SHEPPARD AFB, Texas, Dec. 12 -- The U.S. Air Force's 82nd Training Wing issued the following news: A virtual transition ceremony officially transferred the 532nd Training Squadron at Vandenberg AFB, California, to the 82nd Training Group here on Dec. 7, 2020, marking the final stage of a process that began months ago. Brig. Gen. Kenyon Bell, 82nd Training Wing commander, officiated the virtual ceremony, which included the 82nd TRG, 381st TRG at Vandenberg, and the 532nd TRS. "We originally pl  more

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Altus Air Force Base (97th Air Mobility Wing) issued the following news: Medical leadership from Air Education and Training Command in Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, visited Altus Air Force Base to take part in an immersion tour of the 97th Medical Group, Dec. 3, 2020. The immersion tour showcased the 97th MDG's readiness capabilities to Col. Michael Higgins, Air Education and Training Command command surgeon, and Chief Mast  more

ALTUS AFB, Oklahoma, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Medical leadership from Air Education and Training Command in Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, visited Altus Air Force Base to take part in an immersion tour of the 97th Medical Group, Dec. 3, 2020. The immersion tour showcased the 97th MDG's readiness capabilities to Col. Michael Higgins, Air Education and Training Command command surgeon, and Chief Master Sgt. Janet Woodard,  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: As part of the effort to better develop the Airmen required to support the Air Force we need, Air Education and Training Command will hold the second annual Force Development Summit virtually December 15-16, 2020. Hosted by the AETC/A3K division on behalf of Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of AETC, the goal of this year's summit is to provide an opportunity for AETC   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, Dec. 9 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: As part of the effort to better develop the Airmen required to support the Air Force we need, Air Education and Training Command will hold the second annual Force Development Summit virtually Dec. 15-16. Hosted by the AETC/A3K division on behalf of Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of AETC, the goal of this year's summit is to provide an opportunity for AETC as the force development command to highlight  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center issued the following news: The Air Force Civil Engineer Center is managing $96 million worth of repairs at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam as part of continued Defense Logistics Agency - Energy support to enhance fuel storage capabilities Air Force-wide. The critical construction on the island of Guam supports Andersen's flying mission and ensures combat readiness within the Pacific theater. "Mission-rea  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 12 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: The Air Force Civil Engineer Center is managing $96 million worth of repairs at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam as part of continued Defense Logistics Agency - Energy support to enhance fuel storage capabilities Air Force-wide. The critical construction on the island of Guam supports Andersen's flying mission and ensures combat readiness within the Pacific thea  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: A project to develop what could be one of the largest solar photovoltaic arrays in the country -- and the largest solar project ever for the Department of Defense at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. -- is moving forward after clearing a required environmental impact study. The Air Force signed a record of decision Nov. 23 after completing an environmental impact stateme  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center issued the following news: A project to develop what could be one of the largest solar photovoltaic arrays in the country -- and the largest solar project ever for the Department of Defense at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. -- is moving forward after clearing a required environmental impact study. The Air Force signed a record of decision Nov. 23 after completing an environmental impact statement for co  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Personnel Center issued the following news: Air Force officials have selected 518 senior master sergeants for promotion to chief master sergeant, out of 2,763 eligible, for a selection rate of 18.75 percent in the 20E9 promotion cycle. In addition, the Space Force also selected two senior master sergeants for promotion to chief master sergeant, out of eight eligible, for a selection rate of 25 percent in the 20S9 promotion cy  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, Dec. 9 -- The U.S. Air Force Personnel Center issued the following news: Air Force officials have selected 518 senior master sergeants for promotion to chief master sergeant, out of 2,763 eligible, for a selection rate of 18.75 percent in the 20E9 promotion cycle. In addition, the Space Force also selected two senior master sergeants for promotion to chief master sergeant, out of eight eligible, for a selection rate of 25 percent in the 20S9 promotion cy  more

DYESS AFB, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Dyess Air Force Base (7th Bomb Wing) issued the following news: Lt. Gen. Dorothy Hogg, Air Force Surgeon General, and Chief Master Sgt. Dawn Kolczynski, Chief, Medical Enlisted Force and Enlisted Corps Chief, visited Dyess Air Force, Texas, Dec. 3, 2020. During their visit, Hogg and Kolczynski visited the medical facilities within the 7th Medical Group to discuss how each section has accomplished maintaining readiness throughout the COVID-19 pande  more

