LANSING, Michigan, June 14 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a bipartisan coalition of 32 attorneys general in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on states' authority to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). In an amicus brief to the Court (https://ilag-dev.dotcms.cloud/dA/e9279006-5dfa-42e6-bf36-b27458b7fb7c/fileAsset/Mulready%20v.%20PCMA%20Amicus%20Brief%20-%20Certiorari.pdf), AG Nessel and the   more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, June 14 -- North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued the following news release: Attorney General Josh Stein filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on states' authority to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Attorney General Stein filed this brief with a bipartisan coalition of 32 Attorneys General to help protect consumers by assuring that all states can regulate PBMs. "Too many prescription drugs are simply too expensiv  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 14 -- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued the following news release: Attorney General Ashley Moody is activating Florida's Price Gouging Hotline following a state of emergency declaration for areas of the state that are dealing with torrential downpours and dangerous flooding. The order follows Governor Ron DeSantis's state of emergency declaration covering Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade and Sarasota counties. The Price Gouging Hotline is now available   more

SACRAMENTO, California, June 13 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: A new draft regulation announced today by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara will require that insurers that use new catastrophe modeling must write more policies in distressed areas, with larger insurance companies required to insure properties in distressed areas at a rate equal to 85% of the insurer's statewide market share. This is part of the Commissioner's Su  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 14 -- Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis issued the following news release on June 13, 2024: Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to Airbnb CEO Bryan Cheskey regarding the companies rental listings and business practices within Communist-controlled Cuba and possible profits earned from properties confiscated from Cuban Americans by the Cuban government. Airbnb was recently sued in Florida for listing property in Cuba confiscate  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 13 -- Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: Today, during a meeting of the Florida Cabinet, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis voted to approve rules to implement a reduction in Florida's Commercial Lease Sales Tax rate to reduce the tax burden on small businesses following the successful replenishment of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. Passed by the Florida Legislature in 2021, the Comme  more

KIRTLAND AFB, New Mexico, June 14 -- The Defense Threat Reduction Agency issued the following news: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Albuquerque Office (DTRA-ABQ) hosted 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 workspaces and meeting rooms, administrative offices, and a  more

WASHINGTON, June 13 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following transcript of a news briefing on June 12, 2024, by Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh: * * * DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SABRINA SINGH: Just a few things at the top here, and then happy to dive in and take your questions. Today, Secretary Austin is traveling to Brussels to host the 23rd Ukraine Defense Contact Group tomorrow, June 13th. The secretary will be joined by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General CQ   more

WASHINGTON, June 13 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy issued the following news on June 12, 2024: * * * Participants From Municipalities, Tribes, and Community-Based Organizations Will Convene for Six Months To Learn From Each Other and Experts About Agrivoltaics, Residential Energy Efficiency Programs, and Electrifying Municipal Fleets * * * The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a new round of leaders from 45 entities that will  more

WASHINGTON, June 14 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on June 13, 2024: Today, June 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $9.75 million in grant funding to help coastal and Great Lakes communities protect the health of beachgoers. The funding will assist many states, Tribes, and territories in conducting water quality monitoring and public notification programs for their beaches. "Every summer Americans flock to oceanside and Great Lakes   more

ATLANTA, Georgia, June 14 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * EPA to Award $9.75 Million in Grants to Support Water Quality Monitoring and Protect the Health of Beachgoers * * * Today, June 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $9.75 million in grant funding to help coastal and Great Lakes communities protect the health of beachgoers. The funding will assist many states, Tribes, and territories in conducting water quality monitori  more

TRAVIS AFB, California, June 14 -- The U.S. Air Force's Travis Air Force Base (60th Air Mobility Wing) issued the following news: By Capt. Christian Zamora, 60th Air Mobility Wing Nearly 20 members of leadership across Travis participated in the Lead Wing Command and Control Course (LWC2C) hosted by the 705th Training Squadron, assigned to Hurlburt Field, Florida, at Travis AFB May 14-17, 2024. The course is designed to teach concepts and considerations of integrating lead wing activities to   more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 13 -- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued the following news release: Attorney General Ashley Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a 15-year prison sentence for a man involved in a large drug-trafficking organization operating in Gadsden and Leon counties. A Leon County jury found Ja'mario Paramore guilty of conspiracy to traffic cocaine between 450 grams to 150 kilograms. The Honorable Judge Stephen Everett sentenced Paramore to 15 years in prison  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 13 -- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued the following news release: Attorney General Ashley Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a 27-year prison sentence for a fentanyl trafficker involved in transporting hundreds of grams of fentanyl into Florida. Robert Cox acted as a ringleader and the main source for transporting and providing fentanyl in a drug-trafficking organization. During the investigation, the Florida Highway Patrol located more than   more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 13 -- The Florida Department of Education issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: Today, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) applauds Governor DeSantis' Focus on Florida's Future Budget, which continues to raise teacher salaries, make significant per-student investments, and advance Florida's unrivaled commitment to school choice. Governor DeSantis' budget includes an additional $201.8 million for teacher salaries, bringing the total to an unprecede  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 13 -- The Florida Department of Transportation issued the following news release: Nine Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) projects were selected for Outstanding Project Awards at the 2024 American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida) Transportation Conference held June 6-7, 2024, in Orlando, FL. Annually, the ACEC Florida recognizes the outstanding achievements of its members in carrying out Florida transportation studies and projects.   more

