MOBILE, Alabama, March 13 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama issued the following news release: A Honduran national living in Pensacola, Florida has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for orchestrating a massive immigration fraud scheme involving over 425 victims nationwide. According to court documents, Franklin Javier Perez-Rios, age 29, orchestrated a fraud scheme from 2017 through 2023 in which he claimed to be able to provide immigration-r  more

PHOENIX, Arizona, March 13 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release: In a letter sent to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this week, Attorney General Mayes and a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general urged the federal government to update and strengthen the rules technology companies must follow under the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). "A rapidly evolving technology landscape requires updated rules and strategies for keepin  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Western Regional Information Office issued the following report on March 12, 2024, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Los Angeles Area - February 2024": * * * Area prices were up 0.5 percent over the past month, up 3.4 percent from a year ago * * * Prices in the Los Angeles area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 0.5 percent in February, the  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Western Regional Information Office issued the following report on March 12, 2024, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Phoenix Area - February 2024": * * * Area prices were up 0.7 percent over the past two months, up 2.2 percent from a year ago * * * Prices in the Phoenix area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 0.7 percent for the two months   more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Western Regional Information Office issued the following report on March 12, 2024, entitled "Consumer Price Index, San Francisco Area - February 2024": * * * Area prices were up 1.5 percent over the past two months, up 2.4 percent from a year ago * * * Prices in the San Francisco area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 1.5 percent for the  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Western Regional Information Office issued the following report on March 12, 2024, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Seattle Area - February 2024": * * * Area prices were up 1.2 percent over the past two months, up 4.3 percent from a year ago * * * Prices in the Seattle area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 1.2 percent for the two months   more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Western Regional Information Office issued the following report on March 12, 2024, entitled "Consumer Price Index, West Region - February 2024": * * * Area prices were up 0.4 percent over the past month, up 3.2 percent from a year ago * * * Prices in the West Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 0.4 percent in February, the U.S. Bure  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Western Regional Information Office issued the following report on March 12, 2024, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Anchorage Area - February 2024": * * * Area prices were up 0.1 percent over the past two months, up 1.7 percent from a year ago * * * Prices in the Anchorage area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 0.1 percent for the two mon  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following report (No. USDL-24-0482) on March 11, 2024, entitled "State Employment and Unemployment -- January 2024": * * * Unemployment rates were higher in January in 4 states, lower in 2 states, and stable in 44 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-five states had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 6 states had decreases, an  more

SACRAMENTO, California, March 13 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his nomination of two Court of Appeal Justices: Judge Tara Desautels as an Associate Justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Two and Justice Gonzalo Martinez as Presiding Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Seven. The Governor also announced his appointment of 14 Superior Court Judges, which include   more

OAKLAND, California, March 13 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the results of targeted law enforcement operations conducted by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Oakland and the East Bay that resulted in the arrest of suspects linked to gangs, organized crime, and carjacking rings. Including the initial surge last month, CHP has now arrested 168 suspects, recovered 360 stolen vehicles, and seized 1  more

SACRAMENTO, California, March 13 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a pilot program to reconnect three communities historically divided by transportation infrastructure in California. The Reconnecting Communities: Highways to Boulevards grant program will increase access and traveling options in underserved and underinvested neighborhoods in Arcata, South San Francisco and southeast San Diego/National C  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 13 -- The California Public Utilities Commission issued the following decision denying petition to modify decision (Case No. 24-03-003) on March 12, 2024: * * * BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Order Instituting Rulemaking to Continue Implementation and Administration of California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program. DECISION DENYING THE PETITION TO MODIFY DECISION (D.) 14-12-081 AND D.20-08-043 Summary This decision den  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 12 -- The California Public Utilities Commission issued the following order of dismissal (Case No. 24-03-044) on March 11, 2024: * * * BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Sonic Telecom, LLC. (U7002C), Complainant, Prometheus Property Group; D. Rush Blakely, III; Pacific Bell d/b/a AT&T California (U1001C); Comcast Phone of California, LLC d/b/a Comcast Digital Phone (U5698C), Defendant. ORDER OF DISMISSAL Upon the written and u  more

