CANTON, Ohio, April 23 -- The National Football League posted the following news: * * * 2026 NFL Draft: Browns select OL Spencer Fano at No. 9, WR KC Concepcion to address major needs Nick Shook, Around The NFL Writer With clear needs to address on the offensive side of the ball, the Browns traded, mulled and landed on two solutions Thursday night in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Cleveland spent the No. 9 pick -- a selection acquired in a trade with Kansas City that also netted picks No. 7  more

CANTON, Ohio, April 24 -- The National Football League posted the following news: * * * 2026 NFL Draft: Browns select Washington WR Denzel Boston with pick No. 39 in second round Nick Shook, Around The NFL Writer The Browns are double dipping at their greatest position of need. After using their second first-rounder on Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion, the Browns returned to the well, selecting Washington receiver Denzel Boston with the No. 39 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday in  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Collaborative Advocate Foundation, a nonprofit organization serving service members, veterans, and military families in Central Texas, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Defense that addresses a compounded pattern of challenges faced by transitioning military households along the Central Texas I-35 corridor, including rural healthcare deserts, unaffordable housing in defense and technology corridors, and the lack of a standardized warm-handoff  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- East Foundation has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expressing support for the approval of the biopesticide product NovoFly. The agricultural research organization, based in South Texas near the U.S. Southern border, highlighted the technology's potential to enhance ongoing efforts to eradicate the New World screwworm through advances in sterile insect technique. East Foundation emphasized that NovoFly, developed by the U.S.   more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- Energy Transfer LP, Dallas, Texas, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the agency's proposed amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Marine Tank Vessel Loading Operations. The letter addresses concerns about the applicability of updated regulatory requirements to the company's Blue Marlin Offshore Port, a proposed deepwater port project located 82 miles offshore in a U.S. Coast   more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- Exxon Mobil Corp., Spring, Texas, has submitted a public comment letter to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration advocating for the preemption of state common law claims related to hazardous materials transportation. The letter responds to opposing comments filed during the initial public comment period regarding ExxonMobil's August 2025 Application for a Preemption Determination. ExxonMobil seeks a formal declaration that state common law claims bro  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee released the following written testimony by Erich Pratt, senior vice president of the Gun Owners of America, from an April 15, 2026, hearing entitled "The Second Amendment": * * * Chairman Paul, Ranking Member, members of the committee--thank you for the invitation. My name is Erich Pratt. I serve as Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, and I represent more than two million Americans who believe   more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- Hendrick Medical Center submitted a public comment letter to the Health Resources and Services Administration in response to the agency's Request for Information on the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program. The hospital, which participates in the 340B drug pricing program, expressed serious concerns regarding the proposed shift from the current upfront discount structure to a rebate-based system. The letter highlights fundamental questions about the authority of HRSA to appro  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The House Education and Workforce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-586) on the Child Care Payment Integrity and Fraud Accountability Act (H.R. 7720). The report was advanced by Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, on April 6, 2026. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose The purpose of H.R. 7720, the Child Care Payment Integrity and Fraud Accountability Act of 2026, is to ensure states are responsible for reporting fraudulent payments made under their administration of the Chi  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The House Education and Workforce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-587) on the Combating Regulatory Abuse, Closing Known Deficiencies and Overseeing Waste Nationwide Act (H.R. 7721). The report was advanced by Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, on April 6, 2026. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose The purpose of H.R. 7721, the CRACKDOWN Act, is to codify an improper payment threshold for states administering the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program. Und  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service opposing proposed increases to slaughter line speeds under the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System. The comment letter includes a collective total of 580 signatures from supporters concerned about the implications of the proposed rule published on February 19, 2026. The organizations emphasize that increas  more

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Corey Schramm, adult case manager at the Johnson County Mental Health Center, and a member of the Johnson County Criminal Justice Advisory Council, Kansas, from an April 15, 2026, hearing entitled "Programs for Justice-Involved Veterans": * * * Chair Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and members of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. M  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- Monarch Waste Technologies LLC, a small business specializing in commercial-scale pyrolysis units for medical waste destruction, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding a request for comment on revising the definition of "municipal waste combustion unit" in the Office of Solid Waste Incineration New Source Performance Standards and Emission Guidelines. The letter advocates for the elimination of the reference to "pyrolys  more

