WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service issued the following news release on April 18, 2024: Two scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have been named 2023 Fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Martin Williams, an ARS research ecologist, and Dr. Jay D. Evans, an ARS research entomologist, were named Fellows in a vote by the AAAS Council in recognition o  more

SEATTLE, Washington, April 19 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Seattle District issued the following news release: The Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden achieved Level II Accreditation from The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program established a widely recognized set of industry standards for the arboretum community. No other international program of accreditation exists that is specific to arboreta. Located on the   more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following remarks on April 17, 2024, by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announcing the creation of a Crime Gun Intelligence Center: * * * Remarks as Prepared for Delivery Good morning. It's great to be back in Chicago and to be here with partners and colleagues from ATF, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Chicago Police Department, and the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Thank you for the work you do for the people  more

ARGONNE, Illinois, April 19 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory issued the following news release: * * * Scientists have found evidence of an elusive, glassy phase of matter that emerges when a crystal's perfect internal pattern is disrupted * * * A dish made of crystal and a dish made of glass might look similar from the outside, but internally, their structures differ significantly. Crystals consist of perfectly ordered, repeating patterns of atoms, whil  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued the following news release: The Illinois Commerce Commission recently approved stipulated agreements to replace outdated crossing warning devices at two Illinois Central Railroad highway-rail grade crossings (AAR/DOT #292858Y and #291241P) along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in the City of Decatur. "Keeping Illinoisans safe on and alongside train tracks is a top priority for the ICC," said ICC Commissioner Michael T. Car  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued the following news release: The Illinois Commerce Commission recently approved a stipulated agreement to install new automated warning devices and grade improvements at the County Road 1550 North highway-rail grade crossing (AAR/DOT #289107D) of Illinois Central Railroad Company's track near Tuscola. "Keeping Illinoisans safe on and alongside train tracks is a top priority for the ICC," said ICC Commissioner Michael T.   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued the following news release: The Illinois Commerce Commission recently approved a stipulated agreement to install new automated warning devices at multiple Fayette County roads that intersect CSX Transportation Inc.'s tracks. The upgraded highway-rail grade crossings will include County Road 2000 East (AAR/DOT #546476J) near St. Elmo; County Road 1950 East (AAR/DOT #546478X) and County Road 1900 East (AAR/DOT #546477R) ne  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued the following news release: The Illinois Commerce Commission recently approved two stipulated agreements to install new automated warning devices and gates at multiple Knox County highway-rail grade crossings. Safety improvements will be made to the County Road 2800 North (AAR/DOT #065616E) crossing of BNSF Railway Company's track in near Rio and the County Road 2200 North (AAR/DOT #065607F) and the County Highway 35 (AA  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued the following news release: The Illinois Commerce Commission recently approved a stipulated agreement to install new automated warning devices at the South 32nd St highway-rail grade crossing (AAR/DOT #292952M) of Illinois Central Railroad Company's track in the City of Mattoon. "Keeping Illinoisans safe on and alongside train tracks is a top priority for the ICC," said ICC Commissioner Michael T. Carrigan. "The Grade C  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on April 18, 2024: Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his legislation to clarify that Illinois' child pornography laws apply to images and videos created by artificial intelligence (AI) technology was passed by the House of Representatives. The measure builds on the work being done by Attorney General Raoul's office, in collaboration with state and federal law enforcement agencie  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following compliance examination on April 18, 2024, involving Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. Here are excerpts: * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS VOUCHER PROCESSING WEAKNESSES The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (Committee) did not exercise adequate control over voucher processing. During testing of 27 non-payroll and non-travel vouchers, we noted the following: * Two (7%) vouchers   more

BOLINGBROOK, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Working to expand access to better and more affordable healthcare coverage for Illinois families, state Rep. Dagmara "Dee" Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, is backing a new measure aimed to reduce costs and hold big insurance companies accountable. "We all know someone who's struggled to afford medical care or has been hit with skyrocketing insurance premiums. We must cultivate a health care system that works for   more

BOLINGBROOK, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Dagmara "Dee" Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, is cracking down on junk fees that cost consumers an estimated $90 billion per year, with a new measure that holds businesses accountable for charges added on top of advertised purchase prices. "Transparency is key in building trust between businesses and consumers. My colleagues and I are committed to re-establishing this trust with this first-of-its-kind   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Illinois families are set to benefit from improved and more cost-effective health care coverage through a new initiative supported by state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado of Chicago. This measure focuses on reducing health care costs and enhancing the quality of care for individuals and families across the state. "Prioritizing the urgent health needs of our families is essential," Delgado said. "This legislation   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, and members of the House Democratic New Arrivals Working Group are seeking to curb inhumane, politically motivated busing of migrants from border states with new criminal and civil penalties for dropping off passengers at unsafe locations and at unscheduled times. "This measure is the result of months of work by the New Arrivals Working Group in conjunctio  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Illinois families will have access to better and more affordable health care coverage under a new measure backed by state Rep. Elizabeth 'Lisa' Hernandez, D-Cicero, aiming to reduce costs and hold big insurance companies accountable. "Families in my community suffer because the profits of large insurance companies have been prioritized over their health and wellbeing, but this legislation shifts our focu  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Reproductive health decisions will be better protected under a new bill passed by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, ensuring that employers, landlords, financial institutions, and others can never discriminate against a person on the basis of contraception decisions, utilization of abortion care, or fertility treatment including in vitro fertilization. "No one should ever face stigma for making dec  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news on April 18, 2024: State Rep. Lilian Jimenez, D-Chicago, passed a measure on Wednesday to open up state funds for homelessness advocacy organizations to handle case loads. "On-the-ground organizations are in a bind: they want to help their homeless populations, but they don't have the staff and administrative capacity to do so," Jimenez said. "As more people face homelessness because of rising housing and  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Victims of auto theft will be better protected under a new measure passed by state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-South Holland, preventing insurance companies from denying needed coverage because of the circumstances of a crime. "Insurance companies have been finding loopholes to deny customers coverage for too long," Jones said. "No one chooses to get their car stolen so owners shouldn't have to pay for someon  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, is supporting first responders and their families by passing a pair of bills assisting first responders who have been injured, disabled or killed in the line of duty out of the Illinois House of Representatives. "As Vice-Chair of the Police & Fire Committee and a firefighter for nearly 20 years, I understand the importance of helping those who have sacrificed in the name  more