TAMPA, Florida, June 13 -- 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 that Nahum Rodriguez-Jaimes (48, Lakeland) pleaded guilty today to three counts of possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Rodriguez-Jaimes faces a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Rodriguez-Jaimes is a citizen of Mexico and subject to deportat  more

TAMPA, Florida, June 13 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Elias Xavier Rosario Torres (26, Tampa) and Veronica Estefania Rodriguez Pinuela (23, Tampa) after both were found guilty by a jury on March 8, 2024. Rosario Torres was sentenced to 38 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute fe  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 14 -- The Florida Department of Education issued the following news release on June 13, 2024: Yesterday, the Florida Department of Education and Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr., launched the 4th annual Summer Literacy Institute. The three-day event supports districts and schools by expanding literacy education resources and effectively implementing literacy education in VPK-Grade 5 classrooms statewide. The Institute provides professional learning opportunit  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 14 -- The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation issued the following news release on June 13, 2024: Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) applauds Governor DeSantis' and the Florida Legislature's investment in enhancing Florida's pro-business climate and maximizing licensing services for businesses and professionals through the signing of the Focus on Florida's Future budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The Foc  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 14 -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued the following news release: For over two decades, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Marine Stock Enhancement Research team has been working with school administrators, teachers and students to bring Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement Research into the classroom. The Aquaculture in the Classroom program is designed for students ranging from fifth grade through college. The pro  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 14 -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued the following news release on June 13, 2024: Today, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) applauds Governor Ron DeSantis for his steadfast commitment to supporting and bolstering the mission of safeguarding Florida's natural resources in the 2024-2025 Focus on Florida's Future Budget. Under Governor DeSantis' bold leadership, Florida remains one of the nation's premier destination  more

ORLANDO, Florida, June 13 (TNSres) -- The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: S&P Global Ratings expressed a strong vote of confidence in the financial structure of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA). In a report released today, the ratings agency raised its long-term rating and underlying rating on GOAA's senior-lien airport facilities revenue bonds from 'AA-' to 'AA' and its rating on the Aviation Authority's subordinate-lien debt   more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 14 -- The Florida Division of Emergency Management issued the following news release on June 13, 2024: Today, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (Division) applauded Governor Ron DeSantis' commitment to disaster response, recovery and resiliency through the Focus on Florida's Future Budget. The 2024-2025 budget includes key investments in supporting emergency response initiatives and streamlining recovery funding to communities impacted by disasters. "I wan  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 14 -- The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued the following statement on June 13, 2024: * * * Today, Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky issued the following statement in support of Governor Ron DeSantis' 2024-2025 Focus on Florida's Future budget: "Governor DeSantis' budget strengthens the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation's (OIR) ability to protect consumers and foster a market where insurance products are reliable, available, and affordable for  more

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, June 13 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - Today the Iranian-backed Houthis launched two anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) into the Gulf of Aden. Both missiles struck M/V Verbena, a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier. M/V Verbena most recently docked in Malaysia and was enroute to Italy carrying wood construction material. M/V Verbena reported damage and subsequent fires on board. The cr  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 13 -- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, with a coalition of 42 other attorneys general, today announced a $700 million nationwide settlement with Johnson & Johnson ("J&J"). The settlement resolves allegations of deceptive marketing practices related to J&J's talc-based baby powder and body powder products. J&J has sold these products for more than a century. While this lawsuit targeted  more

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, June 14 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Jacksonville District issued the following news release: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, has delayed the maintenance dredging for the federal navigation channel in the vicinity of Sawpit Creek, Nassau County, until early October 2024. The project has been delayed because of active shorebird nests within the beach placement area of Amelia Island State Park. The project was awarded May 16 in the amount of $6.  more

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, June 12 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed three anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) launchers in a Houthi controlled area of Yemen and one uncrewed aerial system (UAS) launched from a Houthi controlled area of Yemen over the Red Sea. Separately, Iranian-backed Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi controlled ar  more

