WASHINGTON, June 5 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following opening statement on June 4, 2024, by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland before the House Judiciary Committee: * * * Thank you, Chairman Jordan, Ranking Member Nadler, and distinguished members of this Committee. Since I last appeared before you, the more than 115,000 employees of the Department of Justice have continued to work to fulfill our mission on behalf of the American people: to keep our country safe, to prot  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, June 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: By Debbie Aragon, AFIMSC Public Affairs A four-year initiative to modernize the day-to-day equipment of active-duty Air Force security forces Defenders reached its fifth and final phase recently with the award of a $39 million contract for state-of-the-art Defender gear. In addition to securing the contract award through the Air Force Installation Contracting  more

PHOENIX, Arizona, June 5 -- The Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus issued the following news release on June 4, 2024: After Joe Biden, Katie Hobbs, and Arizona Democrat lawmakers intentionally and irresponsibly blocked all efforts to safeguard our citizens against the rampant crime associated with the border crisis currently threatening our national security, Senate Republicans are relieved to announce the Secure the Border Act officially passed the Arizona Legislature today and will head t  more

WASHINGTON, June 4 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security issued the following news release on June 3, 2024: Today, the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed a civil penalty of $44,750 against Airbus DS Government Solutions Inc. (ADSGS), a satellite communications and networking systems company located in Plano, Texas, to resolve three violations of the antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), as allege  more

WASHINGTON, June 4 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: LAREDO, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists discovered almost 125 pounds of prohibited pork products in a single enforcement action at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge. "Seizures like this significant interception of prohibited pork products underscore CBP's commitment and dedication to its mission and help prevent the spread of   more

DALLAS, Texas, June 4 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas issued the following news release on June 3, 2024: The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has appointed Rebecca Zarutskie as senior vice president and senior research advisor, effective Aug. 26. In her position, Zarutskie will advise Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan on monetary policy issues and advance the research department's role as a thought leader on various topics. Zarutskie will join the Dallas Fed from the Federal Reserve Board   more

GLYNCO, Georgia, June 4 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers issued the following news release: The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) have always been at the forefront of incorporating cutting-edge technology into their training programs. The latest addition, NEO, a 70-pound Quadrupedal Unmanned Ground Vehicle (Q-UGV), exemplifies this commitment to innovation from the FLETC Cyber Division (CYD), Technical Investigations Branch (T  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 4 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release on June 3, 2024: Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Director Owen Herrnstadt traveled to San Antonio, Texas last week to address the 2024 Sister Cities International All-Americas Summit. During the summit, Director Herrnstadt participated in two panels where he underscored the role EXIM financing can play throughout the Americas in supporting U.S. exporters, U.S. workers and critical s  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, June 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: The 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey is available now for eligible Department of the Air Force employees and is open for submissions through June 28. First conducted in 2002, the FEVS is a government-wide, Office of Personnel Management-administered survey for federal civilian employees. Feedback from the FEVS allows the DAF to maximize its st  more

HOUSTON, Texas, June 5 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration issued the following news release: * * * Crane Masters Inc. violated whistleblower protections of driver * * * A federal Administrative Law Judge has upheld the Department of Labor's finding that a Houston crane and rigging services provider violated federal law by firing a company truck driver on June 5, 2020, for refusing to exceed safe driving limits set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety A  more

HONOLULU, Hawaii, June 5 -- Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez issued the following news release: The Department of the Army presented the prestigious 2023 Army Community Partnership Award to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Pacific Field Office, in partnership with the Department of the Attorney General's Criminal Justice Division - Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Honolulu Police Department and the Susannah Wesley Community Center. The award recogn  more

LAUGHLIN AFB, Texas, June 5 -- The U.S. Air Force Laughlin Air Force Base (47th Flying Training Wing) issued the following news: By Airman 1st Class Keira Rossman, 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs Team XL is the first Air Education and Training Command (AETC) base to launch a civil service-driven Air Force Repair Enhancement Program (AFREP), an initiative that supports self-sustainability and efficiency within the 47th Flying Training Wing Maintenance Directorate (FTW MX). AFREP prior  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 4 -- The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship issued the following news: The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Cherokee County, Iowa. The affected site is a commercial turkey flock. HPAI is a viral disease that affects both wild and domestic bird populations as well   more

