WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release: Thanks to the Biden-Harris American Rescue Plan, twenty states are now providing these critical services to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use disorders The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), approved New Hampshire's Medicaid State Plan Amendment for community-based mobile crisis interv  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the following news release: * * * Strauss Feeds LLC in Watertown failed to protect employees against recognized dangers * * * WATERTOWN, WI - Federal workplace safety inspectors found a Wisconsin animal food producer exposed employees to the risks of explosions, fires and long-term respiratory illnesses from excessive amounts of airborne dust, among two dozen safety and health violations  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 13 -- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued the following news release: * * * Vaccines for COVID-19, flu, and RSV arriving across Wisconsin * * * The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is encouraging Wisconsinites to get vaccinated against respiratory illnesses this fall. An updated COVID-19 and a new annual flu vaccine are now available to protect against COVID-19 and flu strains circulating this season. RSV vaccines are also available for p  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 13 (TNSres) -- The Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds issued the following news: * * * Legislative Audit Bureau issues 'clean' audit opinion * * * The Department of Employee Trust Funds just released the Wisconsin Retirement System Financial Report for calendar year 2023. According to the report, the WRS continues to be one of the best-funded public employee retirement systems in the country. This is based on two common funding measures for public pension  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 13 -- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release on Sept. 12, 2024: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that the fall issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine is now available in print and online. Get set to enjoy autumn in Wisconsin with the latest issue. Hunting takes center stage on the magazine cover and inside, including a comprehensive look at duck hunting. Find season dates, bag limit inf  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 13 -- Gov. Tony Evers, D-Wisconsin, issued the following weekly radio address on Sept. 12, 2024: * * * Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address highlighting September as Suicide Prevention Month in Wisconsin. Gov. Evers proclaimed September as Suicide Prevention Month and September 8 through September 14, 2024, as Suicide Prevention Week. A copy of the governor's proclamation is available here (https://evers.wi.gov/Documents/090124_Proclamation_Suicide  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 13 -- Gov. Tony Evers, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release on Sept. 12, 2024: Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), today announced the annual payment of over $2.1 million to help maintain Wisconsin's nine lift bridges along Lake Michigan. "Wisconsin's lift bridges are vital to our state's economy, ensuring that oceangoing ships can access our port cities, opening global markets to our manufacturers, agricultur  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Sept. 13 -- The Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs issued the following news release on Sept. 12, 2024: * * * Lower Fees, Low-Cost Investment Options, New App to Launch Sept. 30 TIAA was awarded long-term contract to manage the plan, the nation's sixth largest direct-sold plan with more than $12 billion in assets (Video files will be uploaded here: https://cms.illinois.gov/agency/media/video/videos.html) * * * Families with a Bright Start College Savings Progr  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 12 -- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued the following news release on Sept. 11, 2024: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird today announced the promotions of Keisha Cretsinger to Chief of the Statewide Prosecutions Section and Lindsey Browning to Chief of the Administrative Law Section. "These promotions are well-deserved and bring valuable new leadership to our team," said Attorney General Bird. "With their vast experience, expertise, and determination, our office i  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Sept. 12, 2024: A Wisconsin man pleaded guilty today to smuggling contraband into a state maximum-security prison in exchange for bribes. According to court documents, William Lee Homan, 47, of Fox Lake, a former facilities repair worker at Waupun Correctional Institution (WCI), received approximately 125 bribe payments totaling approximately $53,579 from July 17, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023, from inmates,   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following weekly report entitled "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims" for week ending Sept. 7, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 230,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 227,000 to 228,000. The 4-week moving average was 2  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the following news release on Sept. 12, 2024: New CDC population data (https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/php/data-research/adult-obesity-prevalence-maps.html) from 2023 show that in 23 states more than one in three adults (35%) has obesity. Before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%. Currently, at least one in five adults (20%) in each U.S. st  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- The White House Office of Management and Budget issued the following statement of administration policy on Sept. 11, 2024, on the No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act (H.R. 1425), which was introduced by Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wisconsin, and 59 cosponsors: * * * Pandemic preparedness was a day one priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. Under this Administration's leadership, the United States has coordinated global efforts to end the acute  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Sept. 13 -- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued the following news on Sept. 12, 2024: This week, in a letter to Congress, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and 41 attorneys general called on lawmakers to pass legislation authorizing a U.S. Surgeon General warning on all algorithm-driven social media platforms. The letter comes amidst growing scrutiny of social media companies for their role in generational harm to young people's mental health. "Algorithmi  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 12 -- The Universities of Wisconsin issued the following news: The Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue (WICCD) invites faculty, staff, and students at the Universities of Wisconsin (UWs) to apply for grants that enhance democracy through civil dialogue in a robust marketplace of ideas. WICCD offers grants each fall and spring in four areas: research, events and related activities, assessment, and curriculum and professional development. A total of $  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service issued the following news release on Sept. 12, 2024: Corn production is down, while soybean and cotton production is up from 2023, according to the Crop Production report issued today by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Corn production is down 1% from last year, forecast at 15.2 billion bushels; soybean growers are expected to increase their production 10% from 2  more