Saturday - November 23, 2024
*Florida Editor Tipoffs Newsletter for Thursday October 31, 2024 ( 39 items )  

A Tu Gusto, LLC Recalls Frozen Croquette Products Produced Without the Benefit of Inspection and Undeclared Allergens
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued the following recall alert: Oct. 29, 2024 A Tu Gusto, LLC, a Lehigh Acres, Fla. firm, is recalling approximately 7,630 pounds of frozen meat and poultry croquette products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and may contain undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains soy, sesa  more

BENHAM-STANLEY Selected to Compete for Up to $249 Million Contract
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the following high-value contract information through the Pentagon on Oct. 29, 2024: BENHAM-STANLEY LLC, Jacksonville, Florida (W912PL-25-D-0002), will compete for each order of the $249,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineer services. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2029. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, California, is  more

Campaign for College Opportunity Issues Report Entitled 'How Exclusion In California's Colleges & Universities Continues To Hurt Our Values, Students, and Democracy'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The Campaign for College Opportunity issued a 77-page report in January 2024 entitled "How Exclusion In California's Colleges & Universities Continues To Hurt Our Values, Students, and Democracy." The report was written by Vikash Reddy. Here are excerpts: * * * PREFACE Estela Mara Bensimon, Ed.D. University Professor Emerita and Founder, Center for Urban Education University of Southern California Increasing the appointment of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and underre  more

Clam Survey Dredges Up Ice Age Find
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: Scientists participating in our 2024 Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Survey aboard the F/V ESS Pursuit made an amazing once-in-a-lifetime discovery! It happened during their second dredge haul. As usual, scientists brought the dredge sample aboard the vessel, deposited it onto a series of whirling conveyor belts, and delivered it to the processing area for data collection. While the sample had barely  more

FDA Issues Warning Letter to BFL Metal Products
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following warning letter to BFL Metal Products Co. LTD: * * * To: Liang Lihong, BFL Metal Products Co., LTD, Guangdong Sheng, China, Lily@dallltd.com, sales@qr-joy.com Dear Liang Lihong: The Center for Tobacco Products of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently reviewed the website https://fumevapors.com and determined that electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) pr  more

FHCA Honors Agency for Health Care Administration Leader With Champion for the Elderly Award
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Oct. 31 -- The Florida Health Care Association issued the following news release on Oct. 30, 2024: * * * Deputy Secretary Kim Smoak Recognized for Outstanding Support to Long Term Care Centers During Natural Disasters * * * The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) today awarded Deputy Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Kim Smoak, with the 2024 Champion for the Elderly Award. The award was presented by FHCA during the Agency for Health Care   more

Fla. U.S. Attorney: Felon in Possession Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison Following Shooting at the Palm Beach Gardens Mall
MIAMI, Florida, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: A felon in possession of a firearm was sentenced to 144 months in prison, following a shooting at the Palm Beach Gardens Mall (The Gardens Mall) on Valentine's Day. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon imposed an upward variance in sentencing Devon Jamal Graham, 29, to 144 months in prison. Graham previously pled guilty to possession of ammunition   more

Fla. U.S. Attorney: Five Men Arrested for Conspiring to Distribute Over 150 Kilograms of Cocaine
MIAMI, Florida, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On Oct. 29, five men, Carlos Manuel Velazquez Gomez, 43, David Martinez, 53, Juan Antonio Rivera Velasquez, 45, Onasis Lisandro Garcia, 49, and Richard John Sydney-Smith, 62, had their initial appearances on their respective federal criminal complaints which charge the defendants with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute over 150 kilograms of cocain  more

Fla. U.S. Attorney: Ship Management Company Fined $1.75M for Failing to Maintain an Accurate Oil Record Book That Concealed Unauthorized Discharges at Sea
PENSACOLA, Florida, Oct. 30 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida issued the following news release: Gremex Shipping S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation that managed several ships including the M/V Suhar, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal district court in Pensacola, Florida, for creating and providing false records to the U.S. Coast Guard to conceal its illegal discharge of oily bilge waste into the ocean, which is a felony violation of the Act  more

