JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 27 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: The Army announced policy updates Dec. 20 to a pair of voluntary education programs for active duty, Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers. The new guidance includes a $500 increase and two semester-hour increase for tuition assistance, and changes to the credentialing assistance program. "The Army recognizes the value of the tuition assistance a  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 -- The U.S. Census Bureau issued the following working paper (No. CES-24-64) in October 2024 entitled "Multinational Production and Innovation in Tandem." The paper was written by Jin Liu. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction Multinational firms account for a large share of global production and innovation./1 These firms produce and innovate in various countries, choosing the optimal locations for each activity. Whether a firm should produce and innovate in the same h  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census has released the following public communication dated Dec. 20, 2024, from the Community Advancement Network of Austin: * * * To: Sheleen Dumas Departmental PRA Clearance Officer Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs U.S. Department of Commerce Washington, DC 20230 * * * Dear Ms. Dumas: The Community Advancement Network of Austin (CAN), a partnership of government, non-profit, private and faith-based  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Dec. 20, 2024, from Vizient Inc.: * * * To: The Honorable Chiquita Brooks-LaSure Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21244 Re: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request (Docket No.: CM  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 27 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: The Air Force Accessions Center announced the expansion of medical waiver considerations for multiple medical conditions Nov. 1, which opens up the opportunity for military service to an additional 600 applicants annually. The Department of the Air Force holds strict medical accession standards but can grant waivers in specific cases. The new policy   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the following news release: * * * Bandera Utility Contractors ignored similar safety standards in fatal 2022 collapse * * * FORT WORTH, TX - A U.S. Department of Labor workplace safety investigation has found a Frisco contractor repeatedly exposed workers to serious hazards by sending them into unprotected trenches without providing a means of escape. The department's Occupational Safet  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration has released the following public communication dated Dec. 19, 2024, from Missouri Foundation for Health: * * * To: Assistant Secretary Lisa M. Gomez Employee Benefits Security Administration 200 Constitution Ave NW Suite S-2524 Washington, DC 20210 Re: Enhancing Coverage of Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act Docket No. EBSA-2024-0011-0001 File Code: 1210-AC25 * * * Dear Assist  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 27 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: The first-ever Chapman Ultra Resilience Run took place on November 16 at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, offering participants a chance to test their physical limits. The event, open to all Department of Defense ID cardholders, featured 10, 20, and 30-mile run options. Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fischer, a SERE Specialist with the 66th Traini  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 27 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Respiratory syncytial virus is a common but potentially dangerous respiratory illness. Immunizations are available to protect TRICARE beneficiaries who are considered high risk from RSV infection. These immunizations help protect older adults and newborns, who face higher risks from respiratory illness. "RSV immunizations help prevent severe illness   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released the following public communication dated Dec. 18, 2024, from the Solid Waste Association of North America Texas Lone Star Chapter: * * * To: Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C., 20210 Re: Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Docket No. OSHA-2021--0009 Heat Injury and   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 27 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: With the end of the year approaching, it's a good time to consider your family's healthcare needs for the coming year. As you think about things like scheduling preventive care visits and knowing your 2025 TRICARE costs, you should also note some changes coming to TRICARE in 2025. There will be a new health plan and dental contracts--as well as other   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 -- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee released the following written testimony by Louis DeJoy, postmaster general and CEO of the U.S. Postal Service, from a Dec. 5, 2024, hearing entitled "Oversight of the United States Postal Service: Understanding Proposed Service Changes": * * * (Continued from Part 2 of 3) Growth and cost reduction are at the heart of the DFA plan. Simply put, the DFA plan is not about contraction or only cost reduction. Th  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 28 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release on Dec. 27, 2024: Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a victory for President-elect Donald Trump's border-security agenda during a hearing today before a federal judge. The hearing was called at Attorney General Paxton's request to uncover potential legal violations committed by the Biden Administration after recent reports that segments of the border wall were auctioned off for pennies on the dollar.   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (TNSFR) -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to disapprove revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) areas. These revisions aimed to demonstrate that the areas would meet the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The EPA found that the SIP revisions did not adequately show how the DFW and HGB areas would attain the ozone standards by their respective  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 24 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Dec. 23, 2024: Governor Greg Abbott today granted pardons and restoration of civil rights to the following four Texans recommended by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles: * Rachael Orsak Lynch, 44, for theft by check in 1999 (Austin County) and for furnishing alcohol to a minor in 2004 (Washington County). Lynch was sentenced to 3 days in jail and a $50 fine and ordered to pay restitution for the offen  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 28 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Dec. 27, 2024: Governor Greg Abbott today highlighted groundbreaking projects and investments throughout 2024 to ensure all Texans have access to the critical programs and infrastructure needed to thrive anywhere in our state. "Texas' greatest natural resource is our people," said Governor Abbott. "Our great state is stronger when we invest in our urban, suburban, and rural communities. This year, Texas   more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 28 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Dec. 27, 2024: Governor Greg Abbott today championed Texas' booming energy industry and highlighted the progress that Texas made in 2024 to increase the electric capacity of the state grid and invest in an all-of-the-above energy approach to solidify Texas as the world's energy hub. "Texas would not be the energy capital of the world without the hard work of the men and women of the energy industry," sai  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 27 (TNSres) -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Dec. 26, 2024: Governor Greg Abbott today lauded Texas' robust economy with records unmatched by any other state, as Texas continues to attract both large and small businesses in 2024. "Texas is the leading economy in the United States because we move at the speed of business," said Governor Abbott. "This year, I launched two new state initiatives -- the Texas Space Commission and the Governor's   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Dec. 27 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: Peruvian Lt. Col. Jose Avellaneda Diaz, the Peruvian army partner nation liaison officer to U.S. Army South, was promoted to the rank of colonel during a ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on Dec. 16. The ceremony was presided over by Peruvian Maj. Gen. Marco Marin, USARSOUTH Deputy Commanding General Interoperability (DCG-I)  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: EL PASO, Texas U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement, urges caution and emphasizes the severe dangers associated with illegal border crossings during the winter holiday season. Winter months bring freezing temperatures. Migrants attempting to cross the border illegally face life-threatening conditions, incl  more