LAUGHLIN AFB, Texas, June 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Laughlin Air Force Base (47th Flying Training Wing) issued the following news: By Staff Sgt Nicholas Larsen, 47th Operations Support Squadron 47th Operations Support Squadron Airmen bid farewell to Lt. Col. Matthew Kless, prior commander of the 47th OSS, and welcomed new commander Lt. Col. Daniel Garrison, during a change of command ceremony here, May 29, 2024. Col. James Blech, 47th Operations Group commander, presided over the ceremony, ment  more

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, June 4 -- Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill issued the following news: Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill joins 22 other state Attorneys General in opposing the Biden Administration's strict new energy-efficiency standards for stoves and ovens. The rule will increase the costs for kitchen appliances nationwide. "This Administration is relentless in its effort to dismantle every facet of American life under the guise of 'environmental progress.' The federal gove  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 30 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release: Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and a coalition of 13 attorneys general today urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to open a civil rights investigation into the July 2020 murder of Garrett Foster. Mr. Foster was protesting racial injustice when he was shot and killed by Daniel Perry in Austin, Texas. A jury found Mr. Perry guilty of murder in April 2023. However, earlier this mon  more

LANSING, Michigan, June 5 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following statement on June 4, 2024: Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement supporting President Biden's executive action to secure the country's southern border after Republicans in Congress voted twice to block the toughest, fairest bipartisan border security legislation in modern history. "President Biden's executive action will help secure our country's border by making it easier for immig  more

DALLAS, Texas, June 5 -- The Army and Air Force Exchange Service issued the following news release: Military shoppers can add sparkle to their summer looks in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's Summer Sparkle sweepstakes. From June 7 through June 13, authorized military shoppers 18 and older can visit ShopMyExchange.com/sweepstakes to enter to win one of eight prizes from a prize pool valued at more than $6,300, including: Military Shoppers Can Win $6,300 in Bling in the Exchange's Summe  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, June 4 -- Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers issued the following news release: Attorney General Mike Hilgers led a 23-state coalition in opposing the Biden Administration's strict new energy-efficiency standards for stoves and ovens. The rule will increase the costs of kitchen appliances nationwide. "The Biden Administration continues its assault on household appliances--first refrigerators and freezers, and now stoves and ovens. Raising the cost of kitchen appliances   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, June 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: The U.S. Army is expanding its financial support for military spouses by enhancing the reimbursement program for business costs and relicensing fees. The new directive permits reimbursement of up to $1,000 for business-related expenses, in addition to the already authorized $1,000 for relicensing fees resulting from a relocation. "Army spouses face un  more

WASHINGTON, June 4 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 57153) involving South Texas Nuclear Plant: * * * Facility: South Texas Region: 4 State: TX Unit: [1] [2] [] RX Type: [1] W-4-LP,[2] W-4-LP NRC Notified By: Billy Herzog HQ OPS Officer: Ian Howard Notification Date: 05/30/2024 Notification Time: 17:43 [ET] Event Date: 05/30/2024 Event Time: 12:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 05/30/2024 Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR Section: 26.  more

WASHINGTON, June 4 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 57079) involving Paragon Energy Solutions, Fort Worth, Texas: * * * Rep Org: Paragon Energy Solutions Region: 2 City: Fort Worth State: TX Agreement: N NRC Notified By: Richard Knott HQ OPS Officer: Bill Gott Notification Date: 04/16/2024 Notification Time: 23:29 [ET] Event Date: 02/15/2024 Event Time: 00:00 [CDT] Last Update Date: 05/31/2024 Emergency Class: Non Emergency 10 CFR S  more

AUSTIN, Texas, June 5 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release: The Office of the Attorney General ("OAG") has filed a petition asking the Supreme Court of Texas to review a Fifth Court of Appeals ruling that has allowed politically motivated lawfare by the State Bar of Texas against the leadership of the OAG to continue. After Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the State of Texas in response to good-faith concerns o  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, June 5 -- Gov. Kevin Stitt, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news on June 3, 2024: Today, Governor Kevin Stitt and 19 other governors announced their plan to unleash American energy and sent a letter to President Biden to push back against his administration's attacks on energy production. Republican governors have prioritized an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy. The governors call on the Biden administration to: * End regulatory overreach that restricts domestic en  more

PIERRE, South Dakota, June 5 -- Gov. Kristi Noem, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: Governor Kristi Noem and 19 of her fellow Republican governors sent a letter to President Biden pushing for more innovation in American energy. "As governors, we are extremely concerned with the impacts your energy policies are having on households across our country and call on you to pursue an all-of-the-above energy approach that will promote homegrown energy that benefits all Americans.," w  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, June 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: The San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League and Soldiers from U.S. Army North took part in a friendly flag football game at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on May 21,2024. The United Football League has an exclusive partnership with the Army. Together, the two organizations collaborate on community engagement events which inc  more

