WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release: * * * Baldwin, Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Great Lakes WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues in introducing legislation to extend federal funding and protections for the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 would reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through 2031 and inc  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Feb. 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Midwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on Feb. 12, 2025, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area - January 2025": * * * Area prices were up 1.5 percent over the past two months, up 3.0 percent from a year ago * * * The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area advanced 1.5 percent for  more

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Feb. 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Mountain-Plains Regional Information Office issued the following report on Feb. 12, 2025, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Midwest Region - January 2025": * * * Regional prices were up 0.6 percent in January, up 3.4 percent over the year * * * The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Midwest Region advanced 0.6 percent in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics re  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Betty McCollum Statement on Senator Tina Smith WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Dean of the Minnesota Congressional delegation, released the following statement after U.S. Senator Tina Smith announced that she would not run for re-election: "Tina Smith is a dear friend and an incredible partner in improving the lives of Minnesotans. A leading voice in the  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for Feb. 12, 2025 NAVY AEG Group Inc.,* Grayslake, Illinois, is awarded a $49,742,406 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract procures Motorola ultra-high frequency, very high frequency, and multi-band radios and accessories for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Webster Outlying Field Special Communications Mission Solutions Divisio  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for Feb. 12, 2025 NAVY AEG Group Inc.,* Grayslake, Illinois, is awarded a $49,742,406 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract procures Motorola ultra-high frequency, very high frequency, and multi-band radios and accessories for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Webster Outlying Field Special Communications Mission Solutions Divisio  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following recall alert on Feb. 13, 2025: * * * Name of Product: Spritz Taper Resin Hanukkah Dino Menorahs Hazard: The recalled resin menorahs can burn or catch fire when holding lit candles, posing a fire hazard. Remedy: Refund Recall Date: February 13, 2025 Units: About 4,400 Consumer Contact: Target toll-free at 800-440-0680 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT Monday through Sunday for in-store purchases, or toll-free at 800  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released the following public communication dated Feb. 3, 2025, from the National Agricultural Aviation Association, Alexandria, Virginia: * * * To: Dockets Operations U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, West Building, Ground Floor Washington, DC 20590 Re: Docket Number FMCSA-2024-0121 * * * To Whom It May Concern: The National Agricultural Aviation Asso  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Finstad Releases Statement Following the Confirmation of Brooke Rollins for Secretary of USDA WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) released the following statement applauding U.S. Senate confirmation of Brooke Rollins as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): "Congratulations to Brooke Rollins on becoming Secretary of the USDA. Over the last several years,   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Finstad, Costa Reintroduce Legislation Enhancing Access to Propane for Farmers WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) and Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) reintroduced the Growing Rural Ag Infrastructure Needs to Deliver Rising Yields (GRAIN DRY) Act, legislation that would expand the Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to inc  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Fischbach Finstad, Stauber Call for Swift Appointment of U.S. Attorney for Minnesota in Response to MN Fraud Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), and Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) sent a letter urging President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to swiftly appoint the United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota, in  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Delaying RFK Jr. Confirmation Vote on Senate Floor, Warren Highlights Kennedy's Egregious Conflicts of Interest, "Long History of Promoting Anti-Science Conspiracy Theories" Warren, Democrats hold Senate floor for 30 hours to oppose "dangerous" RFK Jr. confirmation "Kennedy's actions speak louder than his latest words, and time and time again, Kennedy has shown us who he is: An ant  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Klobuchar Statement on House Republican Budget Resolution WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, released the following statement on the budget resolution released by House Republicans earlier today. "These proposed cuts come at a time when we  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Klobuchar Statement on Senator Tina Smith WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement on U.S. Senator Tina Smith's (D-MN) announcement she will not seek reelection in 2026. "It's been a privilege to work with Senator Tina Smith. I'm lucky enough to call her not only a colleague, but a true friend. Tina and I have been friends since long before our time togethe  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 14 -- The Minnesota Utilities Commission issued the following decision involving Xcel Energy: * * * INTRODUCTION DECISION ITEMS 1. Details 2024-211 *** E002/RP-24-67; E002/CN-23-212 Northern States Power Co. d/b/a Xcel Energy In the Matter of Northern States Power Co. d/b/a Xcel Energy 2024-2040 Integrated Resource Plan; In the Matter of Xcel Energy's Competitive Resource Acquisition Process for up to 800 Megawatts of Firm Dispatchable Generation. 1. Should the  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released the following public communication dated Jan. 14, 2025, from Environmental Defense Fund: * * * To: Stephen Schayer, Director Office of Physical Hazards and Others, OSHA Directorate of Standards and Guidance 200 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20210 osha.dsg@dol.gov Re: Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings (Docket No. OSHA-2021-0009; RIN 121  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- President Trump sent 63 nominations to the Senate on Feb. 11, 2025: Kirsten Baesler, of North Dakota, to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education. Gary Andres, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sean Cairncross, of Minnesota, to be National Cyber Director. Daniel Aronowitz, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor. John Hurley, of California, to be Under Secretary for Terroris  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 14 -- The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission issued the following news release: * * * PUC approves Xcel Energy's natural gas rate case settlement St. Paul, Minn. -- On Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved a settlement in Xcel Energy's natural gas rate case. Under the agreement, Xcel Energy will receive an annual rate increase of $46.31 million, or 7.5%, a reduction from its initial request of $59.03 million, or 9.6%. State law allow  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee released the following testimony by Tim Deal, vice president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, on behalf of the American Sugar Alliance, from a Feb. 5, 2025, hearing entitled "Perspectives From the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part 1": * * * Good morning, Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and members of the committee. Thank you for this opportunity to testify b  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee released the following testimony by Chris Engelstad, president of the National Barley Growers Association, from a Feb. 5, 2025, hearing entitled "Perspectives From the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part 1": * * * Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar and Members of the Committee: My name is Chris Engelstad, and I am the President of the National Barley Growers Association. I'm a  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee released the following testimony by Kenneth Hartman Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association, from a Feb. 5, 2025, hearing entitled "Perspectives From the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part 1": * * * Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and Members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, thank you for the invitation to testify today. My   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee released the following written testimony by Bridgette Norring, founder of the Devin J. Norring Foundation, from a Feb. 4, 2025, hearing entitled "The Poisoning of America: Fentanyl, its Analogues, and the Need for Permanent Class Scheduling": * * * Thank you, Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, and members of the committee. My name is Bridgette Norring. Today, it is a great honor and privilege to be seated before you. I am a wife, mot  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Brooke Rollins Understands the Mission of USDA Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, anybody who knows me well knows that I say this a lot - and that is that agriculture is the lifeblood of South Dakota and the lifebloo  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, issued the following news release: * * * Young, Peters Lead Effort to Protect the Great Lakes WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025, legislation to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through 2031 to help protect and preserve the Great Lakes. The GLRI is the most significant investment ever made to restore and protect the  more