JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH AFB, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Seven Airmen made history as the first "Accelerated Path to Wings" program graduated and they transitioned from students to Air Force pilots during a ceremony here March 12, 2021. Nicknamed the 'XPW' program, the course is part of Air Education and Training Command's current pilot training transformation efforts and consists of students completing an undergra  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 9 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: A deep dive into Air Education and Training Command's new force development learning management system called "myLearning" is the focus of the latest episode of "The Air Force Starts Here," released March 9, 2021. Dan Hawkins from the Air Education and Training Command public affairs team spoke virtually with Floyd McKinney, AETC's chief of learning services, alon  more

DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB, Arizona, March 11 -- The U.S. Air Force Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (355th Fighter Wing) issued the following news: The 355th Medical Group was recently deployed to Houston, Texas in support of a Federal Emergency Management Agency and Defense Support to Civil Authorities tasking. This tasking is intended to have medical technicians from around the Air Force help facilitate increased COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the Houston area. "The 355th MDG has been tasked by our n  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, March 9 -- The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command issued the following news: Leaders from the 419th Contracting Support Brigade uncased their organizational colors during a ceremony March 8 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, signaling their return from deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Col. Jim Craig, 419th CSB commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. T.J. Higgs uncased the colors during the ceremony of  more

HOUSTON, Texas, March 10 -- The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Jennifer Lowery, issued the following news release on March 9, 2021: Two Houston area men are now in custody on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud relating to a pharmacy fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery. Authorities arrested Mohamed Mokbel, 56, and Fathy Elsafty, 62, both of Houston, today. They are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 10 -- The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Prerak Shah, issued the following news release on March 9, 2021: A former Sweetwater business owner plead guilty today to engaging in a $12.3 million wire fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah. Stewart Kile Williams, 31, plead guilty to two counts of wire fraud and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 10 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: Diversity and winning the next great power competition go hand-in-hand. Recognizing the value of having and developing agile thinkers at all levels of the Air Force who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, Air Education and Training Command leaders have taken deliberate actions focused on diversity and inclusion for both recruits and current Airmen and Guardians. Focused recruiting in underse  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, March 9 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: The Air Force Security Forces Center-led Government Working Dog Category Intelligence Team aims to improve the cost, process and procurement of government working dogs across 14 federal agencies. The team recently submitted the Working Dog Category Intelligence Report, which looked into the requirements of maintaining working dogs within the Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH AFB, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Air Force Personnel Center issued the following news: When COVID-19 made its global impact a year ago, Department of the Air Force operations were adjusting from common practices to a new normal. Among those adjustments were completing training requirements and support functions typically accomplished in person. The members of the Air Force's Personnel Center Field Support section were in the midst of conducting their base visits  more

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany, March 13 -- The U.S. Air Forces in Europe issued the following news: A U.S. B-1B Lancer from the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, flew a Bomber Task Force mission to Powidz, Poland, March 12, 2021. The flight included the first ever hot-pit refuel of a bomber aircraft in Europe. "Hot pitting," or refueling the aircraft while the engines are on and the crew remains in the cockpit, drastically reduces refueling times so that bombers can more rapidly return   more

FORT BLISS, Texas, March 1 -- The U.S. Army's Fort Bliss (1st Armored Division) issued the following news: By Stephanie J. Santos, USAG Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to change traditional military training schedules, anything that brings some sort of reliability and comfort can be a welcome reprieve. The Army & Air Force Exchange Service personal shopper program has become a dependable source for quarantined Soldiers and civilians at Fort Bliss--a program  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Army Medicine issued the following news: Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) attend refresher training while in hold status. MEDCoE's Soldier in Transition Training (SiTT) is a two-week program designed to refresh Soldier skills for hold Soldiers. Hold Soldiers may include new arrivals to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from Basic Combat T  more

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Nebraska, March 13 -- The U.S. Strategic Command issued the following news: A U.S. B-1B Lancer from the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, flew a Bomber Task Force mission to Powidz, Poland, March 12, 2021. The flight included the first ever hot-pit refuel of a bomber aircraft in Europe. "Hot pitting," or refueling the aircraft while the engines are on and the crew remains in the cockpit, drastically reduces refueling times so that bombers can more rapidly retur  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 11 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on March 10, 2021, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land - February 2021": Prices in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), rose 0.9 percent for the two months ending in February 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regio  more

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany, March 10 -- The U.S. Air Forces in Europe issued the following news: A U.S. B-1B Lancer from the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, conducted a Bomber Task Force mission in Norway and Sweden, March 8, 2021. During the flight, the B-1, alongside U.S. Special Operations Forces members, provided critical support to Norwegian and Swedish joint terminal attack control training. Additionally, the B-1 conducted a "warm-pit refuel" at Bodo Air Force Station, Norway  more

