WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Feb. 19, 2025: * * * Fourteen Members and Associates of Violent Transnational Motorcycle Gang Indicted on RICO and Murder Charges An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas charging 14 members and associates of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang for their alleged roles in a criminal enterprise engaged in murder, robbery, arson, narcotics distribution, and witness intimidation in  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: * * * 14 members of Bandidos motorcycle gang indicted for offenses including racketeering, assault and murder HOUSTON - A 22-count indictment has been unsealed in the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) following an operation targeting multiple members of an allegedly violent, transnational motorcycle gang in the Houston metropolitan area. Current and former members   more

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 19 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Ken Paxton Stops Biden-Era Emission Rule that Unlawfully Sought to Force Radical Climate Agenda on States Attorney General Ken Paxton has successfully stopped a Biden Administration edict that would have forced Texas to adopt unlawful greenhouse gas reporting measures after the Trump Administration dismissed the Biden Administration's appeal of a lower court's decision in Texa  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following report (No. USDL-25-0225) on Feb. 19, 2025, entitled "State Job Openings and Labor Turnover - December 2024": * * * Job openings rates decreased in 5 states on the last business day of December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires rates increased in 2 states. Total separations rates increased in 3 states and decreased in 2 states. Nationally, the job openings rat  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following news on Feb. 19, 2025: * * * BORDER BRIEF: The "Trump Effect" is Here WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House Committee on Homeland Security released a "Border Brief" factsheet detailing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for January 2025, which includes 11 days of President Donald Trump's administration. Last month, there were 81,792 encounters at our borde  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: * * * Brownsville CBP Officers Seize $616K in Cocaine at Los Indios International Bridge BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers assigned to the Los Indios International Bridge intercepted a load of alleged cocaine valued at approximately $616,389 hidden within a 2011 Buick. "Our CBP officers work diligently to  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (TNSFR) -- Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has submitted a revised petition to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking relief from certain regulatory requirements under its In-train Wheelset Replacement Program. The request, initially filed in June 2024, aims to allow CPKC to replace defective wheelsets on rail cars without performing a single car air brake test (SCABT), which is typically required under federal regulations. The program was originally designed  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: * * * CBP Officers Seize Over $1 Million in Cocaine at Anzalduas and Hidalgo International Bridges MISSION, Texas --U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at the Anzalduas and Hidalgo International Bridges intercepted $1,009,600 in cocaine in two separate incidents. "Our CBP officers used teamwork and all available resources to thw  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Chairman Cruz Announces Commerce Committee Staff Updates for 119th Congress WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, announced staff promotions and senior staff positions for his committee office for the 119th Congress. Sen. Cruz said: "With juri  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, chairman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 19, 2025: * * * Chairman Williams Applauds Senate Confirmation of SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, issued the following statement on the Senate confirmation of Kelly Loeffler as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). "Ove  more

RANDOLPH AFB, Texas, Feb. 19 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: * * * Cleared for Takeoff: For Gen Z, the Sky's the Limit When It Comes to Engagement * Published Feb. 19, 2025 * By 1st Lt. Nadia Rossin * Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Air Education and Training Command hosted its first Gen Z focus group, bringing together public affairs professionals to explore how the Air Force can better connect wit  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for Feb. 18, 2025 ARMY Schutt Industries of Clintonville Wi Inc., Clintonville, Wisconsin, was awarded a $230,154,899 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for M870A4 semitrailer, lowbed, construction equipment transporters. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for Feb. 19, 2025 ARMY AECOM-B&V Middle East JV, Roanoke, Virginia (W912ER-25-D-0001); Baker Jacobs JV, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (W912ER-25-D-0002); EXP Federal Inc., Chicago, Illinois (W912ER-25-D-0003); Mason & Hanger-CDM Smith, a JV, Lexington, Kentucky (W912ER-25-D-0004); Page Southerland Page Inc., Washington, D.C. (W912ER-25-D-0005); Tetra Tech Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts (W912ER-25-D  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news: * * * Cornyn Votes to Confirm Howard Lutnick for Commerce Secretary WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after Howard Lutnick was confirmed as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce: "I have no doubt that Howard Lutnick has the experience and expertise to lead the Department of Commerce and help enact President Trump's economic agenda. I was proud to support Howard's n  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * Cruz Congratulates Howard Lutnick on Senate Confirmation Senate confirms Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce with strong support WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Mr. Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump's nominee to be U.S. Secretary of Commerce, by a vote of 51 yeas to 45 nays. Previously,   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Ernst Works with USDA to Fight HPAI, Protect Iowa Poultry Farmers WASHINGTON - Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, are working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide a roadmap and enhance the agency's response to the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). They led their colleagues i  more

RANDOLPH AFB, Texas, Feb. 18 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: * * * Excellence in all we do: 42nd Air Base Wing earns Outstanding Unit Award * Published Feb. 18, 2025 * By Senior Airman Tanner Doerr * 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The 42nd Air Base Wing earned the Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award for its exceptional service from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023.  Presented by the Secretary of the Air  more

ROCKFORD, Illinois, Feb. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release: * * * Federal Indictment Charges Suburban Chicago Man With Trafficking Firearms and Drugs CHICAGO -- A federal grand jury has indicted a suburban Chicago man for allegedly trafficking firearms and drugs. An indictment returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges EFRAIN JACOBO, 42, of Prospect Heights, Ill., with federal firearm and drug offens  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued the following news release on Feb. 19, 2025: * * * Fourteen Members and Associates of Violent Transnational Motorcycle Gang Indicted on RICO and Murder Charges An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas charging 14 members and associates of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang for their alleged roles in a criminal enterprise engaged in murder, robbery, arso  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 19 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Abbott Announces Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund Grant To Silicon Labs Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the third Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) grant of $23,250,000 has been extended to Silicon Laboratories, Inc. ("Silicon Labs") for their new research and development (R&D) operation in Austin, which is expected to create more than $80 million in capital investment.  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: * * * ICE removes 6-time deported gang member with violent criminal history to Mexico HOUSTON - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has removed a transnational gang member or criminal alien from the Houston area who illegally entered the United States at least six times, for the third time in 10 days. ICE removed Francisco Lopez Melendez, a 32-year-ol  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: * * * ICE removes Salvadoran gang member who illegally entered US 3 times HOUSTON -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement Task Force, removed William Alexander Diaz Reyes, a 32-year-old foreign fugitive, from the United States Feb. 14. Diaz is wanted in El Salvador for aggravated terror  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. Nick LaLota, R-New York, issued the following news release: * * * LaLota Votes to Strengthen Control at the U.S. Border WASHINGTON D.C. \- Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 35, the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, which enforces stricter penalties--including deportation for criminal illegals--on those who evade U.S. Border Patrol within 100 miles of the U.S. border. "Every executive order signed a  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Feb. 19, 2025: * * * President of Insurance Brokerage Firm and CEO of Marketing Company Charged in $161M Affordable Care Act Enrollment Fraud Scheme An indictment was unsealed today charging Cory Lloyd, 46, of Stuart, Florida, and Steven Strong, 42, of Mansfield, Texas, in connection with their alleged participation in a scheme to submit fraudulent enrollments to fully subsidized Affordable Care Act ins  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The White House issued the following transcript of the interview of President Trump and Elon Musk by Sean Hannity in the "The Sean Hannity Show" on Feb. 19, 2025: * * * (Continued from Part 1 of 2) Q: And I just keep doing my show, and I just -- you know, I come back to fight another day. So, here's the big -- then this is the million dollar or billion dollar -- I'm among billionaires -- question. So, you have all this going on and you stop, in a way -- you're still do  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of State has granted approval for the temporary importation of culturally significant artworks for the exhibition "Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers." The