BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts issued the following news on July 26, 2023: At today's public hearing by the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, municipal leaders, disability advocates, and open government organizations are testifying in support of legislation that will guarantee greater access to open meetings by allowing members of the public to attend and participate in meetings in person or remotely. An Act  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 -- The Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Joshua S. Levy, issued the following news release on July 26, 2023: Yogibo, a New Hampshire-based furniture seller, has agreed to pay $217,832 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to pay customs duties on imports from China. Customs laws require importers to pay duties on the price paid for imported goods, including the cost of quality control testing, product design  more

CONCORD, Massachusetts, July 27 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-New England District issued the following news release: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District received a permit application to conduct work in waters of the United States from NSTAR Electric Company doing business as Eversource Energy for proposed work in Vineyard Sound between Surf Drive in Falmouth, Mass., and Eastville Avenue in Oak Bluffs, Mass. The proposed work involves the construction of a 6.27-mile el  more

PITTSFIELD, Massachusetts, July 27 (TNSres) -- The Berkshire Bank Foundation issued the following news release: Berkshire Bank, a leading, socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, announced more than $845,000 in Foundation philanthropic investments during the second quarter of 2023. These investments contributed to helping the communities Berkshire Bank serves. Grants awarded cover a wide range of projects that help foster upward economic mobili  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 26 -- The Humane Society of the United States issued the following news release on July 25, 2023: Today the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development heard testimony on bills prohibiting the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes and bears in traveling exhibits and shows (H.3245 and S.2197/S.2189). This critical, bipartisan legislation serves to protect wild animals from the distress inherent in their use as entertainment, includ  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 -- Common Cause Massachusetts issued the following news release on July 26, 2023: At today's public hearing by the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, municipal leaders, disability advocates, and open government organizations testified in support of legislation that will guarantee greater access to open meetings by allowing members of the public to attend and participate in meetings in person or remotely. An Act to Modernize Particip  more

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, July 27 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Vanessa Roberts Avery, issued the following news release on July 26, 2023: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that JOHN HORVATH, 72, of Bristol, waived his right  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release on July 26, 2023: A New Bedford man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Jason Cruz, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In May   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Justice Department have reached a settlement with Taylor Farms New England, Inc. to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) at the company's food processing facility in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The alleged violations pertain to chemical release prevention and   more

HANSCOM AFB, Massachusetts, July 27 -- The U.S. Air Force's Hanscom Air Force Base issued the following news: By Mark Wyatt, 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs The 319th Recruiting Squadron here has launched an initiative to inspire, engage, and recruit the next generation of Airmen and Guardians into the Department of the Air Force. The Committed Augmentee Recruiting Effort, or CARE, offers Airmen in other career fields the opportunity to partner with 319 RCS members in the local community.   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, July 27 -- The Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group issued the following news release on July 26, 2023: At today's public hearing by the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, municipal leaders, disability advocates, and open government organizations testified in support of legislation that will guarantee greater access to open meetings by allowing members of the public to attend and participate in meetings in person or remotely. An Act  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, July 27 -- The Natural Resources Council of Maine issued the following news release: This year's legislative session was another demonstration of Maine's continued leadership on clean energy, with a signature bill that boosts offshore wind and continued momentum on measures that will help achieve Maine's climate action goals while reducing energy costs, creating jobs, and enhancing the resilience of local communities. Lawmakers also passed new laws aimed at protecting the rich   more

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy issued the following testimony by Jennifer Day, director of development at RCAP Solutions Inc., involving a hearing on July 19, 2023, entitled "Rural Water: Modernizing our Community Water Systems": * * * Introduction & About RCAP Thank you, Chairman Welch, Ranking Member Tuberville, and members of the subcommittee for this opportunity to discuss the importance of the U.S. Depart  more