TUSCALOOSA, Alabama, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama issued the following news release: A St. Francis, Minnesota, man was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment Tuesday for his role in an international drug trafficking ring that resulted in the death of a man, announced United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector-in-Charge Mona Hernandez, Houston Division. Christopher Louis Bass, 46, was sentenced by U.S. Dis  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (TNSrep) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report: Here are excerpts: * * * Fast Facts Most electoral campaigns are privately financed. But some states and localities offer programs through which candidates running for state or local offices can use public funds for their campaigns. We reviewed 5 public financing programs. They all required candidates to collect a specific number of contributions to qualify and then adhere to spending limits.   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Rep.) -- The Congressional Western Caucus issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) delivered remarks on the House floor reflecting on his two terms leading the group. Video of Chairman Newhouse's remarks can be found here. Chairman Newhouse's prepared remarks Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on my four years serving as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus. It's been a tremendous four  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Department of Education (DOE) is seeking applications from parent organizations for its Special Education Parent Information Centers (PTIs) program. This initiative aims to empower parents of children with disabilities by providing them with essential training and resources. Funding Available for Parent-Led Organizations The program prioritizes applications from parent organizations with diverse leadership encompassing parents of children with disabilities, special e  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (TNSres) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis issued the following Beige Book on Dec. 4, 2024: * * * Summary of Economic Activity The Ninth District economy saw slight growth since the previous report. Employment increased slightly but was mixed across the region, and labor demand softened. Prices increased slightly and wage growth was moderate. Growth was noted in energy, residential real estate, commercial construction, and tourism. Consumer spending and commercial  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement after her bill to provide critical federal funding for hosting federal wilderness lands passed the Senate: "Thye-Blatnik payments have been a vital source of revenue for Cook, St. Louis and Lake Counties in northeastern Minnesota since 1948. But in 2018, a suspect and likely wrong reappraisal led to massive potential cuts in county revenue  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 13, 2024, entitled "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rayed Bean, Sheepnose, Snuffbox, and Spectaclecase Mussels". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the rayed bean ( Villosa fabalis), sheepnose ( Plethobasus cy  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota issued the following news release: A 13-count indictment charges three defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering of proceeds derived from fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, between March 2018 and July 2024, Shawn Ashley Grygo, 37, of Forest Lake, Minnesota, Shantel Rene Magadanz, 34, of Stacy, Minnesota, and Heather  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release: Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced their bipartisan legislation to designate the bald eagle as the National Bird of the United States has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate. It will now head to the President's desk to be signed into law. "The bald eagle has long been a symbol of freedom and patriotism for our n  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig released the following statement: "David Scott's historic service to American farmers as the first Black Chair and Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee will be felt for generations. "During his more than 20-year tenure on the Agriculture Committee, Ranking Member Scott has been a steadfast leader for American families, farmers and workers. His relentless effo  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement in response to the decision by House Republicans to abandon bipartisan legislation to keep the federal government open through March 14: "On Wednesday, Republican and Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate announced an agreement to advance a short-term extensi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced three grants from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide high-speed, reliable internet to residents in rural Minnesota. Over 5,000 people will benefit from these awards. Recipients include 139 different businesses and 368 farms across the state. "Internet access is not just a luxury in the 21st century, it's a necessity," said Sen  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: MINNEAPOLIS, MN Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced her provision, written along with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN05) to expand community access to land around the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock, passed the Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act and is expected to be signed into law. The provision directs the Army Corps of Engineers to minimiz  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Chair of the Senate Housing Subcommittee, and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) announced over $20 million in federal funding for the Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) to preserve affordable housing in manufactured housing communities and support Tribal communities across the Upper Midwest. This funding, awarded through the Preservation and Reinvestment In  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: MINNEAPOLIS, MN Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN), celebrated historic funding for clean, reliable and low-cost energy for rural Minnesotans. Connexus Energy will use funding secured by Senators Smith and Klobuchar to produce over 280 megawatts of clean energy through hydro, solar and wind energy that will lower costs for its 146,000 members in rural Minnesota while supporti  more