TYNDALL AFB, Florida, June 6 -- Shaw Air Force Base issued the following news: By Senior Airman Steven Cardo, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs The U.S. Air Force 79th Fighter and Fighter Generation Squadron 'Tigers' took part in Checkered Flag 24-2 and the Weapons System Evaluation Program (WSEP) at Tyndall Air Force Base from May 9-22, 2024. These exercises aimed to enhance air combat readiness alongside 5th generation aircraft and validate weapons systems and tactics in realistic, large-sca  more

JEMISON, Alabama, June 5 -- Gov. Kay Ivey, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: Governor Kay Ivey joined the leaders of Alabama Mineral Springs LLC today to celebrate the company's ambitious five-year project to sustainably distribute mineral-rich water from a free-flowing spring in Chilton County. Alabama Mineral Springs LLC is officially starting production today at a $6 million bottling plant at the location where natural spring water was first discovered around 165 years ago. The  more

CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Florida, June 6 -- The Space Launch Delta 45, a unit of the U.S. Space Force, issued the following news: By Airman 1st Class Collin Wesson, SLD 45 For the first time since 1968, astronauts were launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, the first time ever from a Space Force installation. The Atlas V Starliner Crew Flight Test mission launched astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams from Space Launch Complex - 41 at CCSFS on June 5, 202  more

CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Florida, June 6 -- The U.S. Space Force issued the following news: By Airman 1st Class Collin Wesson, Space Launch Delta 45 Public Affairs For the first time since 1968, astronauts were launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the first time ever from a Space Force installation, June 5. The Atlas V Starliner Crew Flight Test mission launched astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams from Space Launch Complex - 41 at CCSFS. "The unwavering supp  more

TYNDALL AFB, Florida, June 6 -- The U.S. Air Force Tyndall Air Force Base (325th Fighter Wing) issued the following news: By Airman 1st Class Victoria Moehlman, 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs By assessing and reducing environmental hazards in the workplace and surrounding areas, the 325th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flight ensures a healthy environment for Team Tyndall, enabling them to focus on generating and presenting ready forces. The bioenvironm  more

KIRTLAND AFB, New Mexico, June 6 -- The Defense Threat Reduction Agency issued the following news: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Albuquerque Office (DTRA-ABQ) will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, June 12, 2024, for the agency's new multi-use building on Kirtland Air Force Base. The 76,000 square foot facility will be home to more than 300 U.S. military personnel and DoD civilians and includes unclassified and classified work spaces and meeting rooms, administrative offices, an  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 5 -- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued the following news release: Attorney General Ashley Moody's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit secured nearly $600,000 for Florida Medicaid from a chronic disease management health care provider. In a multistate action with Florida, Minnesota and the federal government, Bluestone Physician Services of Florida, LLC, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A. and Bluestone National, LLC agreed to pay millions of dollars for False Claim  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 5 -- Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Florida, issued the following news release on June 4, 2024: Concurrent to the start of the 2024 hurricane season, Governor Ron DeSantis today urged residents to take advantage of the 14-day sales tax holiday for disaster preparation supplies. Governor DeSantis also encouraged Floridians to have a plan in place for their families if disaster strikes their area and to put together a disaster readiness kit at home. Governor DeSantis also announ  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 6 -- The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued the following news release on June 5, 2024: Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis hosted a meeting with over 100 sheriffs, police chiefs, and other law enforcement officials from across the state to highlight new resources for officers to utilize to direct individuals to Hope Florida. This summer, law enforcement agencies, departments, and offices will also receive personnel training on connecting thos  more

TAMPA, Florida, June 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: Bluestone Physician Services of Florida LLC, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A. and Bluestone National LLC, operating in Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively, have agreed to pay $14,902,000 to resolve allegations that they knowingly submitted claims for certain Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes for services related to the management of chronic care patien  more

TAMPA, Florida, June 5 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Phillip Michael Valeriani (41, Plant City) with smuggling machinegun conversion devices into the United States, possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, and possession of unregistered machineguns and a silencer. If convicted, Valeriani faces up t  more

ORLANDO, Florida, June 5 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced nine individuals to federal prison for their respective roles in a multi-kilogram cocaine and methamphetamine distribution operation. The multi-agency investigation lasted two years and spanned from Central Florida to Arizona and California. Each individual charged in the case was found guilty by a jury or pleaded guilt  more

