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Smithsonian American Art Museum Debuts Monumental New Commission by Nick Cave
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Smithsonian Institution American Art Museum issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian American Art Museum Debuts Monumental New Commission by Nick Cave
"Nick Cave: Mammoth" Marks the Artist's First Solo Exhibition in Washington, D.C.
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The Smithsonian American Art Museum debuts "Nick Cave: Mammoth," a monumental new body of work by internationally acclaimed artist Nick Cave today, Feb. 13. Commissioned by the museum, "Mammoth" marks Cave's first solo exhibition in Washington, D.C. and represents the museum's largest-ever commission by a single artist.
"Mammoth"
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Smithsonian Institution American Art Museum issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian American Art Museum Debuts Monumental New Commission by Nick Cave
"Nick Cave: Mammoth" Marks the Artist's First Solo Exhibition in Washington, D.C.
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The Smithsonian American Art Museum debuts "Nick Cave: Mammoth," a monumental new body of work by internationally acclaimed artist Nick Cave today, Feb. 13. Commissioned by the museum, "Mammoth" marks Cave's first solo exhibition in Washington, D.C. and represents the museum's largest-ever commission by a single artist.
"Mammoth"is Cave's most personal project to date. Drawing on his childhood in Chariton County, Missouri--where his grandparents farmed and where the quilts, tools and clothing they made were a part of everyday life--Cave roots this installation in family history, landscapes and craft traditions. He transforms these sources into a world animated by memory and the transformative possibilities of the imagination. Combining sculpture, video and found objects, the exhibition reflects on the artist's own creative impulse and invites audiences to consider their relationship to the natural world and the everyday objects and histories that shape people's lives.
"Nick Cave: Mammoth" is on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum from Feb. 13 through Jan. 3, 2027. The exhibition is organized by Sarah Newman, the James Dicke Curator of Contemporary Art, with support from Anne Hyland, curatorial associate.
"'Nick Cave: Mammoth' builds on the museum's commitment to present artists whose work speaks to the American experience and fosters connection," said Jane Carpenter-Rock, acting Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. "It is an honor to support a new body of work by one of today's leading artists, the museum's most significant commission to date by a single artist and to present it in dialogue with the sweep of American art across our galleries."
"'Mammoth' is a conversation across time, a meditation on how and why we make, and how we live with what we inherit," Newman said. "Nick Cave gathers fragments of daily life--toys, tools, keepsakes, even the remains of ancient creatures--and transforms them into a shared space of memory and imagination. His work is a powerful reminder that objects are often more than things; they carry our histories, our knowledge and the stories that carry us forward."
Cave has remade a suite of galleries on the museum's third floor into a series of immersive environments. Against a 60-by-20-foot hand-beaded tapestry laid over a landscape of Chariton County, towering lifeguard chairs rise--crowned with massive skeletal mammoth heads. In the center of the space, a glowing, 700-square-foot light table holds thousands of found objects--from vintage tools, juggling balls and pie plates to his grandmother's thimble collection--arranged like paleontological specimens. Some remain recognizable; others have been transformed into masks, creatures and contraptions that feel alive with spirit and intention.
The mammoths come alive in "Roam," a video projected across four walls of an adjoining gallery that follows the massive creatures as they wander through present-day Chicago. In another space, Cave presents bronze sculptures from his "Amalgams" series, which fuse casts from his own body with natural forms such as flowers, birds and trees. These works, surrounded by metal tole flowers and antique cast-iron doorstops--including those from his grandparents' home--evoke both loss and renewal, the solace of nature and the imprint of inheritance.
About Nick Cave
Nick Cave (born 1959, Fulton, Missouri; lives and works in Chicago) is an artist and educator working between the visual and performing arts through a wide range of mediums, including sculpture, installation, video, sound and performance. His work builds upon generations of Black artists and artisans, from quilters such as his own grandmothers to the assemblers of yard art in the American South, who imbued cast-off materials with new meaning. Cave has harnessed this transformative impulse throughout his work--most famously in his series of "Soundsuits," part sculpture and part garment, which conceal their wearers' identities at the same time as they metamorphose into others.
