JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Three airmen assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing participated in the Texas Military Department's 2020 Best Warrior Competition at Camp Swift in Bastrop, Texas March 4-8, 2020. Staff Sgt. Juan Garcia, Staff Sgt. Derek Guedes and Senior Airman Shara Lewis took on the annual four-day challenge designed to test tactical and technical expertise through scored events.   more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Army Recruiting Command issued the following news: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class William Booth was named the U.S. Army Medical Recruiting Brigade's best warrior of the year Feb. 28, all while breaking a finger during the competition. Booth is an Army combat medic by trade currently serving as a health care recruiter at the Kansas City Medical Recruiting Station, one of 14 medical recruiting stations assigned to the 5th Medical Recruiting Battalion. "I just   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein visited Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland March 11 to observe current operations surrounding COVID-19. "I have one objective while I'm here," Goldfein said, "to be a very good listener." Goldfein wanted to focus on the effectiveness of support between the base, the Department of Health and Human Services and the city of San Antonio. "I want to go bac  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas, March 10 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: Airman 1st Class Gage Schneck said serving in the JBSA Honor Guard has been the most rewarding and challenging job of his career so far. Schneck, an administrative assistant for the commander's support staff at the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, served as a ceremonial guardsman from July 1, 2019, to Jan. 15, 2020. "The honor guard was a great ex  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news: The Air Force presented a $3 million Small Business Innovation Research program award to an Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center innovation project March 12. The project uses drones and machine learning to revolutionize how the Air Force Civil Engineer Center collects data for its environmental mission. The initiative is powered by a partnership between   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Air Education and Training Command officials announced all travel for international military students scheduled to begin Air Force-sponsored training in the United States has been suspended effective March 13, 2020. The suspension applies to students from any overseas country, regardless of their CDC-level. The guidance does not, at this time, affect any interna  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: An active-duty U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is currently undergoing evaluation and treatment following a presumptive positive novel coronavirus test. In response, Altus AFB has changed its Health Protection Condition (HPCON) level to B to reflect the moderate disease threat posed by COVID-19 and the risk of exposure to personnel. The Airman contracted COVID-19  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, March 10 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: In honor of International Women's Day, Basic Military Training graduation hosted the annual Women's Parade March 6. International Women's Day is March 8. It is an annual, global day of celebration of the social, political, cultural, and economic achievements of women. This year's campaign theme was #Eachforequal, which highlights the fact that an equal world is a  more

NORMAN, Oklahoma, March 12 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management's New Mexico State Office issued the following news release: The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Director signed the Record of Decision for the Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas Final Joint Environmental Impact Statement associated with the Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plan. In addition, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Regional Directors for the Southern P  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on the consumer price index in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land for February 2020: * * * - Area prices rise 0.6 percent in January and February; up 1.5 percent over the year * * * Prices in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), rose 0.6 percent for the two months e  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on the county employment and wages in Texas for 3rd quarter 2019: Employment rose in 25 of the 26 largest counties in Texas from September 2018 to September 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2018.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operation  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Background: The Department of Defense issued a stop movement of all personnel to, from or through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated Level 3 COVID-19 locations effective March 13 and for the next 60 days. Following Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper's announcement of new travel restrictions, the Air Force began implementing and complying with t  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Air Force Personnel Center issued the following news: Background: The Department of Defense issued a stop movement of all personnel to, from or through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated Level 3 COVID-19 locations effective March 13 and for the next 60 days. Following Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper's announcement of new travel restrictions, the Air Force began implementing and complying with this guidance. The  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: Background: The Department of Defense issued a stop movement of all personnel to, from or through locations designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as Level 3 COVID-19 areas effective March 13 and for the next 60 days. Following Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper's announcement of new travel restrictions, the Air Force began implementing and complying with this guidance. The  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: Background: The Department of Defense issued a stop movement of all personnel to, from or through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated Level 3 COVID-19 locations effective March 13 and for the next 60 days. Following Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper's announcement of new travel restrictions, the Air Force began implementing and complying with this guidance. The stop movement ap  more

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Air Force (7th Bomb Wing) issued the following news: Dyess Air Force Base raised its Health Protection Condition level to A from zero today in response to the spread of COVID-19. There have been no reported cases of the disease on Dyess AFB. This change is a precautionary measure designed to implement increased disease protection measures and education of base personnel in order to help prevent potential widespread outbreak. The HPCON A declar  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 14 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a grant of $669,047 to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). The funding will support management programs for nonpoint-source water pollution, which is caused when rainfall or snowmelt carries pollutants into rivers, lakes, and other waterbodies. "Protecting New Mexico's valuable water resources from runoff pollution takes b  more

