WASHINGTON, April 30 -- A coalition of 18 farmworker organizations submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor opposing the Wage and Hour Division's proposed rule revising employee or independent contractor classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The coalition argues that the rule undermines decades of case law, increases the risk of farmworker misclassification, and weaken  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- A group of 20 state Attorneys general submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security opposing the department's proposed rule titled Employment Authorization Reform for Asylum Applicants. The letter challenges DHS's proposed amendments to the processing and eligibility criteria for Employment Authorization Documents for asylum seekers. The group opposes key provisions of the proposal that would increase the waiting period to apply for an ini  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, April 30 -- Pennsylvania Attorney General David W. Sunday issued the following news: * * * AG Sunday Joins Litigation to Stop Nexstar-TEGNA Merger that Would Limit Pennsylvanians' Broadcast TV Options * HARRISBURG -Attorney General Dave Sunday and a coalition of attorneys general have filed a lawsuit to unwind and remedy the anticompetitive effects of Nexstar's recent acquisition of TEGNA. Nexstar and TEGNA are two major media companies and their merger could cut co  more

SACRAMENTO, California, April 30 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Bonta Welcomes New States and Files Amended Complaint in Nexstar/Tegna Challenge, Lawsuit Now Bipartisan * Five additional states -Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Vermont -join AG Bonta's lawsuit SACRAMENTO -California Attorney General Rob Bonta today as part of a now bipartisan coalition of 13 attorneys general, filed an amended complaint ag  more

DENVER, Colorado, April 30 -- Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Phil Weiser urges CFTC to recognize state authority over sports-related prediction markets * April 30, 2026 (DENVER) -Attorney General Phil Weiser today joined a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general in urging federal regulators to reaffirm that jurisdiction over sports-related "event contracts" belongs to the states. "The protection of consumers from irrespon  more

SALEM, Oregon, April 30 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Rayfield Announces that Purdue/Sackler $7.4 Billion Opioid Settlement Takes Effect * Oregon to receive almost $66 Million, funds to be distributed over 15 years Attorney General Dan Rayfield today announced that a $7.4 billion settlement reached with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, has become legally effective, capping nearly a decade of work by attorn  more

SALEM, Oregon, April 30 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Rayfield, Expanding Bipartisan Coalition of State AGs Challenge Nexstar-Tegna Merger * Attorney General Dan Rayfield alongside a now bipartisan coalition of 12 other attorneys general today filed an amended complaint against Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nexstar) and Tegna Inc. (Tegna) in the ongoing challenge of the broadcast giants' merger. Last month, a state coalition fi  more

SALEM, Oregon, April 30 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release: * * * Bankruptcy Court Orders Owner of Polluted Scrapyard to Surrender Property in North Portland, Allow Environmental Assessment * Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced that a federal bankruptcy judge has ordered the owner of a North Portland metal scrapyard to surrender control of his property to a court-appointed trustee and allow access for environmental assessments. The order clears the   more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Bonamici, DeLauro Introduce Legislation to Rein in For-Profit Charter Schools * WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Suzanne Bonamici, and Adelita Grijalva introduced the Championing Honest and Responsible Transparency in Education Reform (CHARTER) Act, legislation that would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Ac  more

