JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 2 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Air Force trainees from the 331st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland recently went through their final week of training before graduation They underwent an inspection to test their adherence to uniform standards on Sept. 29, 2023. Prior to graduation, trainees must pass final knowledge checks and uniform inspections to ensure that th  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: HOUSTON -- Five Texas men pleaded guilty Oct. 2 for their roles in a scheme to fraudulently obtain and launder millions of dollars in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that were guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The multiagency investigation that led to the convictions  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Lt. Col. (Dr.) Adam Willis, formerly a Medical Director and Clinician Scientist of the 59th Medical Wing Chief Scientist's Office, now serves as the program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in the Biotechnologies Office. His role in the BTO is developing new programs to push technology development and generating new technologic  more

DYESS AFB, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command issued the following news: The 7th Bomb Wing's first B-1 Embracing Agile Scheduling Team modified B-1B Lancer took its first flight September 8, 2023, from Dyess Air Force Base marking a new era of lethality for the venerable aircraft. BEAST was designed to shorten fielding of each system, preserve aircraft availability and ensure compliance with federal government aviation directives. "BEAST modernizes the aircraft's avioni  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Oct. 6, 2023: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the appointment of the following seven U.S. Attorneys to serve on the Attorney General's Advisory Committee (AGAC): Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico, Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, Kenneth Parker for the Southern District of Ohio, Natalie K. Wight for the District of Oregon, Eric G. Olshan for the West  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 2 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: WASHINGTON - National Security Agency Director Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone announced the creation of a new entity to oversee the development and integration of artificial intelligence capabilities within U.S. national security systems on Sept. 28. The AI Security Center will become the focal point for developing best practices, eval  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: By Malcolm McClendon, AFIMSC Public Affairs Mission area working groups delivered proposed solutions for how installation and mission support equities fit into the Air Force's new force presentation model and how to best build combat-resilient installations at the 2023 Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference held here Oct. 4. Hosted by  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Personnel Center issued the following news on Oct. 3, 2023: The Air Force selected 292 active-duty officers for promotion to colonel, lieutenant colonel, and major during recent CY23A, CY23C, and CY23D central selection boards. In total, the Air Force selected 114 lieutenant colonels for promotion to colonel (LAF-J, BSC, DC, MC, and NC), 47 majors to lieutenant colonel (LAF-J and Chaplain) and 131 captains for promotion to ma  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas - The Air Force selected 292 active-duty officers for promotion to colonel, lieutenant colonel, and major during recent CY23A, CY23C, and CY23D central selection boards. In total, the Air Force selected 114 lieutenant colonels for promotion to colonel (LAF-J, BSC, DC, MC, and NC), 47 majors t  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: WASHINGTON - With the armed forces facing the most challenging recruiting environment in a generation, the United States Army announced a transformation of its recruiting enterprise. During a Pentagon news conference, Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy George detailed sweeping changes   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command issued the following news on Oct. 3, 2023: By Daniel P. Elkins, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs Office Acquisition professionals from throughout the Mission and Installation Contracting Command executed 24,329 contract actions valued at more than $5.64 billion throughout fiscal 2023 ensuring installation readiness requirements across the Army while al  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Washington - U.S. Army North and the Mexican Army participated in the 77th Fifth Army Inter-American Relations Program at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and America's I Corps from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, 2023. First established in 1946, FIARP is a program designed to enhance Army-to-Army relations and exchange idea  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: WASHINGTON - The Army will now provide incentives for more skilled, experienced civilians who join the Army Reserve. The service recently expanded the number of certifiable, reserve career fields in the Army Civilian Acquired Skills Program from seven to 44. Nearly 200 new Soldiers in Fiscal Year 2023 have enlisted or commissione  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Maryland - In this week's look around the Air Force, Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. is the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, fees for childcare are restructured to help lower-income families, and Lt. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt retires after a historic trailblazing career that includes being the first female fighter pilo  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: NORMAN, Okla.-- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold a two-day wild horse and burro event Oct. 13-14 at the Marshall City Arena in Marshall, Texas.  The event begins Friday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m., and will feature 120 animals for adoption. Adoptions take place Oct. 13, noon-6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct 14, 8 a.m.-noon. As part of the program's efforts to find every horse   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily: * * * From August 2022 to August 2023, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 66 metropolitan areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 322 areas. * * * Chart: Change in nonfarm employment by metropolitan area, August 2022 to August 2023 * * * The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Midland, Texas (5.3   more

