WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living issued the following news: * * * ACL Awards FY25 Grants for State Implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers * ACL has awarded its second round of grants to advance state implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. Each of the five state units on aging (SUAs) will receive two-year cooperative agreements with a total budget of up to $4  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice: * * * Cargill Conducts Voluntary Recall of a Single Lot of Nutrena(R) Country Feeds(R) Cracked Corn for Livestock Due to Elevated Levels of Aflatoxin Summary Company Announcement Date: December 09, 2025 FDA Publish Date: December 10, 2025 Product Type: Animal & Veterinary Animal Feed Reason for Announcement: Product may contain aflatoxin levels that exc  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Ohio, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Taylor Introduces Bill to Improve Small Business Services in Appalachia * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) and Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) today introduced the bicameral Main Street Lending Improvement Act of 2025, which would require a study on the Small Business Administration's (SBA) loan-making process to collect data on its current operation in Appalachia and ulti  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Court Approves Justice Department's Settlement in UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys Merger * The United States District Court for the District of Maryland today entered the Final Judgment proposed by the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, together with its state co-Plaintiffs, requiring broad divestitures to resolve Plaintiffs' challenge to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's (UnitedHealth) $3.3   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Finstad Introduces SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act Requiring States to Report SNAP Data * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture, introduced the SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act, legislation that would require states to provide beneficiary-level Supplemental Nutrition Assistance  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Finstad Votes in Support of FY26 NDAA, Applauds Final Passage * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, known as the FY26 NDAA: "This year's NDAA delivers on key components of Peace through Strength by raising pay for  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Finstad, Hinson Urge Trump Administration to Prioritize Domestic Vitamin Production, Strengthen Supply Chain Security * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) led 14 Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Donald Trump and his administration urging immediate action to strengthen domestic production of vitamins and other criti  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Justice Department Sues Minneapolis Public Schools for Racial Discrimination Against Teachers * Yesterday, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) over MPS' collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with a teachers' union which preferences teachers who are members of an "underrepresented population" in employment decisions and prioritizes   more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Dec. 11 -- The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2025: * * * Public Facilities Authority Announces $91.7 Million in Awards The Minnesota Public Facility Authority (MPFA) today announced $91.7 million in loans and grants for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects in 26 cities throughout the state. The funding will replace nearly 1,000 lead service lines in 15 cities, among other projects  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Dec. 11 -- The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission issued the following agenda items for Dec. 18, 2025: * * * INTRODUCTION DECISION ITEMS 1. Details 2025-263 * E017/M-25-325 Otter Tail Power Co. In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company's Petition for a Proposed Energy Storage System Pilot at the University of Minnesota Morris. Should the Commission approve the Energy Storage System Pilot Project proposed by Otter Tail in its August 21, 2005, petition? (PUC: Gomez,  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minnesota, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Angie Craig Statement at Member Day Hearing Today, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) delivered the following opening statement at a full committee hearing titled "Member Day." Watch the full hearing here. [As prepared for delivery.] I want to thank the Members for being here today to tes  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Raskin, Beyer, Welch Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Expand Ranked Choice Voting to all Congressional Elections * Today, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Don Beyer (VA-08) and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced bicameral legislation to bring ranked choice voting (RCV) to congressional races across America. The Ranked Choice Voting Act would require RCV for all primary and general congres  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Raskin, Beyer, Welch Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Expand Ranked Choice Voting to all Congressional Elections * WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Don Beyer (VA-08) and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced bicameral legislation to bring ranked choice voting (RCV) to congressional races across America. The Ranked Choice Voting Act would require RCV for all primary  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Cleaver Raises Concerns Regarding Systemic Abuse at American Veterinary Schools, Calls for Information from Institutions * (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) raised concerns about allegations of systemic abuse at numerous veterinary schools across the country. In a letter to 36 veterinary medicine schools, Congressman Cleaver called on the institution  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Norma J. Torres, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Representatives Torres and Rutherford Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Blue Envelope Programs Nationwide * Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and Congressman John Rutherford (FL-05) introduced the Supporting Blue Envelope Programs Act, bipartisan legislation to provide federal funding to support, expand, and create Blue Envelope Programs across the country. Blu  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSLrpt) -- The University of Houston, Texas, issued a white paper analyzing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies for plastics packaging across U.S. states, EU directives, Canada, and the UK, identifying fragmented frameworks, ambiguous producer definitions, infrastructure deficits, and data transparency issues as major barriers to circular economy goals. The white paper--based on comparative policy review and stakeholder interviews--highlights seven U.S. states (  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following report (No. 25-00824-227) on Dec. 2, 2025, entitled "Audit of Funding Fee Refunds for Veterans Using Dual Entitlement on VA Joint Home Loans." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary The VA Home Loan Guaranty program is meant to help veterans finance the purchase of homes with favorable loan terms. To take advantage of this program, a qualified borrower must apply to a lender to receive a VA home l  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (Rep.) -- House Republican Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Whip Emmer, House Republicans host permitting reform roundtable discussion with key stakeholders * Today, Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) hosted lawmakers and stakeholder groups for a discussion on permitting reform ahead of House action on legislation to cut red tape, lower costs, and speed up permitting for energy and infrastructure projects. Whip Emmer was joined by Rep  more