LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, Dec. 18 -- Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced that Colonel (Ret) Robert A. Ator II will serve as Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs. Ator is replacing Secretary Kendall Penn, who announced his retirement last month. "Colonel Ator is a rare breed: he speaks the language of government, the military, and the private sector, which explains his succe  more

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 18 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 17, 2024, entitled "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for the Regions - September 2024": * * * Private industry employer costs for employee compensation among the four regions of the country ranged from $39.37 per hour in the South to $53.75 in the Northeast in September 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following report (No. USDL-24-2562) on Dec. 17, 2024, entitled "State Job Openings and Labor Turnover - October 2024": * * * Job openings rates increased in 12 states and decreased in 4 states on the last business day of October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires rates decreased in 3 states and increased in 2 states. Total separations rates increased in 5 states and decr  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 18 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news: Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) is pleased to announce that more than $100 million will be awarded to 55 affordable housing initiatives in its district. The grant awards are available through the FHLB Des Moines competitive Affordable Housing Program (AHP). Through a collaborative effort between 41 FHLB Des Moines member f  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following weekly report entitled "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims" for week ending Dec. 7, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 242,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 224,000 to 225,000. The 4-week moving average was 224  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced the designations of 19 new National Historic Landmarks (NHLs), reflecting the importance of the sites in sharing America's diverse history. The new NHLs are nationally significant properties for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans, African Americans, Asian American Pacific Islanders, and wom  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: Today, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has recommended for award more than $276 million to 44 Tribal entities to expand high-speed Internet access and adoption. The funding from the nearly $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is part of the Biden-Harris Adm  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health issued the following news release: New NIH-funded data show lower use of most substances continues following the COVID-19 pandemic. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org(link is external). To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol conditions, visit FindSupport.gov(link is external). If you are  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: The eastern Bering Sea is a highly productive marine ecosystem, supporting more than 40 percent of the annual commercial fisheries landings by volume in the United States. Scientists have developed new models that predict more extreme changes in this ecosystem by the end of the century. They anticipate larger summer northward shifts and changes (both increases and decreases) in the area occupie  more

BETHESDA, Maryland, Dec. 18 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institute on Drug Abuse issued the following news release: * * * New NIH-funded data show lower use of most substances continues following the COVID-19 pandemic * * * After declining significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, substance use among adolescents has continued to hold steady at lowered levels for the fourth year in a row, according to the latest results from the Monitoring the Futur  more