency's board members are appointed by the President subject to Senate confirmation. The Board does not issue citations or fines but makes safety recommendations to companies, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.
Please visit our website, www.csb.gov. For more information, contact Director of External Affairs Hillary Cohen at Hillary.Cohen@csb.gov.
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REPORT: https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/6/US_Steel_Clairton_Investigation_Report_Publication_Copy.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.csb.gov/us-chemical-safety-board-issues-final-report-on-august-2025-fatal-coke-oven-gas-explosion-at-us-steel-clairton-coke-works/
U.S. Postal Service Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Results
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release:
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U.S. Postal Service Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Results
*
* Operating revenue was $19.9 billion, a 6.1 percent increase, compared to same quarter last year
* Controllable loss decreased $584 million and net loss decreased $562 million, compared to same quarter last year
* Despite improved third quarter results, the long-term liquidity crisis continues
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Postal Service today announced its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (Apr. 1, 2026 - Jun. 30,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release:
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U.S. Postal Service Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Results
*
* Operating revenue was $19.9 billion, a 6.1 percent increase, compared to same quarter last year
* Controllable loss decreased $584 million and net loss decreased $562 million, compared to same quarter last year
* Despite improved third quarter results, the long-term liquidity crisis continues
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Postal Service today announced its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (Apr. 1, 2026 - Jun. 30,2026). Controllable loss, which excludes certain expenses that are not controllable by management, was $1.0 billion for the quarter, compared to controllable loss of $1.6 billion for the same quarter last year.
Net loss for the quarter under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) totaled $2.5 billion, compared to $3.1 billion for the same quarter last year. This $562 million decrease is attributed to an operating revenue increase of $1.1 billion along with a decrease in workers' compensation of $416 million. These are partially offset by increases in retirement benefits of $324 million, retiree health benefits of $195 million, and compensation and benefits of $129 million.
"Our results this quarter reflect some progress relative to those areas of the business where we can exercise control, namely with revenue generation, cost control and service improvement," said Postmaster General David Steiner. "Nevertheless, the Postal Service is today continuing to face a severe liquidity crisis, and our financial losses this quarter reflect systemic challenges inherent in our Congressionally established business model and regulatory framework. We are taking responsible steps to conserve cash to extend our operating window, but we require thoughtful legislative and other actions to establish a financially sustainable Postal Service capable of serving the American public far into the future."
Total operating revenue was $19.9 billion for the quarter, an increase of $1.1 billion, or 6.1 percent, compared to the same quarter last year. The increase was driven by continued growth in our USPS Ground Advantage Shipping and Packages subcategory and strength in our Marketing Mail category. This was supplemented by price increases in our First-Class Mail and Marketing Mail categories and a transportation-related, time-limited price increase implemented on April 26, 2026, for certain offerings in the Shipping and Packages category. These increases were partially offset by declining volumes in the First-Class Mail and Shipping and Packages categories.
Shipping and Packages revenue increased $588 million, or 7.7 percent, on a volume decline of 55 million pieces, or 3.4 percent, compared to the same quarter last year. Marketing Mail revenue increased $440 million, or 12.3 percent, on a volume increase of 574 million pieces, or 4.3 percent, compared to the same quarter last year. First-Class Mail revenue increased $255 million, or 4.3 percent, on a volume decline of 343 million pieces, or 3.5 percent, compared to the same quarter last year.
Total operating expenses were $22.5 billion for the quarter, an increase of $438 million, or 2.0 percent, compared to the same quarter last year. This increase was primarily due to higher retirement benefits, accrued retiree health benefits top-up expenses, higher compensation and benefits expenses, and the impacts of rising fuel costs that led to higher transportation expenses and higher other operating expenses. These increases were partially offset by the favorable impact of actuarial revaluation of existing workers' compensation cases.
On April 9, 2026, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) granted a Temporary Conditional Waiver of required payments towards the annual pension amortization obligations. In addition, the organization elected to suspend payments for the bi-weekly normal cost contributions for employees covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and deferred approximately $1.4 billion this quarter. However, the Postal Service's financial situation, and specifically its liquidity, remains precarious as these actions are only temporary measures. The pension obligations will have to be eventually satisfied, therefore these measures cannot represent long-term solutions for the Postal Service.