Fla. U.S. Attorney: South Florida Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death of Baby and Possession of Firearms as a Convicted Felon
MIAMI, Florida, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: Yesterday afternoon, Darnell Mendez, 36, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, by U. S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg. Mendez and his girlfriend, Samantha Yi, previously pled guilty to federal offenses resulting from a long-term joint investigation by the Boynton Beach Police Department (BBPD), the Palm   more

House Administration Committee Chairman Steil Issues Subpoena to ActBlue for Documents Related to Potential Foreign Influence in Campaign Funding
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wisconsin, chairman of the House Administration Committee, issued the following news release on Oct. 30, 2024: Today, Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01) issued a subpoena to ActBlue, a major Democratic fundraising platform, for documents related to ActBlue's donor verification policies and the potential for foreign actors to use the platform to launder illicit money into U.S. political campaigns. The subpoena was issued foll  more

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Sen. Rick Scott Continues to Fight for Disaster Relief for Florida, Puerto Rico & States Affected by Recent Hurricanes
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: In case you missed it, Senator Rick Scott is continuing his push to provide disaster relief, including immediate passage of his Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act to provide disaster-loss tax relief for communities in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Puerto Rico and more across the nation that have been affected by disasters, including Hurricanes Helene, Debby, and Milton this year, and Hurricanes Ian, Nicole, F  more

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: Consortium With Minority Serving Institutions Delivers Opportunities for Students
LIVERMORE, California, Oct. 31 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory issued the following news: The Consortium for High Energy Density Science (CfHEDS) had much to celebrate at its annual meeting this summer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). "It was exciting to connect with our academic partners and their students," said Federica Coppari, the LLNL liaison to CfHEDS. "The best part is hearing from the students about their research experience."  more

NASA Sets Coverage for SpaceX 31st Station Resupply Launch, Arrival
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- NASA issued the following news release: The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, pictured on March 13, 2023, carried on the company's Falcon 9 rocket, will launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the agency's SpaceX 31st commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Credit: SpaceX NASA and SpaceX are targeting 9:29 p.m. EST, Monday, Nov. 4, for the next launch to deliver science investigations, supplies, and equipment  more

National Association of Broadcasters Issues Report Entitled 'AM Radio is Vital to Ensuring Public Safety'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The National Association of Broadcasters issued the following 7-page report in January 2024 entitled "AM Radio is Vital to Ensuring Public Safety." Introduction AM radio plays an essential role in our nation's emergency communication infrastructure. Its ability to transmit signals over long distances, wide accessibility and superior resiliency have made it an invaluable tool for disseminating critical information during various emergency situations. AM radio's enduring p  more

NMRTC Twentynine Palms Sailors prepare for Keen Sword exercise in Japan
CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: TWENTYNINE PALMS, California As U.S. forces gear up for the latest iteration of Keen Sword, Navy personnel from across the globe are preparing for one of the largest bilateral military exercises between the United States and Japan. Among those participating are Sailors from Navy Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Bravo, currently stationed at Navy Medicine Readin  more

NSF names three new I-Corps Hubs expanding the National Innovation Network across the U.S.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (TNSres) -- The National Science Foundation issued the following news release: The U.S. National Science Foundation today announced the addition of three new NSF Innovation Corps (NSF I-Corps(tm)) Hubs that will scale the NSF-led National Innovation Network (NIN), accelerating the translation of discoveries into new solutions that benefit society and the economy. Each NSF I-Corps Hub may receive up to $3 million per year for five years and comprises a regional alliance of at  more

NUWC Division, Keyport undersea warfare expert receives National Defense Industry Association Bronze Medal
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: A Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport employee was recently recognized for his work on a Naval Innovation Science and Engineering project enabling the integration of a live range asset into a constructive simulation environment. Allen Couture, deputy division head of Fleet Warfighting Readiness and Operations at the NUWC Division, Keyport Pacific Detachment in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was awarded the Natio  more

Probabilistic Models Aid the Long-Term Assessment of Coastal Dune Stability
VICKSBURG, Mississippi, Oct. 31 -- The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center issued the following news story: By Carol Coleman, ERDC public affairs specialist As the effects of a changing climate continue to be felt along our nation's coastlines, civil works and military planners face mounting obstacles. Coastal resiliency and flood risk management are at the forefront like never before, but as conditions change, planners need help assessing these areas to ensure the measures they  more