Cave earned a bachelor's degree in fine art at Kansas City Art Institute, a master's degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and is currently director of the graduate program in fashion at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His work is in many museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, D.C.), the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Washington, D.C.), the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Arkansas). In 2022, he completed a multi-part commission from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City for a glass mosaic and video work "Each One, Every One, Equal All" that is on view in the Times Sq-42 St subway station. Other recent projects and exhibitions include the major retrospective "Nick Cave: Forothermore" at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (2022), "The Let Go" at Park Avenue Armory (2018) and "Nick Cave: Until" at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (2016).
Public Programs
The museum is presenting a series of public programs in support of the exhibition, including a family day Saturday, Feb. 21; a conversation with Cave and Bob Faust--presented in person and online--Wednesday, March 18; and a site-specific performance that activates the installation Saturday, Oct. 24. Additional information and links to register are available on the museum's website.
Publication
A richly illustrated catalog, published by the Smithsonian American Art Museum in association with GILES, an imprint of D Giles Limited, will accompany the exhibition. The book offers an intimate look into Cave's creative process, featuring found and personal objects that inspired him, annotated with his own handwritten notes and drawings. The publication includes essays by Newman, Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw and Cherise Smith, and a major new poem by J Drew Lanham.
The book will be available for purchase ($59.95) later this year (official publication date is June 2) in the museum's store and online.
"Nick Cave: Mammoth" is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Major support is provided by Cindy and Mark Aron, Leslie Berriman and Nion McEvoy, the Elizabeth Broun Endowment, Carolyn and Maurice Cunniffe, the James Dicke Family Endowment, Robert and Arlene Kogod, Nion McEvoy Publications Endowment, Cindy Miscikowski, Jack and Marjorie Rachlin Curatorial Endowment, VIA Art Fund and anonymous donors.
Generous support is provided by Michael Abrams and Sandra Stewart, Reuben and Kimberly Charles, Cristina Enriquez-Bocobo, Ferring Family Foundation, Flo Networks, Carl and Nancy Gewirz, Daniel W. Hamilton, Maureen and Gene Kim and the Norma Lee and Morton Funger Endowment in memory of William Scott Funger. This exhibition received support from the Fisher Arts Impact Fund.
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About the Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is the flagship museum in the United States for American art and craft. It is home to one of the most significant collections of American art in the world. The museum's main building, located at Eighth and G streets N.W., is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The museum's Renwick Gallery, a branch museum dedicated to contemporary craft, is located on Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street N.W. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Check online for current hours and admission information. Admission is free. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Smithsonian information: (202) 633-1000. Museum information (recorded): (202) 633-7970. Website: americanart.si.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-american-art-museum-debuts-monumental-new-commission-nick-cave-0
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: Ancient Fish Ear Stones Reveal Modern Caribbean Reefs Have Lost Their Dietary Complexity
PANAMA CITY, Panama, Feb. 13 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute issued the following news:
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Trophic Simplification on Reefs
Ancient fish ear stones reveal modern Caribbean reefs have lost their dietary complexity
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A study of 7,000-year-old fossils and cutting-edge isotope chemistry shows that food chains on today's Caribbean coral reefs are 60% shorter than before human impact, with fish diets becoming strikingly uniform: a hidden dimension of reef degradation with consequences for ecosystem resilience
Coral reefs are undoubtedly in crisis. Scientists have documented
... Show Full Article
PANAMA CITY, Panama, Feb. 13 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute issued the following news:
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Trophic Simplification on Reefs
Ancient fish ear stones reveal modern Caribbean reefs have lost their dietary complexity
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A study of 7,000-year-old fossils and cutting-edge isotope chemistry shows that food chains on today's Caribbean coral reefs are 60% shorter than before human impact, with fish diets becoming strikingly uniform: a hidden dimension of reef degradation with consequences for ecosystem resilience
Coral reefs are undoubtedly in crisis. Scientists have documentedconcerning coral bleaching events, dramatic declines in coral cover, fish and shark populations across the Caribbean over recent decades. But a critical question has remained unanswered: has the way energy flows through reef ecosystems also changed? A new study led by scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and published in Nature reveals that it has, profoundly. Food chains on modern Caribbean reefs are 60-70% shorter than they were 7,000 years ago, and individual fish have lost the dietary specialisation that once sustained a complex web of energy pathways.
The discovery was made possible by an unlikely combination: thousands of tiny fish ear stones (otoliths) preserved in ancient reef sediments, and a high-sensitivity technique for measuring nitrogen isotopes locked inside them. The nitrogen isotope ratio in an otolith reflects what a fish ate during its lifetime, providing a chemical record of its place in the food chain. By comparing otoliths and corals from 7,000-year-old fossil reefs with those from nearby modern reefs in Panama and the Dominican Republic, the research team reconstructed the trophic structure of Caribbean reef fish communities before and after centuries of human impact.
