TAMPA, Florida, April 8 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida posted the following news release: * * * Action Across the Country Today Prosecute Schemes to Defraud Over $260 Million in Taxpayer Funded COVID Relief and Social Security Disability Programs * The Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division announced the following actions of the Department of Justice across the country today to hold individuals accountable for schemes that attempted or  more

WASHINGTON, April 8 [Category: ThinkTank] -- The American Action Forum issued the following news release: * * * The 2026 State Minimum Wage Increases and Their Potential Costs and Consequences * At the beginning of every year, a handful of states raise their minimum wages, either automatically to keep up with inflation or because state legislation prompts the increases - and 2026 is no different. In a new insight, Labor Policy Analyst Emmet Bowling lays out this year's state minimum wage inc  more

LOWELL, Arkansas, April 9 -- Arvest Bank issued the following news: * * * Arvest Ranked Top 20 on Forbes' World's Best Banks List Arvest Bank has been named to Forbes' 2026 World's Best Banks, ranking 20th among U.S. banks, which is the highest among those headquartered in its four-state footprint of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. This marks the bank's 8th consecutive year on the list. In 2025, it ranked 27th. The World's Best Banks 2026 rankings, announced on April 8, 2026, are ba  more

WASHINGTON, April 9 -- The Capital Research Center issued the following commentary on April 8, 2026, by senior research analyst Robert Stilson: * * * The Money trying to gerrymander Virginia Supporters of the redistricting scheme have deployed tens of millions of dollars from left-wing out-of-state political funders in their effort to push the amendment over the finish line. * On April 21, Virginians will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would suspend the state's independent  more

WASHINGTON, April 9 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release on April 8, 2026: * * * Chairmen Smith, Moolenaar Call on IRS to Examine CCP-Linked Organizations Potentially Violating their Tax-Exempt Status by Engaging in Political Activity Today, Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) of the House Committee on Ways and Means and Chairman John Moolenaar (MI-02) of the House Select Committee on China called on Treasury Secretary Sco  more

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 9 -- The University of Missouri St. Louis campus issued the following news: * * * Congressman Wesley Bell tours API Innovation Center labs in UMSL Science Complex Bell recently led a successful effort to secure more than $1 million in federal funding to establish the API Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Hub. By Steve Walentik Congressman Wesley Bell joined University of Missouri-St. Louis Vice Chancellor Chris Spilling and API Innovation Center President and Chie  more

ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 8 [Category: Construction] -- Associated General Contractors of America posted the following news release: * * * Construction Jobs Increase In 38 States And D.C. Between January 2025 And January 2026; 40 States Have One-Month Gain In Construction Jobs * Texas and West Virginia Top Lists of 12-Month Increases, While California and Oregon Have the Worst Decreases; Illinois and West Virginia Lead in Monthly Gainers; Idaho Has the Worst Number and Percent of Monthly Lo  more

WASHINGTON, April 8 -- Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, issued the following news release: * * * Davids Highlights Federal Threats to Reproductive Health Care at Planned Parenthood Press Conference * KANSAS CITY, KS \- Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined Planned Parenthood Great Plains and local health care advocates to highlight ongoing federal efforts to restrict access to reproductive health care and underscore the real-world impact these extreme policies can have on Kansas families  more

BRISTOL, Connecticut, April 8 [Category: BizMedia] -- ESPN, a sports media company, posted the following news release: * * * ESPN delivers stellar 2025-26 women's college basketball campaign * * NCAA DI Women's Basketball Tournament finished as the second most-watched on ESPN networks with 1.3 million avg. viewers * Second most-consumed Women's Tournament on record with 9 billion minutes of live games watched * Champ Week delivered continued growth * Regular season viewership up, m  more

MATTOON, Illinois, April 9 -- First Mid Bancshares issued the following news release: * * * First Mid Bank & Trust Celebrates Financial Literacy Month with North St. Louis Program Partnership helps Jennings students build lifelong money skills St. Louis, MO - A quiet but impactful effort in the Jennings School District is helping students build lifelong money skills -- teaching them how to budget, save, and make smart financial decisions from an early age. During Financial Literacy Month in  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 8 [Category: Business] -- The National Marine Manufacturers Association posted the following news release: * * * Grady-White Showcases Small Business and Manufacturer Tax Benefits as Catalyst for Investment During Congressional Visit * The Working Families Tax Cut legislation, also known as "One Big Beautiful Bill," is beginning to influence investment decisions in U.S. manufacturing, according to executives and lawmakers who toured a North Carolina boatbuilder's fac  more

