FORT SMITH, Arkansas, June 18 -- The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, David Clay Fowlkes, issued the following news release: David Clay Fowlkes, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Jacob Samuel Green, age 26, of Denison, Texas, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $145,272.25 in restitution on one count of Making Willful Threat by Mail or Telephone and   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, June 18 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: In an effort to fuel collaboration amongst Air Education and Training Command innovators, a virtual innovation summit will be held June 25 beginning at 10 a.m. The virtual event is being organized by the Headquarters AETC/A9 Analysis and Innovation team and will allow AETC innovators to share knowledge, learn from experience and replicate success. "The iSummit i  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, June 20 -- The U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center issued the following news: The Department of the Air Force welcomed its first group of Resident Advocates June 15 with a clear mandate: rebuild trust in the privatized housing program. The Air Force established the RA positions as part of a sweeping effort to improve privatized housing customer service and quality. Sixty new resident advocates will be hired in the next year to support more than 60 insta  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, June 19 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: The Department of the Air Force welcomed its first group of privatized housing resident advocates June 15 with a clear mandate: rebuild trust in the privatized housing program. The Air Force established the RA positions as part of a sweeping effort to improve privatized housing customer service and quality. Sixty new resident advocates will be hired in the n  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, June 16 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Air Force Recruiting Service continues to forge ahead with Total Force recruiting. The order to form a classic associate partnership with AFRS and Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service is now signed and published with an effective date of June 14, 2020. The partnership will bolster effectiveness and combine strategies. As part of the association, AFRC Recruiting Se  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: Air Force Recruiting Service continues to forge ahead with total force recruiting. The order to form a classic associate partnership with AFRS and Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service is now signed and published with an effective date of June 14. The partnership will bolster effectiveness and combine strategies. As part of the association, AFRC Recruiting Service has officially aligned its four rec  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, June 16 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: To help better communicate, inform and inspire new recruits and with embedded tools to guide them into the right total-force career path, the Air Force Recruiting Service's Innovation team launched the "Aim High" mobile phone application June 15. With recruiters no longer meeting potential recruits or applicants in person due to the COVID-19 outbreak that has crippled much of the nation's industrie  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, June 16 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: To help better communicate, inform and inspire new recruits and with embedded tools to guide them into the right Total Force career path, the Air Force Recruiting Service's Innovation team launched the "Aim High" mobile phone application June 15, 2020. With recruiters no longer meeting potential recruits or applicants in person due to the COVID-19 outbreak that ha  more

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, June 16 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: When it comes to the safety and survival of the Air Force's flying community, aircrew flight equipment Airmen are the first in line to ensure they are the last ones to let aircrews down. AFE Airmen get there start with technical training here at Sheppard AFB, where they spend 31 academic days honing their craft and learning the tools of the trade. The career field is res  more

SHEPPARD AFB, Texas, June 16 -- The U.S. Air Force's 82nd Training Wing issued the following news: A Wichita Falls couple was inducted into the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program Hall of Fame here June 15, 2020, adding to the list of area residents who have gone above and beyond to support the multi-national program. Glenn and Mary Lynne Barham were honored during a virtual ceremony online. "There are a lot of people out there that do a lot of things for both wings, and Mary Lynne and  more

SANTA FE, New Mexico, June 16 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management's New Mexico State Office issued the following news release: In keeping with the Administration's goal of promoting American energy security, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to offer a total of 113 parcels totaling 48,776.1 acres at its August 2020 quarterly oil and gas lease sale. The proposed parcels are located in Chaves, Eddy, and Lea counties, New Mexico; Dewey, Custer and Ellis co  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 19 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on the employer costs for employee compensation in the regions for March 2020: Private industry employer costs for employee compensation among the four regions of the country ranged from $31.00 per hour in the South to $40.20 in the West during March 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. In the other two regions, hourly employer co  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on the occupational employment and wages in Baton Rouge for May 2019: Workers in the Baton Rouge, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $22.22 in May 2019, 14 percent below the nationwide average of $25.72, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Acting Regional Commissioner Michael Hirniak noted that, after  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on the occupational employment and wages in Houma-Thibodaux for May 2019: Workers in the Houma-Thibodaux, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $23.59 in May 2019, 8 percent below the nationwide average of $25.72, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Acting Regional Commissioner Michael Hirniak noted that  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on the occupational employment and wages in Lafayette for May 2019: Workers in the Lafayette, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $20.01 in May 2019, 22 percent below the nationwide average of $25.72, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Acting Regional Commissioner Michael Hirniak noted that, after tes  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on the occupational employment and wages in Lake Charles for May 2019: Workers in the Lake Charles, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $22.74 in May 2019, 12 percent below the nationwide average of $25.72, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Acting Regional Commissioner Michael Hirniak noted that, aft  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on the occupational employment and wages in New Orleans-Metairie for May 2019: Workers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $22.45 in May 2019, 13 percent below the nationwide average of $25.72, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Acting Regional Commissioner Michael Hirniak  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on the occupational employment and wages in Shreveport-Bossier City for May 2019: Workers in the Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $19.79 in May 2019, 23 percent below the nationwide average of $25.72, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Acting Regional Commissioner Michael H  more

