Sunday - March 16, 2025
News Tipoffs - California Editors Newsletter for Thursday January 09, 2025 ( 33 items )  

Ariz. Public Safety Dept.: Arizona State Troopers Seize Over 550 Pounds of Cocaine in Traffic Stop on Interstate 40
PHOENIX, Arizona, Jan. 9 -- The Arizona Department of Public Safety issued the following news release on Jan. 8, 2025: * * * The drugs were discovered during a commercial vehicle traffic stop and inspection in Holbrook. * * * On Monday, January 6, 2025, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Commercial Vehicle Enforcement trooper initiated a traffic stop on the driver of a Volvo tractor-trailer on eastbound Interstate 40 in Holbrook for civil traffic violations. During the traffic s  more

Biden-Harris Administration Advances Agricultural Exports In Support of The U.S. Economy
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: Biden-Harris Administration Advances Agricultural Exports in Support of the U.S. Economy Fact Sheet Jobs and economic growth. About 20 percent of all U.S. agricultural production is exported around the world, providing a significant share of producers' cash receipts. U.S. food and agricultural exports support more than 1 million jobs and generate more than $200 billion in additional economic activity ea  more

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $41 Million Investment in Water Resources and Ecosystem Health
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the following news release: The Department of the Interior today announced a more than $41 million investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 21 projects to bolster water resources, advance ecosystem health, and support resilience in communities facing drought and other climate change impacts. The projects will support instream and riparian restoration, canal lining and piping, fish habitat improvements an  more

BLM takes steps to advance northern spotted owl recovery
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: < All Press Releases Portland, Ore. -- In order to further protect imperiled northern spotted owls in Oregon, the Bureau of Land Management today issued a final decision to implement a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service strategy to responsibly manage barred owl populations on BLM-managed lands. The strategy is the first comprehensive proposal to address the significant threat pos  more

Building Resource and Community Resilience to Rapidly Changing Oceans
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: Climate change is driving rapid changes in U.S. marine and Great Lakes ecosystems. The impacts range from devastating marine heatwaves to shifts in the distribution and abundance of commercial and recreational fish stocks. These changes are already impacting these important resources and the people, businesses, and coastal communities that depend on them. NOAA Fisheries is committed to helping  more

Calif. A.G. Bonta Files Amended Complaint in RealPage Lawsuit, Seeks to Hold Landlords Accountable for Artificially High Rent Prices
OAKLAND, California, Jan. 9 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release on Jan. 7, 2025: California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, alongside the U.S. Department of Justice and a bipartisan coalition of 10 bipartisan attorneys general, filed an amended complaint against RealPage and the nation's largest property management companies for maintaining an unlawful pricing alignment scheme that artificially raised rents and increased rent revenue across the board. To  more

Calif. A.G. Bonta Issues Consumer Alert on Price Gouging Following State of Emergency Declaration in Los Angeles County
OAKLAND, California, Jan. 9 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release on Jan. 7, 2025: California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert following the Governor's declaration of a state of emergency in response to the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County. The Palisades Fire has burned over 1,200 acres, threatening structures, homes, and critical infrastructure, including power lines and water tanks. The fire and ongoing windstorm conditions have  more

Calif. A.G. Bonta: San Francisco Police Department Reaches Milestone in Reform Process, Achieves Substantial Compliance With Recommendations
OAKLAND, California, Jan. 9 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release on Jan. 7, 2025: California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the publication of the final report on the San Francisco Police Department's (SFPD) implementation of 272 reforms recommended by the U.S. Department of Justice (US DOJ). The report finds that SFPD has implemented 96.7% - or 263 of 272 - of the recommended reforms, with the remaining nine reforms in progress and expected to   more

Department of Labor Recovers More Than $1M in Wages, Damages From California Ice Manufacturers That Knowingly Shortchanged 70 Workers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division issued the following news release: * * * Employees regularly worked an average of 16 unpaid overtime hours per week * * * SAN DIEGO - Seventy employees of two California ice manufacturers will receive their share of more than $1 million in back wages and damages recovered by the U.S. Department of Labor after investigators determined the companies' common ownership withheld $527,687 in overtime earned by workers delibe  more

DOE, EPA Announce $6M to Support Development of Advanced Biofuels
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on Jan. 8, 2025: Today, Jan. 8, the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $6 million in funding for three projects that will advance biofuel development and support U.S. leadership in energy and emissions innovation. Funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, the projects will support research to improve performance and reduce cost  more

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Granted for the Hurst Fire
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: OAKLAND, Calif. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Region 9 Administrator authorized the use of federal funds on January 8 at 1:00 a.m. PST to assist the State of California in combating the Hurst Fire, currently burning in Los Angeles County. On January 8, the State of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). A  more