MIAMI, Florida, June 6 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On May 31, Jephte Bernard, 70, of Margate, Florida, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz, after previously pleading guilty to mail fraud and making false statements. Bernard was sentenced for his massive and decades long immigration fraud scheme involving the fraudulent submission of asylum claims to U.S. Citizensh  more

TAMPA, Florida, June 5 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Christian Perez-Seda (38, Tampa) to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Perez-Seda pleaded guilty in March 2024. According to court documents, on July 24, 2021, Perez Seda distributed 987 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer  more

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, June 4 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - In the past 24 hours, Iranian-backed Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships. This continued malign and reckless behavior by the Iranian backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across t  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: Bluestone Physician Services of Florida LLC, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A. and Bluestone National LLC, operating in Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively, have agreed to pay $14,902,000 to resolve allegations that they knowingly submitted claims for certain Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes for services related to the management of chronic care patients in assisted living and other care fac  more

TOPEKA, Kansas, June 5 -- Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach issued the following news release: A Florida woman is under arrest in Nebraska for alleged election crimes committed in Kansas. Nebraska authorities arrested Jamie Johnson, 47, of Dade City, Florida, on May 29 for forging signatures on petitions to make "No Labels" an officially recognized political party in Kansas. Secretary of State Scott Schwab reviewed the allegations before forwarding the case to Kansas Attorney General Kris Ko  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, June 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota issued the following news release: Bluestone Physician Services of Florida LLC, Bluestone Physician Services, P.A. and Bluestone National LLC, operating in Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively, have agreed to pay $14,902,000 to resolve allegations that they knowingly submitted claims for certain Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes for services related to the management of chronic care pat  more

ALBANY, New York, June 5 -- Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-New York, issued the following transcript of her interview on June 4, 2024, at MSNBC's Katy Tur Reports: * * * Katy Tur, MSNBC: Joining us now is the Democratic Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul. So, this is an issue in blue states, especially in the Northeast and Chicago because of the busing and then the flying in of migrants by Republicans in red states in Texas and in Florida. There are so many more migrants in this city than we had seen i  more

GOLDEN, Colorado, June 5 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has selected 18 leaders to participate in its 2024 Executive Energy Leadership program (Energy Execs). The program curriculum is designed to assist nontechnical decision makers from government, corporate, nonprofit, and urban/rural communities as they work to implement renewable energy poli  more

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, June 6 -- Palm Beach County issued the following news: In order to deliver the highest quality water to customers, Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department (PBCWUD) requires periodic line flushing and temporary treatment modification. These modifications to the disinfection process are routine and an industry best practice as a precautionary measure to maintain the water quality. From July 5 through July 27, 2024, PBCWUD will be using free chlorine, as opposed to   more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- President Biden issued the following proclamation on June 4, 2024, on June 4, 2024, on securing the southwest border: * * * There are more people around the world who are displaced from their homes today than at any point in time since World War II. Many factors have contributed to this problem. Failing regimes and dire economic conditions afflict many countries, including several in the Western Hemisphere. Violence linked to transnational criminal organizations has displ  more

SARASOTA, Florida, June 5 -- Sarasota County issued the following news: Sarasota County's Fleet Services team has been honored by the NAFA Fleet Management Association, earning a spot in the 2024 100 Best Fleets in the Americas list for the second consecutive year. Rising from 43rd place last year to an impressive 13th this year in the Americas. NAFA judges evaluate applicants based on criteria such as operational efficiency, succession planning, sustainability, technology and asset lifecycl  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the following news release: As part of the process mandated by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct five-year status reviews of 59 endangered or threatened fish, wildlife, and plants. The public is invited to provide information and comments concerning these species on or before August 5, 2024. However, the Service encourages the submission of new info  more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 6 -- Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes issued the following news: Attorney General Sean D. Reyes joined a Petition for Review in Nebraska v EPA in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The coalition of States are challenging a new EPA rule that forces the trucking industry to expedite its rollout of electric vehicles to replace more gas-powered engines. In this court filing, the coalition of attorneys general asks the federal appeals court to review the E  more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 6 -- Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes issued the following news: Attorney General Sean D. Reyes joined a letter to U.S. Representative, and Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, supporting the Accounting for the Uses, Disbursements, and Income on our Taxes at EPA Act (H.R. 8395) - the AUDIT EPA Act. The letter was led by West Virginia and co-signed by a coalition of States. According to the U.S. House of Representatives, this pr  more