Federal Independent Agencies
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USPS to release stamps celebrating Boston 2026 world stamp expo
WASHINGTON, July 10 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release:
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USPS to release stamps celebrating Boston 2026 world stamp expo
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What:
At the 2025 Great American Stamp Show in Schaumburg IL, the U.S. Postal Service will issue a set of stamps in anticipation of the Boston 2026 World Stamp Exposition. Issued to celebrate this once-a-decade extravaganza, these two stamps highlight the special role of Boston in the American Revolution as the Postal Service prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation.
The first-day-of-issue event for the
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WASHINGTON, July 10 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release:
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USPS to release stamps celebrating Boston 2026 world stamp expo
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What:
At the 2025 Great American Stamp Show in Schaumburg IL, the U.S. Postal Service will issue a set of stamps in anticipation of the Boston 2026 World Stamp Exposition. Issued to celebrate this once-a-decade extravaganza, these two stamps highlight the special role of Boston in the American Revolution as the Postal Service prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation.
The first-day-of-issue event for theBoston 2026 World Stamp Show Commemorative Forever stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #WorldStampShowStamps.
Who:
William G. Fraine, senior vice president, national sales, U.S. Postal Service
When:
Thursday, Aug. 14, at 11 a.m. CDT
Where:
Great American Stamp Show
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center
1551 North Thoreau Drive
Schaumburg, IL 60173
RSVP:
Attendees are encouraged to register at usps.com/worldstampshowstamps.
Background:
For one week in May 2026, the world capital of stamp collecting will be Boston, host to the 2026 World Expo, the 12th international philatelic exhibition of the United States.
From May 23-30, 2026, the Boston 2026 World Expo will fill the halls and meeting rooms of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Spanning 352,000 square feet of exhibition space, the expo will feature a vast bourse -- the philatelic term for a collectors' and dealers' marketplace -- as well as hundreds of collectors' club and society meetings, competitive exhibitions, dedication ceremonies for new stamps, and displays and exhibits by postal authorities around the world.
This event offers rare and remarkable opportunities for stamp collectors to connect with colleagues and friends, build their collections, learn from experts, and fully immerse themselves in their hobby. For curious newcomers and the public, the expo offers eye-catching displays of visually stunning stamps, opportunities to learn about other countries and their cultures, and a rich sense of tradition in a fun, family-friendly setting.
The United States hosted its first international philatelic exhibition in New York City in 1913 and has hosted similar expos once a decade ever since. In 1926, the U.S. Post Office Department issued a special souvenir sheet commemorating the 1777 Battle of White Plains with text promoting the second international philatelic exhibition on the selvage, the start of a tradition of commemorating or promoting the exhibition through stamps.
Since the 1970s, a tradition of issuing special U.S. stamps to commemorate the international philatelic exhibition at the event itself has, with some exceptions, generally given way to the release of stamps to promote the exhibition in advance. Today, many other nations issue stamps, sometimes three years beforehand, to build anticipation and commemorate a gathering that celebrates, as no other event can, the confluence of art, education, history and international goodwill.
The artist for these stamps was Dan Gretta. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps.
These stamps are being issued as Forever stamps and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.
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 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain 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, formerly known as Twitter; 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.
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Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2025/0710ma-usps-to-release-stamps-celebrating-boston-2026-world-stamp-expo.htm
NASA Selects Instruments for Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle
PASADENA, California, July 10 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA Selects Instruments for Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle
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NASA has selected three instruments to travel to the Moon, with two planned for integration onto an LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) and one for a future orbital opportunity.
The LTV is part of NASA's efforts to explore the lunar surface as part of the Artemis campaign and is the first crew-driven vehicle to operate on the Moon in more than 50 years. Designed to hold up to two astronauts, as well as operate remotely without a crew,
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PASADENA, California, July 10 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA Selects Instruments for Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle
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NASA has selected three instruments to travel to the Moon, with two planned for integration onto an LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) and one for a future orbital opportunity.
