WASHINGTON, May 17 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration has issued a decision approving duty-free entry for a series of advanced scientific instruments imported by prominent U.S. research institutions from Chinese manufacturers. The determination follows the Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials Importation Act of 1966, which allows duty exemptions for scientific instruments not produced domestically with equivalent value or capabilities. On Ap  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. IF12608) on May 16, 2025, entitled "The Development of Federal Recommendations and Regulations for Fluoride in Drinking Water." The report is written by environmental policy analysts Elena H. Humphreys and Jerry H. Yen, health policy analyst Alexandria K. Mickler and legislative attorney Jason O. Heflin. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral present at s  more

ALBANY, New York, May 16 (TNSLprt) -- A recent review by the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) has uncovered the significant reliance of New York City on federal grants, totaling $7.4 billion in the planned FY 2026 operating budget. The report, published in April 2025 and authored by Deborah Grumet, Michelle Dragan, Patrick Chang, Justine DeGeorge, Wesley Kirby, Brian Stanley, and Christopher Lotridge under the direction of the Office of the New York State Comptroller, highlights the potenti  more

NEW YORK, May 17 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York issued the following news release on May 16, 2025: * * * Federal Reserve Banks of Cleveland and New York Announce Selected Papers in National High School Fed Challenge NEW YORK--The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York today announced the results of this year's High School Fed Challenge, an academic paper competition. The competition, now in its 30th year, was open to high school teams across the na  more

NEW YORK, May 17 -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued the following news: * * * Mayor Adams Invites City, State, and Federal Elected Officials to Ride Along With Subway Outreach Teams During Midnight Shifts New York City Mayor Eric Adams today invited city, state, and federal elected officials from across the five boroughs to join administration officials and the municipal teams working to connect people with severe mental illness on the city's subways with the support they need. The elec  more

ALBANY, New York, May 17 -- The New York State Public Service Commission issued the following news release on May 15, 2025: * * * PSC Announces Approval of Energy Efficiency and Building Electrification Programs to Reduce Energy Costs for Consumers Will Result in Projects Benefiting More Than 500,000 Low-to-Moderate Income Consumers NYSERDA and New York Utilities Will Collectively Administer $5 Billion to Advance Energy Efficiency and Building Electrification Across New York Programs to Sav  more

ALBANY, New York, May 17 -- The New York State Education Department issued the following news release on May 16, 2025: * * * State Education Department Releases New Numeracy Briefs for PreK-12 Mathematics Instruction Eight New Briefs, Written for Educators, Focus on Evidence-Based Practices The New York State Education Department (NYSED) released a series of new numeracy briefs to support administrators and numeracy leaders in their teaching of PreK-12 mathematics, Commissioner Betty A. Rosa  more

ALBANY, New York, May 16 (TNSLprt) -- For the fourth consecutive year, New York State received more in federal spending than it contributed in federal taxes, according to a new report released in April 2025 by the Office of the State Comptroller, led by Thomas P. DiNapoli. The analysis of Federal Fiscal Year 2023 (FFY 2023) data reveals that New York generated $320.1 billion in federal taxes and benefited from $337.9 billion in federal spending, resulting in a positive balance of payments for th  more

ALBANY, New York, May 17 -- The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance issued the following news release on May 16, 2025: * * * New York State Announces Completion of 12 Units of Emergency Housing for Families in Monroe County Persimmon Place Will Provide Emergency Shelter for Up to 12 Families in Rochester The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced the completion of work on the YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County's Persimmon P  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration's National Travel and Tourism Office issued the following news release: * * * Survey of International Air Travelers Results 2024 Q3 National Travel and Tourism Office Publishes 2024 Q3 Results of the Survey of International Air Travelers The National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) has published results of the Survey of International Air Travelers (SIAT) for the third quarter of 2024, covering both no  more

ALBANY, New York, May 17 -- The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a key implementation plan aimed at increasing renewable energy use in New York City. The order, issued May 16, 2025, greenlights the Tier 4 Implementation Plan proposed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) under the state's Clean Energy Standard (CES). Tier 4 of the CES specifically targets the reduction of New York City's reliance on fossil fuel-fired power generatio  more

ALBANY, New York, May 17 -- The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has issued a Negative Declaration, announcing that an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required for the authorization of energy efficiency (EE) and building electrification (BE) programs spanning 2026 through 2030. In its notice, the Commission stated that its review of the record indicates that the approved actions will not result in significant adverse environmental impacts. The PSC highlighted numerous a  more

ALBANY, New York, May 17 -- The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a petition by the New York Municipal Power Agency (NYMPA) to increase funding for energy efficiency programs in its member municipalities. The order, issued May 16, 2025, allows NYMPA members to double the charge to their customers, from one mil ($0.001) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to two mils ($0.002) per kWh, in support of the Independent Energy Efficiency Program, Inc. (IEEP). IEEP, a non-profit corporati  more

ALBANY, New York, May 17 -- The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has directed major electric, gas, and water utilities in the state to contract with Overland Consulting to conduct a focused operations audit of their management incentive compensation programs. The order, issued and effective on May 15, 2025, follows the Commission's February announcement of its intent to scrutinize these programs. The audit will encompass thirteen utilities, including Consolidated Edison Company of  more

ALBANY, New York, May 17 -- The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) has denied a petition by Liberty Utilities (New York Water) Corp. (Liberty NYW) seeking to recover the costs of its non-union incentive compensation program from ratepayers. In an order issued and effective May 15, 2025, the Commission stated that the company's program failed to meet the necessary requirements for cost recovery. Liberty NYW had requested authorization to recover these costs, citing a previous Commiss  more

ALBANY, New York, May 17 -- The New York State Office of General Services issued the following news release on May 15, 2025: * * * OGS Commissioner Jeanette Moy Announces the Opening of New Exhibit at the Vietnam Memorial Gallery "Mail Call: Letters From/To Vietnam" Showcases Letters Exchanged Between New York Veterans and Their Loved Ones During the Vietnam War Exhibition Opening Marks 50 Years Since the End of the Vietnam War and Coincides with Event Honoring New York Veterans View the Ex  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Riverkeeper Inc., an environmental advocacy organization based in Ossining, New York, has submitted detailed comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Washington, D.C., pressing for substantial funding for water and wastewater infrastructure projects across New York State through the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. In a letter addressed to Ms. Amy Frantz, CEW-P, Dan Shapley, Senior Director of Advocacy, Policy and Planning at Riverkeep  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Sen.) -- Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * SCHUMER - WITH HUDSON VALLEY RELIGIOUS LEADERS, FARMERS AND FOOD BANKS- SAYS GOP JUST VOTED TO RIP AWAY NEARLY $300 BILLION FROM AMERICA'S LARGEST ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM, AND THAT COULD LEAD TO THOUSANDS... Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York Serves 170,000 In Hudson Valley Every Month And Already Nearly 1 Million Pounds Of Food Has Been Canceled Due To Trump's Cru  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following remarks on May 16, 2025, by Commissioner Hester M. Peirce at the 12th Annual Conference on Financial Market Regulation: * * * Horses and Bourses: Remarks at the 12th Annual Conference on Financial Market Regulation Thank you for having me here today as part of the 12th Annual Conference on Financial Market Regulation. Before I begin, I must remind you that my views are my own as a Commissioner and not necessaril  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The U.S. Senate conducted 14 committee hearings on May 14, 2025: * * * APPROPRIATIONS: EPA Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from Lee Zeldin, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency. * * * APPROPRIATIONS: SAA AND USCP Committee on Appropriations: Subc  more