WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Budd, Kaine Introduce Bill to Incentivize Landowners to Participate in Military Land Use Program Washington, D.C. -- Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) have introduced the Incentivizing REPI Sales Act of 2025. The bipartisan, bicameral bill promotes military readiness by encouraging the land around military installations to be preserved for the military to train, test, and operate. The  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Feb. 7 -- The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction issued the following news release: * * * Consolidated Data Report Shows Decrease in School Violence, Dropouts North Carolina public school units reported decreases in school violence and high school dropouts in the 2023-24 academic year, according to the annual Consolidated Data Report presented today to the State Board of Education. Raleigh, NC North Carolina public school units reported decreases in s  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Crapo Reintroduces Hearing Protection Act Washington, D.C. \--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) led a group of 28 additional Senate colleagues in reintroducing S. 364, the Hearing Protection Act (HPA). The HPA would reclassify suppressors to regulate them like a regular firearm. "Federal red tape continues to follow the false Hollywood narrative that suppressors are silent, and ignores the reality that   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: On Thursday, February 6, 2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin traveled to Los Angeles, California, to survey damage and meet with EPA personnel on the ground in the wake of the recent catastrophic wildfires. The agency is currently undertaking its largest wildfire cleanup in history. EPA Administrator visits LA fires (jpg) (https://www.epa.gov/syste  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a final rule amending Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Mission Hospital McDowell in Marion, North Carolina. This update includes the addition of airspace for Mission Hospital McDowell Heliport, a correction to the facility's name from McDowell Hospital to Mission Hospital McDowell, and the replacement of outdated Point In Space Coordinates with accurate geographic referenc  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has conducted an environmental assessment (EA) regarding UP Property 2, LLC's application to surrender its exemption for the High Falls Project on the Deep River in Moore County, North Carolina. The proposed surrender involves the complete removal of the dam down to the riverbed. Commission staff analyzed the potential environmental effects of this action and concluded that it would not constitute a major federal act  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. David Rouzer, R-North Carolina, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, released the following opening remarks from a Jan. 22, 2025, hearing entitled "America Builds: Highways to Move People and Freight": * * * Today's hearing begins our subcommittee's activity in the 119th Congress. I want to recognize our new Subcommittee Members and welcome back my colleagues who have previously served. I'm honored to serve as   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit released the following testimony by Dennis Dellinger, president and CEO of Cargo Transporters Inc., on behalf of the American Trucking Associations, from a Jan. 22, 2025, hearing entitled "America Builds: Highways to Move People and Freight": * * * Chairman Crawford, Ranking Member Norton, and members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today on behalf of t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Lori Willis Locklear, a mother of an Army veteran, from a Jan. 22, 2025, hearing entitled "Restoring Focus: Putting Veterans First in Community Care": * * * Hello. I am . Thank you for your time and effort in this important matter. I've been a Pharmacy Technician for 30 years until recently when I took an early retirement from the Department of Veteran Health Care System at the Fayetteville VA Heal  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Feb. 7 -- The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued the following news release: * * * Integra Foods of Bladenboro named 2025 NCDA&CS Exporter of the Year RALEIGH - Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler recognized Integra Foods of Bladenboro as the 2025 Exporter of the Year today at the annual Ag Development Forum hosted by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The forum is held in conjunction with the Southern Farm   more

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Feb. 7 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Ryan Rudy Elledge, 30, of Sherrills Ford, N.C., was sentenced today to 84 months in prison and four years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosiv  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Feb. 6 -- The North Carolina State Treasurer issued the following news release: * * * NC Treasurer Brad Briner Names Brandon Watson Chief Financial Officer Brandon Watson has been appointed the Department of State Treasurer's Chief Financial Officer, State Treasurer Brad Briner announced today. "Brandon has proven himself to be an exceptional leader and consummate professional. His years of experience in the banking profession have prepared him well for this next ste  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Alma S. Adams, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Taxpayer Data Protection Act ensures trusted public servants, not Elon Musk, can access personal information * * * Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, PhD (D-NC-12) joined House Democrats to introduce the Taxpayer Data Protection Act. This legislation is a direct response to Elon Musk's shameful invasion of Americans' privacy. It will stop people with conflicts of interest or without a secu  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) announced that she was appointed to serve on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the 119th Congress. Congresswoman Foushee will serve on the Energy Subcommittee and as Ranking Member on the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee in the Committee on Science, Space  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Today, Ranking Members Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) sent a letter (https://democrats-science.house.gov/download/sst-rm-lofgren-and-foushee_-letter-to-acting-administrator-petro_-doge-classified-access_-2625) to NASA demanding answers on the safety and status of sensitive data and whether DOGE has made contact with the space agency. "We have observed, with great al  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Gregory Murphy, R-North Carolina, issued the following statement on Feb. 6, 2025: * * * Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement in response to the House of Representatives passing H.R. 27, the HALT Fentanyl Act. "The opioid epidemic in the United States is ripping through our communities and taking innocent lives," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "No parent should bear the burden of losing their child, yet fentanyl is the leading cause of dea  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Gregory Murphy, R-North Carolina, issued the following statement on Feb. 6, 2025: * * * Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after introducing the Incentivizing Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Sales Act alongside Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). "The Department of Defense's (DOD) Readiness and Environment Protection Integration (REPI) is essential to our national security and invaluable ecosystems," said Congressman Greg Murphy,   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) voted to pass H.R. 27, the HALT Fentanyl Act, a critical measure to combat the flow of deadly fentanyl-related substances into American communities. This legislation permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, closing legal loopholes that drug traffickers exploit to push these lethal substances into the United States.   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Tim Moore, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Today, Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) voted in favor of H.R. 27, the HALT Fentanyl Act, which passed the House in a bipartisan vote. This legislation would give law enforcement the tools they need to combat the fentanyl crisis devastating communities in North Carolina and across the country. "Fentanyl is wreaking havoc on our communities, killing North Carolinians at an alarming rate and t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Alma S. Adams, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Yesterday, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Dean of the North Carolina Democratic Congressional Delegation, introduced a resolution recognizing the Greensboro Four for their contributions to American History. Fellow North Carolina representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02), Don Davis (NC-01) and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) joined as original cosponsors of the resolution. "For six mo  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Don Davis, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: Congressmen Don Davis (NC-01) and John Rutherford (FL-05) reintroduced bipartisan legislation, the Modern Authentication of Pharmaceuticals (MAP) Act of 2025. The legislation would secure the American pharmaceutical supply chain and close vulnerabilities that allow counterfeit and illicit controlled substances, including lethal fentanyl, to enter the marketplace. As Congressmen Davis and R  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Deborah Ross, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Ross Named Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Energy on House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) has been elected by her colleagues to serve as the Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy. She also will serve on the Subcommittee on Environment. "North Carolinians are increasingly concerned about the high cost of  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Dan Driscoll, President Trump's nominee to be secretary of the Army, from a Jan. 30, 2025, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, distinguished members of the Committee, good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today as the nominee to serve as Secretary of the United States Army. It is an honor to be considered for this role. To Senator Mullin and Sen  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee released the following testimony by Kelly Loeffler, President Trump's nominee to be administrator of the Small Business Administration, from a Jan. 29, 2025, confirmation hearing: * * * Chair Ernst, Ranking Member Markey, and Members of the Committee. It's a great honor to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee for Administrator of the Small Business Administration. I'm as humbled to be here today as  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 7 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2025: A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute parafluorofentanyl and fentanyl. According to court documents, on the evening of September 17, 2023, Jaron James Starkey, 35, of Charlotte, and formerly of New Castle County, Delaware, was driving erratically southbound on I-95 in Caroline Coun  more