HIDALGO, Texas, March 10 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release on March 9, 2021: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced today the implementation of Simplified Arrival at the international bridges within the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. Simplified Arrival, an enhanced international arrival process that uses facial biometrics to automate the manual document checks that are already required for admission  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 9 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: In episode 45 of "The Air Force Starts Here" podcast, we discuss a new force development tool for Airmen and Guardians to grow professionally. These opportunities are known as Developmental Special Experiences, or DSE, which are learning activities outside the scope of formal training that have been validated as a potential means to obtain specific foundational, occupational, or joint competencies.  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 11 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: The Air Force began an anthropometric study in 2020 to determine accurate entry-height standards for its aircrew, which is scheduled to conclude in 2022. To accelerate Air Force aircrew diversity efforts and safely meet accession demands during the ongoing study, critical flying Career Enlisted Aviator, or CEA, career fields and applicable aircraft were surveyed at the request of Air Education and  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 11 -- The U.S. Air Force Personnel Center issued the following news: More than 1,300 students will get an opportunity to develop and hone their skills under the Department of the Air Force's flagship summer hire program. The 2021 Summer Hire Employment Program provides students in high school, college, trade school, vocational school, and other qualifying educational programs with opportunities to work in federal departments and agencies and explo  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 9 -- The U.S. Air Force Personnel Center issued the following news: Department of the Air Force officials have selected 1,194 (includes supplemental promotions allocations) master sergeants for promotion to senior master sergeant out of 17,107 eligible for a selection rate of 6.97 percent in the 21E8 promotion cycle. The senior master sergeant promotion list will be available on the Air Force's Personnel Center website Enlisted Promotions (http://w  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate issued the following news release on March 10, 2021: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announces today the recipients of Scientific Leadership Awards to the following institutions: Texas A&M University - Kingsville, University of the District of Columbia, Jackson State University, Tennessee State University, and University of Texas - Rio Grand  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news release on March 6, 2021: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nomination: Army Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson for appointment to the grade of general, and assignment as commander, U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Florida. Richardson is currently serving as commanding general, U.S. Army North, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.  more

DYESS AFB, Texas, March 9 -- The U.S. Air Force Dyess Air Force Base (7th Bomb Wing) issued the following news: Maj. Gen. Thad Bibb, 18th Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Chad Bickley, 18th AF command chief, alongside their spouses, visited Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Mar. 3-4, 2021. Bibb met with the 317th Airlift Wing's Airmen and leaders to learn about how they contribute to 18th AF's mission of warfighter readiness and sustainment and Air Mobility Command's worldwide mission of   more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following reporting litigation document: Texas will hold a Special General Election on May 1, 2021, to fill the 6th Congressional District House seat of the late Representative Ron Wright. There are two possible elections, but only one may be necessary. Under Texas law, all qualified candidates, regardless of party affiliation, will appear on the ballot. The majority winner of the special election is declared elected. Should no   more

AUSTIN, Texas, March 10 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release: The second phase of an Austin, Texas, master-planned community will get underway, thanks, in part, to a $750,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) subsidy. The funds from Frost Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) were awarded to Mobile Loaves & Fishes to help build 76 homes as part of the second phase of Community First!  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 13 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release on March 12, 2021: Tim Shepherd M.D., P.A. and Bridges Healthcare, P.A., doing business as Shepherd Healthcare, a medical practice in Flower Mound, Texas, will pay $375,000 and furnish other relief after a federal court entered judgment against both defendants, the federal agency announced today. According to the EEOC's suit (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Tim Shepherd M.D., P.A  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Air Force Academy issued the following news: This year's Air Force Assistance Fund campaign is in full swing across the Air Force this and next month. The annual fund raises money for four charities taking care of Airmen, Guardians and their families: The Air Force Enlisted Village, the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation and the Air Force Aid Society. "Though there are thousands  more

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Virginia, March 13 -- The U.S. Air Force's Joint Base Langley-Eustis issued the following news: More than 80 Airmen from the 633rd Medical Group at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, are in Greensboro, North Carolina and Houston, Texas, aiding state-run, federally supported community vaccination centers. The 633 MDG is partnering with assorted Department of Defense and government agencies at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to rapidly execute   more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 1:21-cv-235-LY; W.D. Tex. filed March 11, 2021): On March 11, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Texas-based investment adviser APEG Energy, GP (APEG) and its owners, Patrick E. Duke and Paul W. Haarman, with fraudulently raising more than $17 million for an oil-and-gas investment fund they managed, and Duke and Haarman with misappropriating over $2.6 million from the fu  more