WASHINGTON, June 13 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 23-22345-CIV; S.D. Fla. filed June 26, 2023) involving James L. Koutoulas: * * * On May 23, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida granted the Securities and Exchange Commission's application to enforce a subpoena for the production of documents to James L. Koutoulas ("Koutoulas "), and denied Koutoulas's petition to quash that subpoena. If a person or entity   more

NEW YORK, June 14 -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued the following news on June 13, 2024: New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of Ronald Porcelli, Esq. as the director of the NYC Unity Project. The NYC Unity Project, a unit within the New York City Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice (MOERJ), works across city agencies to uplift, engage, and better serve New York City's diverse LGBTQ+ community, leading centralized outreach, engagement, and strategic prog  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, June 13 -- North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued the following news release: Attorney General Josh Stein led a bipartisan coalition of 43 attorneys general in reaching a landmark $700 million nationwide settlement with Johnson & Johnson to resolve allegations that it deceptively marketed the safety and purity of its baby and body powder products containing talc. As part of the investigation and resulting settlement, which is pending approval by a judge, John  more

WASHINGTON, June 13 -- NASA issued the following news release: NASA will award funding to nearly 250 small business teams to develop new technologies to address agency priorities, such as carbon neutrality and energy storage for various applications in space and on Earth. The new awards from NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program invest in a diverse portfolio of American small businesses and research institutions to support NASA's   more

CARSON CITY, Nevada, June 13 -- Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford issued the following news release on June 12, 2024: Today, Attorney General Aaron Ford announced that he and 42 other attorneys general have reached a $700 million nationwide settlement to resolve allegations related to the marketing of Johnson & Johnson's baby powder and body powder products that contained talc. As part of this settlement, which is pending judicial approval, Nevada will receive $6,131,236.22. "This case sho  more

WASHINGTON, June 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology issued the following news: * * * * New research found elevated mercury levels in the skin of dolphins in parts of the Southeast. * Dolphins eat mercury-contaminated fish, some of which are also part of the human diet. * Scientists said their study could inform future research on mercury in humans living in the affected areas. * * * In a study with potential implications for the   more

WASHINGTON, June 13 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport Underwater Sound Reference Division (USRD) team from the Sensors and Sonar Systems Department recently won the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) V.B. "Kisan" Pandit Metrology and Calibration Innovation Award, which recognizes individuals and teams whose contributions have significantly enhanced the NAVSEA mission by enriching the profession and promoting inn  more

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, June 14 -- Palm Beach County issued the following news: On Friday, May 17, 2024, Commissioner Woodward attended the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Luncheon, held at Boca West Country Club. Florida Power & Light received the Business of the Year Award, and Boca Raton Bowl Executive Director Doug Mosley received the Business Leader of the Year Award. Joyce Hunter and Phil Lomenzo, the co-owners and operators of the Florida Printing Group, Inc., were rec  more

WASHINGTON, June 14 -- The White House issued the following news release on June 13, 2024: Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve in his administration: * Elizabeth M. Aubin, Nominee to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Cameroon * Stephanie L. Hallett, Nominee to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Bahrain * Brian K. Stimmler, Nominee to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni  more

SARASOTA, Florida, June 13 -- Sarasota County issued the following news: Sarasota County homeowners affected by Hurricane Ian are invited to apply for the Resilient SRQ Housing Recovery Program. Sarasota County has been awarded $201.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program. Of this, $55 million is allocated to the Housing Recovery Program (HRP), which offers rehabilitation, reconst  more

MIAMI, Florida, June 14 -- The Miami-Dade County government issued the following news release: The recent movement of Russian naval ships towards Cuba, positioning them less than a hundred miles from Florida and the U.S. coastline, represents a significant and immediate threat to national security. According to an AP article, The Admiral Gorshkov frigate is armed with new Zircon hypersonic missiles which Russian President Vladimir Putin has touted as a potent weapon capable of penetrating any   more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 13 -- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued the following news: As part of a bipartisan coalition of 44 state and territory attorneys general, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a letter sent this week by the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) to Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and U.S. House leadership endorsing the Child Exploitation and Artificial Intelligence Expert Commission Act of 2024. The Act was sponsored by Rep. Langworthy (R-  more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 14 -- Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes issued the following news: Utah Attorney General Reyes, on behalf of the Utah Division of Consumer Protection and with 42 other attorneys general, reached a $700 million nationwide settlement to resolve allegations related to the marketing of Johnson & Johnson's baby powder and body powder products that contained talc. As part of the settlement, Utah will receive $7,540,013 over four years, for approximately $1.88 million each  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 14 -- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued the following news release on June 13, 2024: Attorney General Ashley Moody today announced the new Florida Human Trafficking Strike Team to fight back against transnational criminal organizations exploiting Biden's open border to bring trafficking victims into the United States. The announcement of the new team follows a multiagency operation to dismantle a massive trafficking ring in the Tampa Bay area and rescue 10   more