DALLAS, Texas, March 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a cooperative agreement with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in Louisiana for $526,592 to purchase propane-fueled school buses. The funding is provided under the Clean Air Act's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. "By reducing diesel emissions from school buses, we reduce children's exposure to harmful pollu  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency order revoking the operating certificate of Paradigm Air Operators, Inc. of Dallas, Texas, for allegedly conducting dozens of unauthorized charter flights using unqualified pilots and when it lacked required air carrier management and safety personnel. Under its FA  more

SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, March 13 -- The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on March 12, entitled: "Texas Central Railroad High-Speed Rail Safety Standards". The proposed rule was issued by John Karl Alexy, Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kenton Kilgore, Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Railroad Safety, 12  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: All is quiet inside the newly renovated south end of Hangar 62 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, but in a matter of months the 15,000-square-foot area will hum with activity as instructors mold a new generation of Air Force trainer aircraft technicians. An Air Education and Training Command initiative, the trainer aircraft maintenance training center will fill   more

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Air Force (17th Training Wing) issued the following news: Background CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named "SARS-CoV-2" and the disease it causes has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19"). On Janua  more

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force (17th Training Wing) issued the following news: During my 35 years of active duty service, I have witnessed a steady increase in the amount of college experience that our enlisted folks are receiving before raising their right hand to serve in today's United States military. Today's youth are earning college credits during high school, and some are completing one to four years or more of college before deciding to join the milita  more

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 10 -- The U.S. Air Force (17th Training Wing) issued the following news: The Student of the Month awards and Rope of the Month award are presented by 17th Training Group leadership each month. The Student of the Month award is given to one outstanding student from each squadron, who are selected and voted for by the students and instructors of their respective squadrons. The Rope of the Month award is handed out as recognition for the rope who stands ou  more

HOUSTON, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division issued the following news release: After investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Ryuko International LLC and Izakaya WA-River Oaks - both doing business as Izakaya WA in Houston, Texas - have paid $150,371 in back wages to 18 employees to resolve minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Investigators found that the restaurants operated an   more

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: The Air Force needs Airmen to be more agile, able to think on their feet and perform different types of tasks for the situation or environment they're in. That process begins with the technical training provided by the 82nd Training Wing, said Brig. Gen. Linda Hurry, Director of Logistics for the Air Force, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Prote  more

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force's 82nd Training Wing issued the following news: The Air Force needs Airmen to be more agile, able to think on their feet and perform different types of tasks for the situation or environment they're in. That process begins with the technical training provided by the 82nd Training Wing, said Brig. Gen. Linda Hurry, Director of Logistics for the Air Force, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection at the P  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: There wasn't a bird, but there certainly was a plane (or four) and - of all things - a coyote. In late February the well-known NBA mascot was sighted riding his motorcycle on the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, taxiway, sparking a flurry of interest and speculation. What could he have been up to!? Later sightings of the Coyote in flight gear confirmed sus  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 11 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: Out of an abundance of caution, beginning March 13, Joint Base San Antonio officials will suspend all guest attendance for mass gatherings that are not deemed mission essential, to include basic military training graduation ceremonies to reduce potential spread of COVID-19. "Each year, about 40,000 Airmen march across the parade field with up to 7,000 family members in attendance each week for the  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Out of an abundance of caution, beginning this week, JBSA officials will suspend all guest attendance for mass gatherings that are not deemed mission essential, to include basic military training (BMT) coining and graduation ceremonies to reduce potential spread of COVID-19. "Each year, about 40,000 Airmen march across the parade field with up to 7,000 family mem  more

KATY, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division issued the following news release: After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Terry's Landscape LLC - based in Katy, Texas - has paid $5,165 in back wages and $20,399 in civil money penalties to settle H-2B non-immigrant visa program violations and $6,472 in back wages for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Investigators found Terry  more

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force (47th Flying Training Wing) issued the following news: The 2020 Fiesta of Flight Air & Space Expo here March 14 is cancelled, in order to mitigate health risks to attendees. "We do not have any COVID-19 cases identified," said Col. Lee Gentile, 47th Flying Training Wing commander. "This decision to cancel is out of an abundance of caution. However, we are actively working with our local medical providers to monitor any changes with  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: San Antonio Military Health System officials have begun screening recruits entering Air Force Basic Military Training to prevent COVID-19 transmission among the trainee and joint base population. Each trainee is screened by qualified medical professionals upon arrival at the BMT reception center and anyone identified as a potential infected person would then be i  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: San Antonio Military Health System officials have begun screening recruits entering Air Force Basic Military Training to prevent COVID-19 transmission among the trainee and joint base population. Each trainee is screened by qualified medical professionals upon arrival at the BMT reception center and anyone identified as a potentially infected person would then be isolated from the rest of the popu  more