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Granted for the Palisades Fire
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: OAKLAND, Calif. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Region 9 Administrator authorized the use of federal funds on January 7 at 2:57 p.m. PST to assist the state of California in combating the Palisades Fire, currently burning in Los Angeles County. On January 7, the state of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG  more

FLRA Issues Decision Regarding Department of the Navy, Commander Navy Region Southwest Vs. Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 12
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The Federal Labor Relations Authority issued the following decision (Case No. 0 AR 5751) on Jan. 8, 2025: * * * UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY COMMANDER NAVY REGION SOUTHWEST SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (Agency) and FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE LODGE 12 (Union) 0 AR 5751 DECISION January 8, 2025 * * * Before the Authority: Susan Tsui Grundmann, Chairman, and Colleen Duffy Kiko and Anne Wagner, Members (Chairman Grundmann concurring; Member Kiko dissenting) I. Stat  more

ILL. A.G. RAOUL AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SUE REALPAGE AND NATION'S LARGEST LANDLORDS FOR PRICING SCHEME
CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 9 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on Jan. 7, 2025: Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), with nine attorneys general, today filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against RealPage Inc. (RealPage) and five of the nation's largest landlords for their unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing, and against RealPage for its unlawful scheme to monopolize the market for comme  more

Iowa U.S. Attorney: Florida Man Returns to Federal Prison for N95 Mask Scheme
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Jan. 9 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa issued the following news release: * * * Participated in Scheme to Defraud Cedar Rapids Company in 2020 * * * A Florida man who participated in a scheme to defraud a Cedar Rapids, Iowa, company in 2020 was sentenced on December 9, 2024, to more than three years in federal prison. Saransh "Sam" Sharma, age 44, from Wellington, Florida, originally from Muscat, Oman, received the prison term after a  more

Justice Department Announces ATF's Publication of Final Volume of National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Jan. 8, 2025: * * * Fourth Report Concludes ATF's Assessment as Directed by the Attorney General in 2021 * * * The Justice Department today released the ATF's publication of Protecting America from Trafficked Firearms: NFCTA Updates, New Analysis, and Policy Recommendations , the fourth and final volume of the National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA). This landmark series represents  more

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: Toxin-Antitoxin Systems Could Target Invasive and Resistant Bacteria
LIVERMORE, California, Jan. 9 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory issued the following news: In a counterintuitive move, bacteria are known to produce self-destructive toxins. However, they also make antitoxins, and researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have identified these toxin-antitoxin systems as a possible passkey to hack into bacteria communities. The study, recently published in Molecular Biology and Evolution, examine  more

Marketplace 2025 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Jan. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: Marketplace 2025 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that, as of January 4, 2025, 23.6 million consumers have selected a plan for coverage in 2025 since the start of the Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (OEP). Over 20.4 million consumers had active 2024 coverage a  more

Md. Labor Dept. Announces Christopher L. Merz as Executive Director of Maryland Racing Commission
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Jan. 9 -- The Maryland Department of Labor issued the following news release on Jan. 8, 2025: The Maryland Department of Labor today announced Christopher L. Merz has joined the agency as executive director of the Maryland Racing Commission. Merz has more than a decade of experience as a leader in horse racing operations, compliance, business strategy, and oversight. He previously served as senior director of racing operations at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, director of r  more

National Heart Institute: Building Digital Twins and Hearts
BETHESDA, Maryland, Jan. 9 (TNSres) -- The National Institutes of Health's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute issued the following news: Imagine having a digital carbon copy of yourself that physicians could use to predict long-term risks for disease, assess how your body may respond to treatment, and simulate surgeries in advance. A virtual twin may sound as far-fetched as robotic surgery and self-driving cars once did, but researchers are studying how to turn this visionexternal link in  more

NLRB Lists Decisions for Week of Dec. 30, 2024 - Jan. 3, 2025
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The National Labor Relations Board issued the following weekly case summary for Dec. 30, 2024 - Jan. 3, 2025: * * * Summarized Board Decisions No Published Board Decisions Issued. * * * Unpublished Board Decisions in Representation and Unfair Labor Practice Cases R Cases University of Southern California (31-RC-356388) (https://apps.nlrb.gov/link/document.aspx/09031d4583eef5ea) Los Angeles, CA, December 30, 2024. The Board denied the Employer's Request for Review of   more

NSF congratulates recipients of the prestigious National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation awards
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (TNSres) -- The National Science Foundation issued the following news release: President Joe Biden revealed the newest honorees of the recipients of the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The laureates were honored during a prestigious ceremony at the White House last Friday. These esteemed awards celebrate groundbreaking contributions that have advanced knowledge, driven progress and tackled the world's most critical needs while u  more

