CHICAGO, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: A Chicago trader has been convicted of fraud for engaging in unauthorized speculative bond trading that cost his employer and others more than $30 million. A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Wednesday convicted KEITH WAKEFIELD, 50, of Chicago, on one count of securities fraud and three counts of wire fraud. Each count is punishable by a   more

ARGONNE, Illinois, Feb. 9 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: * * * For the first time, Argonne scientists demonstrate that modernized opposed-piston engine can run on zero-carbon hydrogen * * * Hydrogen-powered opposed-piston engine can potentially power hard-to-electrify vehicles for long-haul transit. Invented more than 100 years ago, the opposed-piston engine had its heyday during World War II, poweri  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Feb. 9 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Memphis District issued the following news release: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host public scoping meetings for the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study (LMR Comp) at venues throughout the study area between Feb. 27 and March 11. The meetings will consist of a remote overview presentation and followed by an on-site open house to meet with and collect input from the public. The Memphis District will host  more

UPTON, New York, Feb. 9 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory issued the following news release: * * * Scientists demonstrate new genetic strategy for preventing breakdown of plant oils needed for biofuels and other products * * * Biologists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have demonstrated a new way to boost the oil content of plant leaves and seeds. As described in the journal New Phytologist, the scientists ident  more

DENVER, Colorado, Feb. 9 -- Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colorado, issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: Today, Governor Jared Polis announced Dannette R. Smith as the Commissioner of the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). "Expanding access to the behavioral healthcare Coloradans need continues to be a top priority for my administration, and we are excited that Dannette can help us achieve our vision. Throughout her 30-year career, Dannette has been a fierce advocate for accessible be  more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, Feb. 9 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 19 state attorneys general in supporting the Federal Trade Commission's ("FTC") proposed Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees. The comment letter was filed on Wednesday in response to an FTC notice of proposed rulemaking, which allowed for comments on the proposed rule's provisions, including: * Pro  more

SACRAMENTO, California, Feb. 9 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: Associate Administrator Francisco Sanchez of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience today reminded Iowa small businesses of the March 8, 2024, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by The Hotel Davenport Apartments Building Collapse in Scott County that occurred May 28, 2023. According to Sanche  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Energy issued the following news on Feb. 7, 2024: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced five new Biden-Harris Administration appointees joining the DOE team to work alongside U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in combating climate change and helping the United States achieve President Biden's ambitious clean energy goals. With these new hires and recent promotions, DOE appointees continue to make up an historically diverse te  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division issued the following news brief on Feb. 8, 2024: * * * * Employers: NurseRight Staffing Agency LLC, Kwame Adjekum * Actions: Fair Labor Standards Act complaint filing * Courts: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division * Investigation findings: On Feb. 7, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois seeking a tot  more