The results paint a stark picture. Relatively higher-trophic-level fishes such as grunts and cardinalfishes now feed at lower positions in the food chain, whilst low-level fishes like gobies have shifted surprisingly up the food chain. The net effect: the distance between them has compressed by around 60% in both regions. At the same time, the dietary variation within fish families has narrowed by 20-70%, meaning individual fish that once specialised on distinct prey now eat much the same things as their neighbours.
"What struck us is how consistent the pattern is," said Jessica Lueders-Dumont, a postdoctoral marine biogeochemist who led the study. "In every fish family we examined, in both Panama and the Dominican Republic, the dietary diversity has contracted. These reefs have lost an entire dimension of ecological complexity that we didn't even know was missing."
This study builds on over a decade of fieldwork at STRI in Panama. Beginning in the early 2010s, a team led by STRI scientist Aaron O'Dea excavated tonnes of sediment from exceptionally well-preserved fossil reefs in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and the Enriquillo Basin in the Dominican Republic. These beautiful 7,000-year-old, mid-Holocene reef deposits in the Caribbean preserve conditions before human impact: a remarkable archive that has already yielded insights into coral shifts and the ecological consequences of predator loss.
"Otoliths are incredible structures, and when we first started finding them in our fossil reef samples, I realised we had an opportunity to reconstruct not just what corals were like before humans, but also the fishes that live on reefs" said O'Dea.
The painstaking work of sorting, identifying and cataloguing thousands of otoliths from bulk reef sediment was carried out largely by STRI researcher Brigida de Gracia, a Ngabe palaeontologist, and Chien-Hsiang Lin of Academia Sinica in Taiwan. Their development of otolith reference collections and taxonomic expertise laid the groundwork for the study.
"Picking otoliths from sediment, grain by grain, is challenging but you develop an intimate relationship with these ancient reefs," said de Gracia. "Every otolith tells the story of a fish that lived thousands of years ago. To see those stories come alive through isotope chemistry is incredibly rewarding."
The isotopic technique at the heart of the study was developed by Lueders-Dumont in co-author Daniel Sigman's laboratory at Princeton University. The method extracts and measures nitrogen locked within the mineral structure of the otoliths: organic matter that has been sealed away for millennia, protected from degradation by the surrounding calcium carbonate.
The team focused on four fish families that represent different ecological roles on the reef: gobies (small bottom-dwellers), silversides (pelagic schooling fish), cardinalfishes (nocturnal predators) and grunts (larger omnivores that roam between reef and mangrove habitats). Crucially, most of these species are not targeted by fisheries, meaning the changes reflect broad ecosystem shifts rather than direct harvesting effects.
The findings carry a sobering message for reef conservation. When individual fish within a population all rely on the same pool of resources (rather than each specialising on different prey), a single disruption to food supply can affect the entire population simultaneously. The prehistoric reefs, by contrast, supported a diversity of energy pathways that would have buffered the system against shocks. The loss of this trophic complexity represents a hidden vulnerability: one that is invisible to standard reef monitoring but may increase the risk of cascading ecosystem collapse.
"We already knew that modern Caribbean reefs are home to fewer corals and fewer sharks," said O'Dea. "Now we can see that the fish that remain are feeding and behaving differently too. It strengthens the case that modern Caribbean reefs are not simply diminished versions of what came before; they are potentially functioning in different ways"
The study also provides a new tool for reef assessment. "We now have a way to explore how entire systems function," said Lueders-Dumont. "These tiny ear stones are opening a window into how energy moves through reef ecosystems on time scales previously unimaginable to ecologists".
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Reference: Lueders-Dumont, J. A., O'Dea, A., Dillon, E. M., de Gracia, B., Lin, C.-H., Oleynik, S., Finnegan, S., Sigman, D. M. & Wang, X. T. 2026. Fossil isotope evidence for trophic simplification on modern Caribbean reefs. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-10077-z
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Original text here: https://stri.si.edu/story/trophic-simplification-reefs
National Science Board: U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Talent
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 13 (TNSrep) -- The National Science Board issued the following news:
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U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Talent
NSB publishes report on nation's STEM education, training, and workforce
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Science and engineering (S&E) is the new global currency of prosperity and power, and a strong science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) workforce is the engine that drives the nation's S&E enterprise. A robust, relentless cycle of people making discoveries, innovating, and creating jobs fuels both the economic strength and the national security of
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 13 (TNSrep) -- The National Science Board issued the following news:
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U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Talent
NSB publishes report on nation's STEM education, training, and workforce
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Science and engineering (S&E) is the new global currency of prosperity and power, and a strong science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) workforce is the engine that drives the nation's S&E enterprise. A robust, relentless cycle of people making discoveries, innovating, and creating jobs fuels both the economic strength and the national security ofthe United States.