exhibition, set to debut at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and later travel to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas, will showcase key pieces from Johnson's acclaimed body of work. These imported objects, on loan from foreign owners and institutions, will contrib  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Feb. 19, 2025: * * * Rep. Fallon Leads Letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth & Secretary of State Marco Rubio Washington, DC -- Rep Pat Fallon (TX-04) led a letter on Tuesday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging them to make U.S. bases in Eastern Europe permanent in the interest of regional security. Rep. Fallon commented: "President Trump has made peace through str  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Roy Applauds the Trump Administration for Taking Action to Designate Cartels/Gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO's) WASHINGTON -- Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement today on the Trump administration's decision to designate several cartels/gangs as foreign terrorist organizations (FTO's).  Congressman Roy said: "This is the right move from President Trump and Secretary Rub  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Roy Re-Introduces Legislation to Remove Federal Liability Protections for COVID-19 Vaccines Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) re-introduced H.R.1432, the Let Injured Americans Be Legally Empowered (LIABLE) Act (link is external) today, a bill that would empower Americans to hold COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers liable for any harms their vaccines caused.  Congressman Roy said the following about this legislation:  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Feb. 19, 2025: * * * Rep. Tony Gonzales: Build a Budget That Works for the People, Not Against Them WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference (CHC), led a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson urging leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives to support a budget that reins in wasteful spending and delivers on President Trump's  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Risch, Crapo, Thune Led Effort to Permanently Repeal the Death Tax WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) led 43 Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax. The Death Tax Repeal Act would end this unnecessary, punitive tax that can significantly impact fam  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 3:22-CV-00121-N-BK; N.D. Tex. filed Jan. 19, 2022) involving Phillip W. Offill Jr. and Justin W. Herman: * * * On January 31, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas entered a final judgment dismissing the Securities and Exchange Commission's claims against Phillip W. Offill, Jr. following Offill's death. The Commission previously obtained a final judgment against  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 19, 2025: * * * Sen. Cruz: Spectrum Pipeline Means Faster Internet, More Jobs, Stronger National Defense Federal bureaucrats' spectrum squatting hurts America's global leadership and national security WASHINGTON, D.C. - In his opening statement at today's Senate Commerce Committee hearing titled "America Offline? How Spectrum Auction   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Scott Charts Path to Combat the Fentanyl Crisis WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) reintroduced his Alan Shao II Fentanyl Public Health Emergency and Overdose Prevention Act. The legislation takes a three-fold approach to addressing the fentanyl crisis fueled by the expiration of Title 42 during the Biden administration. This legislation would allow the U.S. Department of Homeland  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * Senate Commerce Announces Nominations Hearing for Michael Kratsios to Lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Mark Meador to Serve as a Federal Trade Commissioner WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a nom  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee released the following testimony by Jennifer Mercer, Arctic Sciences Section head at the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs, from a Feb. 12, 2025, hearing entitled "Nuuk and Cranny: Looking at the Arctic and Greenland's Geostrategic Importance to U.S. Interests": * * * Good morning, Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and members of the Committee. My name is Dr. Jennifer Mercer, and I am the   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee released the following written testimony by Rebecca Pincus, director of the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center, from a Feb. 12, 2025, hearing entitled "Nuuk and Cranny: Looking at the Arctic and Greenland's Geostrategic Importance to U.S. Interests": * * * Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and distinguished members of the Committee, thank you for convening this hearing on the Arctic and Greenland's geostra  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee released the following written testimony by Anthony Marchese chairman of the Texas Mineral Resources Corp., from a Feb. 12, 2025, hearing entitled "Nuuk and Cranny: Looking at the Arctic and Greenland's Geostrategic Importance to U.S. Interests": * * * Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and Honorable Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to address Greenland's min  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee issued the following information for a hearing