OBERLIN, Ohio, Feb. 18 (TNSAwa) -- The Natural Stone Institute issued the following news release: John Cierech (Tennessee Marble Company) has been named 2021 Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year. John was 30 years old when he began his career in the stone industry. After serving in the military, he spent a short time in electronics before accepting his first full-time work with stone at Gawet Marble and Granite in Vermont. Gawet had just acquired some accounts from Vermont Marble Company after   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (TNSPol) -- The American Economic Liberties Project issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2022: The American Economic Liberties Project today released the following statement on FTC Chair Lina Khan securing a unanimous vote to block an anticompetitive merger that would raise health care costs. "Allowing the two largest hospital systems in Rhode Island to form an even more powerful conglomerate would be a disaster for patients, health care workers, and communities,"   more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Feb. 18 (TNSRes) -- The Center for Responsible Lending issued the following news release: After State Senator Ana Quezada and cosponsors introduced S2166 last week, a bill that would cap payday loans at 36% annually by repealing authorization for their triple-digit annual interest rates, the Center for Responsible Lending, The Economic Progress Institute and Capital Good Fund released a poll showing broad support for such a measure. Rhode Islanders are eager to limit   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the following dissent by Commissioner James Danly on a decision (Docket No. ER20-1718-002) involving New York Independent System Operator Inc.: * * * I dissent from this order[1] because it approves an unduly discriminatory tariff. FPA section 205(b) prohibits the Commission from approving unduly discriminatory tariffs.[2] This standard has been described in both Commission and court precedent.  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following joint statement by Commissioners Noah Joshua Phillips and Christine S. Wilson regarding Lifespan Corp. and Care New England Health System (File No. 2110031): * * * The Commission issued an administrative complaint and authorized staff to seek a preliminary injunction to challenge the proposed combination of Lifespan Corporation and Care New England, two hospital systems in Rhode Island. We voted for the complaint, which   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following joint statement by Commissioners Christine S. Wilson and Noah Joshua Phillips regarding Lifespan Corp. and Care New England Health System (File No. 2110031): * * * The Commission issued an administrative complaint and authorized staff to seek a preliminary injunction to challenge the proposed combination of Lifespan Corporation and Care New England, two hospital systems in Rhode Island. We voted for the complaint, which   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (TNSCapV) -- Human Rights First issued the following letter on Feb. 15, 2022: * * * To: Hon. Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20528 Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20588 Re: Request for Creation of the Afghan Parole Program, a Designated Parole Program for At-Risk Afghans De  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 17 -- The Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued the following news release: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is advising consumers who have any Dog Gone Dog Treats to dispose of them. There have been three cases of salmonellosis (infection with the Salmonella bacteria) linked to individuals handling these dog treats. The cases include two adults in their 70s and a child; all are residents of Essex County. One open bag from a customer and  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- The Military Officers Association of America issued the following news on Feb. 17, 2022: The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) announced today that Acushnet Company, the steward of leading golf brands Titleist and FootJoy, will be the presenting title sponsor of the 2022 MOAA Charities Golf Classic, supporting The MOAA Foundation and the MOAA Scholarship Fund. "We are thrilled not only to bring back our golf classic after a two-year hiatus due to the pandem  more

CONCORD, New Hampshire, Feb. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service - New England Field Office issued the following news release: The U.S Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducted the first-ever National Hemp Survey. The survey was sent to 20,500 producers to gather information on the acreage, yield, production, price, and value of hemp. The data will be used to assist producers, regulatory agencies, state   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, issued the following testimony by Katherine Baicker, dean of the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, involving a hearing on Feb. 2, 2022, entitled "The Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Future of Medicare Financing". Baicker is also a health economics researcher. * * * SUSTAINABILITY AND VALUE IN THE MEDICARE PROGRAM My name is Katherine Baicker, and I am Dean of   more