CHICAGO, Illinois, April 16 [Category: Libraries] -- The American Library Association posted the following news release: * * * 2026 W.Y. Boyd Literary Novel Award Winner- Robert Inman for the book "Villages" * Villages by Robert Inman is the winner of the 2026 W.Y. Boyd Literary Novel Award "for excellence in military fiction." The book was published by Livingston Press, an imprint of The University of West Alabama in 2025. The W.Y. Boyd Literary Novel Award honors the best American milita  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- A group of 24 state attorneys general has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the review of state bar complaints about DOJ attorneys. The letter expresses concerns that the proposed rule, which would allow DOJ to request suspension of state bar investigations pending an internal DOJ review, undermines states' longstanding authority to regulate attorney conduct. The Attorneys General emphasize that state courts and disciplinary bo  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- A coalition of 27 state attorneys general has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging the agency to initiate rulemaking addressing unfair or deceptive rental housing fee practices. The letter responds to the FTC's Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Unfair or Deceptive Rental Housing Fee Practices. The coalition emphasized the harm these practices inflict on consumers and the adverse effects on competition in the rental housing marke  more

EUGENE, Oregon, April 17 -- The Western Environmental Law Center issued the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * 73 western groups to Senate leadership: No deal with devil on permit reform Today, 73 western community, conservation, faith, and Indigenous groups representing 2.6 million members and supporters delivered a joint letter to Senate Minority Leader Schumer (NY), Sen. Heinrich (NM), Sen. Whitehouse (RI), and House Minority Leader Jeffries demanding they reconsider their pur  more

SANTA FE, New Mexico, April 17 -- WildEarth Guardians posted the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * 73 Western Groups to Senate Leadership: No Deal with Devil on Permit Reform Fossil fuel dependence fuels conflict, economic shocks, and global instability * WASHINGTON--Today, 73 western community, conservation, faith, and Indigenous groups representing 2.6 million members and supporters delivered a joint letter to Senate Minority Leader Schumer (NY), Sen. Heinrich (NM), Sen. Whi  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 16 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release: * * * AG Campbell Defends Temporary Protected Status For Immigrants From Somalia * Boston -Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today co-led a coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) unlawful and baseless attempt to strip Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from Somali immigrants. The TPS  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies released the following testimony by Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science Andrea Travnicek from an April 16, 2026, hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget request: * * * Thank you, Chairman Fleischmann, Ranking Member Kaptur, and members of the Subcommittee for the opportunity to testify in support of President Trump's Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for the Bureau o  more

SACRAMENTO, California, April 16 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Bonta Defends Temporary Protected Status for Immigrants from Somalia * OAKLAND -California Attorney General Bonta today co-led a coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) unlawful and baseless attempt to strip Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from Somali immigrants. TPS is a critical humanita  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 16 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release: * * * ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL DEFENDS TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR SOMALI NATIONALS * Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general, today opposed the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) unlawful and baseless attempt to strip Somalia's Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation. Raoul and the coalition filed an amicus brief in African Commu  more

SALEM, Oregon, April 16 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Rayfield Sues Charity Leader for Stealing Nearly $837,000 Meant for Disaster Victims * Marcus Brooks allegedly used funds from Cascade Relief Team to gamble, visit strip clubs, travel, and pay personal bills while fire and flood victims went without help Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a lawsuit today against Marcus Brooks, the founder and executive director of Casc  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 [Category: Sociological] -- National Right to Life, a pro-life organization, issued the following news release: * * * Federal Court Declares Oregon Abortion Coverage Mandate Unconstitutional in Landmark Win for Oregon Right to Life * A federal court ruled against the enforcement of an Oregon law that forced pro-life organizations to provide insurance coverage for abortion. Oregon Right to Life, the Oregon affiliate of National Right to Life, challenged the law in court a  more

STORRS, Connecticut, April 16 -- The University of Connecticut posted the following news: * * * From Flames to Fungi: Prescribed Burns and Soil Restoration * In the fall of 2024, Connecticut saw a record 605 wildfires, which burned more than 500 acres and prompted a statewide emergency declaration, a temporary burn ban, and multi-agency firefighting support. Over the past several years, the state has faced a steady rise in brush fires, fueled by declining forest health and a warming climate   more