Rep. Bean Named 2024 Hero of Main Street
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Florida, issued the following news release: The National Retail Federation (NRF) recently presented U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) with the Hero of Main Street Award. Congressman Bean earned this honor for his tireless work during the 118th Congress to prioritize small businesses and empower a vibrant retail industry. In Florida, retail directly supports more than 2.3 million local jobs and contributes more than $357.4 billion in economic activit  more

Rep. Buchanan Outlines Priorities for Final Defense Policy Bill
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Oct. 30, 2024: Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees urging inclusion of his priorities in the final version of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Earlier this year, 18 of his proposals were unanimously voted on and included in the House-passed version of the annual defense policy bill. The Hou  more

Rep. Cammack Joins Rep. Bean, Florida Colleagues In Calling On USPS To Investigate Mail Delays
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Florida, issued the following news release: In response to resident and industry complaints regarding late or lost mail, Rep. Kat Cammack joined Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) in demanding USPS Inspector General Tammy Hull and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit and investigate the Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC) in Jacksonville, FL. Reps. Buddy Carter (GA-01), Mike Waltz (FL-06), and John Rutherford (FL-05) also joined the   more

Rep. Cory Mills Demands the Department of Justice Investigate Kamala Harris Questionless Press Conference Attacking Republican Presidential Candidate, Former President Donald J. Trump
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Cory Mills, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Oct. 30, 2024: Last week, Congressman Cory Mills (FL-07) sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding that the Department of Justice investigate Kamala Harris' questionless "press conference" hosted at the official residence of the United States Vice President. As a result, this is a direct use of official authority to affect the upcoming election, potentially breaching the Hatch Act. "The Ha  more

Rep. Cory Mills Recovers Over $45M for Florida 7th Congressional District Constituents
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Cory Mills, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Lake Mary, FL - Congressman Cory Mills (FL-07) proudly announces the recovery of over $45 million from federal agencies on behalf of the residents of Florida's 7th Congressional District. "I am proud to announce that my team and I have secured over $45 million from federal agencies and bureaus who held benefits from Florida's 7th Congressional District constituents. After the destruction caused by Hurricanes   more

Salazar and Pettersen Introduce Legislation to Improve Retirement Security for Family Caregivers
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) joined Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) in introducing two bills to give critical support to caregivers across the United States who selflessly support their families. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the Senate versions of these bills. The Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act (H.R. 9765(link is external)) and Catching Up  more

SBCC-RS&H Selected to Compete for Up to $249 Million Contract
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the following high-value contract information through the Pentagon on Oct. 29, 2024: SBCC-RS&H JV LLC, Jacksonville, Florida (W912PL-25-D-0011), will compete for each order of the $249,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineer services. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2029. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, California, is t  more

Scott, Colleagues to Lead Legislation to Replenish the SBA Disaster Loan Program Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in announcing plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program. The senators plan to seek passage of the legislation when Congress returns to session. On October 15th, the SBA announced the Disaster Loan Fu  more

Secretary Cardona joins President Biden to Celebrate Executive Order Supporting Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Awards Nearly $19 Million to HSIs in New Grants
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Education issued the following news release: Today, Secretary Cardona joined President Biden for an event celebrating Executive Order (EO) 14214, establishing the first-ever White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) alongside close to two dozen champions for these institutions. President Biden and Vice President Harris also announced nearly $19 million in  more

Secretary Raimondo Appoints Eleven Prominent Leaders to the FirstNet Authority Board
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the appointment of eleven public safety, technology, and business leaders to the Board of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and the selection of a new Board Chair. The Board now reaches a full complement, with 12 non-permanent members selected by the Department of Commerce and three permanent seats occupied by the U.S. Atto  more

Sen. Rick Scott Announces Senate Salary Donation to Museums Honoring the Fight for Freedom in Cuba
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Rick Scott and Mrs. Ann Scott announced they have donated a portion of his Senate salary to three South Florida museums honoring the fight for freedom in Cuba and honoring pro-democracy activists determined to end the ruthless, illegitimate communist Cuban dictatorship. The senator has donated to the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, the Bay of Pigs Museum and Library, and the Hialeah Garde  more