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers assigned to B&M International Bridge this week seized $906,000 in cocaine in a single enforcement action. "Our frontline officers continue to maintain tight focus on our border security mission and that dedication and drive led to this significant cocaine interception," said Port Directo  more

HIDALGO, Texas, Oct. 7 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge intercepted $930,000 in alleged methamphetamine concealed within a vehicle. "These harmful narcotics will not make it to American streets thanks to our CBP officers who used all available tools and resources to stop this smuggling attempt," said Port Direc  more

EL PASO, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Bridge of the Americas international border crossing intercepted a combined 411 pounds of methamphetamine and marijuana on two separate failed smuggling attempts, hours apart. "CBP officers remain vigilant in their work identifying and stopping drug shipments at our ports of entry," said acting CBP El Pa  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 38-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for drug trafficking and weapons charges, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Raul Cedillo Jr. pleaded guilty Jan. 3, 2022, to possession of meth with intent to distribute and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has no  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 38-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for drug trafficking and weapons charges, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Raul Cedillo Jr. pleaded guilty Jan. 3, 2022, to possession of meth  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 2 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: WASHINGTON - Roses are red, violets are blue, and we all know that not everything - or everyone - online is true. But can you tell the difference between someone who is simply using a decades-old photo and a Lothario scammer trying to swoon their way to every dollar in your bank account? Romance scams, or online dating scams, a  more

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Justice Department Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Division issued the following news release: A 38-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for drug trafficking and weapons charges, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Raul Cedillo Jr. pleaded guilty Jan. 3, 2022, to possession of meth with intent to distribute and po  more

GALVESTON, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Justice Department Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Division issued the following news release: A 28-year-old resident of Webster has been sentenced in a meth conspiracy, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Omar Lopez III pleaded guilty Feb. 15 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more grams of meth or 50 or more g  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 7 -- The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command issued the following news: By Capt. Dorothy Sherwood, 16th Air Force (AFCYBER) Strategic competitors, adversaries and proxies use information to gain an advantage over the U.S. joint force. Adversarial disinformation campaigns and influence operations are "gray zone" activities that use technology and tactics to disguise themselves, making it challenging to identify the source of the content. "At the   more

DYESS AFB, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Air Force Dyess Air Force Base (7th Bomb Wing) issued the following news: The 7th Bomb Wing's first B-1 Embracing Agile Scheduling Team modified B-1B Lancer took its first flight September 8, 2023, from Dyess Air Force Base marking a new era of lethality for the venerable aircraft. BEAST was designed to shorten fielding of each system, preserve aircraft availability and ensure compliance with federal government aviation directives. "BEAST modernizes the ai  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Charles Elia, the 15th Chief of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, was laid to rest on Sept. 27, 2023, at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Elia had close ties to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and U.S. Army North (Fifth Army), as he celebrat  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: ARLINGTON, Virginia - In recognition of Energy Action Month, the Department of the Air Force is showcasing energy's critical role in great power competition, particularly in the Indo-Pacific Region. Building on its three-year theme, "Powering Possibility," the department is advancing game-changing energy technologies and processes   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Oct. 4, 2023: The Federal Communications Commission today announced it is committing $37.7 million in a new funding round through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, which provides digital tools and services to support students in communities across the country. Today's funding commitment supports applications from the third application window, benefitting approximately 100,000 students nationw  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 23-334) on Oct. 4, 2023: * * * Re: Copper Retirement Network Change Certification Received Southwestern Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Texas (AT&T), an incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC), has filed certification that public notice of network change(s) involving the retirement of copper has been provided through its publicly accessible Internet site  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest: * * * Commission meetings and hearings On October 3 and 5, the Commission met in executive session. The Commission voted to cancel the open meeting scheduled for October 5. * * * Advisory Opinions Supplemental information received Advisory Opinion Request 2023-06 (Texas Majority PAC) (https://www.fec.gov/data/legal/advisory-opinions/2023-06/) On September 30, the Commission received supplemental inf  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: WASHINGTON - The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at  more

OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory issued the following news release: To better understand important dynamics at play in flood-prone coastal areas, Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists working on simulations of Earth's carbon and nutrient cycles paid a visit to experimentalists gathering data in a Texas wetland. There, the return of a key mangrove species holds important clues to current and future climate impacts in coastal ecosyst  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 2 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: HOUSTON - Five Texas men have pleaded guilty to their participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain and launder millions of dollars in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to court documents, Muhamma  more

