PHOENIX, Arizona, Jan. 20 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release: Attorney General Mayes this week, alongside a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, submitted a comment letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget urging the Biden administration to complete its review and swiftly implement proposed public health regulations to prohibit the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. "The prohibition of menthol cigarettes and flavored cig  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau issued the following order to show cause (FRN No. 0006178073) on Jan. 19, 2024: * * * In the Matter of Daniel S. Stratemeyer, Licensee of KZMA(FM), Naylor, Missouri, and WRIK(AM), Brookport, Illinois ORDER TO PAY OR TO SHOW CAUSE By the Chief, Media Bureau and the Managing Director, Office of Managing Director: I. INTRODUCTION 1. By this Order to Pay or to Show Cause, we initiate a proceeding to revoke the licenses  more

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Jan. 20 -- Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez issued the following news release: Attorney General Anne Lopez joins a coalition of 26 states in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) emphasizing the potential harm in the use of artificial intelligence by telemarketers and asking the federal government to strongly restrict such usage. In November, the FCC posted a Notice of Inquiry, in which it requested input on the implications and usage of A.I. te  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news release on Jan. 19, 2024: Families will benefit from more transparent standards for housing assistance under a new law now in effect from state Rep. Lilian Jimenez, D-Chicago. Jimenez applauded implementation of the new law at the Chicago Coalition for Homelessness' annual Victory Celebration this week. "I am actively advocating for housing opportunities that uplift everyday families. Progressive policies are   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news release on Jan. 19, 2024: State Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, is continuing her work to reduce the price of prescription drugs with a new measure she introduced Wednesday creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board empowered to review prices of certain drugs and block price increases that would gouge patients. "Modern healthcare advancements can change lives for the better, but only if people can acc  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: In an effort to prioritize educators, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel introduced a measure that would guarantee teachers have classroom planning time built into each school day. "During my 15 years in the classroom, I experienced firsthand the struggle many teachers face when trying to find time to plan," said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). "Teachers are often forced to plan lessons before or after sch  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news: Illinois set another record for recreational cannabis sales in 2023, with more than $1.63 billion in sales. While sales to out-of-state residents showed a significant drop as additional states joined Illinois in legalizing the adult use of cannabis, sales to Illinois residents increased by 14%. Overall, Illinois saw a 7% increase in retail cannabis sales, resulting in $417.6 million in cannabis sales tax re  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news: State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has taken an important step in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Illinois students by filing legislation aimed at preventing inappropriate relationships between teachers and students. Senate Bill 2823 makes it illegal for any teacher to engage in sexual activity, whether consensual or nonconsensual, with a high school student even if that student is 18 or older  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications now for instructors for 2024 summer fishing clinics through the department's Urban Fishing Program. The Illinois Urban Fishing Program was established in 1985 to teach people of all ages to fish, to provide better local fishing opportunities, and to offer participants an understanding of and a greater appreciation for natural reso  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news: The Illinois General Assembly kicked off the 2024 regular session on Jan. 15. Lawmakers spent much of the week in meetings with constituents, other lawmakers, and drafting legislation that they plan to file. The General Assembly is expected to take up a number of serious issues during the session, including the ongoing immigration crisis and its associated costs. So far, Gov. JB Pritzker has chosen to dea  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news: On the same day that lawmakers returned to Springfield, the bipartisan and bicameral Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) met to discuss new permanent rules for the state's "assault weapons" ban (AWB) proposed by the Illinois State Police (ISP). Currently, the State is operating under emergency rules that ISP promulgated last year. These new permanent rules will replace those emergency rules and   more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news: Recently, the Pritzker Administration announced plans to make significant cuts to funding for programs that help the developmentally disabled community. The specific cuts would amount to 2.5 million less hours that Direct Support Professionals (DSP) could provide services in group homes, where approximately 10,000 adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) reside. The reduction would total   more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news on Jan. 18, 2024: Today, State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) announced the launch of her "Safe Screens, Healthy Minds" initiative, which intends to address the harmful effects that social media platforms have on young, developing minds, and to hold social media platforms accountable for deceptive practices. During the first phase of Sen. Rezin's initiative, the Senator will hold a series of roundtables acros  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news: A group of Republican legislators is stepping up to provide legislative solutions to a migrant crisis that is overwhelming state and community resources. At a Capitol press conference on Tuesday, State Senators Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) and Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley), along with Assistant House Republican Leader John M. Cabello (R-Machesney Park) and State Representative Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford),   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs issued the following news release: Collectible currency, coins and jewelry are among the hundreds of unclaimed property items to be auctioned online from January 22 through January 26. "The online auction features a wide range of distinctive items that will appeal to anyone who is looking to add to a personal collection or anyone searching for the perfect gift," said Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, whose off  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 20 -- The Illinois Supreme Court issued the following news release: Justice Lisa Holder White and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the assignment of Ninth Circuit Chief Judge David L. Vancil Jr., to the Fourth District Appellate Court. Judge Vancil is being assigned to fill a newly created seat in the Fourth Appellate District. The assignment is effective February 2, 2024, and will continue until further order of the Court. "Judge Vancil has proven himself  more

FAIRFIELD, Ohio, Jan. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration issued the following news release: Federal inspectors examining injury and illness records at a Fairfield food services warehouse found workers suffered severe injuries at nearly four times the average rate for their industry, with a high percentage of these injuries categorized as ergonomic musculoskeletal disorders. Inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health  more

WESTBROOK, Maine, Jan. 20 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following news release on Jan. 19, 2024: Joined by business owners, immigrant advocates, municipal leaders, lawmakers, and others, Governor Janet Mills today unveiled a plan to establish an Office of New Americans within Maine State Government. With unemployment at record lows, and economic growth among the best in the nation, Maine faces a shortage of workers across regions, professions, and skill levels, especially in critica  more

LANSING, Michigan, Jan. 20 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 26 attorneys general in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) emphasizing the potential harm in the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) by telemarketers and asking the federal government to strongly restrict such usage. In November, the FCC posted a Notice of Inquiry requesting input on the implication  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Jan. 20 -- North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued the following news release: Attorney General Josh Stein joined the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and six other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against Strategic Financial Solutions (SFS) and related entities for allegedly running an illegal debt-relief scheme. Attorney General Stein is alleging that SFS, through various sham law firms it controlled, collected hundreds of millions of dollars  more

NEW YORK, Jan. 20 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release: New York Attorney General Letitia James, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and a multistate coalition of six attorneys general sued StratFS LLC (StratFS), formerly known as Strategic Financial Solutions, LLC and a web of related shell companies for running an illegal debt-relief enterprise and defrauding consumers (https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/court-filings/stratfs-complaint-a  more