President Biden Issues Statement on Wildfires in West Los Angeles
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- President Biden issued the following statement on Jan. 7, 2025, on the wildfires in west Los Angeles: * * * I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire. Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support areas that are impacted and help reimburse the stat  more

Safety first: A face behind airfield management
RANDOLPH AFB, Texas, Jan. 8 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: * Published Jan. 8, 2025 * By Senior Airman Tanner Doerr * 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- From starting out at a chicken plant to managing airfields and overseeing critical safety operations, the journey of Contina Harmon, 42nd Operations Support Squadron airfield management specialist, is a testament to hard work, leadership and the power  more

Sandia National Labs to Announce Record-Breaking Impact in 2024
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, Jan. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Energy Sandia National Laboratories issued the following news release: Sandia National Laboratories has set a new record for its economic impact in 2024, surpassing the previous year by nearly $400 million. This milestone includes the 16,900 jobs Sandia provides, $1.08 billion in payments to small business suppliers and $133 million in taxes paid to the state of New Mexico. "For 75 years, Sandia National Laboratories has been a leader i  more

SEC Issues Litigation Action Involving Amit Dagar, Atul Bhiwapurkar
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 1:23-cv-5564; S.D.N.Y. filed June 29, 2023) involving Amit Dagar and Atul Bhiwapurkar: * * * SEC Obtains Final Judgments Against Former Pfizer Statistician Amit Dagar and His Friend and Business Partner Atul Bhiwapurkar Who Both Traded Ahead of COVID-19 Treatment Announcement * * * On December 27, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered final judgment  more

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington Highlights Key 2024 Prosecutions of COVID-19 Financial Fraud
SPOKANE, Washington, Jan. 9 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington issued the following news release: U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref highlighted several prosecutions involving pandemic relief fraud during 2024 that were brought by the District's COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force. U.S. Attorney Waldref has prioritized fighting fraud and public corruption, and her White Collar Section's work combatting financial fraud and recovering damages continued to set the stan  more

U.S. Navy Announces Availability of Hawaii - California Training, Testing Draft Environmental Impact Statement/overseas Environmental Impact Statement
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii, Jan. 8 -- The Commander of the Hawaii Navy Region issued the following news: * * * announces public meetings and invites public comment on environmental analysis * * * The Department of the Navy (Navy) (including both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps), as the lead agency, jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force, has prepared the Hawaii-California Training and Testing (HCTT) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Over  more

USDA Reminds Livestock Producers of Disaster Assistance Application Deadline for 2024 Losses
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency issued the following news release: * * * Dairy Producers Having Milk Loss Due to H5N1, Honeybee and Farm-raised Fish Producers Also Eligible * * * The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers, including dairy producers impacted by H5N1, that the deadline to apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program   more

VP Harris Issues Statement on Wildfires in Southern California
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- Vice President Kamala Harris issued the following statement on the wildfires in southern California: * * * My heart goes out to all those being impacted by the devasting wildfires in Southern California. Doug and I are praying for our fellow Californians who have evacuated, and we are thinking of the families whose homes, businesses, and schools remain in harm's way. We are deeply grateful for the heroic first responders who are risking their own safety to fight the flame  more

Wash. State Health Dept.: State Revokes, Suspends Licenses, Certifications, Registrations of Health Care Providers
OLYMPIA, Washington, Jan. 8 -- The Washington State Department of Health issued the following news release: The Washington State Department of Health has revoked or suspended the licenses, certifications, or registrations of the following health care providers in our state. The department has also immediately suspended the credentials of people who have been prohibited from practicing in other states. The department's Health Systems Quality Assurance Division works with boards, commissions and  more

Washington State DFI Joins 52 Regulators in Levying $20 Million Penalty Against Nation's Largest Nonbank Mortgage Servicing Company
OLYMPIA, Washington, Jan. 9 -- The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions issued the following news release on Jan. 8, 2025: * * * Agreement outlines companies' failure to notify regulators in a timely manner, multiple compliance violations, and required corrective action * * * Today, the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and 52 other financial regulators announced that they have taken coordinated action (https://csbs.informz.net/csbs/data/images/Bayv  more

Washington State Governor-Elect Ferguson Reappoints Charlie Clark to Lead the Department of Financial Institutions
OLYMPIA, Washington, Jan. 8 -- The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions posted the following news release on Jan. 7, 2025: Governor-elect Ferguson announced Monday he reappointed Charlie Clark as Director of the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Clark's reappointment was announced with that of another agency head. "We are building a state government that will work better to serve the needs of all Washingtonians," Governor-elect Ferguson said in regar  more