SEATTLE, Washington, Oct. 5 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington issued the following news release: A pair of real estate professionals, who as a married couple operated a real estate investment fund, were indicted this week by the federal grand jury for conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Paul Waln, 58, of Dallas, Texas, and his ex-wife Tamara King, aka Tamara Waln, 54, of Toledo, Ohio, previously res  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: FALLS CHURCH, Virginia - Protect yourself and your family from COVID-19 this fall and winter. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are now available for people ages 6 months and older. "Getting the updated vaccine can enhance your protection against the COVID-19 variants currently responsible for most infections and increasing hospitalization  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: The new Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center commander at Detachment 8, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, believes in supporting the installations by enabling their mission. As Detachment 8 commander, Col. Dee Jay Katzer is AFIMSC's senior representative to Headquarters Air Combat Command. He is responsible for providing responsive installation  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has appointed U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani to serve on the Attorney General's Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). The AGAC was created in 1973 and advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure and management impacting the offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys on essential  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 2 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: HOUSTON - A 36-year-old man has been ordered to prison for illegally entering an aircraft area in violation of security requirements to commit a felony therein, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Allan Leon Goins III pleaded guilty May 24. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal has now ordered Goins to serve 12 months and a day in federal prison to be immediately  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: Two Missouri City home health agency owners have been ordered to federal prison after admitting to defrauding millions from Medicare, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Vincent Nwabeke, 72, pleaded guilty April 20 to false statements in a health care matter, while Victoria Nwabeke, 70, admitted to conspiracy to commit health care fraud Sept. 16, 2019. U.S. D  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: A team from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy joined forces with the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in Sao Paolo, Brazil, to conduct a professional development subject matter expert exchange with the Brazilian Air Force, Aug. 22-24, 2023. It was the first visit of its kind in over a decade. Maj. Elias Corcho, Director of Ope  more

EL PASO, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Pacific Air Forces issued the following news: By Master Sgt. John Reeves, Pacific Integrated Air & Missile Defense Center The Pacific Integrated Air & Missile Defense Center, or PIC, hosted the inaugural Multilateral Air Domain Awareness and Defense Design Workshop in El Paso, Texas, Sept. 25-30. The groundbreaking event, held in conjunction with support from the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command Fort Bliss, Texas, the 94th AAMDC, Joint Base Pearl Ha  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Integrated deterrence starts at the lowest level and at Sixteenth Air Force's (AFCYBER) 67th Cyberspace Wing A39, the Information Operations team is making a global impact at their level. The IO team supports real-world operations, reach back, exercises and operations security. "We are the only Air Force and Space Force OPSEC Support Team," said Tyre  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command issued the following news: By Capt. Dorothy Sherwood, 16th Air Force (AFCYBER) Integrated deterrence starts at the lowest level and at 16th Air Force's (AFCYBER) 67th Cyberspace Wing A39, the Information Operations team is making a global impact at their level. The IO team supports real-world operations, reach back, exercises and operations security. "We are the only Air Force and Space Force OPSE  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Joint Base San Antonio celebrated togetherness and showed support for law enforcement, fire, and other community support agencies Oct. 3, 2023, in celebration of America's 40th Annual National Night Out. Over 38 million neighbors in communities across all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide celebrate National Nig  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: By Capt. Dorothy Sherwood Sixteenth Air Force (AFCYBER) Public Affairs Strategic competitors, adversaries and proxies use information to gain an advantage over the U.S. joint force. Adversarial disinformation campaigns and influence operations are "gray zone" activities that use technology and tactics to disguise themselves, making it challenging to  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Oct. 2, 2023: Five Texas men pleaded guilty today to their participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain and launder millions of dollars in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to court documents, Muhammad Anis, 55, Nishant Patel, 41, Harjeet Singh, 49, a  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Oct. 5, 2023: A California woman pleaded guilty yesterday to her role in a counterfeit savings bond scheme. According to court documents, Summer Marie Creech, 45, of Fontana, conspired with others to create, pass, and transfer counterfeit Department of the Treasury Series I savings bonds at financial institutions in the Southern District of Texas and elsewhere. Creech forged counterfeit Series I savings b  more

