WASHINGTON, March 23 -- The U.S. Department of Energy issued the following news on March 22, 2024: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the second cohort of communities selected as part of the Communities Local Energy Action Program (Communities LEAP), a unique technical assistance initiative designed to help disadvantaged communities and those with historical ties to fossil fuel industries take direct control of their clean energy future. The 30 selected communities will receive  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, March 23 (TNSrep) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Consumer Finance Institute issued a working paper (No. 24-08) on March 22, 2024, entitled "The Effect of Student Loan Payment Burdens on Borrower Outcomes." The working paper was written by senior research fellow Tomas E. Monarrez and Lesley J. Turner of the University of Chicago. Here are excerpts: * * * Rising student loan debt and concerns over unaffordable payments provide a rationale for the broa  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued the following recall alert: WASHINGTON, March. 21, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for imported frozen Siluriformes products that were illegally imported from the People's Republic of China and are ineligible for entry into the United States. The products were not certified for export to the U.S. by the gove  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 56957) involving Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant, Pennsylvania: * * * Facility: Peach Bottom Region: 1 State: PA Unit: [2] [] [] RX Type: [2] GE-4,[3] GE-4 NRC Notified By: Bill Linell HQ OPS Officer: Thomas Herrity Notification Date: 02/09/2024 Notification Time: 15:07 [ET] Event Date: 02/09/2024 Event Time: 13:22 [EST] Last Update Date: 03/21/2024 Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 C  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, March 23 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development issued the following news on March 22, 2024: Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger today announced the approval of a $100,000 loan to help Big Jet, LLC expand its Allegheny County operation. The funding, approved through the Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority (PMBDA), builds on Governor Josh Shapiro's commitment to spurring economic dev  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, March 23 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources issued the following news on March 22, 2024: Bureau of State Parks Director John Hallas today announced that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is beginning or has underway six major construction projects in Delaware Canal State Park in New Hope, Solebury Township, and Washington Crossing, Bucks County. A total investment of more than $9 million in canal infrastructu  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, March 23 -- The Pennsylvania House Republicans issued the following news release on March 22, 2024: In a significant move to protect and defend constitutional rights, a group of House members today introduced a package of bills aimed at safeguarding freedom of speech and conscience. The proposed legislation addresses concerns surrounding compelled speech and ensures that individuals retain the right to express their First Amendment right to free speech without facing  more

MCCLELLANDTOWN, Pennsylvania, March 23 -- The Pennsylvania House Republicans issued the following news release: This week, House Bill 1201 passed the House with a 139-62 vote. It would require certain businesses to protect consumer privacy and limit the collection of consumer data. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette) issued this statement following the passage of the bill: "In theory, this bill is something I can support. Consumers deserve   more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, March 23 -- The Pennsylvania House Republicans issued the following news release: State Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and State Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) honored 100-year-old Spring Grove resident Quentin Stambaugh in Harrisburg this week. Stambaugh, a staple of the Spring Grove community, honorably served our nation in World War II. After returning home from World War II, he worked at PH Gladfelter and later served as a magistrate in York County for 24 years. "I  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, March 23 -- The Pennsylvania Senate Republicans issued the following news release: Often forgotten in domestic violence situations are the victims' animals, but new legislation introduced by Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49) seeks to provide protections to those animals. "Data from the Humane Society of the United States reveals a staggering number of animals are targeted by those who abuse their children or spouses, with one survey illustrating that 71% of domestic violence v  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, March 23 -- The Pennsylvania Treasurer issued the following news release on March 22, 2024: Treasurer Stacy Garrity today commended members of the Pennsylvania House for unanimously approving House Bill 1745, sponsored by Rep. Paul Friel (D-26), which will provide a tax credit for employers who contribute to PA 529 College and Career Savings Program accounts owned by their employees. The bill includes an amendment sponsored by Rep. Joe Emrick (R-137) to extend the same  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, March 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release: United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Donna Fecondo, 63, of Garnet Valley, PA, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg to 46 months in federal prison for tax crimes. Fecondo was also ordered to pay restitution. Fecondo pleaded guilty in 2022, admitting that she failed to remit employment (payrol  more

HOUSTON, Texas, March 22 -- President Biden issued the following remarks on March 21, 2024, at a campaign reception at a private residence: * * * THE PRESIDENT: Whoa. Holy mackerel. (Applause.) I'm -- folks, I never thought I'd be down in this garage with a better scene than all those vehicles, but you are. (Laughter.) And please sit down, if you have a seat. Well, John Eddie and Sheridan, thank you for hosting me again and again and again and again. Your friendship is real, and it means a l  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, March 23 -- The Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System issued the following news on March 22, 2024: The Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) voted today to make new investment commitments totaling as much as $1 billion. The investments, which were approved in two separate votes, concern investment commitments of $500 million to a core fixed income fund, Garcia Hamilton & Associates LP, and $500 milli  more

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release: HHS Principals visited 11 medical schools marking Match Day in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee, Connecticut, California, the Cherokee Nation, Georgia, Wisconsin, and New Mexico Secretary Xavier Becerra delivered remarks and celebrated students at Howard University's College of Medicine marking the 71st anniversary of Match Day - the annual nationwide event where  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and Innovative Technology Administration's Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office issued the following news on March 22, 2024: You may have heard that on March 14, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-investments-innovative-transportation) more than $50 million in grant awards for 34 technology demonstratio  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, March 23 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration issued the following news release on March 22, 2024: Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are testing the use of new hand-held language translation-interpretation devices in an effort to support a more positive security checkpoint experience for individuals who are limited English proficient, international travelers and individuals who are deaf or hard of he  more