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband issued the following statement on June 19 regarding Juneteenth: "On June 19, 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation was first announced to enslaved African-Americans in Texas. On that day, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after Pr  more

HOUSTON, Texas, June 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: For the second time in four months, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Houston seaport seized over 2,000 solar panels bearing a counterfeit trademark label. This most recent shipment of 2,340 solar panels was imported from Turkey destined for New Jersey and has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $658,125. Last fiscal year,  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler is announcing the appointment of 33 members to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC). Established in 2008, the FRRCC provides independent policy advice, information, and recommendations to on the EPA administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural c  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the state of Arkansas $1,137,068 to monitor air quality for fine particulate matter, also called particle pollution or soot. The grant is provided under a cooperative agreement with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to develop and maintain monitoring programs under requirements of the federal Clean Air Act. "Moni  more

WASHINGTON, June 16 -- The FBI issued the following statement on the death of ex-FBI Director William S. Sessions: Our hearts are heavy upon hearing that former FBI Director William S. Sessions passed away on June 12 in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 90. Following his appointment to the federal district court, Judge Sessions served as Director of the FBI from 1987 to 1993, pioneering innovative ideas throughout his tenure. He helped modernize the FBI through the introduction of emerging sc  more

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following news release: At its open meeting, the Federal Election Commission elected James E. "Trey" Trainor III as Chair and Steven T. Walther as Vice Chair for the remainder of 2020. Chair Trainor was nominated to the Commission by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on May 19, 2020. He was appointed to a term ending April 30, 2023. Chair Trainor has practiced in the areas of election law, camp  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 20 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas issued the following news release: Texas added 318,100 jobs in May, according to seasonally adjusted and benchmarked payroll employment numbers released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The state lost a revised 1.26 million jobs in April. Year-to-date annualized job growth stands at -19.6 percent compared to annual growth of 2.2 percent in 2019. Using a top-down model based on national forecasts, COVID-19 infection rates and o  more

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- he U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the following statement on June 18 by Commissioner Richard Glick on a decision (Docket No. CP19-512-000) involving Texas Eastern Transmission: I dissent in part from today's order because it violates both the Natural Gas Act/1 (NGA) and the National Environmental Policy Act/2 (NEPA). The Commission once again refuses to consider the consequences its actions have for climate change. Although neither  more

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the following statement on June 18 by Commissioner Bernard L. McNamee on a docket (No. CP19-512-000): Today's order issues Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) a certificate of public convenience and necessity for authorization to construct and operate its Cameron Extension Project (Project) to provide 750,000 dekatherms per day of incremental firm transportation service to Venture Globa  more

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued the following news release: La Bodega Meat LLC, a Farmers Branch, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 83,038 pounds of raw beef products that were not presented for import re-inspection into the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced. The various raw beef items were imported on June 2 and June 3, 2020. The following p  more

GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Air Force (17th Training Wing) issued the following news: Following the directive of the National Defense Strategy, Goodfellow is the first Air Force base to virtually sign a Memorandum of Understanding with its local community to establish a Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence here, June 11. "This is the first time that individuals of the Air Force and local community have come together for the exclusive purpose of establishing a shared cente  more

GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Air Force (17th Training Wing) issued the following news: The 17th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron held its first Change of Command ceremony at the Ross Clinic here, June 11. The 17th OMRS welcomed Lt. Col. Roy Loque, incoming commander, and thanked Lt. Col. Shaun Westphaul, outgoing commander, for his service since the unit's activation on August 15, 2019. The goal of this directed restructure was to focus medical efforts on the operational r  more

SAN ANGELO, Texas, June 18 -- The U.S. Air Force (17th Training Wing) issued the following news: Angelo State University and Goodfellow came together to sign in an agreement that will allow members of the 17th Communications Squadron, and military member sharing similar types of credits or training, to transfer their technical course work towards a baccalaureate degree at ASU's Houston Harte University Center, June 15. Major David Cote, 17th CS commander, the Provost and Vice President of Aca  more

GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas, June 15 -- The U.S. Air Force (17th Training Wing) issued the following news: Goodfellow fire academy instructors were awarded the Tom Smith Fire Equipment Department of Defense Fire Academy Instructor of the Year here, June 5. Under normal circumstances, the award would have been presented at the annual Firefighter Ball awards banquet. However, with COVID-19 restrictions in place, the awards were given at the High Bay in the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire A  more