Sen. Rick Scott Slams Biden-Harris Economic Failures Following Q3 GDP Report
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Today, following the disappointing Third Quarter 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) announcement which showed growth slow to 2.8%, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement highlighting failures of the Biden-Harris administration and the economic hardships fueled by their reckless tax-and-spend agenda. Today's report shows the growth of the economy is down from last quarter and comes as inflation has   more

Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee Issues Testimony From Partnership for Public Service VP Mattingley
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee released the following written testimony by Jenny Mattingley, vice president of government affairs at Partnership for Public Service, from a Sept. 17, 2024, hearing entitled "Ensuring a Trustworthy Government: Examining the National Security Risks of Replacing Nonpartisan Civil Servants With Political Appointees": * * * Chairman Peters, Ranking Member Paul, and members of the Committee on Homeland Security a  more

U.S. Central Command Conducts Airstrikes Against Several ISIS Camps in Syria
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. U.S. Central Command forces conducted a series of strikes against several known ISIS camps in Syria, in the early evening of Oct 28, resulting in up to 35 ISIS operatives killed. The strikes targeted multiple ISIS locations in the Syrian desert, targeting multiple ISIS senior leaders. There are no indications of civilian casualties. The airstrikes will disrupt the ability of I  more

USAE-CAPE Selected to Compete for Up to $960 Million Contract
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the following high-value contract information through the Pentagon on Oct. 28, 2024: USAE-CAPE JV LLC, Oldsmar, Florida (W912DY-25-D-0060), will compete for each order of the $960,000,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract to safely locate, identify, recover, evaluate, assess, package, transport, manage, and make final disposition, as required, of munitions and explosives of concern and hazardous, toxic and r  more

USDA to Issue More than $235 Million to Farmers Hit by Natural Disasters, Including Hurricane Milton
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: Assistance includes $143 million for crop and forestry losses due to Hurricane Milton, $92 million to offset grazing losses due to drought and wildfire in 2022 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing payments this week to agricultural producers impacted by natural disasters, including $143 million in crop insurance indemnities for Florida producers impacted by Hurricane Milton and about $9  more

Va. U.S. Attorney: Four Members of Tidewater Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Two Who Supplied Firearms Sentenced to Prison
NORFOLK, Virginia, Oct. 30 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following news release: Four people have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine and other drugs in the Tidewater area. Two others have been sentenced to prison for providing firearms to one of the members of the drug trafficking conspiracy. By the fall of 2021, Leonard Tromell Brooks, 41, of Virginia Beach, a previousl  more

VP Harris Issues Remarks at Campaign Event at Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas
HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 25 -- Vice President Kamala Harris issued the following remarks at a campaign event at Shell Energy Stadium: * * * THE VICE PRESIDENT: Kelly and Beyonce! (Applause.) Hey, Texas! (Applause.) Oh, it's good to be back in Texas. (Applause.) Thank you all. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, everybody. Thank you for being here this evening. Can we hear it for Ms. Tina Knowles? (Applause.) For Ms. Kelly? (Applause.) And Beyonce? (Applause.) What a warm Texas welcom  more

White House Fact Sheet: One Month Following Hurricane Helene, Biden-Harris Administration Spearheads Ongoing Recovery Efforts and Support for Survivors
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (TNSfact) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet on Oct. 28, 2024: * * * One Month Following Hurricane Helene, Biden-Harris Administration Spearheads Ongoing Recovery Efforts and Support for Survivors Since Hurricane Helene's destructive landfall one month ago, the Biden-Harris Administration has mobilized a Federal response that has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in financial assistance to survivors, substantial debris removal and power restoration,   more

White House Fact Sheet: President Biden, VP Harris Announce New Actions, Investments to Advance Educational and Economic Opportunity for Latino Communities 
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (TNSfact) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet on Oct. 30, 2024: * * * President Biden and Vice President Harris Announce New Actions and Investments to Advance Educational and Economic Opportunity for Latino Communities Across the Country Today, President Biden will ceremonially sign Executive Order (EO) 14124, establishing the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity Through Hispanic-Serving Institutions (  more