TEMPLE, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service Texas office issued the following news release: The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas will host a meeting of the State Technical Committee on April 7 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hilton, 6505 North Interstate 35, Austin, Texas. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. Through the State Technical Committee meeting, NRCS seeks input from Texas citizens and   more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following event notification (No. 54561) involving the South Texas power reactor in Texas: NOTIFICATION TO OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY "On March 4, 2020, [an actual] Unusual Event Code was [inadvertently] sent to an offsite agency (INPO) and to a former NRC Resident Inspector during a planned Emergency Response Drill. "The NRC Resident Inspector has been notified." Power Reactor Facility: SOUTH TEXAS Region: 4 State: TX  more

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 10 -- The U.S. Air Force (7th Bomb Wing) issued the following news: It's no secret that the B-1B Lancer and the Airmen who fly, maintain, and support the bomber have faced many obstacles over the last few years at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Between an emergency landing in Midland, Texas, and two Air Force Global Strike Command safety stand-downs, 7th Bomb Wing Airmen worked day in and day out to ensure the B-1 fleet was safe to fly and stayed capable and rea  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Army Medicine issued the following news: U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command implemented additional screening procedures across basic combat training this week in order to identify trainees who are at risk for COVID-19 exposure prior to sending them to training. As a result, the 43rd Adjutant General Battalion and the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital have put in place proper protocols and procedures that adhere to the guidance outlined b  more

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force (82nd Training Wing) issued the following news: If your combat boots are touching North Texas dirt on April 1, 2020, you can have an impact on 2020 Census data for Wichita Falls and surrounding communities. According to information at 2020Census.gov, households will receive notifications through the mail March 12-20 from the Census Bureau with a unique ID code and instructions on how to complete the census by phone, mail or online.  more

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force (82nd Training Wing) issued the following news: Scoring a 100 percent on a test ... doable. Scoring a 100 percent on nine tests ... a bit harder, but possible I think. Scoring a 100 percent on all nine tests about avionic systems that include multiple other systems that work together in tandem to make sure a giant metal bird thing does what it's not supposed to do and actually flies right and can do other crazy things ... point is,   more

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Scoring a 100 percent on a test ... doable. Scoring a 100 percent on nine tests ... a bit harder, but possible I think. Scoring a 100 percent on all nine tests about avionic systems that include multiple other systems that work together in tandem to make sure a giant metal bird thing does what it's not supposed to do and actually flies right and can do other crazy things   more

HOUSTON, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Ryan K. Patrick, issued the following news release: Millennium Physicians Association PLLC has paid the United States $1,248,964 to resolve claims that they improperly billed the Medicare program for sleep studies, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. "Providers must adhere to the Medicare rules and regulations if they wish to participate in the program," said Patrick. "The rules safeguard patients and keep   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: The 37th Training Wing canceled the Air Force Basic Military Training graduation parade scheduled for March 13 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland's parade grounds out of concern for the safety of the newly accessioned Airmen and their family members due to the novel coronavirus. In the interest of safety and security, all Basic Military Training graduation ceremonies will be closed to the public u  more

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the following news release: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials at Benbrook Lake announce today changes to park operations beginning April 1. Public interest and use trends over the last few years has created a need for operational changes at Mustang Park to a day use activities only area. Overnight camping will no longer be permitted in Mustang Park but will still be available nearby in the Holiday and Bear Creek campgr  more

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Fort Worth District issued the following news release: Officials with the Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will host an open house public meeting at 6:00 p.m. on March 24 at Tioga High School, 855 McKnight Road, Tioga, Texas 76271, to inform the public of the initiation of the revision to the Ray Roberts Lake Master Plan. The Master Plan is a vital tool produced and used by USACE to guide the responsible stewards  more

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 12 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Fort Worth District issued the following news release: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a public meeting on March 11from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Lake Georgetown Office, 500 Lake Overlook Road, Georgetown, Texas, 78633 to provide information and receive public input for the revised Master Plan for Lake Georgetown. The meeting will begin with a brief presentation at 6:00 p.m. followed by an open house  more

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 14 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Fort Worth District issued the following news release: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will host a public meeting on March 12 at the Harris Community Center located at 401 N Alexander Street, Belton Texas 76513 to provide information and receive public input for the revision of the Stillhouse Hollow Lake Master Plan. The meeting will begin with a brief presentation at 6:00 p.m. followed by an open house for   more

FORT BLISS, Texas, March 13 -- The U.S. Army Forces Command issued the following news: The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team 'Iron Brigade', 1st Armored Division marked the start of a deployment in support of DEFENDER-Europe 20 with a colors casing ceremony on Strike Field February 28. The casing of the colors is a traditional ceremony held by United States Army. From the earliest of times, Warriors used a banner or other symbols to identify specific units, and to serve as a rallying point for   more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, March 10 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news: Col. Michael J. Vanzo assumed command of the 340th Flying Training Group from Col. Allen Duckworth during a March 6 ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, officiated by Col. Kurt Matthews, 22nd Air Force vice commander. Prior to assuming command of the 340th FTG, Vanzo was the Director, A3/A5, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. Twenty  more