BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 18 -- Gov. Maura Healey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024: Governor Maura T. Healey today participated in the Biden-Harris administration's "Making Care Work" event, in honor of Care Workers Recognition Month and the Month of Action on Care. The event marked the one-year anniversary of President Biden's Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/pre  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 18 -- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued the following news on April 17, 2024: Mayor Michelle Wu announced the appointment of Brian Swett as the City of Boston's Chief Climate Officer, leading the Environment, Energy and Open Space (EEOS) Cabinet. This Cabinet is currently overseen by Reverend Mariama White-Hammond who will be transitioning out of her role on April 26. In this role, Swett is charged with spearheading the Mayor's bold agenda on climate action while adva  more

OAKLAND, California, April 18 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: California Attorney General Rob Bonta today urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to affirm a federal district court's ruling that Georgia's congressional and legislative maps violate Section Two of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). Attorney General Bonta joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in Grant, et al., v. Secretary of St  more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, April 18 -- The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued the following news release: A coalition of New England states jointly submitted two applications to secure federal funding to support investments in large-scale transmission and energy storage infrastructure to enhance grid reliability and resilience across the region. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resource  more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued the following news release on April 17, 2024: Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today led a group of 19 attorneys general defending Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act--a key protection against racial discrimination in elections--against radical challenges raised in a Georgia redistricting lawsuit. In an amicus brief filed in Pendergrass v. Secretary of State of Georgia, the coalition of attorneys general argu  more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, April 18 (TNSres) -- The Connecticut Department of Education issued the following news release: The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) is pleased to announce updated results of its continued commitment to addressing educator shortages and diversification across the state. In line with national trends, Connecticut has faced challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified educators. However, through decisive actions led by Education Commissioner Charlene M. R  more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education posted the following commentary on April 17, 2024: * * * Made for Our Times: Mobility, Vibrancy, and the Next 123 Years of the Community College Movement By Pam Eddinger, President During my 11 years at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, Massachusetts, I have received many visits from global educators curious about the uniquely American phenomenon of the Community College. In our exchanges, we inevitably observe that we are a pla  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its issuance of Clean Air Act Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) air quality permits for Sunrise Wind, Park City Wind (NEW1) and Park City Wind (NEW2). The permits allow for construction to begin on these three offshore "wind development areas" located in federal waters. EPA's approvals are in concert with other f  more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the first-ever national drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as 'forever chemicals,' as well as $1 billion through President Biden's Investing in America agenda to help every state and territory fund PFAS detection and treatment systems to meet  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: BOSTON -- Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston removed an unlawfully present Brazilian fugitive being sought by law enforcement authorities in Brazil for raping a vulnerable person. Deportation officers from ERO Boston removed Altair Jose Portuense-Lana, 51, via a flight to Brazil March 22. "The community is safer today with the removal of Altair   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 16 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: SEATTLE - The final defendant in a large drug trafficking ring was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 108 months in prison for trafficking drugs while armed with a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Juan de Dios Alcaraz-Mardueno was a drug redistributor and interstate transporter of heroin, fentanyl, and meth  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 18 -- The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs issued the following news release: A coalition of New England states jointly submitted two applications to secure federal funding to support investments in large-scale transmission and energy storage infrastructure to enhance grid reliability and resilience across the region. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection,  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 17 (TNSres) -- Gov. Maura Healey, D-Massachusetts, posted the following issue brief from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center on April 16, 2024: * * * An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts' Economic Leadership Introduction Massachusetts is the global epicenter for the life sciences industry. Yet, other states, such as Texas, New York, California, and North Carolina, are competing hard to outpace us. To remain the leader and to continue to cultivate inn  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on April 17, 2024: The leader of a regional organized theft crew who orchestrated the thefts of catalytic converters from nearly 500 vehicles across the region, multiple jewelry store robberies and the stealing of ATMs pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston. Rafael Davila, a/k/a "Robbin Hood," 35, of Springfield, Mass, pleaded guilty to conspiracy   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 18 -- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation issued the following news release: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is soliciting feedback from potential service plaza operators and other industry stakeholders as part of an effort to identify a best-in-class operating model for its 18 service plazas located along various highways throughout Massachusetts. A Request for Information (RFI) has been issued and will remain open through May 2  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 18 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on April 17, 2024: Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a group of 19 attorneys general defending Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act - a key protection against racial discrimination in elections - against challenges raised in a Georgia redistricting lawsuit. In an amicus brief (https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/News%20Documents/041624_Brief_DC_NY_Amici_Curiae.pdf) filed  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 18 -- North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued the following news release: Attorney General Josh Stein joined a group of 19 attorneys general defending Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act--a key protection against racial discrimination in elections--from radical challenges raised in a Georgia redistricting lawsuit. In an amicus brief filed in Pendergrass v. Secretary of State of Georgia and two other consolidated cases, the attorneys general argue that th  more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health issued the following news release on April 17, 2024: * * * NIH and NSF jointly fund new research centers to better understand how ocean-related exposures affect people's health. * * * To address plastics and other problems that could affect human health, the NIH and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) are jointly funding four new Centers for Oceans and Human Health and renewing two   more

WASHINGTON, April 17 (TNSres) -- The National Science Foundation issued the following news release: The U.S. National Science Foundation is excited to announce the expansion of the NSF Convergence Accelerator to 10 regions to enhance national and regional competitiveness in research, innovation and workforce development. These 10 regional Convergence Accelerators will promote convergence research and innovation by connecting researchers, practitioners and stakeholders from various domains and   more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following news release: New partnership with 18 state attorneys general creates fast-track system to prioritize misconduct cases referred to DOT by state attorneys general Secretary Buttigieg made the announcement at the Denver International Airport alongside Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser DENVER - Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the launch of the bipartisan Airline Passenger Prote  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 18 -- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: * * * Open Through May 31 * * * The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced earlier this month the start of the public comment period for Beyond Mobility, the Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan. As an update, the public comment period has been extended and will be open through May 31, 2024. Community members are encouraged to offer   more