CHICAGO, Illinois, April 4 -- Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued the following remarks on April 3, 2024, at the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Grantee Conference: * * * Thanks everyone. Thanks Eddie. Eddie, if getting a call from my chief of staff bring up the Wu-Tang Clan -- what does a call ... what image does a call from me bring up? You can tell me afterwards. Chicago is also my hometown, and it's great to be here. Almost three years ago, when I had be  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 4 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following remarks on April 3, 2024, by Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer at the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Grantee Conference: * * * Thank you, Eddie, I don't know what to make of the fact that I didn't get a Wu-Tang comparison, but I appreciate your leadership and your work in the Department and I want to thank also the Attorney General for his words of support and for his   more

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, April 5 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Detroit District issued the following news release: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District is seeking lease proposals for office space as part of their plan to move the district headquarters further into the heart of the Central Business District in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. "Relocating our district headquarters is not just about changing our address; it's about positioning ourselves to better serve our workfo  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 4 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following remarks on April 3, 2024, by Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon at the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Grantee Conference: * * * Thank you so much to our Acting Associate Attorney General, Ben Mizer, and to Attorney General Garland for opening our national conference on community violence intervention (CVI). Good morning, everyone. I'm Amy Solomon, the Assistant Attorney General   more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 5 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs issued the following remarks on April 3, 2024, by Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon at the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Grantee Conference: * * * AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY Thank you so much to our Acting Associate Attorney General, Ben Mizer, and to Attorney General Garland for opening our national conference on community violence intervention. Good morning, everyone.  more

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois, April 5 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Rock Island District issued the following news release: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is hosting a public open house April 30 to discuss plans for Phase II of an ecosystem restoration project in Lower Pool 13 of the Mississippi River. The event is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. at Eagle Point Lodge located at 4101   more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on April 3, 2024: Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $120,000 settlement with Forge Group DeKalb LLC, known as DeKalb Forge Co., to resolve alleged failure to report toxic chemical releases in DeKalb, Illinois, violating the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, or EPCRA. The company forges and shapes steel products using drop hammers and mechanical presses at th  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 5 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on April 4, 2024: Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office is charging the owner and president of an Evergreen Park, Illinois fencing company for allegedly scamming Cook County residents out of more than $20,000 for work he never completed. Attorney General Raoul charged Eric Zabalza, 42, of Chicago, with 13 counts of theft, Class 3 felonies each punishable by up to five years i  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Vowing to make construction zones safer for workers and motorists, state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, advanced legislation to better enforce work zone speed limits with automated camera equipment. "When some motorists drive recklessly in construction zones, it creates a dangerous and potentially deadly situation for workers and responsible drivers alike," Andrade said. "It's unacceptable that hundreds o  more

BOLINGBROOK, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Dagmara "Dee" Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, is working to expand access to on-campus health screenings for students by passing new legislation through a House committee that would require insurance to cover care at school-based health centers across the state. "School-based health centers make it easier for kids to receive the kind of healthcare they need with minimal disruptions," said Avelar. "With   more

PEORIA, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: With four entries remaining in the Illinois Manufacturers' Association's (IMA) annual "Makers Madness," state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, is highlighting participating local companies and encouraging residents to learn more about unique items made in Illinois. "Our region continues to produce unique, cutting-edge products that are built by workers right here," Gordon-Booth said. "Once again this year we  more

PEORIA, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: With Illinois anticipating a significant increase in electric vehicle usage, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, is highlighting an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) funding opportunity to support the construction of new charging stations across the state. "This is another step forward as we prepare to meet the travel demands of today and tomorrow," Gordon-Booth said. "By making strong investme  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Elizabeth 'Lisa' Hernandez, D-Cicero, is fighting for fair pay for restaurant workers and a level playing field for all businesses by advancing new legislation that would phase out lower wages for tipped workers and help suburban restaurants compete with their Chicago counterparts. "This is a pro-worker, pro-business, pro-growth initiative," Hernandez said. "By taking the principle of 'one fair  more

JOLIET, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news on April 4, 2024: State Representative Larry Walsh Jr. (D-Elwood) sponsored a resolution adopted by the Illinois House of Representatives (HR0637) on March 13th, 2024, to celebrate and honor World War II veteran Joseph "Joe" Belman of Crest Hill, IL on the occasion of his 100th birthday. The resolution honoring Mr. Belman, passed unanimously through the legislative body, states in part; "WHEREAS, Joe Belman enl  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Keeping insurance companies in check, state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-South Holland, introduced legislation to require insurance companies provide customers with auto policy coverage if their vehicle was stolen regardless of the context of the incident. "Insurance companies finding loopholes to deny coverage for their customers is just wrong and unfair," Jones said. "If your car got stolen, you'd be pretty u  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is working to bring greater efficiency and accountability to state government by advancing new legislation through a House committee that will give the state's financial watchdogs more tools to oversee management of taxpayer dollars. "The auditing process, although daunting, is a crucial aspect of ensuring transparency and accountability in government finances. Our goa  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: In recognition of her historic status as Decatur's first female mayor during Women's History Month, state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, spoke about Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe in a speech on the chamber floor of the Illinois House of Representatives. "I am proud to welcome a fellow Decatur resident and friend to our state capitol," said Scherer. "Thank you for all you have done to move Decatur and Central Illi  more