A new report, STEM Talent: Education, Training, and Workforce (https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20261), published today by the National Science Board (NSB), provides high quality data to inform decision makers about U.S. STEM education and workforce trends, including how the U.S. compares with other countries.
"Developing America's STEM talent is one of the most strategic investments our nation can make," says Wanda Ward, who led NSB's review of the report. "The NSB is prioritizing the advancement of multisectoral initiatives to build the STEM workforce that the country needs, ranging from skilled technical workers to PhDs."
"These data give us reason for both optimism and concern," says Julia Phillips, Chair of NSB's Committee on Science and Engineering Policy. "For example, employment in STEM occupations grew at a faster rate than in non-STEM occupations between 2013 and 2023 and contributed to increasing shares of our country's workforce. On the other hand, distressingly, U.S. K-12 students continue to perform lower on average in math and science than students in other countries."
The STEM workforce is defined as those currently employed in S&E, such as engineers and software developers, S&E-related workers, such as registered nurses and pharmacy technicians, and STEM middle-skill occupations. Examples of middle-skill occupations include electricians and farmers, who require technical knowledge but are not classified as S&E or S&E-related and do not require a bachelor's degree.
Key U.S. Trends
* Employment in STEM occupations grew by 26% from 2013 to 2023, with STEM workers experiencing lower unemployment rates and enjoying higher median earnings than those in non-STEM jobs.
- In 2023, there were 36 million STEM workers in the United States, accounting for 25% of the total workforce.
- Between 2024 and 2034, employment in the STEM workforce is projected to increase by 6% (compared to 3% for all occupations), with S&E occupations expected to grow the fastest (9%).
= Data science, information security analysis, and operations research analysis are projected to be the highest growing S&E occupations between 2024 and 2034.
- The professional, scientific, and technical services sector, and the information sector employed the highest shares of the S&E workforce (26% and 17% respectively). The health care and social assistance sector employed the highest share of the S&E-related workforce (43%). The construction sector (37%) and the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector (35%) employed the highest share of the STEM middle-skill workforce.
* In 2023, the U.S. continued to attract the largest number of internationally mobile students worldwide, although its share of international students has dropped since 2017.
* In 2023, 22% of the U.S. STEM workforce was foreign born.
* In higher education, the number of students earning S&E master's and doctoral degrees reached new peaks between 2021 and 2023. In contrast, the number of students earning associate's and bachelor's degrees went down.
- In 2023, Computer and information sciences was the top field of study for associate's and master's levels. The top major at the bachelor's level was Social Sciences, and Engineering was the top major for doctorates.
* The U.S. awarded 45,000 S&E doctoral degrees in 2022. China awarded 53,000 S&E doctorates.
* Math performance among U.S. 4th, 8th, and 12th graders showed some learning recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, but only for students in the highest performing percentiles.
- In 2024 math assessments, 8th graders taught by more experienced teachers, traditionally credentialed teachers, or with access to extracurricular enrichment activities performed better than students without such teachers or activities.
"Indicators data and trends reveal opportunities for public and private action to produce the robust STEM workforce our country needs to compete and prosper," says Phillips. "STEM workers are the backbone of our entire S&E enterprise. We must create more opportunities for domestic students to excel in and pursue STEM professions and simultaneously continue to attract and retain STEM talent from around the world."
STEM Talent: Education, Training, and Workforce, is part of the 2026 edition of the congressionally mandated Science and Engineering Indicators report on the on the state of the U.S. science and engineering enterprise in a global context. The Board previously published Discovery: R&D Activity and Publications and will publish two more 2026 Indicators reports, Translation to Impact: U.S. and Global Science, Technology, and Innovation Output, and the State of U.S. Science and Engineering, in April and May, respectively.