The Postal Service continues to urge the PRC to provide needed flexibility to their regulations in order to help enable the Postal Service to achieve long-term financial sustainability, while also fulfilling the primary mission to serve the American public.
Additionally, the Postal Service continues to urgently request administrative and legislative reforms to address the following:
* Increase the statutory debt limit of $15.0 billion, which is set by Congress and has not been increased since 1992, to access the capital necessary to achieve our mission and continue to compete with private sector companies that have access to credit and capital markets
* Modify retiree pension benefit funding rules determining how the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) apportions the costs for the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) benefits of employees and retirees that worked for both the Postal Service and the Post Office Department to allocate these costs between the Postal Service and Treasury by utilizing modern actuarial principles
* Allow diversification of pension assets and the ability to invest in market-based instruments to allow greater flexibility
* Adopt private sector best practices for workers' compensation administration
Absent such changes and reforms, the Postal Service's financial outlook remains dire.
"The financial results for the quarter reflect a slight improvement compared to the same quarter last year, as we continue to grow revenue and manage the costs under our control, including reducing 4 million work hours during the quarter," said Chief Financial Officer Luke Grossmann. "However, management actions alone will not resolve ongoing financial problems that are caused by an outdated business model that isn't responsive to change. We need to pair those helpful management actions with legislative, regulatory, and administrative reforms to get our organization on its way to financial sustainability."
Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Revenue and Volume by Service Category Compared to Prior Year
The following table presents revenue and volume by service category for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025:
Revenue
Volume
(revenue in $ millions; volume in millions of pieces)
2026
2025
2026
2025
Service Category
First-Class Mail
$
6,133
$
5,878
9,460
9,803
Marketing Mail
4,018
3,578
13,782
13,208
Shipping and Packages
8,250
7,662
1,554
1,609
International
229
295
43
56
Periodicals
201
210
519
587
Other
1,109
1,174
69
65
Total operating revenue and volume
$
19,940
$
18,797
25,427
25,328
Selected Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Results of Operations and Non-GAAP Measures
This news release includes controllable loss which is not calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. This non-GAAP measure is calculated as net loss adjusted for costs outside of management's control, including the accrued retiree health benefits top-up expense, workers' compensation (benefit) expense caused by actuarial revaluation and discount rate changes, and the amortization of the CSRS and FERS unfunded liabilities. These latter costs not only are largely outside of management's control but also can fluctuate significantly based on actuarial assumptions and interest rates.
This non-GAAP measure provides meaningful information to assist users of the Postal Service's financial statements to more fully understand the financial results and assess the Postal Service's ongoing performance because it excludes items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, underlying operations.
Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Postal Service's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. This adjusted financial information does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting.
The following table reconciles GAAP net loss to the presented non-GAAP financial measure for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025:
(results in $ millions)
2026
2025
Net loss
$
(2,514)
$
(3,076)
Retiree health benefits top-up expense1
195
-
Workers' compensation non-cash (benefit) expense2
(119)
304
CSRS unfunded liability amortization expense3
825
700
FERS unfunded liability amortization expense4
575
450
Controllable loss
$
(1,038)
$
(1,622)
1 Expense for the accrual for the annual Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund top-up payment due to OPM by September 30 of the respective fiscal year. OPM has calculated the top-up payment due on September 30, 2026 to be $726 million.
2 Represents workers' compensation non-cash (benefit) expense resulting from fluctuations in discount rates, changes in assumptions, valuation of new claims, revaluation of existing claims, and the administrative fee paid to the U.S. Department of Labor, less current year claim payments.
3 Expense for the annual payments due September 30 of the respective year, calculated by OPM, to amortize the unfunded CSRS retirement obligation. Payments are to be made through 2043 based on OPM invoices.
4 Expense for the annual payments due September 30 of the respective year, calculated by OPM, to amortize the unfunded FERS retirement obligation. Payments are to be made over a 30-year rolling period based on OPM invoices.