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Duane A. Evans, issued the following news release: RAFAEL MOLINA, age 47, a resident of Edinburg, Texas was sentenced on September 20, 2023 by Chief United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to one hundred fifty-four (154) months imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and $200.00 in mandatory special assessment fees after pleading guilty to a superseding bill of information charging h  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: LAREDO, Texas - A 54-year-old Austin resident has been indicted for health care fraud and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Dr. Michael Hochman made his initial appearance today and is set for arraignment Oct. 12 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos. A federal grand jury returned the five-count indictment Sept. 27. Accordin  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: The head of a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud ring and six of his co-conspirators have been sentenced for fraudulently obtaining more than $20 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Amir Aqeel, 54, Houston, was   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 2 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: A father can be the most important influence in a boy's life. He is the first example of what it means to be a man, and the lessons he passes on can stick with his son for life. The lessons Spc. Armando Estrada learned from his father, Armando Estrada Sr., who helped shape the man he grew up to be and prepared him for his future profession: a Soldier   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: A local rehabilitation center has agreed to a settlement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure it provides appropriate auxiliary aids and services to individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired when providing medical services, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. In November 2021, authorities received a complaint alleging Park Manor of CyFa  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 45-year-old California woman has pleaded guilty to conspiring to make, pass and transfer counterfeit U.S. savings bonds and passing counterfeit savings bonds. Summer Marie Creech and others conspired to create counterfeit Department of the Treasury Series I savings bonds. They then passed the counterfeit bonds at financial institutions using oth  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: EL PASO, Texas -- A Mexican national residing in Seminole was sentenced in a federal court on Oct. 1 to a year in prison for attempting to bribe a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent. According to court documents, Pedro Thiessen, 71, failed to declare $12,171 when entering the United States at the Ysleta Port of Entry in October 2022. Thiessen  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Recruiting leaders from all U.S. military services gathered in San Antonio to collaborate on strategies and discuss policies from Sept. 19-21, 2023. As fiscal year 2024 loomed on the horizon, top recruiting leadership from the U.S. Air and Space Forces, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and National Guard a  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Army Contracting Command issued the following news on Oct. 3, 2023: By Daniel P. Elkins, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs Office Acquisition professionals from throughout the Mission and Installation Contracting Command executed 24,329 contract actions valued at more than $5.64 billion throughout fiscal 2023 ensuring installation readiness requirements across the Army while also meeting the needs of S  more

TEMPLE, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service issued the following news on Oct. 3, 2023: The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas announced fiscal year (FY) 2024 financial assistance opportunities for agricultural producers and landowners through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). While NRCS accepts conservation program applications year-round, producers and landowners should apply by Nov. 8, 2023   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 2 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: The latest edition of the Force Development "Impact" newsletter is available now on the Air Education and Training Command website. This quarter's edition features force development-related news the NCO Retraining Program, artificial intelligence, the AETC Mentoring Council's next event on Oct. 26, the Advanced Digital Learning Services Architecture,   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 56756) involving The Dow Chemical Co., Freeport, Texas: * * * Rep Org: Texas Dept of State Health Services Licensee: The Dow Chemical Company Region: 4 City: Freeport State: TX License #: L00451 Agreement: Y NRC Notified By: Art Tucker HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West Notification Date: 09/24/2023 Notification Time: 19:12 [ET] Event Date: 09/23/2023 Event Time: 00:00 [CDT] Last Update D  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 56761) involving Pro Inspection Inc., Odessa, Texas: * * * Rep Org: Texas Dept of State Health Services Licensee: PRO INSPECTION INCORPORATED Region: 4 City: Odessa State: TX County: License #: L06666 Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: Randall Redd HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West Notification Date: 09/27/2023 Notification Time: 18:40 [ET] Event Date: 09/26/2023 Event Time: 10:00 [C  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 56761) involving Pro Inspection Inc., Odessa, Texas: * * * Rep Org: Texas Dept of State Health Services Licensee: PRO INSPECTION INCORPORATED Region: 4 City: Odessa State: TX License #: L06666 Agreement: Y NRC Notified By: Randall Redd HQ OPS Officer: Ernest West Notification Date: 09/27/2023 Notification Time: 18:40 [ET] Event Date: 09/26/2023 Event Time: 10:00 [CDT] Last Update D  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 2 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: WASHINGTON - The purpose of the Cyber Awareness Challenge is to influence behavior, focusing on actions that authorized users can engage to mitigate threats and vulnerabilities to DOD information systems. This training is current, engaging, and relevant to the user. This course provides an overview of current cybersecurity threats  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 -- The White House Office of Management and Budget issued the following statement of administration policy on Oct. 3, 2023, on the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4394), which was introduced by Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas: * * * The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 4394, Making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes  more

OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory issued the following news release: Susan Hubbard, ORNL's deputy for science and technology and Can (John) Saygin, senior vice president for research and dean of the graduate college at UTRGV, sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen research cooperation and establish a collaborative program for undergraduate research and education. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy Para leer en e  more

