WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following news release: More than 81 communities in 31 states will receive funding focused to restore access to employment, education, healthcare, recreation, and foster equitable development Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $544 million in grant awards for 81 projects through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot discretionary grant program, part of the Department's larger announcement today of   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Jan. 10, 2025: * * * $570M Acquisition Would Allow the World's Largest Travel Management Company to Eliminate its Second-Largest Rival, Limiting Travel Management Options for American Businesses * * * The Justice Department filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today to stop Global Business Travel Group Inc. (Amex GBT), the largest business travel management company in the world, from acquiring its rival, CW  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to improve Highway 5. The resources, provided through USDOT's Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program, will widen the roadway from two to four lanes between Chanhassen and Victoria. "Rebuilding our infrastructure is critical for families, workers, and b  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured over $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to improve Trunk Highway (TH) 19 in Northfield. The resources, provided through the USDOT's Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program, will widen TH 19 from two lanes to three between Decker Ave and Union Pacific Railroad. Improvements will also inclu  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Representative Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-07) announced their legislation to rename the Roseau Post Office after Floyd B. Olson, the Roseau Postmaster of 25 years, has been signed into law. Mr. Olson served in the Army from 1952 to 1954 and was an active member of the Roseau County Historical Society Board, Roseau County Fair Board, Rose Free Lutheran  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Jan. 10 -- Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, issued the following proclamation: * * * WHEREAS: Each year, nearly 2,000 babies in Minnesota are diagnosed with a birth defect - a condition that affects the structure or function of the body and can impact the way an infant develops; and WHEREAS: Birth defects can vary widely in how and where they affect the body. While medical advancements have greatly improved the health and survival of individuals with birth defects, many of the  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Jan. 10 -- Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, issued the following proclamation: * * * WHEREAS: Minnesota is home to more than 10,000 people who have answered the call to serve their communities through law enforcement; and WHEREAS: Law enforcement officers, including police officers, sheriff's deputies, state troopers, federal agents, corrections officers, conservation officers, and motor carrier officers put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve the people of   more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Jan. 10 -- Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota, issued the following proclamation: * * * WHEREAS: Quitting commercial tobacco is a significant change that can improve overall health; and WHEREAS: The mission of the Minnesota Department of Health is to protect, maintain and improve the health of Minnesotans, including through services such as Quit Partner, a cessation service dedicated to helping people in Minnesota quit commercial tobacco; and WHEREAS: A majority of adults in Min  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Jan. 11 -- Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon issued the following news: On January 10, 2025, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon sent a letter to leaders of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the Republican and Democratic-Farmer-Labor parties. In the letter, he provides information on his role under state law and the reasoning for his legal conclusion that a quorum in the house requires 68 members to be present. As established by Minnesota Statutes Se  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release: The National Park Service (NPS) has selected J. Patrick (Pat) Campbell as the National Capital Region associate regional director for Resource Stewardship and Science. Campbell started his new role on December 29, 2024. In this role, Campbell will oversee a team that provides technical assistance, analysis, and evaluation for resource management activities in biology, ecology, arc  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota, posted the following statement in the Congressional Record on Jan. 9, 2025: * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Wayne Pelzel, a friend, public servant, and fellow southern Minnesotan who is retiring from eight years of service as the Mayor of Sleepy Eye. Since his election in 2016, Wayne has faithfully served the people of Sleepy Eye and the greater Brown County community, working alongside the city council and city st  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Representative Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-07) announced their legislation to rename the Roseau Post Office after Floyd B. Olson, the Roseau Postmaster of 25 years, has been signed into law. Mr. Olson served in the Army from 1952 to 1954 and was an active member of the Roseau County Historical Society Board, Roseau County Fair Board, Rose Free Luther  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release: WISCONSIN Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation is making an over $38.6 million investment into Amtrak's Borealis Service, which runs from Chicago to Minneapolis with eight stops in Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Dells, and La Crosse. This federal investment, which comes from the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual fundin  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith announced that they have secured over $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to improve Trunk Highway (TH) 19 in Northfield. The resources, provided through the USDOT's Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program, will widen TH 19 from two lanes to three between Decker Ave and Union Pacific Railroad. Improvements will also include a   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN), ranking member and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced that an expected $2 billion in agriculture disaster relief and farmer aid will soon be made available for Minnesota producers, small businesses, and families impacted by extreme storms and flooding last year. After record water levels across the state wreaked havoc on producers, sm  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: MINNEAPOLIS, MN - U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) are demanding answers from U. S. Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy after several Minnesotans in Cook County reported not receiving mail delivery since last year. Residents were also turned away from local post offices when attempting to retrieve undelivered mail. Minnesota-North Dakota District leadership reportedly   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: Latest Investments Will Lower Costs and Support Jobs in 30 States WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2025 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $6 billion in clean energy investments through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs. Rural electric cooperatives and communities will use the funding to su  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: Part of Today's Announcement is Funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is funding 586 projects to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels. Today, USDA is providing nearly $180 million through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Higher Blends  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following 51-page report (No. 23-03517-230) on Dec. 3, 2024, entitled "Survivors Did Not Always Receive Accurate Retroactive Benefits for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Claims Reopened Under the PACT Act." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or whose death resulted   more