WASHINGTON, April 9 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-567) on the Made in America Jobs Act (H.R. 7342). The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on March 20, 2026. The House passed the bill on March 24, 2026, and it has been referred to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of Legislation The purpose of H.R. 7342, the "Made in America Jobs Act of 2026," as amended, is to amend the  more

WASHINGTON, April 9 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on April 8, 2026: * * * ICYMI: Democrats Notch Major Victories as Voters Reject Trump's Toxic Economic Agenda and War of Choice in Iran From Congress to school boards, Democrats have been overperforming and winning at record rates since Trump retook office, and last night's elections were no exception. Once again, Democratic enthusiasm swept across the country as Democrats defeated their right-wing oppo  more

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 8 -- Washington University in St. Louis posted the following news: * * * Mackey to deliver annual Brauer Lecture * John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market, will deliver the keynote address for WashU Olin Business School's annual Brauer Lecture Series. The event will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in Graham Chapel on Washington University in St. Louis' Danforth Campus and will include a 45-minute lecture followed by a Q&A. Students, alumni, faculty, st  more

ROLLA, Missouri, April 8 -- Missouri University of Science and Technology posted the following news: * * * Missouri S&T, Idaho National Laboratory sign SUPER-powered research agreement * Missouri S&T and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) held a signing ceremony Tuesday, April 7, during a visit by INL leaders to the university for a collaboration aimed at advancing research and educational opportunities. The partnership was formalized through a memorandum of understanding highlighting their j  more

MOUNT PROSPECT, Illinois, April 7 [Category: Business] -- The National Sporting Goods Association posted the following news: * * * NAIA Renews Soccer Ball Partnership with SELECT * KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (April 7, 2026) - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has renewed a partnership agreement with SELECT Sport as the Official Soccer Ball of the NAIA that will run through December 2030. Through the renewed agreement, SELECT Sport will continue to provide the official  more

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, April 9 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Little Rock District issued the following news release on April 8, 2026: * * * President's FY27 Budget: $23.8 million for Little Rock District projects The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District reports that the President's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget includes $23.8 million in federal funding for the district's civil works program. The proposed funding will improve the reliability and resiliency of the district's multi  more

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 8 -- Washington University in St. Louis posted the following news: * * * Research highlights who wins, loses in AI-influenced job market * New research from Washington University in St. Louis examines how workers' perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) have shaped their response to the emerging technology. The research also highlights how these differing responses could affect long-term career trajectories. In a December 2025 survey of nearly 2,000 U.S. citi  more

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, April 8 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release: * * * Torch Electronics Agrees To Suspend All Operations To Avoid Prosecution * Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that Torch Electronics, the largest provider of illegal gambling devices in the State of Missouri, has agreed to suspend all operations, effective Friday, April 10, 2026. This action follows an ongoing joint criminal investigation by the U.S. Att  more

WASHINGTON, April 9 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration issued the following news release on April 8, 2026: * * * Trump's Transportation Department Delivers $407.7M to Rebuild Bridges in Rural America Funding will get dirt moving and repair 119 bridges across 12 states * The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced a $407.7 million investment in rural infrastructure. From Alaska to West Virginia, 12 states   more

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 9 -- The University of Missouri St. Louis campus issued the following news: * * * Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Tareq Nabhan furthers passion for humanitarian work abroad He recently helped establish two new chapters of Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity at the Jordan University of Science and Technology and at An-Najah National University. By Heather Riske About a year ago, Dr. Tareq Nabhan gave a talk for Volunteer Optometric Services to Humani  more

WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency issued the following news release: * * * USDA Announces 2026 Marketing Assistance Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds and Rice * (Washington, D.C., April 8, 2026) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2026 Marketing Assistance Loan rates. The 2026 Marketing Assistance Loan rates are available on the Farm Service Agency (FSA) website and below:   more

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 8 -- Washington University in St. Louis posted the following news: * * * Putting the 'forever' in Forest Park * Over the past few decades, a collaboration of St. Louis regional groups have partnered to be good stewards of Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks and wildlife areas in the country. Organizations such as Forest Park Forever have restored habitat, while scientists with the Saint Louis Zoo have partnered with conservation groups and universities incl  more