State-level data and other geographic analyses on mathematics and science achievement can be found in Science and Engineering Indicators: State Indicators. The U.S. National Science Foundation's National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics prepares Indicators under NSB guidance.
Learn more about the National Science Board (https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/about)
Learn more about the U.S. NSF's National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (https://ncses.nsf.gov/about)
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Original text here: https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/updates/us-science-technology-engineering-mathematics-talent
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.9 Trillion in January
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:
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Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.9 Trillion in January
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.9 trillion as of January 2026. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $52.1 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $20.6 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of more than 57,000 loans for first-time homebuyers year to date.
Key highlights from the January issuance include:
* $50.9 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $1.1 billion
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:
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Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.9 Trillion in January
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.9 trillion as of January 2026. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $52.1 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $20.6 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of more than 57,000 loans for first-time homebuyers year to date.
Key highlights from the January issuance include:
* $50.9 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $1.1 billionin Ginnie Mae I MBS, including $1 billion for multifamily housing loans.
* The pooling and securitization of loans for more than 147,000 American households, including over 57,000 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.
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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/Pages/PressReleaseDispPage.aspx?ParamID=372
GSA Unveils Freedom 250 Cornerstone at Huntsville U.S. Courthouse Dedication
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Unveils Freedom 250 Cornerstone at Huntsville U.S. Courthouse Dedication
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the unveiling of the inaugural Freedom 250 commemorative cornerstone at the Huntsville U.S. Courthouse, in honor of the Nation's upcoming 250th birthday. GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst unveiled the stone as part of the courthouse dedication ceremony, marking the completion of a modern, secure facility designed to support the long-term
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Unveils Freedom 250 Cornerstone at Huntsville U.S. Courthouse Dedication
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the unveiling of the inaugural Freedom 250 commemorative cornerstone at the Huntsville U.S. Courthouse, in honor of the Nation's upcoming 250th birthday. GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst unveiled the stone as part of the courthouse dedication ceremony, marking the completion of a modern, secure facility designed to support the long-termoperational needs of the federal judiciary and court-related agencies in northern Alabama.
GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst and Senator Katie Britt unveil the first Freedom 250 cornerstone in Huntsville, Alabama.
Download full resolution [JPG - 77 KB]
"For two and a half centuries, America has led the fight for freedom. Today, by dedicating this cornerstone, we strengthen a legacy rooted in justice. I'm proud of GSA for building a structure that does more than house our courts; it stands as a testament to the spirit of our people and our enduring commitment to the rule of law," said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst. "I thank President Trump for his leadership in making this day possible, and I commend everyone whose hard work brought us to this moment."
"What an incredible way to honor America's 250th birthday and advance President Trump's vision of Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again. The new Huntsville U.S. Courthouse is emblematic of great American design-past and future-and underscores the importance of investing in timeless, classical architecture, particularly that serves our nation's citizens," said Senator Katie Britt. "Together, this courthouse and Freedom 250 inaugural cornerstone represent our deep commitment to justice, the rule of law, and architecture that embodies the strength and dignity of our republic."
The unveiling ceremony recognized the strong partnership among GSA, project partners, and community stakeholders throughout the planning, design, and construction process.
"This courthouse strengthens access to justice for the people of North Alabama," said Judge Liles C. Burke, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. "The Freedom 250 plaque honors the democratic principles that guide our work every day."
Funded by Congress during President Trump's first term, the 123,000 square-foot courthouse serves the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama and the Bankruptcy Court of Northern Alabama. The facility includes five courtrooms, six judges' chambers, and space for other court-related offices from the Judiciary and U.S. Department of Justice.
The new three-story facility provides efficient, functional, and secure space while incorporating resilient design features to support long-term federal operations. The project represents a significant federal investment in Huntsville and the surrounding region, supporting job creation, economic activity, and long-term civic infrastructure.
In February 2022, GSA awarded the project's Art-in-Architecture commission to artist Caleb O'Connor. In addition the project supported the relocation of a Works Progress Administration mural by Xavier Gonzalez from the former courthouse to the new facility, reflecting GSA's commitment to integrating public art and preserving historic assets.
Following completion of the new courthouse, the historic former federal courthouse in Huntsville was conveyed to the city in March 2025, and judicial functions were consolidated, improving operational efficiency and reducing long-term leasing costs.
GSA will be incorporating Freedom 250 commemorative cornerstones in all major construction projects during the anniversary year.
