WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * ***Livestream***Tuesday: Blumenthal & Robert Garcia to Receive Public Testimony from Children Brutalized by DHS Agents * [WASHINGTON, DC] - On Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 3 PM ET, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and   more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 113 environmental organizations submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service opposing proposed changes to the project-level predecisional administrative review process and calling for the rule to be withdrawn. In their letter, the Conservation Commenters emphasize the vital role that public engagement plays in forest management, noting that many participants possess essential local knowledge and expertise. These sm  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 16 state attorneys general have issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services demanding the immediate withdrawal of a recent proposed rule that modifies the definition of "disability" under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Proposed Rule, which aims to exclude "gender dysphoria not resulting from physical impairments" from disability protections, has drawn intense scrutiny from legal officials across the nation.  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 20 state attorneys general submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Census Bureau expressing their opposition to proposed changes for the 2026 Operational Test, which is intended to support plans for the 2030 Census. The group argues that the adjustments threaten to undermine the accuracy and integrity of future census counts, particularly among historically undercounted populations. The comment letter addresses multiple issues raised by the Census Bu  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Advanced Sonic Alert Technologies LLC, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding the draft United Nations Global Technical Regulation (GTR) on Automated Driving Systems (ADS). The company develops safety technologies aimed at enhancing communication between vehicles and vulnerable road users and emphasized the importance of developing global safety standards for ADS. In their le  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 20 -- Northeastern University issued the following news: * * * AI is running rampant in health care. They want to fix that. * AI has been widely adopted in health care systems nationwide, but there is still no central framework for how to do so ethically. By creating a universal guidebook, researchers at Northeastern hope to fill that gap. by Cody Mello-Klein March 20, 2026 The health care industry entered a brave new world when it began using AI in medical i  more

AMHERST, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The University of Massachusetts posted the following news: * * * Aliah Zewail Leads New Research on Moral Stereotyping in Large Language Models * Aliah Zewail, a graduate student in psychological and brain sciences in the College of Natural Sciences (CNS), has led research for a new paper examining the confluence of artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs), morality and cultural diversity. In "Moral Stereotyping in Large Language Models  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 20 -- North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Jeff Jackson Challenges EPA Rollback That Will Raise Gas Prices for North Carolina Families * EPA's own data shows the rollback will raise fuel prices and cost consumers $1.5 trillion RALEIGH -Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general in challenging an EPA rollback that the agency's own analysis shows will raise fuel cost  more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, March 20 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Tong Secures Federal Court Order Protecting Gender Affirming Care * (Hartford, CT) - Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 21 states and The District of Columbia yesterday secured a federal court order blocking an unlawful attempt by the Trump Administration to pressure healthcare providers into ending care for youth with gender dysphoria. The Cour  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 21 (TNSLrpt) -- Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for the Regions December 2025 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Southwest Region - March 20, 2026 * * * Private industry employer costs for employee compensation among the four regions of the country ranged from $41.21 per hour in the South to $53.99 in the Northeast in December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In the other two regions, hourly employer costs   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The Boston University School of Public Health issued the following news: * * * Career Readiness: A Q&A with SPH's Practicum Program Director *. Ryan Wisniewski. Photo: Megan Jones Practice Ryan Wisniewski (Wheelock'22) discusses his own career path, his approach to advising students at the School of Public Health, and his vision for the future of higher education. Going back to school to earn an advanced degree is a significant undertaking. Ryan Wisn  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 (TNSLrpt) -- Strengthening Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS) Protocols - A report from Clean Air Task Force, Boston, Massachusetts - March 2026 (36 pages) * * * Clean Air Task Force issued a report evaluating existing carbon crediting protocols for biomass carbon removal and storage, with a focus on methodological consistency, accounting accuracy and environmental integrity. The report analyzes how different frameworks measure carbon removal outcomes, identifies g  more

