WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily: * * * 0.4 unemployed persons per job opening in the Dakotas, 1.7 in California, in December 2024 February 20, 2025 There were 7.6 million job openings in the United States in December 2024, a number not much different than the number of unemployed people, resulting in a ratio of 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening. North Dakota and South Dakota each   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 --The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released its 2025 ALEC Index of State Education Freedom, in January 2025, a comprehensive 50-state guide analyzing the availability and accessibility of various learning options for families. The report, authored by Andrew Handel, ALEC's Director of Education and Workforce Development Task Force, ranks states based on their commitment to parental empowerment in education, focusing on areas like education freedom programs, cha  more

ATLANTA, Georgia, Feb. 21 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southeast Regional Information Office issued the following report on Feb. 20, 2025, entitled "Union Members in Kentucky - 2024": * * * In 2024, union members accounted for 8.8 percent of wage and salary workers in Kentucky, unchanged from 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that the union membership rate for the state was at its pea  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2025: * * * Comer Investigates Biden Administration's Inadequate Measures to Provide Care for Federal Employees Affected by Havana Syndrome WASHINGTON--House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) today announced an investigation into the Biden Administration's inadequate measures to provide legal  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- 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. 20 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Graham Statement On McConnell Retirement WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement after U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) announced he would not seek reelection. "I very much appreciate Mitch's decades of dedicated service and leadership in the U.S. Senate. "As the longest serving Senate Republican leader, Senator McConnell reshaped th  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Rep. S. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, issued the following news: * * * Guthrie Honors Leader McConnell's Service to Kentucky WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) released the following statement following Senator Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) announcement that he will not run for re-election next year. "It has been an honor to serve with Leader McConnell representing the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Leader McConnell is one of the most consequential figures in Ame  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services released the following testimony by Robert Rector, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, from a Feb. 11, 2025, hearing entitled "Examining the Growth of the Welfare State, Part I": * * * My name is Robert Rector. I am a Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation. The views I express in this testimony are my own and should not be construed as representing any  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Sen. Raphael G. Warnock, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Senator Reverend Warnock Spotlights Dangerous Cuts to Medicaid in Presser Addressing Washington Politicians' Proposed Tax Bill On Wednesday afternoon, Senator Reverend Warnock addressed the impact of proposed Republican cuts to Medicaid on ordinary Georgians The press conference came hours after President Trump endorsed the House Republican budget plan, which includes scathing cuts to   more

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, Feb. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky issued the following news release: * * * Illegal Aliens Charged with Methamphetamine and Firearms Offenses Thursday, February 20, 2025 Paducah, KY - A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant were issued this week charging two illegal aliens with aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. One of the defendants was also charged with being an illegal ali  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, Feb. 21 -- The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) has initiated an examination of Duke Energy Kentucky's environmental surcharge mechanism. The review, designated Case No. 2025-00024, will cover two six-month billing periods ending November 30, 2023, and November 30, 2024, and a two-year billing period ending May 31, 2024. The PSC's review is mandated by KRS 278.183(3), which requires the commission to periodically assess the utility's environmental surcharge. Six-mon  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, Feb. 21 -- The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) has issued a post-hearing request for information to Big Sandy Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (Big Sandy RECC) as part of its ongoing review of the cooperative's proposed rate adjustments (Case No. 2024-00287). The deadline for Big Sandy RECC to file the requested information electronically is February 28, 2025. The PSC's request, issued pursuant to 807 KAR 5:001, directs Big Sandy RECC to provide detailed info  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (Sen.) -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: * * * McConnell on Confirmation of FBI Director Patel Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today regarding the confirmation of Kash Patel as FBI Director: "Threats to the United States homeland are growing. From terrorism to cybercrime to violent crime to cartel and drug violence to counterespionage, the work of the FBI has nev  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (Sen.) -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: * * * McConnell Remarks on Final Senate Term Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor: "I've never liked calling too much attention to today's date, February 20th. But I figured my birthday would be as good a day as any to share with our colleagues a decision I made last year about how I'll approach the 1  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * Schatz: Instead Of Addressing Rising Prices, Air Safety Issues, And New Disease Outbreaks, Trump And Republicans Want To Cut Taxes For Billionaires And Make You Pay For It WASHINGTON - Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) underscored President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans' efforts to cut taxes for billionaires, while making working families foot the bill as th  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- A report, "Shared Visions, Shared Outcomes: Transforming Student Success Through Partnership," authored by Sakshee Chawla and John Lane, and released by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) in January 2025, explores how states are collaborating with higher education institutions to improve student success. The report, produced in partnership with Sova and funded by the Ascendium Education Group, examines initiatives in Kentucky, Louisiana, Nort  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Statement on Senator Mitch McConnell WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement: "Senator McConnell's legacy is one of remarkable service to the Senate, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and our nation," said Thune. "Over decades of tireless work, his mastery of Senate procedure, commitment to the institution, and dedication to the rule  more