JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, July 8 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center's consolidation and streamlining of data calls is making the lives of base civil engineers easier. AFIMSC's Facility Recap and Sustainment Branch collaborated with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center's Planning and Integration Directorate to develop an integrated data call list of specific deliverables needed throughout the calendar year to help   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, July 6 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: In a historic milestone for the Total Force recruiting enterprise, Air Force Recruiting Service and Air National Guard Recruiting and Retention signed a mutual support agreement that will combine resources and integrate staff to enhance marketing and advertising. "This is another leap forward in our journey to have one Total Force recruiting effort," said Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, AFRS commander. "Having  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, July 9 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: Air Force officials have selected 4,649 technical sergeants for promotion to master sergeant out of 22,286 eligible for a selection rate of 20.86% in the 20E7 promotion cycle. The master sergeant promotion list will be available on the Air Force's Personnel Center website Enlisted Promotions page, the Air Force Portal and myPers July 16th at 8 a.m. CST. Airmen will also be able to access their scor  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, July 9 -- The U.S. Air Force Personnel Center issued the following news: Air Force officials have selected 4,649 technical sergeants for promotion to master sergeant out of 22,286 eligible for a selection rate of 20.86 percent in the 20E7 promotion cycle. The master sergeant promotion list will be available on the Air Force's Personnel Center website Enlisted Promotions (http://www.afpc.af.mil/Promotion/Enlisted-Promotions/) page, the Air Force Portal an  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, July 9 -- The U.S. Air Force Personnel Center issued the following news: Air Force officials have selected 4,649 technical sergeants for promotion to master sergeant out of 22,286 eligible for a selection rate of 20.86 percent in the 20E7 promotion cycle. The master sergeant promotion list will be available on the Air Force's Personnel Center website Enlisted Promotions (http://www.afpc.af.mil/Promotion/Enlisted-Promotions/) page, the Air Force Portal an  more

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, July 7 -- The U.S. Army Reserve Command issued the following news: During the initial outbreak of COVID-19, a specialized acquisition unit from the Army Reserve Sustainment Command mobilized for its unique acquisition, logistics and strategic coordination skills. The Army Sustainment Command - Army Reserve Element provided an integration cell to ensure timely and accurate communication and shared situational awareness between the Joint Force Land Component Commander fo  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following enforcement news release: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced it has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas against James Frederick Walsh of Boca Raton, Florida, charging him with fraudulent solicitation and failure to register with the CFTC. Walsh's fraudulent solicitations include falsely claiming to generate increased profits as a result of the COVID-19 p  more

WASHINGTON, July 6 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency issued the following news: Army Col. Raphael Heflin took command of Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas from Acting Commander Jason Exum during a virtual ceremony in Houston, Texas, June 29. DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas presided over the ceremony remotely from the Kunkel Conference Room, McNamara Headquarters Complex, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. "DLA Energy Americas has always been bless  more

WASHINGTON, July 6 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news release on July 4: The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Spc. Vincent Sebastian Ibarria, 21, from San Antonio, Texas, died as the result of a vehicle rollover accident, July 3, 2020, in Farah, Afghanistan. The incident is under investigation. Ibarria was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mou  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division issued the following news release: A Texas man pleaded guilty in federal court in the Western District of Texas on charges of conspiring to traffic thousands of live reptiles, amphibians, and birds, valued in excess of $3.5 million. Alejandro Carrillo of El Paso, Texas, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge David Briones for the Western District of Texas. Sentencing has been scheduled   more

CAMP GUERNSEY, Wyoming, July 11 -- The U.S. Air Force (90th Missile Wing) issued the following news: Major Dexter Binion took command of the 90th Combat Training Squadron during a change of command ceremony July 8, 2020 at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming. Prior to his current position, Binion was the Flight Commander for Camp Bullis Operations for the 343d Training Squadron, 37th Training Group and 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio, Camp Bullis,Texas. Major Scott Ratte, outgoing 90th Ground  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 7 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release: Broadway Bank, Jefferson Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) awarded $66,000 in Partnership Grant Program (PGP) funds to Neighborhood Housing Services of San Antonio (NHSSA). The funds were presented to the organization last week at a check presentation and Passing of the Keys ceremony at the home of one of its newes  more

DALLAS, Texas, July 8 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas issued the following article by Wenhua Di, senior economist in the Research Department, Nathaniel Pattison, assistant professor in the Department of Economics at Southern Methodist University, and Chloe Smith, research assistant in the Research Department: The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted normal small business operations and will likely limit the ability of many enterprises to stay financially afloat. Although lenders have become bett  more

DENTON, Texas, July 9 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are available for review by residents and business owners in all communities and unincorporated areas of El Paso County. Officials encourage property owners to review the latest information to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements. This is El Paso County's first set of d  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, July 9 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: Randy Parker assumed the role of Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Detachment 6 director during a change of leadership ceremony July 8 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. One of 10 detachments serving as the liaison and on-site support between Air Force major commands, Space Force and the AFIMSC enterprise, Detachment 6 directly supports   more

GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas, July 10 -- The U.S. Air Force (17th Training Wing) issued the following news: The James H. Doolittle Fellowship Program entered the playing field as 17th Training Group Director of Education Angelic Crawford, and Col. Thomas Coakley, 17th TRG commander, signed the agreement into effect at the Brandenburg Hall here, June 16. Similar to the Doolittle Scholars Program, the fellowship is a progressive and separate program, specifically focused on building professional, educa  more