The LTV is part of NASA's efforts to explore the lunar surface as part of the Artemis campaign and is the first crew-driven vehicle to operate on the Moon in more than 50 years. Designed to hold up to two astronauts, as well as operate remotely without a crew,this surface vehicle will enable NASA to achieve more of its science and exploration goals over a wide swath of lunar terrain.
"The Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle will transport humanity farther than ever before across the lunar frontier on an epic journey of scientific exploration and discovery," said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "By combining the best of human and robotic exploration, the science instruments selected for the LTV will make discoveries that inform us about Earth's nearest neighbor as well as benefit the health and safety of our astronauts and spacecraft on the Moon."
The Artemis Infrared Reflectance and Emission Spectrometer (AIRES) will identify, quantify, and map lunar minerals and volatiles, which are materials that evaporate easily, like water, ammonia, or carbon dioxide. The instrument will capture spectral data overlaid on visible light images of both specific features of interest and broad panoramas to discover the distribution of minerals and volatiles across the Moon's south polar region. The AIRES instrument team is led by Phil Christensen from Arizona State University in Tempe.
The Lunar Microwave Active-Passive Spectrometer (L-MAPS) will help define what is below the Moon's surface and search for possible locations of ice. Containing both a spectrometer and a ground-penetrating radar, the instrument suite will measure temperature, density, and subsurface structures to more than 131 feet (40 meters) below the surface. The L-MAPS instrument team is led by Matthew Siegler from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
When combined, the data from the two instruments will paint a picture of the components of the lunar surface and subsurface to support human exploration and will uncover clues to the history of rocky worlds in our solar system. The instruments also will help scientists characterize the Moon's resources, including what the Moon is made of, potential locations of ice, and how the Moon changes over time.
In addition to the instruments selected for integration onto the LTV, NASA also selected the Ultra-Compact Imaging Spectrometer for the Moon (UCIS-Moon) for a future orbital flight opportunity. The instrument will provide regional context to the discoveries made from the LTV. From above, UCIS-Moon will map the Moon's geology and volatiles and measure how human activity affects those volatiles. The spectrometer also will help identify scientifically valuable areas for astronauts to collect lunar samples, while its wide-view images provide the overall context for where these samples will be collected. The UCIS-Moon instrument will provide the Moon's highest spatial resolution data of surface lunar water, mineral makeup, and thermophysical properties. The UCIS-Moon instrument team is led by Abigail Fraeman from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
"Together, these three scientific instruments will make significant progress in answering key questions about what minerals and volatiles are present on and under the surface of the Moon," said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. "With these instruments riding on the LTV and in orbit, we will be able to characterize the surface not only where astronauts explore, but also across the south polar region of the Moon, offering exciting opportunities for scientific discovery and exploration for years to come."
Leading up to these instrument selections, NASA has worked with all three lunar terrain vehicle vendors -- Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab -- to complete their preliminary design reviews. This review demonstrates that the initial design of each commercial lunar rover meets all of NASA's system requirements and shows that the correct design options have been selected, interfaces have been identified, and verification methods have been described. NASA will evaluate the task order proposals received from each LTV vendor and make a selection decision on the demonstration mission by the end of 2025.
Through Artemis, NASA will address high priority science questions, focusing on those that are best accomplished by on-site human explorers on and around the Moon by using robotic surface and orbiting systems. The Artemis missions will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.
To learn more about Artemis, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-selects-instruments-for-artemis-lunar-terrain-vehicle/
EPA Releases New Online Resources Giving Americans Total Transparency on the Issues of Geoengineering and Contrails
WASHINGTON, July 10 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Releases New Online Resources Giving Americans Total Transparency on the Issues of Geoengineering and Contrails
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WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new online resources to address public questions and concerns about two topics: geoengineering and contrails.
EPA created these new online resources to communicate everything the agency knows about the latest science, research and other information regarding contrails and geoengineering. EPA is committed
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WASHINGTON, July 10 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Releases New Online Resources Giving Americans Total Transparency on the Issues of Geoengineering and Contrails
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WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new online resources to address public questions and concerns about two topics: geoengineering and contrails.