NORMAN, Oklahoma, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: The Bureau of Land Management will hold a wild horse and burro adoption event in Abilene, Texas, March 26-27, at the Guitar Arena at the Taylor County Expo Center. The two-day event, featuring 110 wild horses and burros, will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 26. Adoptions will be held from noon-6 p.m. on Friday, March 26, and from 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday, March 27. An  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command issued the following news: Mission and Installation Contracting Command-Fort Sill acquisition personnel in Oklahoma continue to provide contracting support to units and personnel after the installation began recovery efforts following two snowstorms that blanketed the area with a weeklong Arctic freeze. Ice-covered roads, deep snow and negative temperatures limited the post to  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command issued the following news: The Mission and Installation Contracting Command Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program manager is seeking volunteers from across the command to serve as sexual assault response coordinators or victim advocates as a collateral duty. The Army SHARP program aims to enhance Army readiness through the prevention of sexual assault, sexu  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 11 -- The Army and Air Force Exchange Service issued the following news release: Spring is almost here, and savings are blooming at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. Shoppers who open and use a new MILITARY STAR(R) account from March 12 to 25 will receive 15% off on all first-day purchases, instead of the regular 10%. The discount will appear as a credit on the first monthly billing statement. Cardholders earn 2% in rewards points on their MILITARY STAR purchases--inc  more

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 11 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the following news release: An employee of one of the nation's largest North American freight railroad networks will receive more than $290,000 in back pay, damages and fees, and be reinstated to their job after the U.S. Department of Labor found the worker's rights were violated under the Federal Railroad Safety Act. BNSF Railway Co. accused the employee of violating a doctor's r  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The White House issued the following news release on March 12, 2021: President Joe Biden announced Rose Vela as his choice to be the next Director of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships. Rose Vela, Director, President's Commission on White House Fellowships Judge Rose Vela is a retired Texas State District Judge and Texas Appellate Justice who currently resides in Brownsville, Texas and Washington, D.C. She was born at Lackland Air Force Base in San   more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, March 10 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas issued the following news release on March 9, 2021: Dr. Hugo A. Rojas, owner of Hugo A. Rojas, M.D., P.A., and Family Clinics of San Antonio, has agreed to pay $350,000.00 under a civil settlement to resolve allegations he violated certain provisions of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the False Claims Act (FCA), announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following order (Admin. Proc. File No. 3-19651) involving Primera Foods, Rubicon and Super 8 Motels Texas: In the Matter of PRIMERA FOODS CORPORATION, RUBICON CORP. A/K/A OSPREY HOLDING, INC., AND SUPER 8 MOTELS TEXAS LTD. ORDER REGARDING SERVICE AS TO AS TO RUBICON CORP. A/K/A OSPREY HOLDING, INC. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") issued an Order Instituting Proceedings ("OIP") on January 13, 2020,   more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the following foreign press center briefing on March 11, 2021, by Daina Ramey Berry, chair of the History Department at the University of Texas at Austin: * * * MODERATOR: My name is Doris Robinson, and I am the moderator for today's briefing. Today's briefing is part of the Foreign Press Center's series on Understanding America, entitled, "From Slavery to Stacey Abrams: The Year of the Black Woman." Now, a few logistics before I int  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Just last year, the Air Force began an anthropometric study to determine accurate entry height standards for its aircrew, which is scheduled to conclude in 2022. To accelerate Air Force aircrew diversity efforts and safely meet accession demands during the ongoing study, critical flying Career Enlisted Aviator career fields and applicable aircraft were surveyed at  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release on March 12, 2021: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4.2 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the city of North Richland Hills, Texas, to improve Iron Horse Boulevard in support of the growth and retention of local industry and manufacturers, including a major manu  more

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 11 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release: An employee of one of the nation's largest North American freight railroad networks will receive more than $290,000 in back pay, damages and fees, and be reinstated to their job after the U.S. Department of Labor found the worker's rights were violated under the Federal Railroad Safety Act. BNSF Railway Co. accused the employee of violating a doctor's restrictions against physical activity following   more

VANCE AFB, Oklahoma, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force Vance Air Force Base (71st Flying Training Wing) issued the following news: Over 50% of Vance Air Force Base's fleet of T-1A Jayhawks, T-6A Texan IIs and T-38 Talons spent Thursday relocating to airfields in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas in anticipation of severe weather forecast to hit Oklahoma tomorrow. "We made this decision for two reasons," said 71st Flying Training Wing commander, Col. Jay Johnson. "First is the need to protect our $1.2  more