WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service is considering ending its master scale testing program, a service that calibrates scales used by railroad companies and states. Since 1980, the AMS has operated the master scale depot in Chicago, Illinois. The facility tests and calibrates master scales, which are then used by railroad companies and states to calibrate their own weighing equipment. However, the program's usage has dropped, leading t  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Duckworth, Kim Lead Senate Delegation to South Korea & Japan to Strengthen National Security & Economic Ties, Expand Auxiliary Shipbuilding and Quantum Partnerships * August 20, 2025 Senators' efforts come after Duckworth secured a provision in the committee-passed NDAA to help increase our nation's sealift capacity and workforce [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duc  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer crosses halfway mark on 50-state 'America at Work' listening tour * WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer this week visited the 26th state on her nationwide America at Work listening tour, meeting with Teamsters health care workers in Chicago and touring a family-owned quartz countertop manufacturer in Minnesota. During these two discussio  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Illinois Doctor Sentenced to 34 Months in Prison for Evading $1.6M in Taxes and Committing Health Care Fraud * An Illinois doctor was sentenced today to 34 months in prison for committing health care fraud and for hiding assets and lying to the IRS about his ability to pay approximately $1.6 million in taxes, penalties, and interest. The following is according to court documents and statements ma  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Midwest Regional Information Office issued the following report: * * * Indiana Job Openings and Labor Turnover -- June 2025 * Indiana had 135,000 job openings in June 2025, compared to 142,000 openings in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Acting Regional Commissioner Julie Wilson noted that the job openings rate in Indiana was 3.9 percent in June and 4.1 p  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Institute of Food Technologists, Chicago, Illinois, has issued a public comment letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) praising efforts to implement a post-market review prioritization tool aimed at assessing food chemicals. The letter highlights the need for a science-based, systematic, and transparent approach to ensure the effectiveness and reliability of the tool. IFT, representing a global community of over 11,000 members dedicated to the science of fo  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release: * * * Kwik Trip Inc. to Pay $35,000 in EEOC Disability Discrimination Charge * Gas station settles federal charge that it failed to provide employee with reasonable accommodation MILWAUKEE - Kwik Trip Inc., a family-owned gasoline station and convenience store with over 800 locations in the upper Midwest, agreed to resolve a discrimination charge filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opport  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Railroad Administration expressing concerns about the proposed expansion of the Elwood to Braidwood high-speed rail project in Will County, Illinois. The environmental organization, a key stakeholder in the region due to its partnerships with local conservation entities, highlighted potential adverse impacts on crucial natural areas, including the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. In its l  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release: * * * Restoring the Illinois Memorial * News Release Date: August 20, 2025 Contact: Brendan Wilson VICKSBURG, Miss. - On September 2, 2025, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin comprehensive restoration work on the Illinois Memorial. The memorial itself will be closed during the restoration starting on September 2. The parking area will be partially closed, however t  more