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government. GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of approximately 360 million rentable square feet, oversees more than $116 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivers 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 services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.
Contact
press@gsa.gov
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Original text here: https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-unveils-first-freedom-250-cornerstone-huntsville-ch-02132026
EPA to Hold Public Meeting Feb. 17 to Share Update on Southside Chattanooga Lead Superfund Site
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA to Hold Public Meeting Feb. 17 to Share Update on Southside Chattanooga Lead Superfund Site
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EPA Region 4 Press Office - (404) 562-8400, region4press@epa.gov
ATLANTA (February 12, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to update the community on the Chattanooga Lead Superfund Site, including the new EPA Lead Directive and a related change to the cleanup plan. EPA will also provide an update on the investigation and cleanup
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA to Hold Public Meeting Feb. 17 to Share Update on Southside Chattanooga Lead Superfund Site
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EPA Region 4 Press Office - (404) 562-8400, region4press@epa.gov
ATLANTA (February 12, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to update the community on the Chattanooga Lead Superfund Site, including the new EPA Lead Directive and a related change to the cleanup plan. EPA will also provide an update on the investigation and cleanupactivities at the site, as well as ongoing and planned cleanup efforts outside the site boundary.
In October 2025, EPA issued a new Lead Directive that guides how lead in soil is evaluated and cleaned up in residential areas. This summer, EPA plans to release an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) for the Southside Chattanooga Lead Superfund Site. The ESD will describe changes to the existing cleanup plan and update the lead cleanup level using the new EPA Lead Directive. EPA will hold a public comment period to give residents an opportunity to review and provide input to the proposed ESD. EPA will announce the public comment dates when they are finalized.
When:
Tuesday, Feb. 17
5:30 - 7 p.m. ET
Where:
City of Chattanooga
Development Resource Center
Conference Room 1A
1250 Market St.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Background:
The Southside Chattanooga Lead Superfund Site is located in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, and includes eight residential neighborhoods as well as non-residential community areas such as parks, schools, playgrounds, and childcare centers where soil has been impacted by lead. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2018. To date, EPA has sampled 4,110 properties and cleaned up 1,179 properties.
For more information, click here.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-hold-public-meeting-feb-17-share-update-southside-chattanooga-lead-superfund-site
Congress Should Ban Lobbying by CPC Countries that Violate FoRB
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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Congress Should Ban Lobbying by CPC Countries that Violate FoRB
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Congress Should Ban Lobbying by Countries that Violate FoRB
Washington, DC - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom ( USCIRF ) urges the U.S. government to publicly identify and admonish foreign governments that violate religious freedom. Several USCIRF-recommended Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs) engage in lobbying, public diplomacy campaigns, and media outreach to mislead the
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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Congress Should Ban Lobbying by CPC Countries that Violate FoRB
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Congress Should Ban Lobbying by Countries that Violate FoRB
Washington, DC - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom ( USCIRF ) urges the U.S. government to publicly identify and admonish foreign governments that violate religious freedom. Several USCIRF-recommended Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs) engage in lobbying, public diplomacy campaigns, and media outreach to mislead theU.S. Congress regarding their restrictions on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).
" Every day, we hear heartbreaking stories of religious minorities suffering horrendous persecution perpetrated or tolerated by foreign governments who then distort their records in the halls of Congress," said USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler. " The U.S. Congress should prohibit any person from receiving compensation for lobbying on behalf of foreign governments of countries that the United States has designated as CPCs. "
Last month, Nigeria's government signed a $9.0 million contract to lobby the U.S. government after President Donald J. Trump designated it as a CPC in October 2025. Saudi Arabia continues to use public relations firms to conceal its systematic targeting and execution of Shi'a Muslims, including those who were minors when their alleged crimes occurred. In January, India hired a public relations firm to advance its interests while downplaying violent mob attacks, illegitimate arrests, and the destruction of houses of worship for Christians, Muslims, and other religious minorities.
" Rather than working to meet their obligations under international law, CPC designated governments are trying to misconstrue religious freedom violations in their countries," said USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood. " Congress should introduce legislation that sufficiently restricts the efforts of foreign, CPC designated governments to pay lobbyists to conceal their particularly severe religious persecution."
The full list of CPC, SWL, and EPC recommendations are made in USCIRF's 2025 Annual Report. All previous USCIRF annual reports, including the latest version, can be found here.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@uscirf.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/congress-should-ban-lobbying-cpc-countries-violate-forb