FORT WORTH, Texas, July 8 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Labor and TTI Inc. - a federal contractor that manufactures and distributes electronic components - have entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve alleged hiring discrimination at two of its Fort Worth, Texas, locations. A compliance evaluation by the Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) found that beginning in 2012, TTI Inc. systemically dis  more

WASHINGTON, July 8 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing free COVID-19 testing in Jacksonville, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Edinburg, Texas. Surge testing efforts will temporarily increase federal support to communities where there has been a recent and intense level of new cases and hospitalizations related to the ongoing outbreak. The three jurisdictions identified a  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release on July 8: Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chairman Kimberly A. Reed yesterday engaged (virtually) with the U.S. House of Representatives China Task Force. The Task Force Members requested that Chairman Reed present on the role of EXIM and how the agency's historic 2019 Congressional reauthorization can be used as a tool to counter China. The China Task Force, which is chaire  more

LAUGHLIN AFB, Texas, July 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Laughlin Air Force Base (47th Flying Training Wing) issued the following news: Due to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the local area, the 47th Flying Training Wing Commander, Colonel Lee Gentile, has directed the base transition to Health Protection Condition Charlie (HPCON C). This action is necessary to better protect the health of our people and continue the vital DoD mission we conduct. All Laughlin AFB personnel are encouraged t  more

LUBBOCK, Texas, July 8 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release: After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), West End Futures LLC - operator of a Chick-fil-A franchise in Lubbock, Texas - has paid $12,510 in back wages to 184 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements. Investigators found the employer violated FLSA minimum wage requirements when it charged employees ear  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, July 9 -- The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command issued the following news: Members of the 922nd Contracting Battalion and Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, welcomed a new leader during a change-of-command ceremony July 2. Lt. Col. Eric Banks assumed command of the battalion from Lt. Col. Tony Rogers in a ceremony officiated virtually by Brig. Gen. Christine Beeler, the MICC commanding ge  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- The White House issued the following news release: President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the President's Advisory Commission on Hispanic Prosperity: John Sanchez, of New Mexico, as Chair. Casandra Lynn Garcia, of Texas. Mario Rodriguez, of California. Alfredo Ortiz, of Georgia. David Olivencia, of Indiana. Robert I. Unanue, of Texas. Steve Cortes, of Illinois. Jesus Marquez, of Nevada. Chris Garcia, o  more

TYLER, Texas, July 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Stephen J. Cox, issued the following news release on July 7: A 33-year-old Shreveport, Louisiana woman has pleaded guilty to embezzling over $500,000 from an East Texas non-profit organization in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today. Jessica Rottab pleaded guilty today to a one-count criminal information charging her with federal program theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D.  more

SHERMAN, Texas, July 8 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Stephen J. Cox, issued the following news release on July 6: Bibi Tasleyma Sattar, D.O., and her practice, Oakmont Wellness Center, PA, (collectively, "Dr. Sattar") have agreed to pay $210,000 to resolve False Claims Act allegations involving accepting payments for patient referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, as well as claims otherwise improperly billed to federal healthcare programs for laboratory t  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 10 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, John F. Bash, issued the following news release: In San Antonio, a federal judge sentenced 33-year-old Trorice Crawford of San Diego, California, to 46 months in federal prison for his role in an identity-theft and fraud scheme that victimized thousands of U.S. servicemembers and veterans, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and Director Gustav Eyler of the Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Branch. I  more

WASHINGTON, July 8 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $400,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Nortex Regional Planning Commission, Wichita Falls, Texas, to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "The Trump Administration is eager to allocate   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $400,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the West Central Texas Council of Governments, Abilene, Texas, to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "The Trump Administration is eager to allocate   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $400,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Heart of Texas Economic Development District, Waco, Texas, to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "The Trump Administration is eager to allocate   more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $400,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, Amarillo, Texas, to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "The Trump Administration is eager to allocate t  more

HOUSTON, Texas, July 8 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Alpha Technical Services (ATS) - doing business as Quala Rail and Specialty in Pasadena, Texas - for exposing employees to confined space hazards after two employees were fatally overcome by fumes while cleaning a tank trailer. The company faces $497,920 in penalties. OSHA investigators determined that one employ  more

MISSION, Texas, July 8 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release: After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), FELMEX LLC - a tortilla factory with four locations in Texas' Rio Grande Valley - has paid $61,875 in overtime back wages to 46 employees to resolve violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD investigators found FELMEX LLC - operating as Tortilleria Aries - violated the FLSA when i  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, July 9 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, G. Zachary Terwilliger, issued the following news release: A Texas woman pleaded guilty to defrauding the Virginia Medicaid Program out of more than $2.8 million. According to court documents, Katrina Lynch, 39, of Cypress, owned and operated A Tender Heart, LLC, a company based in Midlothian. A Tender Heart was enrolled with the Virginia Medicaid Program as a Service Facilitator, a Medicaid provider that ens  more

LUFKIN, Texas, July 9 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release on July 8: VeraBank has joined the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) to provide $25,690 to Neighborhood STRONG located in Lufkin, Texas. PGP grants help qualified nonprofit organizations fund a variety of administrative activities that are critical to serving their communities. Neighborhood STRONG helps the elderly and disadvantage  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, July 11 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration issued the following news release on July 10: A Texas woman was cited by police at Richmond International Airport yesterday, July 9, after a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer spotted a .357 caliber revolver loaded with five bullets in the traveler's carry-on bag. TSA officials notified the airport police, who responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the handgun an  more