BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: NEW YORK CITY - An indictment filed in Manhattan Supreme Court charges Jonathan Huertas, aka "El Don," with Operating as a Major Trafficker and with orchestrating two kidnappings and assaults that allegedly occurred in the Morris Park neighborhood of the Bronx in early 2022. The indictment also alleges plans for a third kidnapping. Huertas fl  more

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 16 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 15, 2023, entitled "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for the Regions - September 2023": * * * Private industry employer costs for employee compensation among the four regions of the country ranged from $36.65 per hour in the South to $48.29 in the Northeast in September 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 15 -- The Boston Planning and Development Agency issued the following news on Dec. 14, 2023: The BPDA Board of Directors formally adopted the PLAN: Downtown planning initiative at their board meeting today. The community planning process, which originally began in 2018, establishes a new framework for the growth, enhancement, and preservation of Downtown Boston as a 24-hour neighborhood, balancing livability, affordability, walkability, climate change preparedness, a  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 15 -- The city of Boston issued the following news release: The City of Boston, TLee Development, MassHousing, the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, local elected officials, and residents today celebrated the Grand Opening of Dot Crossing, a new mixed-use, transit-oriented development with first floor retail space tailored to the neighborhood. The new building created 29 new apartments on an underutilized parcel at 1463 Dorchester Ave. in Dorchester, wit  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 16 (TNSres) -- The city of Boston issued the following news release: The Boston Landmarks Commission has posted a study report on the proposed designation of the North Market Building as a Landmark under Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended. Designed by Alexander Parris in consultation with Asher Benjamin, North Market is the northernmost range of stores in a complex of three detached granite blocks, with Faneuil Hall Market (currently known as Quincy Market)  more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, Dec. 15 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following statement on Dec. 13, 2023: Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 11 attorneys general released the following statement after the Texas Supreme Court denied abortion access to Kate Cox, a pregnant woman whose health and life were at risk as a result of a lethal fetal diagnosis. Ms. Cox was forced to travel out of state to receive abortion care. "No one should be forced to fight in court   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: MOBILE, AL - On November 29, 2023, United States District Court Judge, Callie V. S. Grande sentenced David Erik Crumpton to 292 months imprisonment for his role in a multi-defendant interstate drug trafficking conspiracy. Documents filed with the Court established that Christopher Perales, from the state of Texas, would regularly supply Crum  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Dec. 16 -- Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry issued the following news release: Using input from a coalition of Attorneys General, led by Attorney General Michelle Henry, the Federal Communications Commission has amended a rule governing telemarketing communications, requiring individual businesses to obtain written consent from consumers before sending robotexts and making robocalls. Under the prior rule, lead generating businesses misled consumers who bel  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration issued the following roundup on Dec. 15, 2023: Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing an at-a-glance summary of news from around the agency: * Today, the FDA updated the breast implants web pages to share the latest information on: - Risks and complications related to breast implants - Reports of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), various lymphomas other than Breast Implants A  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has entered a consent decree of permanent injunction ordering Pharmasol Corporation, a Massachusetts-based company, and President Marc L. Badia to stop distributing drugs until the company complies with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act and other requirements listed in the consent decree.   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: NEW YORK CITY - Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Ismael Bimbow was sentenced to 22 years in prison today for his participation in a large-scale narcotic trafficking operation that sold kilogram quantities of fentanyl and heroin and for possessing firearms to protect the drug ope  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. - Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III today announced the indictment of Francis and Jessica Martinis, of Fort Salonga, accused of Criminal Sale of Prescription for a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner and Falsifying Busi  more