Financial results in the Form 10-Q are available at http://about.usps.com/what/financials/.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements contained in this release represent the Postal Service's best estimates of known and anticipated trends believed relevant to future operations. However, actual results may differ significantly from current estimates. Certain forward-looking statements included in this release use such words as "may," "will," "could," "expect," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "project," or other similar terminology. These forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties, reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance as of the date of this report. The Postal Service has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is currently pursuing a transformation plan aimed at restoring long-term financial sustainability, improving service, and maintaining the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
***
Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0807-usps-reports-third-quarter-fiscal-year-2026-results.htm
Social Security IG: Recovery Efforts for Deceased Beneficiaries' Overpayments
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 032406) on August 5, 2026, entitled "Recovery Efforts for Deceased Beneficiaries' Overpayments."
Here are excerpts:
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Objective
To determine whether Social Security Administration (SSA) employees followed policy for recovering overpayments made to Old-Age,
Survivors, and Disability Insurance beneficiaries who subsequently died with outstanding overpayment balances.
Background
When a beneficiary dies with an outstanding overpayment, SSA policy requires that employees
... Show Full Article
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 032406) on August 5, 2026, entitled "Recovery Efforts for Deceased Beneficiaries' Overpayments."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Objective
To determine whether Social Security Administration (SSA) employees followed policy for recovering overpayments made to Old-Age,
Survivors, and Disability Insurance beneficiaries who subsequently died with outstanding overpayment balances.
Background
When a beneficiary dies with an outstanding overpayment, SSA policy requires that employeespursue recovery using a specific priority adjustment, including the following.
* Withholding any underpayments due the deceased beneficiary.
* Withholding any lump-sum death payment payable on the same earnings record.
* Proposing benefit adjustments against contingently liable beneficiaries.
* Recovering from the deceased beneficiary's estate.
We identified 17,979 adult beneficiaries who died between December 2022 and December 2024 with approximately $240 million in outstanding overpayments. We reviewed a random sample of 125 deceased beneficiaries.
Results
Of the 125 beneficiaries we reviewed, SSA employees followed policy for recovering overpayments for 66 (53 percent). However, employees did not follow SSA's policies for recovering overpayments made to 59 (47 percent) beneficiaries who subsequently died. Specifically, SSA did not
* attempt recovery from 40 deceased beneficiaries' estates;
* process pending actions to attempt recovery from contingently liable individuals for 15 deceased beneficiaries' overpayments; or
* withhold lump-sum death payments from eligible survivors to offset 4 deceased beneficiaries' overpayments.
Based on our sample results, we estimate SSA could attempt recovery of outstanding overpayments totaling approximately $106 million that 8,486 deceased beneficiaries owed by applying its priority of overpayment adjustments.
Recommendations
We recommend SSA
Pursue recovery of the 10 deceased beneficiaries' overpayments from the contingently liable individuals identified in our review, as required by SSA policy and Implement controls to ensure employees follow policy to attempt recovery of deceased beneficiaries' overpayments from estates, contingently liable beneficiaries, and lump-sum death payments.
SSA agreed to implement our recommendations.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.ssa.gov/assets/uploads/032406.pdf
Smithsonian Institution: Revitalized Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden Opens Oct. 31
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release on Aug. 6, 2026:
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Revitalized Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden Opens Oct. 31
Redesign Installs 50% More Artworks, Including 24 Major Works From Joseph H. Hirshhorn's Foundational Gift
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The Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden will reopen Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, following a four-year revitalization that has repaired aging infrastructure and reorganized the 1.3-acre space to display more artworks, welcome more visitors and reunify the museum's campus. Sixty artworks, a 50% increase from the garden's previous
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release on Aug. 6, 2026:
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Revitalized Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden Opens Oct. 31
Redesign Installs 50% More Artworks, Including 24 Major Works From Joseph H. Hirshhorn's Foundational Gift
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The Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden will reopen Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, following a four-year revitalization that has repaired aging infrastructure and reorganized the 1.3-acre space to display more artworks, welcome more visitors and reunify the museum's campus. Sixty artworks, a 50% increase from the garden's previousincarnation, will be set within a landscaped garden of nearly 30,000 new plants and trees, inviting contemplation as viewers discover links between Joseph H. Hirshhorn's transformative gift and today's most exciting sculpture.
