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. 8 -- Ameren Missouri has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the agency to withdraw a recently issued reclassification rule that designates the Missouri portion of the St. Louis Nonattainment Area as "Serious" for failing to meet the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards. In the letter, Ameren argues that the reclassification was improperly conducted without the necessary notice-and-comment rulemaking process. T  more

FORT BRAGG, North Carolina, Aug. 7 -- The U.S. Army Reserve Command issued the following news: * * * Army Reserve receives honor during regional baseball tournament * CAROL STREAM, Ill. - Col. Christopher Tung, assigned to the 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command's G3/Operations, was honored at the American Legion, Post 76, Great Lakes Regional Baseball Tournament, August 6, 2025, throwing in a ceremonial first pitch, along with Jim Zay, District 6, County Board for DuPage County, and Mayo  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Midwest Regional Information Office issued the following report: * * * Changing Compensation Costs in the Chicago Metropolitan Area -- June 2025 * Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 3.6 percent in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical Area (CSA) for the year ending in June 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Acting Regional Commission  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued the following news release: * * * DHS Releases Video Honoring Illinois Woman Katie Abraham Who Was Killed by an Illegal Alien Charged with DUI in Hit and Run * Today, Secretary Noem is in Chicago highlighting the worst of the worst arrested in the Sanctuary City WASHINGTON --In January 2025, a 20-year-old Illinois woman, Katie Abraham and her friend Chloe Polzin, were killed in an drunk driving hit-and-run car wreck caus  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Aug. 7, 2025: * * * Durbin Joins Senate Merkley In Floor Block Calling On The Trump Administration To Release The Epstein Files Durbin also demands, again, that Deputy Attorney Blanche's interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell be released * Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Statement On Senate Confirmation Of Jeanine Pirro To Be U.S. Attorney For The District Of Columbia U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Jeanine Pirro to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia: "A  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration has made changes to the airspace around the Marshall County Airport in Lacon, Illinois. The action updates and expands the Class E airspace, a category that protects aircraft flying under instrument flight rules (IFR). This change is part of a larger plan to maintain safety and efficiency for air traffic procedures. The rule, which goes into effect on November 27, 2025, extends the Class E airspa  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (TNSFR) -- A report evaluating the environmental impacts of a possible 20-year license extension for Clinton Power Station, Unit 1, has been published by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The station is in DeWitt County, Illinois, near the city of Clinton. The document, a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, assesses the effects of extending the plant's operations as well as other options, including the possibility of not continuing its operations or using other  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * Ricketts Leads Bipartisan Resolution Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Recently, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led a bipartisan resolution celebrating the 20 th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The resolution was co-led by Senator Amy Klobuchar with Representatives  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), Lacey, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning rules for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) at railroad grade crossings. The UTC's letter, referencing Docket No. FMCSA-2021-0050, outlines several concerns that could impact public safety if the proposed rule changes are implemented. The UTC, which plays a critical r  more