SHEPPARD AFB, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force's 82nd Training Wing issued the following news: The importance of the Air Force Medical Service is clearer now more than ever, said Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Dorothy A. Hogg during a visit here Dec. 2, 2020. The general and Chief Medical Enlisted Force Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Dawn M. Kolczynski spoke with members of the 82nd Medical Group during an all-call event, reminding them that medical readiness and delivering trusted care to b  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: The Department of the Air Force is asking tenants of its privatized and government-owned housing to share their experiences and opinions of the programs via the DoD Tenant Satisfaction Survey beginning Dec. 8. The survey, administered by CEL & Associates, Inc., will be made available through an email link to all residents, who will have until Jan. 22 to submit their as  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center issued the following news: The Department of the Air Force is asking tenants of its privatized and government-owned housing to share their experiences and opinions of the programs via the DoD Tenant Satisfaction Survey beginning Dec. 8. The survey, administered by CEL & Associates, Inc., will be made available through an email link to all residents, who will have until Jan. 22 to submit their assessment  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 9 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: The Department of the Air Force is asking tenants of its privatized and government-owned housing to share their experiences and opinions of the programs via the DoD Tenant Satisfaction Survey beginning Dec. 8. The survey, administered by CEL & Associates, Inc., will be made available through an email link to all residents, who will have until Jan. 22 to submit their assessments. The Air Force is fun  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Army Reserve Command issued the following news: The Army promoted U.S. Army Reserve Col. Kevin Meisler to brigadier general during a ceremony held at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Dec. 5, 2020. With the promotion, Meisler will take command of the 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), which directs more than 6,500 Army Reserve Soldiers throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico. In April, the Army mobilized the command to provide lo  more

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 11 (TNSRep) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 10 on the Consumer Price Index, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area for November 2020: Prices in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), decreased 0.5 percent for the two months ending in November 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regiona  more

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded $219,021 to the City of Albuquerque's Environmental Health Department to monitor ambient air quality for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). The funds will support the City's work to improve air quality in the area. "EPA is committed to protecting human health and our environment, and today Americans have some of the cleanest air on recor  more

VICTORIA, Texas, Dec. 12 (TNSAwa) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release: Texas Capital Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) have awarded a $750,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) subsidy to Housing and Community Services, Inc. dba Prospera Housing Community Services (PHCS) to help offset costs of repairs from damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 to Fox Run Apartments. In lat  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Texas to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Laura from Aug. 23-27, 2020. Federal funding is available to the state, tribal, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis fo  more

KEESLER AFB, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: A military training leader transitions graduates of the Air Force's basic military training and equips them with a better understanding of the operational Air Force. MTLs are force generators and the first link in the chain of command for Airmen in technical training and they are responsible for shaping the future of the Air Force, every day. "We're using the term force generators to  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for raw, fresh goat meat products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and outside inspection hours. A recall was not requested because it is believed that the affected product is no longer available for consumers to purchase. The go  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration issued the following news release: The Transportation Security Administration has named George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), in Houston, as its 2020 Airport of the Year. "The TSA team in Houston consists of more than 1100 employees from frontline TSA officers to inspectors, canine handlers, explosives experts, managers, program analysts and a host of others who work together ever  more

GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Air Force Goodfellow Air Force Base (17th Training Wing) issued the following news on Dec. 9: The 17th Civil Engineering Squadron readiness and emergency management flight, recently reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to acquire an additional Emergency Alerting System capability for the base. It's called the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. IPAWS is FEMA's national system for local alerting that provides authenticated e  more

EL PASO, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: More than 100,000 counterfeit 3M N95 surgical masks destined to be used by hospital workers were seized Dec. 7 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). On Dec. 3, CBP officers at the Ysleta Cargo Facility initially intercepted the shipment of 100,080 3M N95 sur  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 9 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: With topics for the 2021 Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference announced last month, all that remained was deciding who would lead the Mission Area Working Groups charged with helping shape the future of Air Force combat support. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center officials announced the names of the four chairs Dec. 2. Each cha  more

LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Dec. 10 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky issued the following news release on Dec. 9: Several defendants were recently convicted or sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. On December 4 and December 7, 2020, Uday Shah, 66, of Houston, Texas, and Timothy Andrews, 57, of Deer Park, Texas, were sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves to 24 and 15 months' imprisonment,  more

PASADENA, Texas, Dec. 8 (TNSRep) -- 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), Men's T Clinic - operator of a testosterone replacement center in Pasadena, Texas - has paid back wages of $3,432 to an employee to whom it wrongly denied emergency paid sick leave and terminated despite a doctor's order for the employee to quarantine with coronavirus symptoms. WHD investigators found Men's T   more

TAYLOR, Texas, Dec. 8 (TNSRep) -- 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), Burrows Millworks Inc. - a cabinet manufacturer based in Taylor, Texas - has paid an employee $3,736 in back wages for wrongly denying leave under the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). WHD found that Burrows Millworks Inc.  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Army Medicine issued the following news: The Office of the Army Surgeon General and the U.S. Army Medical Command hold regular leadership seminars to support their Leader Development Program. The goal is to build agile and adaptive leaders for today's environment by sharing the learning, teaching, and personal development experiences of senior leaders. On Dec. 4, 2020, the leadership series featured Kathleen S. Miller, Administrative Assistant to the Sec  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command issued the following news: A Soldier from the 923rd Contracting Battalion at Fort Riley, Kansas, is the recipient of the 2020 Black Engineer of the Year Award. Army Contracting Command leaders announced Sgt. 1st Class Robert Nicholson, a contracting specialist, as the winner of the BEYA Student Leadership-Graduate Level Award at the end of November. The Priory, Jamaica, native  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- NASA issued the following news release: NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) has awarded multiple Venture Class Launch Services Demonstration 2 (VCLS Demo 2) contracts to launch small satellites (SmallSats) to space, including CubeSats, microsats or nanosatellites. The three companies selected to provide these commercial launch capabilities, and the value of their firm fixed-price contracts, are: * Astra Space Inc. of Alameda, California: $3.9 million * Relativity Space  more