Architect-artist Hiroshi Sugimoto has redesigned the Sculpture Garden with careful consideration of Gordon Bunshaft's original design. His dry-stacked stone walls define key spaces and encourage exploration, particularly in the East Garden, where major Modernist bronzes from the Hirshhorn's holdings by the likes of Auguste Rodin, Henri Matisse and Henry Moore reveal the history of modern sculpture, appearing alongside recent acquisitions and commissions by leading contemporary artists.
"The revitalization of the Sculpture Garden marks the most significant rethinking of our campus since the Hirshhorn opened in 1974, and the reopening installation presents the seamless connection between the museum and the garden through works from the 1880s to the present day," said Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu. "From Rodin, Willem de Kooning, Barbara Hepworth and David Smith to artists leading the way today, including Sugimoto, the Sculpture Garden centers pivotal moments in sculpture within a landscape designed for discovery. We are proud to bolster Joseph H. Hirshhorn's vision for 21st-century audiences."
In 1974, the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden opened with 52 artworks drawn from Joseph Hirshhorn's foundational gift to the nation of more than 2,000 sculptures. When the Hirshhorn outdoor galleries reopen on the National Mall in October, 60 artworks--39 from the founding donor's personal collection, including 21 that were installed in 1974--will be on view in the Sculpture Garden and Plaza. Among the reinstalled artworks will be renowned touchstones by Rodin, including "The Burghers of Calais" (1884-1889) and "Monument to Balzac" (1891-1898); a complete series of bronze reliefs, "The Backs I-IV," made by Matisse between 1909 and 1931; and essential abstract works by Hepworth, Moore, Smith, as well as Lucio Fontana and Alberto Giacometti.
The new curatorial arrangement will be accompanied by architectural modifications that expand public access to the Hirshhorn campus, including five points of entry, a wider "front door" on the National Mall, the introduction of east and west overlooks, and flexible interior spaces, including the East and Central Gardens and the West Lawn. The stacked-stone walls--hand-hewn from 950 tons of stone--define outdoor galleries and provide a timeless background for modern and contemporary sculpture.
Five sculptures by Moore and two by Hepworth, grounded in Joseph Hirshhorn's friendships with both artists, will be installed to highlight the depth of the museum's Modernist holdings. Nearby, in the walkway leading to the Central Garden, four Smith works, installed in a central planting bed, will form a group that underscores the sculptor's pivotal role in advancing Abstract Expressionist sculpture through his revolutionary approach to welding and metal. Elsewhere in the East Garden, sculptures gifted and bequeathed by Joseph Hirshhorn include works by Hans (Jean) Arp, Max Bill, Andrea Cascella, Elisabeth Frink, Willem de Kooning, Henri Laurens, Jacques Lipchitz, Aristide Maillol, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Germaine Richier and Tomonori Toyofuku.
Interwoven with these historic sculptures are contemporary artworks such as Yoko Ono's "Wish Tree for Washington, DC" (2007), which invites visitors to tie handwritten wishes for peace to the branches of a Japanese dogwood--part of the artist's global "Wish Tree" project. The West Garden and allee, meanwhile, broaden the visitor's focus to groundbreaking contemporary sculpture, including recent acquisitions by Mark Grotjahn, Raven Halfmoon, Lauren Halsey, Izumi Kato, Liz Larner and Pedro Reyes.
Sugimoto reorganized the Sculpture Garden to further the Hirshhorn's mission to share more artwork, welcome more visitors and repair aging infrastructure. Working with Smithsonian experts, his team includes his Tokyo-based architecture firm, New Material Research Laboratory (NMRL), cofounded in 2008 by Sugimoto and Tomoyuki Sakakida in association with YUN Architecture, in Brooklyn, New York; Quinn Evans, in Washington, D.C., as architect of record; and Rhodeside & Harwell Inc., in Alexandria, Virginia, as landscape architect.
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About the Hirshhorn
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is the national museum of modern and contemporary art and a leading voice for 21st-century art and culture. Part of the Smithsonian, the Hirshhorn is located prominently on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Its holdings encompass one of the most important collections of postwar American and European art in the world. The Hirshhorn presents diverse exhibitions and offers an array of public programs on the art of our time--free to all. The Hirshhorn Museum is open Mondays noon-5:30 p.m. and Tuesdays-Sundays 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information, visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/revitalized-hirshhorn-sculpture-garden-opens-oct-31
Postal Service IG: Florida 3 District: Delivery Operations in the Miami, FL, Area
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 26-066-R26) on August 4, 2026, entitled "Florida 3 District: Delivery Operations in the Miami, FL, Area."