PHARR, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at Pharr International Bridge this week seized $253,000 in cocaine from a driver and shipment enrolled in CBP's Trusted Trader Programs. "Our CBP officers continue to run checks and balances to keep our trusted trader participants honest and that vigilance and accountability testing resulted i  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Army Medicine issued the following news: Command Teams with PHC-P joined several technical service directors and key leaders for a momentous and long-awaited "Trident" leadership offsite at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 10-14, 2023. This four-day offsite was a historic occasion, marking the first in-person event like this in recent memory, a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The timing of this offsite was particularly significant, alignin  more

SACRAMENTO, California, Oct. 5 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release: Small nonfarm businesses in eight Oklahoma counties as well as neighboring counties in Arkansas and Texas are now eligible to apply for low interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Director Jeffrey Lusk of SBA's Disaster Field Operations Center-West. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caus  more

SACRAMENTO, California, Oct. 5 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release: Small nonfarm businesses in 18 Texas counties, neighboring parishes in Louisiana and neighboring counties in Oklahoma are now eligible to apply for low interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Director Jeffrey Lusk of SBA's Disaster Field Operations Center-West. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced r  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: U.S. Attorney's Offices in two districts have resolved a civil investigation into RPS Group Inc, a global professional services firm, that will result in a recovery of over $465,000, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani and Zachary A. Cunha, U.S. Attorneys for the Southern District of Texas and Rhode Island, respectively.  RPS Group Inc. held several contracts   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following remarks on Oct. 3, 2023, by Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a meet and greet with Houston-based Department of State staff: * * * MR KEITH: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today here at the Mickey Leland Federal Building in Houston, Texas. The U.S. Department of State Office of Foreign Missions, Houston Passport Agency, and the Diplomatic Security Service Houston Field Office ask that you join us in sending a  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following remarks on Oct. 3, 2023, by Secretary Antony J. Blinken during a conversation at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy moderated by Ambassador David Satterfield: * * * SECRETARY BAKER: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, all, very, very much. This is a wonderful program we have for you, and it's a very special one. Since its founding in 1993, the Baker In  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following remarks on Oct. 4, 2023, by Secretary Antony J. Blinken during a conversation at the University of Texas at Austin moderated by ex-U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison: * * * MR EDGAR: All right. Welcome, everyone. Please, if you haven't already, take your seats, and we'll begin the program shortly. My name is Paul Edgar, and I am the interim executive director of the Clements Center for National Security. On behal  more

SHEPPARD AFB, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Air Force's 82nd Training Wing issued the following news on Oct. 3, 2023: By Julie Svoboda, 82d Training Wing Seven alumni of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Preliminary Course at Sheppard Air Force Base have achieved "unicorn" distinguished graduate status at the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida as of September 2023. The EOD techs completed 143 training days without failing a single test in a grueling course t  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 38-year-old Harlingen resident and former claims specialist with the Social Security Administration (SSA) has pleaded guilty to theft of government property, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Lee Marvin Nichols admitted to creating fictitious profiles for two children that did not exist. He linked the profiles to a recently deceased m  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for Oct. 3, 2023: * * * SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN Secretary Blinken is on travel to Texas and Mexico from October 3-5, 2023. 4:00 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Blinken holds a meet and greet with Houston-based Department of State staff in Houston, Texas. (POOLED PRESS COVERAGE) 5:20 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Blinken meets with former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III in Houston, Texas. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) 6:  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for Oct. 4, 2023: * * * SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN Secretary Blinken is on travel to Texas and Mexico from October 3-5, 2023. 11:00 a.m. LOCAL Secretary Blinken tours Capital Factory in Austin, Texas. (POOLED PRESS COVERAGE) 1:00 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Blinken participates in a conversation at University of Texas Austin, moderated by former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison, in Austin, Texas. (OP  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for Oct. 5, 2023: * * * SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN Secretary Blinken is on travel to Texas and Mexico from October 3-5, 2023. 9:00 a.m. LOCAL Secretary Blinken meets with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico City, Mexico. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) 10:00 a.m. LOCAL Secretary Blinken participates in the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue in Mexico City, Mexico. (POOLED CAMERA SPRAY AT  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: GALVESTON, Texas - A 28-year-old resident of Webster has been sentenced in a meth conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Omar Lopez III pleaded guilty Feb. 15 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more grams of meth or 50 or more grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of meth. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: GALVESTON, Texas - A 28-year-old resident of Webster has been sentenced in a meth conspiracy, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Omar Lopez III pleaded guilty Feb. 15 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or m  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 2 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Task Force-51 held a change of command ceremony at the Quadrangle at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on Sept. 29 as Maj. Gen. William J. Prendergast relinquished command to Maj. Gen. Scott M. Sherman in a ceremony officiated by U.S. Army North Commanding General Lt. Gen. John R. Evans Jr. Task Force-51 is U.S. Army North's contingency   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: A tax service operator has admitted to willfully preparing a false 2018 joint income tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.  As part of her plea, Lynettia Profit admitted that from 2016 to 2019, she operated JNL Tax Services in Houston. She admitted she often placed false education credits and Schedule C items on the returns she prepared, generating   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 3 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: WASHINGTON - Celebrating its 20th year, the National Cybersecurity Awareness month campaign has grown globally since its inception, reaching consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, corporations, and families in more than 75 countries and territories. The National Cybersecurity Alliance's Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme th  more

DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton, issued the following news release on Oct. 5, 2023: Ten alleged fentanyl traffickers were arrested in Amarillo, Texas on federal drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. One additional defendant who was already in state custody has also been charged federally. During the bust, agents and officers also seized six firearms, hundreds of fake M-30 fentanyl  more

DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton, issued the following news release on Oct. 5, 2023: The drug dealer who sold the fentanyl that killed an Abilene man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Elijah James Perez, 21, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Oct. 7 -- The U.S. Attorney, Jaime Esparza, for the Western District of Texas issued the following news release on Oct. 6, 2023: Former San Antonio Attorney Christopher John Pettit, 56, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to wire fraud and money laundering. According to court documents, from around October 2019 to July 2022, Pettit made numerous misrepresentations that persuaded his clients to deposit money with his firm, Chris Pettit and Associates, PC, which funds th  more

SHERMAN, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Damien M. Diggs, issued the following news release on Oct. 3, 2023: A Mexican national has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for trafficking drugs through the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Fernando Alfredo Rodriguez-Reyes, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth, heroin and cocaine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 324 m  more

EL PASO, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Attorney, Jaime Esparza, for the Western District of Texas issued the following news release on Oct. 3, 2023: A Mexican national residing in Seminole was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso Monday to 12 months in prison for bribery of a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent. According to court documents, Pedro Thiessen, 71, failed to declare $12,171 when entering the United States at the Ysleta Port of Entry in October 2022. Thiessen filed a petiti  more

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, Oct. 5 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: By Senior Airman Jessica Do 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs U.S. Air Force Col. Adam Bingham, 6th Air Refueling Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Raun Howell, 6th ARW command chief, along with 17 MacDill civic leaders, toured Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 27-29, 2023. The tour allowed MacDill civic leaders to see behind the scenes to gain i  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia issued the following news release on Oct. 6, 2023: A Texas man was sentenced today on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, related to his conduct during the breach of the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral   more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Oct. 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, Zachary A. Cunha, issued the following news release: The United States Attorney's Offices for the District of Rhode Island and the Southern District of Texas have resolved a civil investigation into RPS Group, Inc, a global professional services firm, that will result in a recovery of over $465,000, announced United States Attorneys Zachary A. Cunha and Alamdar S. Hamdani. The investigation focused on alleg  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Members of the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, or USAMMDA, were at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Oct. 3 setting up for the Medical Warfighter Forum. As the Department of Defense's premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, USAMMDA develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and m  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 23-00080-227) on Oct. 4, 2023, entitled "Deficiencies in Facility Leaders' Response to Critical Surgical Events at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (facility) in Houston, Texas, to evaluate Vet  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 23-01179-204) on Sept. 27, 2023, entitled "Inspection of Information Security at the VA El Paso Healthcare System in Texas." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary Information security controls protect VA systems and data from unauthorized access, use, modification, or destruction. To determine compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA),  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: EL PASO, Texas -- A federal judge in El Paso sentenced a local woman Oct. 2 to 87 months in prison for wire fraud and impersonating a federal employee. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso special agents investigated the case. According to court documents, Ana Maria Hernandez, 53, portrayed herself to be a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: LAREDO, Texas - A 45-year-old woman has entered a guilty plea to bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Mirza Lydia Rodriguez admitted to defrauding Falcon International Bank in a scheme that lasted five years. In April 2020, law enforcement began investigating Rodriguez after receiving several reports of identity theft from Zapata residents. Authori  more