AMARILLO, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration issued the following news release on Dec. 9: On Dec. 8, the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) marked an infrastructure modernization milestone with an internal groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction of the High Explosive Science and Engineering (HESE) facility at the Pantex Plant. HESE will replace 15 obsolete facilities at Pantex, which have  more

SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Dec. 9 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following feature story: On Monday, December 7, 120 sea turtles flew south thanks to Turtles Fly Too. These sea turtles were found on Cape Cod, Massachusetts beaches suffering from hypothermia and other complications in recent weeks. They will continue to receive treatment and care from seven facilities in Texas. Of the more than 500 cold-stunned sea turtles that have washed up so far this year, t  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 54984) involving Basic Energy Services, Eastland: EN Revision Imported Date: 12/7/2020 EN Revision Text: AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN NUCLEAR GAUGES The following is a summary of information received from the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency) via email: "On November 5, 2020, the Agency was notified by the licensee that three of their nuclear density/level measurements   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The White House issued the following news release on Dec. 10: Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key position in his Administration: Daniel Z. Epstein, of Texas, to be Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States. Daniel Z. Epstein is Director of Legal and Policy at Trust Ventures, a venture fund focused on regulated industries. He previously served as Special Assistant to the President and S  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The White House issued the following news release on Dec. 9: Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Texas and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Laura from August 23 to August 27, 2020. Federal funding is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergenc  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Army Medicine issued the following news: Public Health Command-Pacific opened the first of four COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Laboratories in the Indo-Pacific this week. Located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, the new surveillance laboratory will allow U.S. Army leaders to quickly assess the health of the force and increase mission readiness. "Surveillance testing will initially be for large troop movements that are going to training or on a dep  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command issued the following news: The Secretary of the Army recently recognized two Mission and Installation Contracting Command members and a field directorate office for excellence in the contracting field in 2020. Earning the recognition were Curtis Arthur II, a contract specialist with the MICC-Fort Eustis Contracting Office in Virginia, Estella Juarez, a procurement analyst from M  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Army News Service issued the following news on Dec. 8: The results of a command climate and culture review at Fort Hood, Texas, will lead to an Army-wide cultural change to create a safe environment free of sexual harassment and assault, senior leaders announced Tuesday. The Fort Hood Independent Review Committee identified nine findings and 70 recommendations after an extensive three-month evaluation, which included over 31,000 Fort Hood community members surve  more

SHEPPARD AFB, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: The sun rose over Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and aircraft began departing for the Air force's annual Green Flag exercises. After several early morning hours of preparing information for various operations, intelligence officer and then-lieutenant, Richard Bergeron, took in the scene from the ramp. Despite years of service and accomplishment, one very important goal eluded him: earning the coveted wings of an Air Fo  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: The Air Force and Thunderbird Kirtland Development, LLC, recently reached agreement and signed a long-term lease to begin developing a planned commercial research park at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The agreement, part of the Air Force's Enhanced Use Lease program, clears the way for development of about 21 acres of a 70-acre parcel on Kirtland's base perimete  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center issued the following news: The Air Force and Thunderbird Kirtland Development, LLC, recently reached agreement and signed a long-term lease to begin developing a planned commercial research park at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The agreement, part of the Air Force's Enhanced Use Lease program, clears the way for development of about 21 acres of a 70-acre parcel on Kirtland's base perimeter. Under   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Ryan K. Patrick, issued the following news release on Dec. 10: The former owner of Providence Home Health and Providence Hospice has agreed to pay $1.05 million to settle claims she knowingly and willfully paid improper kickbacks for referrals of Medicare patients to her businesses, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick along with Special Agent in Charge Miranda Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Servi  more

KINGSVILLE, Texas, Dec. 12 -- The U.S. Navy issued the following news release: Training Wing 2 (TW-2) Reserve Component held a change-of-command ceremony aboard Naval Air Station Kingsville, Dec. 11. Cmdr. Stuart A. "Stu" Ashton III relieved Capt. David W. "Aubie" Reynolds as commanding officer. Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) Reserve Component Commander Capt. Rigel "Pep" Pirrone presided over the virtual ceremony. He praised Reynolds for his steadfast leadership including meeting the c  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: History was made here Dec. 10 as the first seven people to enlist directly into the U.S. Space Force graduated from Basic Military Training. The five men and two women were among the 414 recruits who completed seven and a half weeks of training. Assigned to the 320th Training Squadron, their training began Oct. 20. The new Space Professionals are: Amy Biggers, Vir  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Decision and Order Without Hearing by Reason of Default against Bill Barton, doing business as Barton Cattle Company (Barton) of Bagwell, Texas, on October. 7, 2020, for violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. An investigation by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service revealed that between March through Decemb  more