entitled "Interdicting Illicit Drug Trafficking: A View from the Front Lines" at 11 a.m. on Feb. 26, 2025, at 253 Russell Senate Office Building: The hearing will examine federal counter-drug efforts at the tactical, strategic, and personal level. It will also highlight the additional resources needed by the U.S. Coast Guard to degrade transnational criminal organizati  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released the following testimony by Jack Andreasen Cavanaugh, manager of U.S. policy and advocacy at Breakthrough Energy, from a Feb. 12, 2025, hearing entitled "Advancing Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration Technologies and Ensuring Effective Implementation of the USE IT Act." USE IT Act is the Utilizing Significant Emissions With Innovative Technologies Act. * * * Chairman Capito, Ranking Member Whitehouse, an  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released the following written testimony by Dan Yates, executive director of the Ground Water Protection Council, from a Feb. 12, 2025, hearing entitled "Advancing Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration Technologies and Ensuring Effective Implementation of the USE IT Act." USE IT Act is the Utilizing Significant Emissions With Innovative Technologies Act. * * * Thank you, Madame Chairman Capito, Ranking Member Whit  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Feb. 19 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: * * * Settlement of Estate JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - The Commander regrets to announce the death of Army Private 2nd Class Jacob Langford, assigned to Alpha Company, 188th Medical Battalion, who passed away on Feb. 16, 2025.  To settle the estate of the deceased, 1st Lt. Kacie Kennedy, assigned to Bravo Company, 187th Medic  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chairman of the House Budget Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 19, 2025: * * * Statement from Chairman Arrington on President Trump's Endorsement of House Budget Resolution WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to President Donald J. Trump's endorsement of the House Republican budget framework that delivers on all of President Trump'  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (TNSFR) -- The Surface Transportation Board has tentatively approved TBL Group, Inc.'s acquisition of Echo Windy City, LLC, a motor passenger carrier based in Chicago, Illinois. TBL Group, a Texas-based holding company controlling multiple interstate motor carriers, seeks to expand Echo Windy's operations to include interstate passenger transportation. The proposed acquisition would give TBL Group control over an additional interstate passenger carrier once Echo Windy obtai  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Surface Transportation Board issued the following notice (Docket No. FD 36835) entitled "OPSEU Pension Plan Trust Fund, Jaguar Transport Holdings LLC and Jaguar Rail Holdings LLC - Continuance in Control Exemption - Kansas City West Bottoms Railroad LLC": * * * OPSEU Pension Plan Trust Fund (OPTrust), Jaguar Transport Holdings, LLC (JTH), and Jaguar Rail Holdings, LLC (JRH, and collectively with OPTrust and JTH, Jaguar), each a non  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * U.S. Army Tank Crew Wins International Competition for First Time A four-man Army tank crew from the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division, defeated teams from four other countries over the past week to achieve the first American victory in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa International Tank Challenge. Taking place in Grafenwoehr, Germany, the competition -- which fi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Senator Katie Britt: President Trump's Order to Strengthen IVF Accessibility, Affordability Another Promise Kept Will continue working with President Trump on Pro-Family policies, legislation WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today celebrated President Trump's historic executive order to expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF). President Trump's order is the most pro-IV  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (TNSFR) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed replacement of the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. The new facility, estimated to be approximately 1.6 million gross square feet, aims to address the growing demand for veteran healthcare services in the South Texas region. The current hospital, built in 1972, has faced infrastructure challenges and space   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chairman of the House Budget Committee, posted the following news release: * * * WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: President Trump Endorses House Budget Resolution WASHINGTON, D.C. - Republicans on the House Budget Committee advanced the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget resolution to restore economic prosperity in the United States and deliver on all of President Trump's transformative America First agenda to: * Provide tax relief for working families   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden Introduces Bill to Raise Minimum Age to Buy Assault Weapons More than 85 percent of deaths in public mass shootings involving four or more fatalities were caused by assault rifles Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today said that he is joining legislation to raise the minimum age to buy assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21. "If you're not old enough to pu  more