CANTON, Ohio, April 27 -- The National Football League posted the following news: * * * Cowboys riding high after key additions midway through draft: 'We've changed this defense' Michael Baca, Digital Content Editor The Cowboys are riding high into Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. After drafting safety Caleb Downs and pass rusher Malachi Lawrence in the first round, Dallas used it's only Day 2 pick on another defender: Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham. The club then acquired linebacker Dee W  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The North Texas Commission has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expressing concerns about the agency's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Employment Authorization Reform for Asylum Applicants. The commission warns that several provisions in the NPRM could negatively impact the workforce and economic stability across its 13-county region in North Texas. The commission highlights that businesses in North Texas rely hea  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Physician-Lawmaker Blocked from Speaking with Pregnant Teens at Texas Detention Facility, Demands Answers on Transfers * SAN BENITO, TX -Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), who spent twenty years as a critical care physician and pulmonologist, conducted oversight at the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facility in San Benito, Texas, where pregnant migrant minors are being detained  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee issued a report (S.Rpt. 119-117) on the Space Exploration Research Act (S. 2351). The report was advanced by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on April 13, 2026. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF THE BILL The purpose of S. 2351 is to expand the leasing authority of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator to enter leases for real property at NASA centers to develop facilities for space-rel  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Stratford Hospital District, Stratford, Texas, submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expressing support for efforts to tackle fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Health Insurance Marketplace while emphasizing the need for cautious regulatory measures. The District, serving Medicaid enrollees in Sherman County, Texas, addressed the CMS request for information related to Comprehensive Regulations to Un  more

ALPINE, Texas, April 21 -- Sul Ross State University issued the following news: * * * Sul Ross State University receives approval for first Public Health graduate program Sul Ross State University has received official approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to launch its first graduate program in public health, the Master of Science in Public Health Sciences. The approval marks a significant milestone for the university, expanding acad  more

ALPINE, Texas, April 20 -- Sul Ross State University issued the following news: * * * Borderlands Research Institute receives $975,000 gift to advance habitat restoration in West Texas The Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University has received a $975,000 gift from John L. Nau III to advance the next phase of its habitat restoration work at Nine Point Mesa Ranch, building on his original $1 million investment that launched the project. Nau, who owns the ranch in Brewster Cou  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- Teaching Hospitals of Texas, Austin, submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addressing the agency's Request for Information on the Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare. THOT, representing major urban public hospitals, state health systems, children's hospitals, and affiliated health systems in Texas, emphasized the need for CMS to carefully balance efforts to eliminate fraud and abuse with minimizing adminis  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- Tesla Inc., Austin, Texas, submitted a public comment letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding the agency's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to modernize Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Nos. 103 and 104, which pertain to windshield defrosting, defogging, wiping, and washing systems. The proposal aims to exempt automated driving system (ADS)-equipped vehicles without manually operated driving controls from these standards and update indust  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Texas Department of Transportation submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary addressing the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success Initiative. TxDOT outlined various challenges and opportunities faced by rural Texas in infrastructure, safety, technology, and economic competitiveness, while also offering recommendations to enhance rural transportation needs. In the letter, TxDOT emphasize  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Texas Hospital Association, Austin, submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the agency's Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare Request for Information. THA stressed its commitment to combating fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, and the health insurance marketplace while emphasizing the need for CMS to maintain payment stability and avoid penalizing legally permissible practices that e  more

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- Texas Housers, a nonprofit organization advocating for affordable and stable housing for low-income Texans, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development opposing a proposed rule related to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980. The rule aims to ban mixed-status households from receiving HUD housing assistance and impose new verification requirements on all tenants. Texas Housers, Houston, asserts that the premi  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Galveston, submitted a public comment letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources regarding the proposed rule and draft environmental assessment for incidental take regulations and a letter of authorization related to bottlenose dolphins affected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's fishery independent gillnet surveys. TMMSN highlighted that the West Bay stock of bottlenose dolphins, whi  more

HOUSTON, Texas, April 26 -- Texas Southern University posted the following news: * * * Texas Southern University and City of Houston Unveil New Aviation Facility at Houston Spaceport * Texas Southern University, in partnership with the City of Houston and the Houston Airport System, officially celebrated the grand opening of Texas Southern University at Houston Spaceport with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, April 25. The new 20,000-square-foot hangar will serve as a satellite campus  more

SAN MARCOS, Texas, April 20 -- Texas State University issued the following news: * * * Texas State sociology professor awarded Humanities Texas grant for rural health study Texas State University sociology professor Joseph A. Kotarba, Ph.D., has been awarded a research grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, administered by its state affiliate Humanities Texas. The grant will support a collaborative research project titled "The Frontier(s) of Health: The Rural West Texas Study.  more

WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the agency's Request for Information related to the Comprehensive Regulations To Uncover Suspicious Healthcare initiative. UT MD Anderson emphasized the importance of maintaining access to medically necessary, high acuity oncology care while supporting efforts to address fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP,  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, April 21 (TNSjou) -- Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences issued the following news release: * * * What If Humans Could Regrow Tissue? Texas A&M Study Moves Science Closer A two-step treatment developed by Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences researchers has successfully regenerated skeletal and connective tissue -- even if not perfectly formed -- demonstrating the next, critical step in limb regeneration  more