SACRAMENTO, California, March 13 -- The California Public Utilities Commission issued the following proposed resolution (No. T-17815) on March 12, 2024: * * * This Resolution revokes the operating authority of two (2) telephone corporations for failing to comply with Commission-mandated Annual Reports and/or Annual Performance Bond requirements. SUMMARY This Resolution approves the revocation of the operating authority of two (2) telephone corporations (carriers) for failure to comply with o  more

RIVERSIDE, California, March 13 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: A Michigan man was found guilty by a jury today of maliciously setting fires to six semi-trailers belonging to a major commercial trucking company in the Inland Empire and High Desert during a 10-month span. Viorel Pricop, 66, of Allen Park, Michigan, was found guilty of six counts of arson of vehicle or property in interstate commerce. Pric  more

SAN DIEGO, California, March 13 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California issued the following news release on March 11, 2024: Anthony Duane Bell Sr. and his son, Anthony Duane Bell Jr., were sentenced in federal court today to 65 months and 12 months and one day, respectively, for their roles in fraudulently receiving more than $21 million in Medicare payments and lying to cover it up. The pair, along with others, conspired to commit Medicare fraud by billing  more

TRAVIS AFB, California, March 13 -- The U.S. Air Force's Travis Air Force Base (60th Air Mobility Wing) issued the following news: By Randall Couch, 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Derek Salmi hosted the Department of the Air Force Installation Commander's Caucus at Travis Air Force Base for the first time, March 5 - 6, 2024. The DAF CICC is a forum for Department of the Air Force installation commanders from within California to address compelling state and fe  more

TECATE, California, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Tecate Port of Entry discovered a Keel-billed toucan and 21 parrots concealed in the cargo area of a vehicle. On Saturday, at approximately 7:00 a.m., a CBP K9 team conducting pre-primary inspections encountered a 35-year-old woman driving a 2005 sedan applying for admission into th  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: * * * Use of the psychoactive cannabis product is higher in states without existing delta-8 regulations or cannabis legalization, NIH-funded study finds. * * * Approximately 11% of 12th-grade students across the United States reported past-year use of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8-THC, or delta-8 for short), according to  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of Energy issued the following news on March 12, 2024: The Biden-Harris Administration today released the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy. Developed by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Strategy will guide the deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (ZE-MHDV  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release: Elizabeth C. Babcock has been named director of the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, effective June 3. Babcock is currently the president and CEO of Forever Balboa Park in San Diego and brings over 20 years of museum leadership experience to the role. A cultural anthropologist and educator with experience in both the nonprofit and corporate sectors, Babcock has deep expertise in public engagement  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 13 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced $43.5 million to fund projects that will help protect and restore San Francisco Bay and local watersheds and wetlands. EPA also announced today that the Agency will be launching a new program office later this year that will focus solely on advancing the Agency's work in the San Francisco Bay watershed. Th  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau issued the following order (FRN No. 0003742632) on March 12, 2024: * * * In the Matter of San Francisco Television Station KBCW, Inc., Licensee of Station KPYX(TV), San Francisco, California ORDER By the Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau: I. INTRODUCTION 1. The Media Bureau (Bureau) has before it a request to cancel/1 the Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture issued to San Francisco Television Station KBCW  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: * * * Himes joins Chappell as independent decision maker in administrative complaint proceedings * * * The Federal Trade Commission announced the appointment of Jay L. Himes to serve as one of the agency's Administrative Law Judges, who are responsible for independent adjudicative fact-finding in the agency's administrative litigation and rulemaking proceedings. The Commission voted 3-0  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release on March 11, 2024: * * * Complaint charges Women's Cancer Fund and Gregory Anderson with raising more than $18 million from donors, with only 1% going to financial support for cancer patients. * * * The Federal Trade Commission and 10 states are suing sham charity Cancer Recovery Foundation International, also known as Women's Cancer Fund, and its operator, Gregory B. Anderson, for deceiving generous donor  more

