WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- The NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis at the University of Chicago, Illinois, and the East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health Research issued a 36-pg. joint final report to the Appalachian Regional Commission in August 2024 entitled "Appalachian Diseases of Despair." Here are excerpts: * * * Table of Contents Introduction ... 1 Methods ... 2 Findings ... 4 Overall Mortality ... 4 Diseases of Despair: Comparisons Between Appalachia & the Non  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Nov. 2 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania issued the following news release: WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to stay a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that allows voters whose mail ballots have been rejected because of a paperwork mistake to vote a provisional ballot on Election Day and have that provisional ballot counted. The ruling requires Pennsylvania counties to allow voters with disqualifying errors on their mail ballot   more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Nov. 2 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania issued the following news release on Nov. 1, 2024: WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Pennsylvania Voters Decide, a coalition of more than 50 pro-voting rights organizations, responded today to a hearing in Chester County over challenges to more than 200 mail ballot applications. After hearing arguments from the challengers and impacted voters, the county board of elections unanimously denied all of the challenges, findin  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) issued the following news: Amtrak has been awarded nearly $126 million from the Federal Railroad Administration's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) competitive grant program for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Many Amtrak partners also received funding that will improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of Amtrak service and support the expansion of intercity passenger rail. "These grants will  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on Nov. 1, 2024: The head of U.S. EPA's Office of Water, Bruno Pigott, joined Congresswoman Summer Lee (D-PA) in Pittsburgh and Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA) in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to meet with community leaders and highlight federally supported water infrastructure improvement projects under the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America Agenda, such as lead pipe replacements and   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Oct. 23, 2024, from the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Mount Rainier, Maryland: * * * To: Michael S. Regan, Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Re: Proposed High-Priority Substance Designations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); Notice of Availability Docket I.D. No: EPA-HQ-OPPT-202  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration has released the following public communication dated Oct. 24, 2024, from Kelly Brazzo, co-founder and CEO of the CureLGMD2i Foundation, Lancaster, Pennsylvania: * * * To: Patrizia Cavazzoni, MD Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research * To: Peter Marks, MD, PhD Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Sil  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The Federal Trade Commission has released the following public communication dated Oct. 24, 2024, from the International Franchise Association. Here are excerpts: * * * To: Hon. April Tabor Secretary Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite CC-5610 (Annex C) Washington, D.C. 20580 Re: Solicitation for Public Comments on Provisions of Franchise Agreements and Franchisor Business Practices (FTC Docket No.-2023-0026) (March 10, 2023; reopened July 12,  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The Federal Trade Commission has released the following public communication dated Oct. 24, 2024, from the Pit Owners Association: * * * To: Honorable Lina Khan Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580 RE: Solicitation for Public Comments on Provisions of Franchise Agreements and Franchisor Business Practices Docket: FTC-2023-0026 - Reopened Request * * * Dear Chair Khan, On behalf of the Pit Owners Association (POA) and its franchi  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pennsylvania, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 1, 2024: * * * Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Brendan F. Boyle, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 12,000 jobs in October: "Today's report is an outlier that tells an incomplete story, and our economy remains res  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, issued the following news release: Kansas City, Kansas. U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Fox Business' Varney & Co. to discuss the migrant surge at the southern border leading up to a potential Trump presidency, and his new op-ed, Farmers and Ranchers Turn to Trump to Deliver, that contrasts President Trump's Farmers First agenda with the past four years of the Biden-Harris anti-agriculture agenda. Highlights from the interview inclu  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration issued the following news release: The grants fund innovations like innovative debris removal, enhanced work zone safety, integrating technology to support emergency responders, using drones to conduct infrastructure inspections, and improving bridge design and developing more sustainable materials. FHWA's Accelerated Innovation Deployment Demonstration program supports the Biden-Harris Administration's I  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 1, 2024: * * * Civil Rights Division Staff Available to Receive Nationwide Reports Throughout Election Day * * * The Justice Department announced today that it plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 86 jurisdictions in 27 states for the Nov. 5 general election. The Justice Department enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to acc  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following news: By Zach Shapiro, MyCG Staff The Coast Guard has selected the ninth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve (MCPO-CGR). Master Chief Petty Officer Will Adams will formally assume the role in a Nov. 4 ceremony at Coast Guard Headquarters. "I am honored to announce that we have selected MCPO Will Adams to serve as the next Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve," sa  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- The National Council on Disability issued a 41-page progress report on Oct. 31, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Letter of Transmittal October 31, 2024 President Joseph R. Biden Jr. The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: The National Council on Disability (NCD) is pleased to submit the enclosed 2024 Progress Report, which provides a statutorily required status update on the nation's advancements and successes in disabil  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 2 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Nov. 1, 2024: * * * Through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), the Shapiro Administration is supporting major agricultural, economic development, and workforce development projects to fuel economic growth, create jobs, and boost local economies * * * Governor Josh Shapiro announced that his Administration is investing nearly $600 million in over 400 projects across Pe  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Oct. 30 -- The Pennsylvania Senate Democrats issued the following news release: DELAWARE COUNTY, PA - October 30, 2024 - Attorney General Michelle Henry yesterday announced the filing of a lawsuit against the parent company of the Crozer Health System, Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc., as well as its executives and former majority owner, the private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners. The lawsuit comes in response to years of the company's disastrous mismanagement a  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 2 -- The Pennsylvania Treasurer issued the following news release on Nov. 1, 2024: * * * PA ABLE allows people with disabilities to save without losing access to important benefits * * * Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced another fee cut for PA ABLE account owners, who are seeing a lower annual account maintenance fee on their October statements. PA ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts help Pennsylvanians with disabilities and t  more