OFFUTT AFB, Nebraska, June 5 -- The U.S. Air Force Offutt Air Force Base (55th Air Wing) issued the following news: By Chad Watkins, 55th Wing PA Chief Master Sergeant Robert L. Hopkins, Sixteenth Air Force, Air Forces Cyber command chief, visited Offutt Air Force Base on May 29, 2024. Hopkins visited Airmen at the Airmen Leadership School early in the day, conducting a round table breakfast focusing on tomorrow's leaders and what roles they take in the evolution of modern warfare. "I'm out   more

WASHINGTON, June 4 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service issued the following news release on June 3, 2024: Stephanie (Steph) Auten has been selected as the National Park Service (NPS) Division of Fire and Aviation (DFAM) budget analyst within the Branch of Budget and Administration. Steph began her career in wildland fire with Grand Canyon National Park in 2012 as a fire program management assistant. She spent 10 years with Grand Canyon becoming proficient in budget a  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 4 -- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued the following news on June 3, 2024: Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and 20 of his fellow state attorneys general sent a letter today to the American Bar Association (ABA) demanding the group immediately stop requiring law schools, as part of the accreditation process, to treat students and faculty differently based on race. The ABA serves as the accrediting body for American law schools. The ABA's   more

AUSTIN, Texas, June 5 (TNSres) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a major data privacy and security initiative, establishing a team that is focused on aggressive enforcement of Texas privacy laws. The initiative, housed within the Consumer Protection Division of the OAG, will ensure companies respect Texans' privacy rights and safeguard their personal data. The team is poised to become among the largest in the c  more

AUSTIN, Texas, June 5 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has ended a lawsuit against the Biden Administration's Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") after the agency walked back its planned enforcement of an unlawful policy change that would have drastically interfered with the operations and functionalities of Texas's child support system. In May 2023, Attorney General Paxton sued the IRS to stop an Enforcement Announcement i  more

AUSTIN, Texas, June 5 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the United States Department of Labor ("DOL") to stop a final rule issued by the agency that violates the law and attempts to usurp authority not granted by Congress. Further, courts have already ruled that such a regulation is illegal. The rule would increase the salary thresholds determining employee eligibility for overtime pay exemption and establish autom  more

AUSTIN, Texas, June 5 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on June 4, 2024: Governor Greg Abbott today announced the next 2024 Governor's Small Business Summit will be held in Pampa on Thursday, June 13. Held throughout the year and in regions across the state, the Governor's Small Business Summits aim to help Texas small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs succeed by connecting them with the resources and information needed to start, strengthen, and grow a bus  more

AUSTIN, Texas, June 5 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following statement on June 4, 2024: * * * Governor Greg Abbott today issued a statement following President Joe Biden's signing of an executive order that essentially legalizes the millions of illegal immigrants already in our country and allows thousands more to illegally cross our southern border daily: "Today's announcement is nothing but a smokescreen for President Biden's failed open border policies. This executive order wil  more

AUSTIN, Texas, June 4 -- The University of Texas System issued the following commentary on June 3, 2024, by John Zerwas, executive vice chancellor for health affairs, with David Lakey, vice chancellor for health affairs and chief medical officer, to the Dallas Morning News: * * * Texas is Investing in Better Mental Health Mental health is Texas' foremost public health challenge today and a leading contributor to disability and death, especially among adolescent Texans. Compounded by historic   more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 5 (TNSres) -- Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes issued the following news: Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes and 20 of his fellow state attorneys general sent a letter this week to the American Bar Association (ABA) demanding the group immediately stop requiring law schools, as part of the accreditation process, to treat students and faculty differently based on race. The ABA serves as the accrediting body for American law schools. The ABA's policy is set out in   more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 5 -- Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes issued the following news: Attorney General Sean D. Reyes joined sixteen other state attorneys general in a letter to President Joseph R. Biden over his plan to "tax certain unrealized capital gains." The letter, which was led by the State of West Virginia, urges the president to reverse course on this policy decision. In their letter, the attorneys general argue that the president's idea "will discourage investment... [and] e  more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- The White House issued the following readout of President Biden's call on June 4, 2024, with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador: * * * President Joe Biden called President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico to congratulate him and the Mexican people on their free and fair electoral process that resulted in the historic election of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum. He thanked President Lopez Obrador for the strong and constructive partnership they have built  more