BOISE, Idaho, March 13 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho issued the following new release on March 12, 2024: Patricia Gomez, 42, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. In imposing the sentence, U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford ordered that Gomez serve three years of supervised release after her term of incarceration. According to court records,   more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: * * * Eligible Taxpayers Can File Online Directly With The IRS For Free * * * The Internal Revenue Service announced today the full-scale launch of the innovative Direct File pilot and encouraged eligible taxpayers in 12 states to try the new service to file their tax returns online for free directly with the IRS. The pilot effort has been in testing mo  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory issued the following article: By Aliyah Kovner The particle accelerators that enable high energy physics and serve many fields of science, such as materials, medical, and fusion research, are driven by superconducting magnets that are, to put it simply, quite finicky. Superconductors are a special class of materials which, when cooled below a certain temperature, carry large electrical curr  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: As a part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $500 million in Federal Fiscal Year 2024 funding through MARAD's Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). Investments made under the PIDP focus on modernizing the Na  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 13 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: A Springfield man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a regional organized theft crew that stole catalytic converters from nearly 500 vehicles, robbed jewelry stores and stole ATMs. Nicolas Davila, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 37 months in prison and five years of supervised relea  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 13 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief (https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/News%20Documents/031124_Garland_Vanderstok_Amicus.pdf) with the Supreme Court, in the case Garland v. VanDerStok, in support of the federal government's request for review of a lower court decision that invalida  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 13 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 43 attorneys general, joined a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/News%20Documents/031124_COPPA_Rule_Review_Letter_FINAL.pdf) urging the federal government to update and strengthen the rules technology companies must follow under the federal Children's Onl  more

LIVERMORE, California, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory issued the following news: For Lauren Perry, a multifaceted career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has allowed her to embrace new opportunities in the workplace, all while managing parenthood with her husband. Perry is a mother of two children and is a training specialist within the Human Resources Workforce Development Division. Since joining LLNL in 2016, Perry has taken   more

LANSING, Michigan, March 13 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release: In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (https://www.doj.state.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/COPPA-Rule-Review-Letter_FINAL.pdf), Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a bipartisan coalition of 43 state attorneys general to urge the federal government to update and strengthen the rules technology companies must follow under the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection   more

HELENA, Montana, March 13 -- Gov. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: Governor Greg Gianforte today cut the ribbon on the expansion of 360 Electric in Missoula and celebrated the company's growing investment in Montana's economy. "Montana's economy is growing and companies like 360 Electric are not only creating good-paying jobs, but also equipping the next generation with in-demand skills through apprenticeships," Gov. Gianforte said. "With our pro-  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 13 -- North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued the following news release: Attorney General Josh Stein and a bipartisan coalition of 43 attorneys general urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to update and strengthen the rules technology companies must follow under the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). "Our laws need to catch up to our technology," said Attorney General Josh Stein. "I'm urging the FTC to strengthen online priva  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Chris Rodriguez as superintendent of Cabrillo National Monument. He will begin his new role April 21. Rodriguez has been in various park leadership roles for 16 years. He currently serves as the chief of facilities and administration for four NPS sites in the Oakland area: Eugene O'Neil National His  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Naval Postgraduate School issued the following news: By Dan Linehan As white-capped waves from an ocean undergoing rapid degradation broke ashore along the picturesque coast of Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, a sense of urgency filled students, faculty and staff from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability gathered at the inaugural Oceans Workshop, Feb. 9. The workshop is the latest collaboration under an E  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 (TNSres) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Alaska Fisheries Science Center issued the following feature story: * * * Biologists return for the first time in 4 years to find that the island and the distribution of northern fur seals was radically different. * * * In August 2023, marine mammal biologists from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center returned to Bogoslof Island for the first time in 4 years. Bogoslof is home to one of the three northern fu  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a hearing Aug. 6 and 7 on its investigation into how and why a door plug departed from a Boeing 737-9 MAX passenger jet during flight. The NTSB conducts an investigative hearing to assist in obtaining information necessary to determine the facts, circumstances, and probable cause of the transportation accident or incident under  more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, March 13 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: After deliberating for three hours, a federal jury late on the afternoon of March 8, 2024, found Paris Carter guilty of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl and conspiracy to commit money laundering, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Carter, 34, formerly  more

