BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 23 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2024: A Lynn man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that manufactured and distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing narcotics. Melvin Nieves, 25, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 27 months in pris  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: Projects Funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act Will Lower Costs and Create Revenue for Rural Business Owners and Farms WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2024 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $207 million in renewable energy and domestic fertilizer projects to lower energy bills, generate new income, create jobs, and strengthen competi  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 23 -- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued the following news: Mayor Michelle Wu signed a public tree protection ordinance on a key recommendation stemming from the City's Urban Forest Plan (https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/urban-forest-plan). The Urban Forest Plan, released in September 2022, outlines strategies to preserve, cultivate, and expand the city's urban forest. A tree protection ordinance is a critical action item in preserving existing c  more

DENVER, Colorado, Jan. 23 -- Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colorado, issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2024: Today, Governor Polis and fellow Governors called upon Congressional Leaders and the Biden Administration to come together to reach a border security deal that will support states, like Colorado, seeing an influx of new arrivals. "We need Congress to take action to secure our border and pass comprehensive immigration reform. States can't do this alone. It's time to put politics aside   more

DENVER, Colorado, Jan. 23 -- Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colorado, issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2024: Today, in a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, Governor Polis, joined fellow governors in urging the commissioner to provide guidance on the taxability of Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) benefits, and also encouraged the IRS to prevent double taxation. The Governor was joined by Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Massachusetts Governor Maura  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Jan. 23 -- The Indiana House Republicans issued the following news release: State Rep. Dave Hall (R-Norman) said he wants to encourage more Hoosiers to safely store their firearms through his proposal to offer a $500 tax credit for gun storage expenses. "This legislation could incentivize more Hoosiers to utilize gun storage devices, which goes hand in hand with responsible gun ownership," Hall said. "We know that safe storage can help ensure firearms don't end up in the  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: A Lawrence man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston to his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. Melvin Antonio Perez Medina, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 64 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2023, Perez Medina pleaded guilty to one count o  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 23 -- Gov. Maura Healey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2024: Governor Maura T. Healey today filed two bills that would increase resources for Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns. The Municipal Empowerment Act expands on tools available to municipal leaders to generate revenue by allowing them to increase local option taxes on meals and lodging. The bill would also create a new local Motor Vehicle Excise surcharge option - a provision  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: A leader of a Lowell-based gang, One Family Clique (OFC), was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for conspiring with fellow OFC gang members to traffic wholesale quantities of cocaine, and to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds through casinos in Canada. Virak Prum, a/k/a "Polo," a/k/a "Capo," a/k/a "Lips," 37, was sente  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: BOSTON - Two Malden men have been sentenced in federal court in Boston for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine disguised as Adderall, Xanax and oxycodone in and around the Malden area. Matthew Ramos, 26, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 90 months in prison and four years of supervised release. In  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 23 -- Gov. Maura Healey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2024: Less than a week after her State of the Commonwealth address in which she vowed to tackle rising housing costs, Governor Maura Healey today committed resources to support the production and preservation of more than 1,900 housing units in 19 communities across the state. Gov. Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus joined s  more

TAUNTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 23 -- MassDevelopment issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2024: MassDevelopment today announced the hiring of a new Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Fellow, Misha Thomas, who will work full-time in the Taunton TDI district for the next two years. Misha joins an existing cohort of TDI fellows who currently work in TDI districts in Attleboro, Barnstable (Hyannis), Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Revere, Spring  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following remarks on Jan. 22, 2024, by Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda at the 51st Annual Securities Regulation Institute: * * * I am honored to be delivering the Alan B. Levenson Keynote Address before so many distinguished securities law practitioners. Alan's legacy and work at the Commission staff still resonates on the securities industry and market participants today. Alan served as Director of the Division of Corporatio  more

LOS ANGELES, California, Jan. 23 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2024: A former Long Beach resident was sentenced today to 121 months in federal prison for leading a telemarketing scheme in which boiler room tactics were used to scam dozens of timeshare owners out of more than $5 million by giving them false promises of financial relief. Michael McDonagh, 43, who currently resides in Cohasset, Massachusetts, wa  more

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Jan. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center issued the following news on Jan. 22, 2024: On January 17, 2024, the U.S. DOT Volpe Center and Federal Aviation Administration held the fourth discussion of a seven-part thought leadership series titled Environmentally Responsible Advanced Air Mobility. The discussion focused on the work of FAA and the U.S. DOT Volpe Center to understand the environmental impacts and  more