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania, Nov. 2 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release on Nov. 1, 2024: United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam announced today that the Justice Department will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Luzerne County for the November 5 general election. The Justice Department enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The department re  more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Nov. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release: A resident of Washington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Walter Holt III, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about March 12 an  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. issued the following news release on Nov. 1, 2024: * * * UFCW Tri-State Plan Averts Insolvency and Reduction of Benefits Through Receipt of Special Financial Assistance * * * The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced today that it has approved the application submitted to the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Participating Food Industry Employers Tri-State Pen  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Nov. 1, 2024: HARMAR TOWNSHIP, PA - Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) joined local law enforcement to celebrate the $50,000 that he secured for a new cruiser and dash camera system for the Harmar Township Police Department. He also toured to see the new cruiser. "To best protect and serve the people of Harmar Township, the Police Department needs reliable, high-quality vehicles and equipment,"  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-California, issued the following news release on Oct. 31, 2024: Today Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) lauded the recent Education and Workforce Committee investigation and report into the explosion of antisemitism on U.S. campuses following the attack on Israel by Hamas. For nearly a year, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce majority staff has been working to uncover and document the extent of the problem. The Committee's investigation   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following statement on Nov. 1, 2024: * * * Friends, It continues to be a honor to represent Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District in the 118th Congress. I will never stop working to improve your lives through fighting for affordable energy, combatting waste in federal government, and working to protect your freedoms. In the 118th Congress, I introduced 36 bills, 73 amendments, and 3 resolutions. I also cosponsored 165   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Nov. 1, 2024: Today, Rep. Summer L. Lee (D-PA) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) introduced the Eliminating Bias in Algorithmic Systems (BIAS) Act to address the mounting risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) bias within federal agencies. This legislation mandates that every federal agency utilizing, funding, or overseeing AI establish a civil rights office dedicated to combating algorithmic bias  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Nov. 1, 2024: Today, Pennsylvania Congressmembers Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), and Madeleine Dean (PA-04) sent a letter to President Joe Biden commending the Biden-Harris Administration's historic work to rein in price gouging corporations. In the letter, they also urge the administration to expand on their efforts to increase competition across the American economy and thus reduce  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) have called for the termination of the Biden-Harris Administration's mass parole program for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV). Reschenthaler and Roy were joined by 25 members in their letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. In the letter, the lawmakers wr  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Rep. Bradley Schneider, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: LINCOLNSHIRE, IL Following the receipt of a bipartisan letter from Reps. Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Joe Wilson (SC-02) that called for the strengthening of sanctions enforcement on China-Russia tech transfers, the Biden-Harris Administration announced(link is external) new sanctions on 398 firms across Russia, China, and more than a dozen other nations accused of enabling Russia's war effort. "In rece  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: September 11th Memorial Trail, Upper Bucks Rail Trail, and Newtown Rail Trail Extension and Improvement Projects Langhorne, PA Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) announced another major victory for the residents of PA-1 and beyond, securing $3,029,000 in Community Project Funding (CPF) for the continued development of the September National Memorial Trail and local rail trail initiatives.   more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Nov. 1 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory issued the following news: When an autumn frost descends on southwestern Pennsylvania, NETL's Thomas Tarka can sometimes detect an aroma in the crisp fall air that can only mean one thing. "It's typically faint, but it is an unmistakable odor telling me that someone near my house still uses bituminous coal to heat their home or business," said Tarka, who lives in the Carrick secti  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the following news release: They have quirky names and are often mistaken for stones, but freshwater mussels are very much alive and perform critical ecological functions in rivers and streams. We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have published a recovery plan to save four imperiled mussels protected under the Endangered Species Act: the rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox and spectaclecase. The   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the following news release on Oct. 28, 2024: The draft GCP is a comprehensive strategy to promote the long-term conservation of the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and the proposed endangered tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). This plan focuses specifically on these three states and will allow the Service to work more effi  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: Today U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) sent a letter to the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the governing body of the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling for an investigation into misconduct allegations against Prosecutor Karim A.A  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: As Part of President Biden's American Rescue Plan, Funding Will Help Grocers, Markets and Other Organizations Provide Healthy Food Options to Underserved Communities Nov. 1, 2024 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced today that USDA is partnering with Reinvestment Fund to invest nearly $6 million to improve access to healthy foods in underserved communiti  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 1 -- Vice President Kamala Harris issued the following remarks on Oct. 30, 2024, at a campaign event at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center: * * * THE VICE PRESIDENT: Hello, Pennsylvania! (Applause.) Good afternoon. (Applause.) All right. All right. Oh, we got the band in the house. (Applause.) Good. (Laughs.) Okay. We got some work to do. (Applause.) All right. All right. Okay. Okay. AUDIENCE: We're not going back! We're not going back! We're no  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The White House issued the following transcript on Oct. 30, 2024, of a news briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Jared Bernstein: * * * MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right, everyone. Good afternoon. Q: Good afternoon. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. A couple things at the top, and then we'll get to our guest. Today, President Biden signed an executive order sta- -establishing the White House -- Q: (Sneezes.) MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Bles  more