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, March 13 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sinaloa, Mexico man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 11, 2024. Melecio Rodriguez Medina, 39, was sentenced to 27 years and three months in federal prison, follo  more

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, March 12 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories issued the following news release: * * * Printing stronger materials five times faster * * * 3D printing has changed the world. It's allowed the aerospace, medical, automotive, manufacturing and many other industries to customize parts and prototypes in ways they never could before. It has drastically increased flexibility and cost effectiveness while reducing waste and production time  more

FRESNO, California, March 13 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: * * * Dried Fruit Supplier Settles Federal Charges It Harassed and Retaliated Against Female Farmworkers * * * Sunshine Raisin Corp., doing business as National Raisin, will pay $2 million and furnish extensive injunctive relief to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit, the federal agency announced to  more

LAREDO, Texas, March 13 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: A former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer has been convicted in two separate federal cases and now faces decades in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Emanuel Isac Celedon, 36, Laredo, pleaded guilty to four counts of bringing an undocumented alien to the United States through the Lincoln Juarez Port of Entry (POE) in Laredo. In a separate  more

MONTEREY, California, March 13 -- The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center issued the following news: By Natela Cutter TRADOC Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Harris, observed two Chinese Mandarin classes at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center March 4. The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Harris, observed two Chinese Mandarin classes at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center March 4, while engag  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the following news release: Direct File Now Available in Spanish, Open to All Eligible Taxpayers 24/7, New State-By-State Eligibility Numbers Released Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) launched the new Direct File Pilot Program, including a new Spanish version of the free tax filing service following weeks of successful testing. The Spanish language version of Direct File will launch   more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news on March 12, 2024: By Jim Garamone, DOD News AUKUS, the trilateral security agreement among Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, is already bringing the three allies closer together, and concrete progress will be measured over the next few years, the chiefs of the countries' land forces said yesterday at a Center for Security and International Studies presentation. AUKUS, signed in September 2021  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency issued the following news release: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Radioman Third Class (RM3c) Starring B. Winfield, 22, of San Rafael, California, killed during World War II, was accounted for on June 24, 2019. On Dec. 7, 1941, Winfield was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese airc  more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 13 -- Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes issued the following news: Attorney General Sean D. Reyes joined a bipartisan comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its new rule under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) urging the Commission to "update the COPPA Rule to keep pace and give State Attorneys General the tools they need to respond to a digital world rife with risk." The letter, which was led by the States of Oregon, Illinois,  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 13 -- Vice President Kamala Harris issued the following remarks on March 11, 2024, at a campaign event at Fairmont San Francisco Hotel: * * * THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please have a seat. Please have a seat. Is this on? It is on? Now it's on. Good afternoon, everyone. It is good to be home, and it's good to be with so many friends. I lost my voice somewhere along the five states that I've been in the last five days. (Laughter.) But I intend to find it ag  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 (TNSres) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet: * * * President Biden Announces Over $3 Billion to Reconnect Communities That Have Been Left Behind and Divided by Transportation Infrastructure Today, President Biden will travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to announce $3.3 billion to reconnect and rebuild communities in more than 40 states, including those that were divided by transportation infrastructure decades ago and have long been overlooked. These project  more