LAWRENCE, Massachusetts, Dec. 13 -- The Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2023: The Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Lawrence last week to celebrate awards through the state's Community One Stop for Growth, including 28 grants totaling $2.5 million through the Urban Agenda Grant Program. In October, the Administration announced $164 million for 338 grant awards through the One Stop to support l  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 14, 2023: A federal court yesterday enjoined a Massachusetts company from manufacturing and distributing adulterated drugs in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). In a complaint filed on Nov. 17, the United States alleged that Pharmasol Corporation and its president, Marc L. Badia, violated the FDCA at the company's facility in South Easton, Massachusetts, by manufacturing an  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following weekly report entitled "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims" for week ending Dec. 14, 2023. Here are excerpts: * * * SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 202,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 220,000 to 221,000. The 4-week moving average was 213  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: Phoenix, Ariz. - On November 29, 2023, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an 11-count indictment against Jorge Damian Roman-Figueroa, Luis Eduardo Roman-Flores, Manuel Jose Bernal, Joel Salazar-Ballesteros, and Jesus Armando Gonzalez-Villela, citizens of Mexico, for Conspiracy to Transport Aliens; Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instrumen  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 15 -- The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued the following news release: The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has assessed a $6,000 penalty against Feedback Earth, Inc. following state permit violations at its food waste conversion operation on Creeper Hill Road in Grafton. The violations, which occurred from May through November 2023, center on multiple off-site odor events and improper food waste management pra  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 13 -- The Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued the following news release: Opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts decreased slightly in the 12-month period ending September 30, 2023, compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary data released today by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). Between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023, there were 2,323 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths, eight   more

LANSING, Michigan, Dec. 14 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and a coalition of 12 attorneys general released the following statement after the Texas Supreme Court denied abortion access to Kate Cox, a pregnant woman whose health and life were at risk as a result of a fatal fetal diagnosis. Ms. Cox was forced to travel out of state to receive abortion care. "No one should be forced to fight in court and leave their  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 15 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following statement on Dec. 13, 2023: * * * New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 11 attorneys general released the following statement after the Texas Supreme Court denied abortion access to Kate Cox, a pregnant woman whose health and life were at risk as a result of a lethal fetal diagnosis. Ms. Cox was forced to travel out of state to receive abortion care. "No one should be forced to fight in cou  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 15 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release on Dec. 14, 2023: New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 19 attorneys general urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to affirm that the Fearless Foundation (https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/amicus-curiae/fearless-fund-amicus.pdf) can continue its philanthropic efforts to provide grants to women of color entrepreneurs. The American Alliance for Equal Rights i  more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 16 -- Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-New York, issued the following news release on Dec. 15, 2023: Governor Kathy Hochul today encouraged New Yorkers to spend time in the outdoors this holiday season and celebrate the New Year at state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, canal trails, and public lands across the Empire State on January 1, 2024. The 13th annual First Day Hikes program is offering varied hike options for people at more than 80 locations across the state to enjoy.   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Tyrone Anderson, 43, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of conspiracy to traffic at least 5,000 grams of cocaine and 280 grams of cocaine base and one count of conspiracy to traffic heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian C. Clark announc  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 16 -- New York Mayor Eric Adams issued the following transcript of a television interview on Dec. 15, 2023, by Bianca Peters and Rosanna Scotto of Fox5's "Good Day New York": * * * Bianca Peters: Meanwhile, tenants at a NYCHA complex in Brooklyn voted to enter the Public Housing Preservation Trust. This was created by the administration of Mayor Adams. Rosanna Scotto: So, a third party election administrator certified the results of the people who live at the Nostrand Houses in  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 12 -- New York Mayor Eric Adams issued the following transcript of a media availability: * * * Mayor Eric Adams: You like that song, don't you? That was the long version. Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy, Communications: Good morning, everybody. My name is Fabien Levy and I serve as deputy mayor for Communications for the City of New York. We hope everyone's holiday season is off to a good start and appreciate you all joining us today for our weekly in person media availability. This   more

PORTLAND, Maine, Dec. 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine issued the following news release on Dec. 14, 2023: A career offender from Lawrence, Massachusetts was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing 400 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Chief Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Eddy Azcona, aka Cucu, 27, to 13 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Azcona pleaded guilty on July 31, 2023. According to cou  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on Dec. 15, 2023: A Providence man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to leading a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Estarlin Ortiz-Alcantara, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one coun  more