SACRAMENTO, California, April 30 -- Born Free USA issued the following commentary: * * * The Blue Investment: How Protecting Marine Life Pays Us Back By Devan Schowe in Blog, Coexisting with Wildlife, ESA on April 29, 2026 A few months ago, we published a blog that highlighted the economic value of wildlife conservation on land. These economic gains included the yearly revenue generated from admission to national parks, massive economic impact of wildlife tourism on local economies, and infl  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 (TNSletter) -- Public policy letter - California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and 27 co-signers. To: Kim Wilford, General Counsel, GoFundMe, 8605 Santa Monica Blvd. #17221, West Hollywood, CA 90069-4109 - March 3, 2026 The undersigned state Attorneys General and charitable regulators (collectively, the "States") are issuing this public letter to express our grave concerns about GoFundMe's creation of donation web pages for more than 1.4 million charities without their prior kno  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 (TNSletter) -- Public policy letter - Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, and eight co-signers. To: Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security - Nominee, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, MS 0525 Department of Homeland Security, 2707 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC 20528-0525, markwayne_mullin@mullin.senate.gov - March 9, 2026 As the nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the undersigned Secretaries of State seek your confir  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 (TNSletter) -- Public policy letter - Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, and 44 co-signers. To: John Thune, Senate Majority Leader, 511 Dirksen Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510; Mike Johnson, House Speaker, 521 Cannon House Building, Washington, DC 20515; Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, 322 Hart Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510; Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader, 2267 Rayburn House Building, Washington, DC 20515; Marsha Blackburn, Senate Judiciary   more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. J. Luis Correa, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * CORREA OPPOSES FARM BILL EXTENSION * Farm Bill provisions would increase food insecurity and invalidate California's state rights WASHINGTON -Today, U.S. Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) voted NO on the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 ( H.R. 7567 ), which aims to extend the Farm Bill for another five years, due to provisions that would cement deep cuts to SNAP benefits and und  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Democrats Oppose Trump Admin Proposal to Deny Homeowners Thousands of Dollars in Interest Earnings * WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to save consumers thousands of dollars and prevent the Trump Administration from providing a giveaway to big banks at homeowners' expense, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today led a letter to the head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) urging the wi  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Forest Resources Association submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Employee or Independent Contractor Status under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The FRA, alongside nearly two dozen forestry-related associations, expressed strong support for the Department's proposal to rescind the 2024 Final Rule and reve  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 [Category: Business] -- The International Franchise Association issued the following news release: * * * IFA Endorses Congressional Candidates in 10 States Ahead of May Primary Elections * Awards bipartisan "Friend of Franchising" endorsements to congressional candidates in Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, West Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Oregon, and Pennsylvania for their support of local franchise businesses WASHINGTON - The International Franchise Assoc  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley Remarks at FY27 Forest Service Budget Hearing with Chief Schultz * Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley-the Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee-delivered the following remarks as prepared for delivery at the hearing reviewing the President's Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for the U.S. Forest Service with Chief Tom Schultz:   more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement on April 30, 2026: * * * Merkley Statement on House Passage of Budget Resolution That Ignores the Needs of Working Families Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement after Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives agreed to the Senate Republican budget resolution that could gift Immigra  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley, Blumenthal, Van Hollen, Whitehouse, Heinrich, Rosen, Smith, Raskin: CFTC Must Tackle Insider Trading and Corruption on Prediction Markets * Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Tina Smith (D-MN), as well as U.S. Representati  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 (TNSletter) -- Public policy letter - New York Attorney General Letitia James and 17 co-signers. To: Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, H-232, The Capitol, Washington, D.C. 20515; John Thune, Majority Leader, United States Senate, SD-511, Washington, DC 20510; Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leader, 2267 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; Charles Schumer, Democratic Leader, 322 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 - March 18, 2026 We write in regard  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: * * * NOAA Fisheries Announces Availability of $99 Million for Pacific Salmon Funds support state and tribal projects to conserve and restore salmon on the West Coast and Alaska * NOAA Fisheries announced up to $99 million in funding through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund for conservation and recovery projects that support Pacific salmon. The funding sup  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Northwest Workers' Justice Project, Portland, Oregon, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor regarding the agency's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the standard for determining employee or independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The organization opposes the proposed rule, describing it as deeply flawed and inconsistent with   more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Oregon for All, Woodburn, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security opposing the agency's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning employment authorization for asylum applicants. The coalition urged DHS to rescind the NPRM, which it contends would effectively eliminate work permit eligibility for most asylum seekers during the pending period of their applications. The NPRM, issued on February 23, 2026, would delay work authorization un  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Oregon's Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security opposing the February 23, 2026 notice of proposed rulemaking titled Employment Authorization Reform for Asylum Applicants (Docket No.: USCIS-2025-0370). OIRA raises concerns that the proposed rule would severely hinder asylum seekers' ability to work and support themselves, creating economic hardships for individuals and negative impacts o  more