EPA created these new online resources to communicate everything the agency knows about the latest science, research and other information regarding contrails and geoengineering. EPA is committedto total transparency with the American public on these topics.
"Americans have legitimate questions about contrails and geoengineering, and they deserve straight answers," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "We're publishing everything EPA knows about these topics on these websites."
EPA's new online resource on condensation trails, or "contrails," explains the science behind the aerial phenomenon and addresses myths and misconceptions that have persisted for decades. The new webpage also addresses head-on various claims that these occurrences are actually an intentional release of dangerous chemicals or biological agents at high altitudes for a variety of nefarious purposes, including population control, mind control, or attempts to geoengineer Earth or modify the weather.
EPA also created a new online resource focused specifically on solar geoengineering activities, which involve cooling the Earth by reflecting sunlight back to space, usually through injecting gases, like sulfur dioxide, into the upper atmosphere where they form reflective particles.
"EPA shares the significant reservations many Americans have when it comes to geoengineering activities," added Administrator Zeldin.
The resource delves into the current state of science and research surrounding geoengineering, including the potentially negative impacts it could have on the environment and human health, including depleting the ozone layer, harming crops, altering weather patterns and creating acid rain.
EPA's new resource also details what EPA has done to identify and track private actors potentially engaged in such activities. Additionally, the online resource discusses weather modification and cloud seeding, and related federal and state government actions.
Access the EPA's new Geoengineering Exit EPA's website and Information on Contrails from Aircraft Exit EPA's website online resources.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-new-online-resources-giving-americans-total-transparency-issues
NASA's Hubble and Webb Telescopes Reveal Two Faces of a Star Cluster Duo
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- NASA issued the following news:
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NASA's Hubble and Webb Telescopes Reveal Two Faces of a Star Cluster Duo
A riotous expanse of gas, dust, and stars stake out the dazzling territory of a duo of star clusters in this combined image from NASA's Hubble and Webb space telescopes.
Open clusters NGC 460 and NGC 456 reside in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way. Open clusters consist of anywhere from a few dozen to a few thousand young stars loosely bound together by gravity. These particular clusters are part of an extensive complex of star
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WASHINGTON, July 9 -- NASA issued the following news:
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NASA's Hubble and Webb Telescopes Reveal Two Faces of a Star Cluster Duo
A riotous expanse of gas, dust, and stars stake out the dazzling territory of a duo of star clusters in this combined image from NASA's Hubble and Webb space telescopes.
Open clusters NGC 460 and NGC 456 reside in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way. Open clusters consist of anywhere from a few dozen to a few thousand young stars loosely bound together by gravity. These particular clusters are part of an extensive complex of starclusters and nebulae that are likely linked to one another. As clouds of gas collapse, stars are born. These young, hot stars expel intense stellar winds that shape the nebulae around them, carving out the clouds and triggering other collapses, which in turn give rise to more stars.
In these images, Hubble's view captures the glowing, ionized gas as stellar radiation blows "bubbles" in the clouds of gas and dust (blue), while Webb's infrared vision highlights the clumps and delicate filamentary structures of dust (red). In Hubble images, dust is often seen silhouetted against and blocking light, but in Webb's view, the dust - warmed by starlight - shines with its own infrared glow. This mixture of gas and dust between the universe's stars is known as the interstellar medium.
The nodules visible in these images are scenes of active star formation, with stars ranging from just one to 10 million years old. In contrast, our Sun is 4.5 billion years old. The region that holds these clusters, known as the N83-84-85 complex, is home to multiple, rare O-type stars, hot and extremely massive stars that burn hydrogen like our Sun. Astronomers estimate there are only around 20,000 O-type stars among the approximately 400 billion stars in the Milky Way.
