LINCOLN, Nebraska, Feb. 28 -- Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers issued the following letter on Feb. 26, 2024, with 21 attorneys general: * * * To: The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2707 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C. 20528 The Honorable Xavier Becerra, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201 The Honorable Christopher Wray, Director, Federal Bureau o  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate issued the following feature article on Feb. 27, 2024: * * * Two recent field demonstrations brought government, academia, and industry together to evaluate innovative counter-unmanned aircraft systems. * * * Although drones have many positive applications, bad actors can use them for nefarious purposes. In June 2023, a drone caused all flights to be grounded for about 30 minutes at Pittsburgh   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women's Health (OWH) has awarded prizes to the winners in the final phase of the Reducing Disparities in Breastfeeding Innovation Challenge. The national competition was created to identify and reward programs that increase breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates - and decrease disparities - among breastfeeding mother  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2024: Four erosion control company owners or managers pleaded guilty to rigging bids and fixing prices as part of a conspiracy targeting a total of over $100 million in publicly funded transportation construction contracts across Oklahoma. Stanley Mark Smith, a company owner, pleaded guilty today. Roy Henry Henrich, a former owner and officer of another company, pleaded guilty on Dec. 4, 2023. R  more

TULSA, Oklahoma, Feb. 28 -- The city of Tulsa issued the following news: Mayor Bynum has selected Erran Persley to serve as the City of Tulsa's new Economic Development Director. Persley, a Kentucky native, will start his new role at the City of Tulsa by the first week in April 2024. Persley has more than 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors with a focus in economic development, foreign direct investment, international trade and small business consulting. As Economic Deve  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Feb. 28 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2024, by State Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City: * * * Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd released the following statement applauding the signing of legislation eliminating the state sales tax on groceries. "This is tax relief that our caucus has advocated for years. It passed with bipartisan support and will truly benefit all Oklahomans. We're happy to see this grocery   more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Feb. 28 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2024, by State Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City: * * * Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, today released the following statement after Senate Bill 2035 unanimously passed through the Aeronautics and Transportation Committee. Senate Bill 2035 was authored by Pro Tem Treat in the wake of a tragic accident that involved his son, Mason. He was driving legally with proper doc  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Feb. 28 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2024: State Sen. Julia Kirt has won committee passage for her legislation to create a more balanced eviction timeline in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1575 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. "SB 1575 puts in statute what responsible, fair landlords already do when tenants can't pay," said Kirt, D-Oklahoma City. "The bill will still enable landlords to move quickly when th  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Feb. 28 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2024: Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, won approval Tuesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee for her legislation to better prepare individuals stepping into the role of guardian of an individual with dementia. Senate Bill 1751 would require training specific to dementia, including understanding the disease, communication techniques, and information about resources for caregivers. Dossett   more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Feb. 28 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following news release: Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville, commends the recent signing of House Bill 1955 by Gov. Kevin Stitt. The bill, which eliminates the state portion of the sales tax on groceries, passed off the Senate floor with a vote of 42 to 2 including support from Woods. "I am thrilled to see Governor Stitt sign House Bill 1955 into law, eliminating the state sales tax on groceries," Woods said. "This measure will d  more

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, Feb. 28 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2024: Attorney General Alan Wilson today sent a letter demanding that federal officials address a recent report that found unaccompanied migrant children in the custody of the federal government are being released into unsafe situations, including into human trafficking. The attorneys general from 22 states demand that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Ale  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Feb. 28 -- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued the following news: Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti sent a letter, along with 21 other Attorneys General, demanding Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray address a recent report issued by the HHS Office of Inspector General. The report found   more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Feb. 28 -- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued the following news on Feb. 27, 2024: Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a coalition of state attorneys general in a legal brief arguing that Texas has a right to defend itself against invasion. The coalition of 24 state attorneys general, led by Kansas, filed the amicus brief in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals late last week. "The federal government has abdicated its responsibility," Attorney General  more