ATLANTA, Georgia, April 17 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * Carr Fights Spread of Deadly Tranquilizer Drug Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has joined a coalition of 41 attorneys general in urging Congress to pass the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. Xylazine, often referred to as "tranq," is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer used for large animals, but it is also the top ingredient found in fentanyl powder, including fenta  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Rep. Daniel Goldman, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * Goldman, Wyden, Velazquez Demand Answers on ICE Use of Palantir-developed Technologies to Fuel Mass Surveillance * Washington, D.C. \- U.S. Representatives Dan Goldman and Nydia Velazquez and Senator Ron Wyden led 30 lawmakers in demanding answers from ICE and DHS about their ongoing use of Palantir-developed technologies to collect Americans' personal data and fuel a mass surveillance ecosystem  more

HELENA, Montana, April 16 -- Gov. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Gianforte Continues 56 County Tour in Deer Lodge, Powell, Granite Counties * * April 16 2026 PHILIPSBURG, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte today continued the first swing of his sixth annual 56 County Tour, meeting with Montanans in Deer Lodge, Powell, and Granite counties to highlight Montana veterans, small businesses, and first responders. "It's great to be back on the road for o  more

SALEM, Oregon, April 16 -- Gov. Tina Kotek, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Kotek Issues Executive Order to Preserve Student Instructional Time * Salem, OR - Today, Governor Tina Kotek issued Executive Order 26-06 to protect and restore student instructional time in Oregon schools, taking action to prioritize academic outcomes and ensure every student has access to consistent, high-quality learning. "Too many Oregon students are not getting the time in the class  more

SALEM, Oregon, April 16 -- Gov. Tina Kotek, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Kotek Vetoes House Bill 4177, Calls for Collaborative Fix to Public Meetings Law * Salem, OR - Today, Governor Tina Kotek vetoed House Bill 4177, citing concerns that the legislation could unintentionally weaken transparency while attempting to clarify Oregon's public meetings law. In a letter explaining her veto of the bill, the Governor affirmed the bill's intent to provide clearer guid  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Idaho Congressional Delegation, State Treasurer Announce Secure Rural Schools Payments * Boise, Idaho- U.S. Senators for Idaho Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, U.S. Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, and Idaho State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth announced Idaho counties will receive a total of $24 million in payments for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. Under Idaho l  more

LAKEWOOD, Ohio, April 17 (TNSbrep) -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release: * * * Case studies of the misguided stampede to build gas power plants Key Takeaways: Consumers face significant risks from spikes in natural gas prices caused by weather and geopolitical events; these risks rise in relation to the amount of new gas-fired capacity added to the grid. Significant progress can be made on the state level by moving away from fossil f  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 17 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * Attorney General Brown Defends Temporary Protected Status for Immigrants from Somalia Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) unlawful and baseless attempt to strip Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from Somali immigrants. The TPS program   more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 17 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * Attorney General Brown Joins Bipartisan Coalition in Support of Federal Rule to Increase Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing Comment letter supports stronger disclosure requirements for PBMs, seeks clarity that proposed rule doesn't preempt state PBM transparency laws * Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 attorneys gen  more

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley, Van Hollen, Gillibrand Press Interior Secretary Burgum on Failure to Comply with Federal Law on Status of Renewable Projects * Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley-the top Democrat on the subcommittee that oversees funding for the U.S. Department of Interior-led U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in demanding an urgent update from the  more

TRENTON, New Jersey, April 17 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * AG Davenport, Bipartisan Coalition Support Federal Rule to Increase PBM Transparency in Drug Pricing Pharmacy Benefit Managers Affect Affordability of Prescription Drugs, Hurting Patients and Taxpayers * Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and a bipartisan coalition of 44 other attorneys general filed a comment letter in support of a proposed U.S. Depart  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The National Immigration Project, alongside 38 immigration advocacy organizations, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review expressing opposition to EOIR's interim final rule concerning appellate procedures for the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The organizations argue the IFR drastically reduces noncitizens' rights to due process and fairness in immigration court by effectively eliminating meaningful  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, April 16 -- Oregon Health and Science University issued the following news: * * * OHSU first in Pacific Northwest to perform revolutionary new cancer treatment procedure * A surgical team at Oregon Health & Science University is the first in the Pacific Northwest to perform a procedure that floods cancerous cells in the liver with high doses of a potent chemotherapy drug -and then removes it with a surgical trap before it can circulate through the rest of the body. Known   more

SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, April 16 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release: * * * Oregon Fred Meyer Grocery Store Worker Prevails Over Illegal UFCW Local 555 Strike Fine * UFCW union bosses abandon attempt to collect nearly $1,000 from worker for supposedly working four hours during strike Portland, OR - Portland-area Fred Meyer grocery store employee Robert Wendelschafer has prevailed in his nearly two-year dispute with United Food and Commerci  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 [Category: Sociological] -- The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws posted the following news release: * * * Oregon: Governor Signs Legislation Into Law Permitting Patients To Consume Cannabis in Residential Healthcare Facilities * Salem, OR: Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek has signed legislation ( HB 4142 ) into law permitting qualified patients to consume certain medical cannabis products in eligible residential healthcare facilities. The law, which tak  more

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, April 16 -- Pennsylvania State University posted the following news: * * * Prompt coaching tool raises user awareness of bias in generative AI systems * UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -A coaching tool built into artificial intelligence (AI)-powered systems may raise user awareness of bias in AI algorithms and help individuals better prompt generative AI tools to produce more inclusive content, according to researchers at Penn State and Oregon State University. The resea  more

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Republicans Block Senate Democrats' War Powers Resolution, Once Again Voting to Continue Trump's Unjustified, Unpopular and Costly Iran War * [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In the seventh week of Donald Trump's unjustified and illegal Iran war, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten  more

PIERRE, South Dakota, April 17 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * Attorney General Jackley Joins AG Coalition to Support Federal Rule Promoting Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley joins a coalition of 45 Attorneys General in sending a comment letter that supports a proposed U.S. Department of Labor rule that would require greater transparency from pharmacy benefit managers   more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following opening statement on April 16, 2026, at an oversight hearing on President Trump's fiscal 2027 budget request: * * * Thank you, Chairman Graham, for convening this hearing. And thank you, Director Vought, for being here today to discuss the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2027. Your budget opens with a message from you, in which you write, quote: "A historic paradigm shi  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * Wyden Probes Appearance of Republican Collusion in Lawsuits Over Tax Return Leaks Two Lawsuits by Top Republicans Appear Coordinated with Treasury's Recent Decision to Terminate Contracts with Firm that Employed the Contractor Who Leaked Thousands of Tax Records During Trump's First Term * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyd  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * Wyden, Whitehouse, King Lead Introduction of Bill Closing Carried Interest Tax Loophole Bill Would Ensure Hedge Fund Managers Pay Fair Share in Taxes by Preventing Deferral of Tax Payments * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Senator Angus King (I-Maine) led colleagues tod  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The U.S. Navy issued the following news story: * * * USS Savannah (LCS 28) arrives in Portland PORTLAND, Oregon. - The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28) departed Naval Base San Diego April 8 and arrived at its new homeport of Portland, Ore. April 12. While Savannah is in Portland, the ship will be entering into a Docking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) to receive lethality and survivability upgrades. "Maintaining combat readine  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, April 17 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * Attorney General Jay Jones Joins Bipartisan Coalition in Support of Federal Rule to Increase Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing and Lower Costs Comment letter supports stronger disclosure requirements for PBMs, seeks clarity that proposed rule doesn't preempt state PBM transparency laws * Attorney General Jay Jones today joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 at  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, April 17 -- The West Virginia Attorney General John B. McCuskey issued the following news release on April 16, 2026: * * * Attorney General McCuskey joins bipartisan coalition in support of federal rule to increase transparency in prescription drug pricing Comment letter supports stronger disclosure requirements for PBMs, seeks clarity that proposed rule doesn't preempt state PBM transparency laws * West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey joined a bipartisan co  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, issued the following news release: * * * Welch Joins Bicameral Bill to Fight Senior Hunger, Expand SNAP Benefits for Older Americans * Nearly 38% of Vermont households participating in SNAP have an elderly person 9.6% of older Vermonters live below the poverty line WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, cosponsored the Senior Hunger Prevention Act, bicameral legislation led by  more

EUGENE, Oregon, April 16 -- The Western Environmental Law Center issued the following statement on April 15, 2026: * * * Environmental orgs file protest against Green Chile Pipeline in southern New Mexico Today, the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, Center for Biological Diversity, and Food & Water Watch filed a protest with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) challenging the Transwestern Pipeline Company's attempt to fast-track the proposed Green Chile Pipeline. The 17-mile pipeli  more