Here are excerpts:
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During the week of March 2, 2026, we performed a self-initiated audit at the Royal Palm Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC), and three delivery units serviced by the P&DC. The delivery units included Blue Lagoon Branch and Milam Dairy Branch in Miami, FL and North Miami Branch in North Miami, FL.
We issued individual reports for the three delivery
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 26-066-R26) on August 4, 2026, entitled "Florida 3 District: Delivery Operations in the Miami, FL, Area."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
During the week of March 2, 2026, we performed a self-initiated audit at the Royal Palm Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC), and three delivery units serviced by the P&DC. The delivery units included Blue Lagoon Branch and Milam Dairy Branch in Miami, FL and North Miami Branch in North Miami, FL.
We issued individual reports for the three deliveryunits and one report for the P&DC. We will also issue another report summarizing the results of our audits at all three delivery units with specific recommendations for management to address.
The audit team identified deficiencies in six areas we reviewed affecting mail delivery and property conditions at the three delivery units.
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View the original text at: https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2026-08/26-066-r26.pdf
IDB Supports the Modernization of the Energy Subsidy System to Protect Vulnerable Households in Argentina
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Supports the Modernization of the Energy Subsidy System to Protect Vulnerable Households in Argentina
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $500 million operation to support the implementation of Argentina's new Targeted Energy Subsidies System (SEF), aimed at protecting access to energy for vulnerable households and strengthening the sustainability of the country's energy subsidy scheme.
The operation will support the transition toward
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Supports the Modernization of the Energy Subsidy System to Protect Vulnerable Households in Argentina
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $500 million operation to support the implementation of Argentina's new Targeted Energy Subsidies System (SEF), aimed at protecting access to energy for vulnerable households and strengthening the sustainability of the country's energy subsidy scheme.
The operation will support the transition towarda more targeted, efficient, and fiscally sustainable subsidy system. To this end, it will finance subsidies for natural gas consumption through the gas distribution network and bottled gas (LPG) for eligible households, while also strengthening the institutional capacities required to implement, manage, and monitor the new scheme.
The IDB-supported program will directly benefit approximately 1.2 million households receiving support for natural gas network consumption and 3.5 million bottled gas users.
In addition, the operation will strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of the Secretariat of Energy and the National Gas and Electricity Regulatory Authority through the development of information systems, analytical tools, and improvements to targeting and monitoring mechanisms, contributing to more efficient and transparent program management.
The IDB loan has a repayment term of 25 years, a 5.5-year grace period, and an interest rate based on SOFR.
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the IDB works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-supports-modernization-energy-subsidy-system-protect-vulnerable-households-argentina
EPA IG: Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Payment Integrity Information Act Reporting for Fiscal Year 2025
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0045) entitled "Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Payment Integrity Information Act Reporting for Fiscal Year 2025."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
Our objective for this audit was to determine whether the CSB is in compliance with the Payment Integrity Information Act, or PIIA, for its fiscal year 2025 reporting.
Summary of Findings
For FY 2025, the CSB was not required to comply with PIIA and applicable OMB improper payment
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0045) entitled "Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Payment Integrity Information Act Reporting for Fiscal Year 2025."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
Our objective for this audit was to determine whether the CSB is in compliance with the Payment Integrity Information Act, or PIIA, for its fiscal year 2025 reporting.
Summary of Findings
For FY 2025, the CSB was not required to comply with PIIA and applicable OMB improper paymentreporting requirements. While the CSB's outlays in FY 2025 totaled approximately $10.8 million, none of the CSB's nine programs met the threshold of $10 million to be subject to improper payment reporting requirements.
As a result, the CSB was not required to publish its payment integrity information in its FY 2025 Performance and Accountability Report or to perform risk assessments for those programs. Additionally, the CSB has implemented internal controls to identify and reduce improper payments.
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-08/_epaoig_20260804-26-p-0045_cert.pdf