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, June 16 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory issued the following news release: When people think of NASA, Idaho doesn't exactly jump to mind. Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center are in Florida. Johnson Space Center and Mission Control are in Texas. And the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is in California. But Idaho's contributions to space exploration date back to the early years of the space race and continue today. In fact, when NASA launches   more

HOUSTON, Texas, June 16 -- NASA's Johnson Space Center issued the following news release: NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy and Robert Behnken are scheduled to go outside the International Space Station (ISS) Friday, June 26, and Wednesday, July 1, for spacewalks to begin the replacement of batteries for one of the power channels on the orbiting laboratory. NASA Television and the agency's website (http://www.nasa.gov/live) will broadcast the spacewalks live, along with a news briefing to discuss   more

LACKLAND AFB, Texas, June 20 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Russian aircraft delivered to Libya in late May are being actively flown in Libya. These Russian aircraft are being used to support private military companies (PMCs) sponsored by the Russian government. U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) has photographic evidence of a Russian aircraft taking off from al-Jufra, Libya. A MiG-29 was also photographed operating in the vicinit  more

LAUGHLIN AFB, Texas, June 20 -- The U.S. Air Force Laughlin Air Force Base (47th Flying Training Wing) issued the following news: Col. Lee Gentile, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Robert Zackery III, 47th Flying Training Wing command chief, led a series of discussions about racial injustices within our nation at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, June 10, 2020. The purpose of the two-week series of discussions that ended June 17 is to have an open and informal dialogue   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, June 18 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Air Force Recruiting Service joined the trend of virtual jigsaw puzzles with the launch of an online challenge of piecing together a 1.03 gigapixel image from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. "We are always looking for innovative ways to inspire and engage with the American public," said Maj. Ross McKnight, Chief of the National Events Branch at AFRS, Jo  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command issued the following news: Acquisition personnel from the Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Knox contracting office in Kentucky are assisting the U.S. Army Cadet Command and other MICC offices with the impact of decentralized cadet summer training events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. USACC leadership said the changes are meant to mitigate the spread of the virus  more

ALBANY, New York, June 19 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, Grant C. Jaquith, issued the following news release on June 17: Tyler C. King, age 31, of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty today to obstruction of justice for a scheme to falsify evidence during his federal criminal trial. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). As pa  more

HOUSTON, Texas, June 17 -- NASA's Johnson Space Center issued the following news release: Kathy Lueders, NASA's associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations, has named Joel Montalbano as acting manager of the International Space Station Program. The appointment is effective Friday, June 26, the date Kirk Shireman, who has been in the position since 2015, is retiring from the agency to take a position in private industry. "Kirk has dedicated 35 years of his career advancing and   more

WASHINGTON, June 16 -- The Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Transportation announced nine companies and eight States that have signed on as the first participants in a new Department initiative to improve the safety and testing transparency of automated driving systems, the Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing (AV TEST) Initiative. The participating companies are Beep  more

WASHINGTON, June 16 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 54737) involving Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Bedford Park: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE RAILCAR FIRE The following was received from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA; the Agency) via email: "At approximately 0700 [CDT] on 6/4/2020, the Agency was contacted by the Texas Radiation Control Program to advise that a rail car containing radioactive ma  more

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 54744) involving Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas City: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER The following was received by email from the state of Texas: "On June 9, 2020, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was contacted by the licensee and informed that the shutter on a Vega SH-F1 gauge was found stuck in the open position during a routine inspection. Th  more

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 54744) involving Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas City: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STUCK SHUTTER The following was received by email from the state of Texas: "On June 9, 2020, the Agency [Texas Department of State Health Services] was contacted by the licensee and informed that the shutter on a Vega SH-F1 gauge was found stuck in the open position during a routine inspection. Th  more

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 54540) involving Texas Department of State Health Services, Tyler: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN DENSITY GAUGE The following is a synopsis of a event reported by the state of Texas via email and phone call: On February 24, 2020, the Texas Department of State Health Services (Agency) was contacted by the Braun Intertec Corporation RSO to report a stolen moisture density gauge. The gauge was  more

CLEVELAND, Ohio, June 20 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Justin Herdman, issued the following statement on June 19 commemorating Juneteenth: On this day in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger led his Union troops to Galveston, Texas, with this purpose - to formally and finally deliver news that the Civil War had ended and that all enslaved people were free. As part of this announcement, General Granger read General Order Number 3: "The people of Texas are informed that in  more

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- President Trump issued the following statement on Juneteenth: The First Lady and I send our warmest greetings to those celebrating Juneteenth this year. On this day 155 years ago, African Americans in Texas first heard the righteous and long-overdue words of General Order Number 3: "All slaves are free." These words confirmed for still-enslaved people in Texas that the Union Army would enforce and defend their freedom, announced nearly 3 years earlier by President Abra  more