OTTAWA, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, will continue his efforts to protect Illinois' forests for its hunters, wildlife and greenery through his appointment to the Illinois Forestry Development Council. "As an outdoorsman and nature enthusiast, I am ready to get to work to protect Illinois' forests and make them work better for everyone across our state," said Yednock. "We are in the midst of a climate crisis, an  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 5 -- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued the following news release: The Illinois Commerce Commission recently approved a stipulated agreement to install new automatic warning devices and grade improvements at the North 2200th Road highway-rail grade crossing (AAR/DOT #072583L) of BNSF's railroad track near Prairie City, McDonough County. "Investing in Illinois' existing rail safety infrastructure helps reduce collisions, injuries, and fatalities at highway-rai  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 5 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is now accepting a second round of applications as part of the $3 million, 5-year Underserved Farmer to Farmer grant from the Environmental Protection Agency's Gulf of Mexico division. The DNR will continue to distribute the remaining funds from the $3 million EPA grant to eligible applicants across the state over the remaining three years of the gra  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following weekly report entitled "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims" for week ending April 4, 2024: * * * SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 221,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 210,000 to 212,000. The 4-week moving average was 214,250, an increase of 2  more

LANSING, Michigan, April 5 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release on April 4, 2024: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a multistate coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a motion to intervene yesterday to defend the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC's) Final Rule on climate-related disclosures for investors. The SEC's Final Rule provides investors with standardized, material information about climate-related risks. These disclosur  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 5 -- North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued the following news release: Attorney General Josh Stein sued Mariner Finance for widespread violations of multiple consumer protection laws, including allegedly charging North Carolinians for hidden add-on products that they either didn't know about or didn't agree to buy. In 2019 alone, Mariner charged consumers $121.7 million nationwide in premiums and fees for add-on products, not including all of the addit  more

OMAHA, Nebraska, April 5 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service issued the following news release: The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Christopher Collins as the superintendent of the newly established New Philadelphia National Historic Site located near Barry, Illinois. Collins is currently the superintendent at Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park in Missouri. He will assume his new role at New Philadelphia later this spring. "I am pleased to name Chris as  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute issued the following news release on April 4, 2024: For the first time, the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) is celebrating the birth of two pygmy slow lorises, an endangered species. Small Mammal House keepers reported for duty the morning of March 21 and observed that 3-year-old mother Naga had given birth overnight and was caring for two infants. She and the babies' 2-yea  more

SCOTT AFB, Illinois, April 5 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Transportation Command issued the following news release: U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) proudly celebrates the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), reaffirming its ironclad commitment to the defensive alliance. NATO marked its 75th anniversary today, honoring the Washington Treaty signed by 12 Allies in 1949. USTRANSCOM, since its inception, has stood with NATO, supporting numerous operat  more

PLATTEVILLE, Wisconsin, April 5 -- The Universities of Wisconsin issued the following news on April 4, 2024: The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted today to approve a 3.75 percent increase in tuition for resident undergraduates during the 2024-25 academic year, a rate similar to recent inflation. The new tuition rates increase tuition for the second straight year after 10 years of a tuition freeze. The total proposed average cost of attendance for resident undergraduates will in  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency issued the following news release on April 4, 2024: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that Navy Electrician's Mate 3rd Class (EM3c) Charles D. Brown, 22, of Arcola, Illinois, killed during World War II, was accounted for on March 22, 2021. On Dec. 7, 1941, Brown was assigned to the battleship USS West Virginia, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was att  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 (TNSres) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet on April 4, 2024: * * * Extreme House Republican Plan Would Cut Medicare and Social Security While Slashing Taxes for Big Corporations and the Wealthy During his State of the Union Address, President Biden made clear that he will always stand up for America's seniors and stand in the way of any Congressional Republicans who try to cut Social Security and Medicare. He laid out his vision for a future where we make   more

WASHINGTON, April 4 (TNSres) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet on April 3, 2024: * * * House Republicans Propose Severely Undermining Fight Against Opioid Crisis in Latest Extreme Budget Proposal The Republican Study Committee, which represents 100% of House Republican leadership and about 80% of their members, released a budget that would severely cut critical funding for states to respond to the overdose epidemic. More Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 die from opio  more