WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- A coalition of 64 environmental organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior strongly opposing Interim Final Rule. The rule partially rescinds and revises the agency's regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, which the groups argue undermines environmental protections and public participation in federal decision-making. The coalition, led by the Western Environmental Law Center, contends that the IFR refl  more

ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 6 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southeast Regional Information Office issued the following report: * * * Business Employment Dynamics in Alabama -- Fourth Quarter 2024 * From September 2024 to December 2024, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments in Alabama were 98,242, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 92,388, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Stati  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Dexter Helps Introduce Legislation to Block Trump's Attack on Veterans' Access to Reproductive Health Care * PORTLAND, OR -- Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and one of six pro-choice physicians in Congress, introduced the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act (link is external), alongside Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), in resp  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Dexter, Merkley: Congress Must Protect Farmworkers from Hazardous Wildfire Smoke, Extreme Heat * Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter (OR-03) today announced they introduced the Farmworker Smoke and Excessive Heat Protection Act. The bicameral bill would put safeguards in place for farmworkers facing the dangers of wildfire smoke and extreme weat  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- Innovation Law Lab, Portland, Oregon, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expressing opposition to proposed changes to the Form G-325A. The changes would significantly impact Deferred Action for children and youth granted Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), potentially stripping them of critical protections. In its letter, Innovation Law Lab highlighted that the termination of Deferred Action for SIJS youth would rem  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley, Dexter: Congress Must Protect Farmworkers from Hazardous Wildfire Smoke, Extreme Heat * Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter (OR-03) today announced they introduced the Farmworker Smoke and Excessive Heat Protection Act. The bicameral bill would put safeguards in place for farmworkers facing the dangers of wildfire smoke and extreme weath  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency issued the following news release: * * * USDA Designates Four Idaho Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas * This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs includ  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Private Student Loan Lenders on Plans for Borrowers After Republicans Slash Access to Federal Loans * Trump's so-called "Big, Beautiful Bill" paves the way for private lenders to reap massive profits by exploiting borrowers Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined Senate colleagues to press major private s  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Private Student Loan Lenders on Plans for Borrowers After Republicans Slash Access to Federal Loans * Trump's so-called "Big, Beautiful Bill" paves the way for private lenders to reap massive profits by exploiting borrowers Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined Senate colleagues to press major private stud  more