RANDOLPH AFB, Texas, June 20 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Only an elite few are selected as one of the service's twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year, and for 2019, Tech. Sgt. Jeremiah Camper from the Air Force Recruiting Service can add his name to this select group. Camper, program manager for Pacific recruiting operations recruiting for the 369th Recruiting Squadron based in Agana, Guam, learned of his selection during a conference cal  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, June 18 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper visited U.S. Air Force basic military training cadre and recruits, as well as members of the Air Force Recruiting Service, for a firsthand look at how the service transforms citizens into American Airmen, June 16. Esper, accompanied on the visit by the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Ramon Colon-Lopez, observed how the 37th Tra  more

SHEPPARD AFB, Texas, June 19 -- The U.S. Air Force (82nd Training Wing) issued the following news: A quick decision by an 80th Operations Support Squadron Radar Approach Control civilian prevented a potential mid-air collision of two Air Force aircraft on Aug. 1, 2019, becoming the first controller in Sheppard AFB history to earn the Lt. Gen. Gordon A. Blake Aircraft Assist Award for aviation safety. David Bowles, whose experience spans 35 years including 20 at Sheppard, received the award May  more

TEMPLE, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service Texas office issued the following news release: The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program, project with the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture - Grassland Restoration Incentives Program partnership. The partnership is a multi-organization effort aimed   more

DALLAS, Texas, June 20 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Erin Nealy Cox, issued the following news release on June 19: The website CityXGuide.com -- a leading source of online advertisements for prostitution and sex trafficking that users described as "taking over from where Backpage left off" -- has been seized and its owner charged in a 28-count federal indictment, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox. Wilhan Martono, 46, w  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 20 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Erin Nealy Cox, issued the following news release: A Dallas doctor has pleaded guilty to a felony for prescription drug diversion crimes perpetrated on elderly victims, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. Dr. Edward Agura, 63 pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee H. Toliver on Tuesday for possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation or fraud. "Elder abuse by anyone, particularly by hea  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 19 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, John F. Bash, issued the following news release: Manuel Flores, age 42 of El Paso, faces a federal charge of posting a threatening communication over the Internet, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Luis M. Quesada, El Paso Division. On Monday, FBI agents arrested Flores in Dallas based on a federal criminal complaint filed in El Paso. According to the criminal complaint, Flore  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 19 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, John F. Bash, issued the following news release on June 18: In Austin today, federal authorities arrested Michael George McQuarn, 51 of Austin, for allegedly defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program of more than $2 million. U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG) Central Region Special Agent in Charge Donald Abram; Acting IRS-Criminal Inve  more

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, June 18 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Ryan K. Patrick, issued the following news release: A former Coahuila, Mexico, governor has entered a guilty plea for his role in a money laundering scheme that includes offenses against a foreign nation involving bribery of a public official, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jorge Juan Torres-Lopez, 66, admitted to conducting financial transactions in the United States to conceal the bribes he rece  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Erin Nealy Cox, issued the following news release: A Red Oak, Texas couple pleaded guilty to their roles in a $15 million retirement plan embezzlement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox. Vantage Benefits Administrators co-owner Wendy Richie, 59, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of theft from an employee benefit plan and one count of aggravated identity theft. Her h  more

ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 19 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: A Texas National Guard team emerged the winner in the inaugural National Guard Innovation Competition, besting three other finalists. "I'm humbled, to be honest," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Alex Goldberg, chief innovation officer of the Texas Guard. He said competitions like this "present pathways for guardsmen to bring their ideas to fruition." The Texas Guard team, whose entry focused on development of 3D printer te  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 16 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, John F. Bash, issued the following statement in observance of the 15th Annual World Elder Abuse Fraud Awareness Day: Today United States Attorney John F. Bash joined Attorney General William P. Barr and the entire Department of Justice in observing the 15th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. On the day dedicated to recognizing our seniors, the Department of Justice sends a strong message that the fight to   more

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued the following statement by Secretary Robert Wilkie on Juneteenth: Only when the Civil War came to an end was Union Major General Gordon Granger, upon arriving in Galveston, able to inform all that slavery ended in Texas, which became the last area of the country to fully comprehend Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Thus was affirmed Lincoln's words, from his second inaugural, just a month before his assassination,  more

VANCE AFB, Oklahoma, June 17 -- The U.S. Air Force (71st Flying Training Wing) issued the following news: Col. (Dr.) Lidia Ilcus assumed command of the 71st Medical Group during a ceremony held June 8 in the Greven Crosswinds Club. Col. Anthony Waldroup relinquished command of the unit. The ceremony was officiated by Col. Corey Simmons, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander. Because attendance was limited, the ceremony was livestreamed to the "Vance Air Force Base" Facebook page. Ilcus com  more