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology posted the following news: * * * CryoPRISM: A new tool for observing cellular machinery in a more natural environment * The blobfish, once considered the ugliest animal in the world, has since had quite the redemption arc. Years after it was first discovered, scientists realized that the deep-sea creature appeared so unnervingly blobby only because it went through an extreme change in pressure when it was brought  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 21 -- The Health and Fitness Association (formerly the International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association) issued the following news release: * * * HFA Show 2026 Brings the Global Fitness Industry Together in San Diego More than 10,000 industry professionals registered to explore innovation, education, and new partnerships across a trade show floor featuring 380 exhibitors * The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) concluded The HFA Show 2026 this week, with   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 17 -- HMH Education, a company that says it creates K-12 learning solutions, issued the following news release: * * * HMH's Center for Model Schools Selects 2026 Model Schools, Innovative Districts and Epic Educators Honorees to be celebrated in June at the 34th Annual Model Schools Conference, the nation's largest gathering for rapidly improving K-12 schools and districts, held in Orlando, Florida * The Center for Model Schools, a division of adaptive learnin  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: At Hearing, Warren Blasts Pentagon For Sidelining Military Lawyers, Endangering Civilians * Warren: "Now, more than ever, we need strong, independent military lawyers." Warren: "Our enemies might not care about civilian casualties, but the US military always has." Video of Exchange (YouTube) Washington, D.C. - At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 21 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * In FedScoop, JR Drabick Discusses SEC-CFTC Data-Sharing Agreement Ropes & Gray litigation & enforcement partner JR Drabick was quoted in a new article in FedScoop examining the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the SEC and CFTC and its implications for data sharing and crypto regulation. In the article, Drabick, a former SEC enforcement attorney and  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release in March 20, 2026: * * * Justice Department Sues Harvard University for Antisemitism Today, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against Harvard University for race and national origin discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After Hamas' attacks on October 7, 2023, Harvard has tolerated antisemitic mobs of stu  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Kidney Care Partners (KCP) has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027, and Basic Health Program." The alliance, which includes members from the kidney care community, advocates for policies that enhance the quality of care for individuals suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 33 Latino advocacy organizations, 2 community groups and 16 civic leaders submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce opposing key elements of the proposed 2026 Operational Test for the 2030 Census, arguing that the plan would undermine efforts to accurately count Latino communities. The letter emphasizes that the Bureau's proposed operational changes for the census test fail to account for the diverse and significant Latino popula  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11407) on March 19, 2026, by legislative attorney David H. Carpenter: * * * Litigation Over the Trump Administration's Grant Terminations Since the beginning of President Trump's second term, the Administration has paused payments under a number of existing grants and terminated billions of dollars' worth of grant awards under a variety of different programs. The Adminis  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 19 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on March 18, 2026, by Director Maureen H. Lavery and research attorneys Hannah T. Stilley and Joe St. James: * * * Ones To Watch: Legislation Landscape for 2026 At a Glance This article provides an overview of the thousands of labor and employment-related bills introduced in the United States in the first quarter of the year and looks at trends that appear to be emerging. * Ones To Watch is back wi  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- The Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP) has issued a public comment letter to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices expressing concerns over potential methodological changes that could alter the framework for vaccine recommendations. The letter emphasizes the need to maintain rigorous evidence assessment standards in order to ensure effective public health strategies for children. MCAAP, which represents over 1,600 pediatric pra  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), a nonprofit organization focused on economic, racial and social justice for low-income populations in Massachusetts, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the Office of the Attorney General's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled "Review of State Bar Complaints and Allegations Against Department of Justice Attorneys." The NPRM proposes granting the Attorney General the right to ov  more

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology posted the following news: * * * MIT and Hasso Plattner Institute establish collaborative hub for AI and creativity * The following is a joint announcement from the MIT School of Architecture and Planning, MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, Hasso Plattner Institute, and Hasso Plattner Foundation. The MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD), MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI),  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 20 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Heart Association posted the following news release: * * * More sleep and physical activity may prevent Type 2 diabetes in teens * Research Highlights : * If adolescents replaced 30 minutes of sedentary time each day with sleep or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, it may reduce their insulin resistance and thus reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to an analysis of health data from Project Viva, a   more

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Moulton Expresses Concerns About Financial Markets Stability, Urges Appropriations Committee To Examine Private Credit Risk to Protect Everyday Americans * WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressmen Seth Moulton (MA-06) and Stephen Lynch (MA-08) called on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services to urge the Treasury Department to require federal regulators to conduct a stress test of pr  more