The Small Magellanic Cloud is of great interest to researchers because it is less enriched in metals than the Milky Way. Astronomers call all elements heavier than hydrogen and helium - that is, with more than two protons in the atom's nucleus - "metals." This state mimics conditions in the early universe, so the Small Magellanic Cloud provides a relatively nearby laboratory to explore theories about star formation and the interstellar medium at early stages of cosmic history. With these observations of NGC 460 and NGC 456, researchers intend to study how gas flows in the region converge or divide; refine the collision history between the Small Magellanic Cloud and its fellow dwarf galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud; examine how bursts of star formation occur in such gravitational interactions between galaxies; and better understand the interstellar medium.
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Original text here: https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/nasas-hubble-and-webb-reveal-two-faces-of-star-cluster-duo/
IDB and BRDE Execute $65 Million in Innovative Debt-Conversion Transactions
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB and BRDE Execute $65 Million in Innovative Debt-Conversion Transactions
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The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE) have successfully executed four debt-conversion transactions totaling $65 million. These transactions strengthen BRDE's debt-management strategy and establish a new benchmark for the IDB's foreign-exchange-hedging operations.
Conducted between July 2024 and June 2025, the transactions involved converting variable-rate
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WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB and BRDE Execute $65 Million in Innovative Debt-Conversion Transactions
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The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE) have successfully executed four debt-conversion transactions totaling $65 million. These transactions strengthen BRDE's debt-management strategy and establish a new benchmark for the IDB's foreign-exchange-hedging operations.
Conducted between July 2024 and June 2025, the transactions involved converting variable-ratedebt denominated in U.S. dollars into Brazilian reals across two IDB loans, while maintaining their original long-term maturities, 2037 and 2047. This approach provides a cost-effective financing solution, reducing foreign-exchange risk, and enabling BRDE to offer more affordable financing to local businesses.
A significant portion of the converted funds supported the "Em Frente RS" program, designed to help micro, small and medium-sized companies to recover from the devastating climate-related disasters that struck the state of Rio Grande do Sul in May 2024. The program helped more than 780 businesses at a critical time for the region's economy, offering much-needed support for their recovery and continuity.
"These transactions demonstrate how financial innovation can deliver real impact. By leveraging a contingent conversion mechanism with embedded options tied to the country's credit risk, we secured conversion rates 120 to 200 basis points lower than conventional methods, enabling more competitive local currency financing," said Gabriel Yorio Gonzalez, IDB vice president for finance and administration. "This innovative operation was made possible through the close collaboration between the two institutions. It reflects our shared commitment to strengthening financial resilience and fostering sustainable development in Brazil and across the region," he added .
"These transactions represent an important step in BRDE's funding strategy, enabling innovative and more accessible financial solutions for companies in the southern region. The partnership with the IDB reinforces our commitment to fiscal sustainability, risk mitigation and, most importantly, directs support for the economic recovery of hundreds of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises affected by climate events. BRDE remains steadfast in its role as a regional development agent, with responsibility, innovation, and focus on social impact," said Joao Paulo Kleinubing, BRDE's financial director.
BRDE's opportunity to raise funds through currency conversion, mitigating exchange-rate risk while securing favorable financing terms, aligns with its broader objective of diversifying funding sources and enables the institution to contract credit operations without relying on the traditional on-lending model.
By pioneering risk management and currency-hedging strategies, the IDB continues to support financial stability and economic growth in Latin America. These transactions demonstrate the IDB's commitment to sustainable financing and to ensuring its member countries have access to innovative solutions that enhance resilience and long-term development.
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) 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.
About BRDE
Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE) is a public development financial institution founded in June 1961. Controlled by the three southern states of Brazil, BRDE drives prosperity in the region by providing long-term financing. Its purpose is to enhance the competitiveness of businesses of all sizes, turning projects into reality. Explore how BRDE supports growth and innovation at www.brde.com.br.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-and-brde-execute-65-million-innovative-debt-conversion-transactions
EPA Stops Contaminated Water by Slaughterhouse After Public Complaints in Monroeville, NJ
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Stops Contaminated Water by Slaughterhouse After Public Complaints in Monroeville, NJ
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Monroeville, N.J. - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to respond to public concerns about crimson-colored discharge flowing from a Monroeville slaughterhouse into a nearby tributary used for farming and livestock. EPA inspected and, within two weeks, issued an order under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to stop the discharge.