ARGONNE, Illinois, Feb. 9 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: * * * Gravitational lensing maps from initial data promise even more detail * * * Argonne is part of a multi-institutional effort to survey the sky for clues about the origins and nature of our universe. For more than five years, scientists at the South Pole Telescope in Antarctica have been observing the sky with an upgraded camera. The extend  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: Today in Canton, Ohio, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott celebrated a $46 million investment in the Canton Water Department. Through this investment, the Canton Water Department will ensure high-quality drinking water while creating dozens of good-paying, public-sector jobs operating and maintaining the system for   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing almost $1.8 million in cooperative agreements with six partner organizations for outreach and technical assistance to promote awareness and understanding of the Conservation Reserve Program-Transition Incentives Program among agricultural communities. USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers the program as an impo  more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Feb. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Federal Voting Assistance Program issued the following news: The following states have elections for federal office in the next 90 days: P- Presidential Primary; S- State Primary; D- District Primary; T- Territory Primary; R- State Runoff *Dates subject to change. Election dates marked with an asterisk are updated and state-approved. February 2024: February 3rd: South Carolina (P) - Democratic February 6th: Nevada (P) Februa  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued the following news release: The Illinois Commerce Commission recently approved a Stipulated Agreement to install new automatic warning devices, circuitry, and minor approach grade improvements at the County Road 1700 North highway-rail grade crossing (AAR/DOT #072414Y) of BNSF Railway Company's track near Fowler in Adams County. "Illinois has the second largest rail system in the nation--that includes more than 10,000 pub  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: The Illinois Commerce Commission recently approved a Stipulated Agreement to install new automatic warning devices at the County Road 2300 North highway-rail grade crossing (AAR/DOT #288979P) of Illinois Central's (IC) Railroad track near Danforth in Iroquois County. "Illinois has the second largest rail system in the nation--that includes more than 10,000 public highway- rail c  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: The Illinois Commerce Commission recently approved a Stipulated Agreement to install new automatic warning devices, circuitry, and approach grade improvements at the 300th Street (AAR/DOT #292817U) highway-rail crossing of Illinois Central's (IC) Railroad track near Latham in Logan County. "Illinois has the second largest rail system in the nation--that includes more than 10,000  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Illinois veterans may soon have a new way to connect with careers in state government, thanks to a measure advanced by State Senator Michael E. Hastings. "Our nation's heroes have worked tirelessly to defend our freedoms and democratic values," said Hastings (D-Frankfort). "This internship program will serve as another way for veterans to continue their mission after retiring their uniforms by serving our  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Under a new measure from State Senator Laura Murphy, residents of mobile home parks could see improved transparency and protections. "As any member of the community, mobile home owners deserve to know their basic rights," said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). "They have a right to know that if the park owner does not have a license, they do not have the right to continue to collect rent, nor can they be evicted fo  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: To provide additional access to Illinois' Early Childhood Construction Grant program, State Senator Ram Villivalam passed legislation out of the Senate Education Committee that would make community-based not-for-profits eligible for $40 million in grant funds. "Early childhood organizations provide necessary assistance to families across Illinois who are struggling to access child care resources," said Vi  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs issued the following news release: Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and State Rep. Will Davis teamed up to return more than $13,700 in missing money to the Homewood Fire Department. The returned funds were from a claim the Homewood Fire Department filed for money from a vendor, Motorola Solutions. The unclaimed property ended up at the Illinois Treasurer's Office, which administers the I-CASH program. Helping   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following weekly report entitled "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims" for week ending Feb. 8, 2024: * * * SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 218,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 224,000 to 227,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,250, an increase of 3,750 from  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Feb. 9 -- North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: Attorney General Josh Stein and Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry today led a coalition of 19 attorneys general supporting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)'s proposal to prohibit junk fees. These hidden junk fees end up raising costs for North Carolinians when they're shopping online, moving, purchasing tickets, and traveling. "We all know what it's like  more

ALBANY, New York, Feb. 9 -- The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets issued the following news release on Feb. 8, 2024: New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced applications are being accepted for New York State's fifth annual Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Leopold Conservation Award. Presented in partnership with Sand County Foundation, the award honors a farm and its nominating Soil and Water Conservation District for extraordinary a  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 56942) involving Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois: * * * Rep Org: Illinois Emergency Mgmt. Agency Licensee: Rush University Medical Center Region: 3 City: Chicago State: IL License #: IL-01766-01 Agreement: Y NRC Notified By: Whitney Cox HQ OPS Officer: Natalie Starfish Notification Date: 02/01/2024 Notification Time: 15:35 [ET] Event Date: 01/31/2024 Event Time: 00  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (TNSres) -- The National Science Foundation issued the following news release: The U.S. National Science Foundation is investing $9.75 million to advance novel solutions for complex societal and economic challenges inspired by biological systems. NSF's investment awards 15 multidisciplinary teams to Phase 1 of the NSF Convergence Accelerator's Track M: Bio-Inspired Design Innovations. The track leverages the understanding of living systems and utilizes expertise spanning sc  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Feb. 9 -- Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry issued the following news: Attorney General Michelle Henry is co-leading a coalition of 19 state Attorneys General in support of the Federal Trade Commission's proposed Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees -- the most recent action in her ongoing efforts to protect consumers from "junk fees." The Attorneys' General comment letter was filed Wednesday in response to an FTC notice of proposed rulemaking,  more

SCOTT AFB, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- The U.S. Air Force Scott Air Force Base issued the following news: The Scott Air Force Base Scott Education and Training Center will officially change to an electronic Weighted Airman Promotion System testing site, February 15, 2024. Starting with the CY24 E6 promotion cycle, Airmen participating in the 2024 technical sergeant promotion cycles will be the first to use the new system. For testing, promotion-eligible Airmen should expect emails prompting them to c  more

URBANA, Illinois, Feb. 9 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois issued the following news release: A federal grand jury returned an indictment on February 6, 2024, charging a Clinton, Indiana, woman, Davetta Cox, 31, with an alleged murder-for-hire scheme occurring from January 16, 2024, through January 26, 2024. The indictment alleges in two counts that Cox sought to hire someone she believed to be a hitman to kill another individual. The indictment further al  more