WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- A coalition of 44 state and regional banking associations representing thousands of community banks has submitted a public comment letter to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) applauding their efforts to address the growing issue of payments fraud, which has become a pressing challenge for community banks. The ICBA emphasizes that community banks are in  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Deborah Ross, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Congresswoman Ross Statement on Reported NC Redistricting Plans * Raleigh, N.C. -- Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on reported Republican redistricting plans in the North Carolina General Assembly: "If reports are true, North Carolina Republicans have truly stooped to a new low. Accepting a political endorsement in exchange for engaging in partisan gerry  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy (CM2AE) Tech Hub has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) regarding the agency's 2025 Draft List of Critical Minerals. The tech hub, designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce and based in Missouri, aims to enhance the global competitiveness of its 14-county region in critical mineral production. In its remarks, CM2AE commended the rigorous and data-driven approach used by the US  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The Missouri Geological Survey (MGS) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Geological Survey advocating for the inclusion of lead, copper, and silver in the 2025 Draft List of Critical Minerals. In its letter, MGS emphasizes the importance of these minerals for both economic and national security. Highlighting the unique mineral resources within Missouri, the MGS points to two major ore districts, the Southeast Missouri Lead District and the Tri-State Distric  more

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Sept. 26 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2025: * * * Department of Natural Resources awards $390,000 to Lockwood City will plan and design wastewater system improvements * The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $390,000 loan to the city of Lockwood for planning and design work related to the city's ongoing wastewater improvement project. These funds will provide vital interim financ  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * NEW REPORT: ACA Marketplace Plan Customers in 29 States Face a Health Insurance Premium Hike of 20% or More in 2026 * 09.25.25 Cantwell tells Trump, Congressional leaders in a letter: "Unless Congress acts within the next few weeks, millions of Americans will collectively pay an estimated $23b more next year just to maintain the same level of coverage they currently rely on."; Case study: In  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Pharmacy Owner and Pharmacists Sentenced for Pill Mill Scheme Involving Hundreds of Thousands of Opioid Pills * A Texas pharmacy owner and three Texas pharmacists were sentenced today in Houston for unlawfully distributing more than half a million opioid pills and other commonly abused prescription drugs, including to individuals paid to pose as patients by black market drug traffickers. "While   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- PROMO, Missouri's statewide organization advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging the agency to reconsider its current investigatory efforts surrounding healthcare options for transgender youth. The organization, a key resource in addressing LGBTQ+ inequality, emphasizes the necessity of competent healthcare access for all individuals to thrive, representing diverse demographics across the stat  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Schmitt Sends Letter Highlighting Abuse of H-1B Visa Program for DEI Hires * WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) sent a letter to USCIS Administrator Joseph Edlow raising concerns that H-1B visas are being used improperly to staff positions in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) bureaucracy. In the letter Schmitt reveals he has reviewed multiple examples of U.S. employers   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2025: * * * Smith: Taxpayers Benefit from Modernization of IRS Under Trump Administration While Democrats focused on squeezing working families with more audits funded by tens of billions of taxpayer dollars, Republicans are helping taxpayers with a more modernized and responsive Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Trump Administration announced   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The Smithsonian American Art Museum issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2025: * * * Smithsonian American Art Museum Debuts Monumental New Commission by Nick Cave in February 2026 "Nick Cave: Mammoth" marks the artist's first solo exhibition in Washington, D.C. * The Smithsonian American Art Museum will debut "Nick Cave: Mammoth," a monumental new body of work by internationally acclaimed artist Nick Cave, in February 2026. Commissioned by the museum, "Mam  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice: * * * Southwind Foods Recalls Frozen Shrimp Because of Possible Health Risk Summary Company Announcement Date: September 23, 2025 FDA Publish Date: September 23, 2025 Product Type: Food & Beverages Shellfish Contaminants Reason for Announcement: Potential Foodborne Illness - possible radionuclide (Cesium-137) contamination Company Name: Southwind Foo  more