"EPA
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WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Stops Contaminated Water by Slaughterhouse After Public Complaints in Monroeville, NJ
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Monroeville, N.J. - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to respond to public concerns about crimson-colored discharge flowing from a Monroeville slaughterhouse into a nearby tributary used for farming and livestock. EPA inspected and, within two weeks, issued an order under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to stop the discharge.
"EPAquickly and efficiently responded to these public complaints. When the water runs red, people really take notice, and so do we," said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. "This is a textbook example of how a community tip, state partnership, and swift federal enforcement can stop pollution in its tracks. We moved fast to shut down the discharge and protect the water that farmers and families depend on."
Red, unauthorized discharge leaving the southeastern portion of the Burlington Beef slaughterhouse in Monroeville, NJ.
After observing an uncontrolled release of fluids from the slaughterhouse, including blood, EPA and NJDEP issued an administrative order on consent to Burlington Beef, outlining the facility's violations and requiring specific immediate actions, such as the construction of a three-foot berm, to stop the discharge. The facility quickly complied with the short-term requirements, ending the acute water contamination issue. EPA and NJDEP are now working on a long-term cleanup plan to ensure residents and nearby communities have continued access to clean water.
EPA remains committed to helping businesses and municipalities meet environmental standards while fostering economic growth and protecting human health. Through training, technical guidance, and case-by-base problem solving, EPA works with communities to fulfill its core mission of protecting human health and the environment, while simultaneously helping businesses thrive.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-stops-contaminated-water-slaughterhouse-after-public-complaints-monroeville-nj
EPA Meets with Leaders of 30 Tribal Nations, Highlights Muscogee (Creek) Nation Brownfields Grant
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Meets with Leaders of 30 Tribal Nations, Highlights Muscogee (Creek) Nation Brownfields Grant
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DALLAS, TEXAS (July 9, 2025) - Today, the Pueblo of Laguna hosted officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and leaders of Tribal Nations from throughout EPA Region 6 for the Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) meeting. Regional Administrator Scott Mason gathered with leaders from 30 Tribes to discuss a variety of environmental topics. During the meeting, RA Mason highlighted
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WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Meets with Leaders of 30 Tribal Nations, Highlights Muscogee (Creek) Nation Brownfields Grant
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DALLAS, TEXAS (July 9, 2025) - Today, the Pueblo of Laguna hosted officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and leaders of Tribal Nations from throughout EPA Region 6 for the Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) meeting. Regional Administrator Scott Mason gathered with leaders from 30 Tribes to discuss a variety of environmental topics. During the meeting, RA Mason highlighteda recent grant of nearly $2 million to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation from EPA's Brownfields program for assessment of contaminated sites.
"As a member of the Cherokee Nation, I understand the importance of EPA having regular and meaningful conversations with Tribal leaders on environmental matters within their lands," said Regional Administrator Scott Mason. "I look forward to working with our Tribal leaders on protecting the water, land, and air of our Nation's indigenous communities."
The RTOC is a partnership between 66 federally-recognized tribes in Region 6 and serves as the regional counterpart to the National Tribal Operations Committee (NTOC). The purpose of RTOC meetings is to enhance the relationship between EPA and Tribal Nations by ensuring Tribal environmental interests and concerns are addressed within their respective lands.
In May, EPA announced that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation is being awarded a $1,986,408 Brownfield Community-Wide assessment grant to support assessment activities, site reuse planning activities, and host community engagement and educational events. This grant was part of a nationwide Brownfield announcement to address environmental contamination and boost economic growth of local economies.
For more information about the EPA's relationship and work with the Tribes, visit our webpage Exit EPA's website.
Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook Exit EPA's website, X Exit EPA's website, Instagram Exit EPA's website, or visit our homepage.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-meets-leaders-30-tribal-nations-highlights-muscogee-creek-nation-brownfields-grant