WASHINGTON, March 20 (TNSFR) -- The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, has announced its intention to repatriate eight cultural items to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana. This action is being taken under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The collection identified for return includes six sacred objects and two objects of cultural patrimony. Specifically, the museum will return one war bonnet, two pairs of mo  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The National Consumer Law Center, Boston, Massachusetts, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development expressing concerns regarding its proposal to eliminate the disparate impact standard. According to NCLC, the removal of this regulation would severely weaken the agency's ability to combat housing discrimination and would disproportionately impact low-income individuals and people of color seeking fair housing access. NCL  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expressing concerns regarding the agency's proposed national primary drinking water standard for perchlorate. The NRDC argues that the proposed health goals and regulations fail to protect public health, particularly vulnerable populations, from this harmful contaminant. The NRDC's letter details findings that suggest the EPA's proposed Maximum C  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release on March 20, 2026: * * * Neal Statement on the 16th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act SPRINGFIELD, MA-- Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement ahead of the 16th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) being signed into law on March 23, 2010: "16 years ago, Democrats made histor  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The Boston University School of Public Health issued the following news: * * * New Estimates of Uncounted COVID-19 Deaths Reveal Critical Gaps in US Death Investigation System *. health inequities A new study utilized a novel machine learning method to identify unrecognized COVID-19 deaths during the first two years of the pandemic and found that 19 percent more COVID-19 deaths occurred than official records indicate. These deaths disproportionately affe  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Northeast Seafood Coalition and the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund submitted a public comment letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration urging approval of Amendment 25 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The organizations stress the importance of implementing this amendment ahead of the impending start of the 2026 fishing year, aimed to ensure the commercial groundfish sector can operate effectively beginning May   more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Prison Policy Initiative has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Census Bureau expressing concern over plans to exclude group quarters from the upcoming 2026 Census Test. The initiative highlights that the omission of group quarters, particularly correctional facilities, could undermine the Bureau's ability to count incarcerated individuals accurately in the 2030 Census. According to the organization, approximately 3% of the U.S. population resides in grou  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Public Health Advocacy Institute Inc. has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urging the rejection of Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) applications for ZYN oral pouch products proposed by Swedish Match U.S.A., Inc. The institute highlights public health concerns regarding the potential risks ZYN poses to youth and nicotine-naive populations. The organization argues that these nicotine pouches are likely to lead to increased  more

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, March 21 (TNSjou) -- Rutgers University issued the following news: * * * Genes Tied to Impulse Control Play a Major Role in Addiction Risk An analysis of 2.2 million people reveals both shared and substance-specific genetic pathways for addiction risk, showing that vulnerability is rooted more in brain wiring than in any single substance By Ricki Arvesen Most of the genetic risk for developing a substance use disorder comes from genes that broadly affect how our   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The Boston University School of Public Health issued the following news: * * * SPH Online MPH Meets the Needs of Students Worldwide *. Students SPH Dean Adnan Hyder announces broadened scope of the Online MPH as part of SPH's foundational commitment to accessible education for all. Five years after the debut of its accredited, affordable online Master of Public Health, Boston University School of Public Health's Online MPH is now even more accessible f  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 20 -- Northeastern University issued the following news: * * * Students reach for the stars with launch of first satellite * Northeastern's satellite will shoot into space aboard a SpaceX rocket on a mission to the International Space Station. by Cesareo Contreras March 20, 2026 A satellite about the size of two Rubik's cubes that was developed by Northeastern University students will launch into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket next month. Thi  more

AMHERST, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The University of Massachusetts posted the following news: * * * Trust, Maloy Deliver Keynote at State Social Studies Conference * The College of Education's Torrey Trust and Robert W. Maloy co-delivered the keynote address to more than 250 educators at the 2026 Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference, held at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge Massachusetts on March 13. In their opening presentation, "Teaching, Learning, and Lea  more

WATERTOWN, Massachusetts, March 25 [Category: BizEngineering] -- Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc., a provider of transportation planning, engineering, design, land development and environmental services, posted the following news: * * * VHB Advances Affordable Housing with Solar in Henrico * Through close collaboration with Virginia Housing, the development team, and design partners, Helios Spy Rock brings 186 units of income-restricted housing to Henrico County. Developed using Low Income Hous  more

WATERTOWN, Massachusetts, March 20 [Category: BizEngineering] -- Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc., a provider of transportation planning, engineering, design, land development and environmental services, posted the following news: * * * VHB Selected to Support MBTA Bus Infrastructure Improvements * VHB has been selected by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to provide on-call design and construction phase services supporting bus infrastructure improvements across the region.   more

OLYMPIA, Washington, March 20 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release: * * * Washington to win summary judgment protecting health care for transgender youth * A federal court said on Thursday that it would rule for Washington, 20 other states, and the District of Columbia, turning back an unlawful attempt by the Trump administration to pressure health care providers into ending transgender health care for youth with gender dysphoria. In an oral sta  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- WellSense Health Plan has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services outlining concerns about the proposed regulations under the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027. As a non-profit health plan serving nearly 700,000 residents in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, WellSense has a unique perspective on the impacts these changes could have on low-income and underserved populations. The organization emphasizes the need   more

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology posted the following news: * * * What's the right path for AI? * Who benefits from artificial intelligence? This basic question, which has been especially salient during the AI surge of the last few years, was front and center at a conference at MIT on Wednesday, as speakers and audience members grappled with the many dimensions of AI's impact. In one of the conferences's keynote talks, journalist Karen Hao '15  more