ROMEOVILLE, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: As part of the larger effort to eliminate the teacher shortage in Illinois, State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is encouraging local high schools to apply for the CTE Education Career Pathway Grants, which prepares students for a career in education. "There is an urgent need to address the teacher shortage in Illinois, and one thing is fundamentally clear -- we must do more to invest in our future educato  more

ROMEOVILLE, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Grandparents and other relatives caring for children will have better access to resources and support under a new bill advanced by state Rep. Natalie Manley, D- Joliet, allowing area agencies on aging and other local agencies to provide support to caregivers. "As a mother and grandmother, I'm constantly reminded of the countless grandparents and caregivers across our state who share the same love and resp  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Illinois families will have access to better and more affordable health care coverage under a new measure backed by state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, aiming to reduce costs and hold big insurance companies accountable. "The fact of the matter is that healthcare has for far too long centered the needs of large, multi-billion dollar corporations versus those of working families and underserved communities,  more

BLOOMINGTON, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, is working to protect taxpayers from the high cost of flood damage to critical infrastructure by passing bipartisan legislation through the Illinois House of Representatives to make sure Illinois state properties receive federal assistance for floods. "We know that natural disasters are a matter of when, not if," said Chung. "When our state buildings and infrastruc  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 19 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news April 18, 2024: Members of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus are calling attention to serious issues with a proposed funding formula for the state's higher education system. The Senators held a press conference on April 18th to inform the public about the changes that could be coming to university funding. "Our universities play a vital role in shaping our state's future, so it is important that any ne  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: The Justice Department announced that 11 U.S. Attorneys' Offices have now established a carjacking task force to focus efforts and resources on this important public safety threat. "The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping our communities safe. We do so by targeting the most significant drivers of violent crime and by acting as a force multiplier for our state and local law enforcement p  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 19 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release: Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to review and resolve consumer complaints against airlines and ticket agents. The agreement streamlines how the Maryland Attorney General's office and the DOT will work together to review consumer complaints and identify violations of federal aviation consumer protection requi  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release on April 18, 2024: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is announcing an opportunity for the public to request a hearing on a license renewal application from Constellation Energy Generation, LLC, for the Clinton Power Station in Clinton, Illinois. Constellation Energy Generation filed the application (https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2404/ML24045A023.html) on Feb. 14, seeking to renew the license from 40 to 60   more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy issued the following news release on April 18, 2024: The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) today announced $8 million in federal funding for 14 projects to advance technologies that capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial facilities and power plants and convert those CO2 emissions into valuable products. Advancing the development of these technologies will he  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, April 19 -- Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry issued the following news on April 18, 2024: Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the reinforcement of a partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to review and resolve consumer complaints against airlines and ticket agents. The two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding with a commitment to achieving a common goal: assurance that consumers are treated fairly. The MOU outlines how   more

BEAUMONT, Texas, April 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas posted the following news release on April 18, 2024: The Justice Department established the formation of carjacking task forces in 11 targeted districts across the United States, including the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. "The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping our communities safe. We do so by targeting the most significant drivers of violen  more

PEORIA, Illinois, April 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois issued the following news release: A Peoria, Illinois man, Detrey D. Robinson, 28, of the 1800 block of West Ann Street, was sentenced on April 17, 2024, to a total of 81 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for the following offenses: * Count 1: Felon in Possession of a Firearm, 21 months. * Count 2: Possession of a Machine Gun, 21 months.   more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 19 -- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued the following news release on April 18, 2024: Attorney General Ashley Moody today helped welcome out-of-state law enforcement officers to Florida and honored the Sarasota Police Department with a Thin Line Tribute for extraordinary efforts to drastically reduce crime. During the swearing-in ceremony at SPD, Attorney General Moody addressed nine new officers--six of them from out-of-state. The Attorney General also hi  more

SEATTLE, Washington, April 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington issued the following news release on April 18, 2024: U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced today that the Western District of Washington is one of seven districts that are adding a carjacking task force to focus efforts and resources on this important public safety threat. "Our task force harnesses the resources of the FBI, ATF, the Seattle Police and Kent Police Departments. Prosecutors w  more