MOSCOW, Idaho, April 29 -- The University of Idaho issued the following news release: * * * Outstanding ensembles and soloists recognized at 2026 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival * MOSCOW, Idaho - The 59th annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, held April 22-25 at University of Idaho, celebrated exceptional student talent by honoring top ensembles and solo performers from across the region. Sweepstakes Awards were presented to the following outstanding large ensembles: * Junior Category: Nort  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Phagans' Cosmetology Colleges, a family-owned cosmetology school group, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education criticizing the Proposed Earnings Premium Accountability Framework. The letter argues that the Department's methodology threatens not only their schools but also rural workforce pipelines, community services, and access to licensed cosmetology education for underserved students. Phagans' Cosmetology Colleges, Bend, Oregon, serving  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Andrea Salinas Votes Against $70 Billion for ICE and CBP With No Accountability * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement on her vote against House Republicans' budget resolution that would give $70 billion to ICE and CBP with no strings attached. "I proudly voted against giving an additional $70 billion to ICE and CBP. "We have spent over   more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Andrea Salinas' Statement on Her Vote Against the Republican Farm Bill * WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement on her vote against the Republicans' Farm Bill. "This Farm Bill falls short of what Oregon farmers and families deserve. It does not do enough for specialty crop growers, fails to address the problems caused by Trump's tariff  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * REP. HOYLE INTRODUCES THE NO WAR APPROPRIATIONS THROUGH RECONCILIATION ACT * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) introduced the No War Appropriations through Reconciliation Act, or the No WAR Act, to prevent Congress from fast-tracking funding for a war in Iran through a backdoor budget process. "If Congress is going to spend money to put American boots on the ground in another  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Reps. Salinas, Smith, Sen. Wyden Champion Legislation Supporting U.S. Kombucha Industry * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Adrian Smith (NE-03), alongside Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), introduced the KOMBUCHA Act, which would modernize outdated federal alcohol taxes and regulations on kombucha companies in Oregon and nationwide. "Kombucha isn't comparable to   more

WASHINGTON, May 1 (TNSletter) -- Public policy letter - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, Ranking Member, Committee on Finance, and six co-signers. To: Luke Miels, Chief Executive Officer, GSK, 79 New Oxford Street. London, United Kingdom, WC1A 1DG - March 3, 2026 On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the Republican reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) into law. That bill included nearly $900 billion in cuts to the Medicaid program, which will create disastrous consequences for state budgets, and, in turn,   more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, April 30 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Taft, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * The Big Long List of U.S. AI Laws * Did you ever think that AI, as a new technology, is barely regulated in the U.S.? Think again! Below, we catalog certain state laws regulating the development and use of AI systems and technologies, passed between 2019-2026. This list focuses on legislative initiatives that are currently in effect, or are expected to take effect soon, that impa  more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 1 -- Utah Attorney General Derek Brown posted the following news on April 30, 2026: * * * Utah-Led Coalition to Secure Final Approval in $700 Million Google Settlement over App Store Monopoly Today, a federal court stated that it will approve a $700 million settlement in a Utah-led antitrust lawsuit against Google. The lawsuit challenged Google's control over Android app distribution and in-app payments. The approval of the settlement ends a five-year case and gives   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, May 1 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following news release on April 30, 2026: * * * Attorney General Jay Jones Opposes Federal Effort to Strip Housing Support for Mixed-Status Immigrant Households Attorney General Jay Jones recently co-led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter opposing a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that would prohibit mixed-status families from living in publi  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Rep.) -- House Republican Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Whip Emmer Touts More Than 500 Key Stakeholders Supporting the House-Passed Farm Bill * House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) today announced that more than 500 key stakeholder groups came out in support of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, ahead of the bill's successful passage through the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 7567, or the Farm Bi  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on April 30, 2026: * * * Wyden Calls for Full IRS Investigation of Tax Shelter Involving Puerto Rico Residency, Unveils New Findings in Ongoing Investigation Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wrote yesterday to the IRS's head of compliance to outline new findings in his ongoing investigation of a tax shelter involving ultra-wealthy investors  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden Demands Big Tech Execs Answer Questions About Data Centers' Water Impact * Oregon senator: "Many communities in my state are concerned about how these centers could contribute to water scarcity in the coming years, especially as our state grapples with persistent drought." Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today pressed the heads of Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon to answer questions abo  more