WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- A coalition of 46 agricultural organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) expressing strong opposition to proposed revisions to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices. The proposed changes include significant modifications to Conservation Practice Standard (CPS) 359, which governs the design and operation of waste treatment lagoons used for animal manure. The proposed rev  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 -- Fern Custom Carpentry LLC, a performance-focused builder based in Duluth, Minnesota, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), urging the adoption of updated building codes that align with the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC). The organization argues that these codes are crucial for enhancing occupant comfort, promoting structural durability, and reducing energy consumption in new construction projects. In  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Fischbach staff to hold mobile office hours in Little Falls - Aug. 13 * Staff from the Office of Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach will be holding mobile office hours in Little Falls on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m at the Little Falls Carnegie Library (108 3rd St NE, Little Falls) in the Pancratz Room. The congressional staff will be available to answer constituent   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Secretary Rollins Pens Washington Examiner Op-Ed on the Great American Farmers Market, Highlighting the Legacy and Future of U.S. Agriculture * (Washington, D.C., August 8, 2025) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins published an opinion piece in the Washington Examiner highlighting the significance of the Great American Farmers Market as a national celebration of local produc  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Klobuchar Announces Funding Secured in Senate-Passed Bill for Hemp and Mycotoxin Research at Cereal Disease Lab in St. Paul * MINNEAPOLIS -- During a visit to the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) on the University of Minnesota's campus in St. Paul, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, announced that an   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has issued a public comment letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) voicing concerns regarding a proposed rule that would allow certain commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to bypass mandatory stops at railroad grade crossings equipped with inactive warning devices. The letter addressed the potential safety implications of this modification, responding to the agency's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking publ  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11826) on Aug. 7, 2025, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy Next-Generation Attack Submarine (SSN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy has been procuring Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY1998. The Navy's envisaged successor to the Virginia-class design is the Next-Generation   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Senator Tina Smith Demands Answers from Trump Administration on Actions Purportedly Allowing Sulfide-Ore Copper Mining Near the Boundary Waters * [ST. PAUL, MN] - U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) is demanding answers from the Trump Administration regarding its recent announcement about planned executive actions to allow sulfide-ore mining in the Rainy River Watershed, where waters flow into   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Colleagues Push Administration to Reinstate Duluth EPA Lab Workers * WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), joined by 16 of her Senate colleagues, called on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to reinstate workers placed on administrative leave for expressing concern with the agency's direction under the Trump Administration. Sen  more