WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily: * * * 0.4 unemployed persons per job opening in the Dakotas, 1.7 in California, in December 2024 February 20, 2025 There were 7.6 million job openings in the United States in December 2024, a number not much different than the number of unemployed people, resulting in a ratio of 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening. North Dakota and South Dakota each had 0.4 unemployed persons per job opening and Ver more PR

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, Feb. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina issued the following news release: * * * 29 Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in $5M COVID Fraud Investigation COLUMBIA, S.C. --Twenty-Nine out of 31 indicted defendants have pleaded guilty in a five-year investigation into a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 unemployment benefits led by SCDC inmates along with family members and friends outside the prison system. Evidence presented in court revealed that incarcerated i more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: * * * Contracts for Feb. 19, 2025 ARMY AECOM-B&V Middle East JV, Roanoke, Virginia (W912ER-25-D-0001); Baker Jacobs JV, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (W912ER-25-D-0002); EXP Federal Inc., Chicago, Illinois (W912ER-25-D-0003); Mason & Hanger-CDM Smith, a JV, Lexington, Kentucky (W912ER-25-D-0004); Page Southerland Page Inc., Washington, D.C. (W912ER-25-D-0005); Tetra Tech Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts (W912ER-25-D-0006); and Stanley Consultants Inc., Muscatine, I more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (TNSFR) -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment periods for two key notices addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The first, published December 26, 2024, offers draft national recommended ambient water quality criteria for human health related to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). The second, issued January 15, 2025, provides a draft sewage sludge risk assessment for PFOA and PFOS. These extensi more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Feb. 7, 2025, from the American Soybean Association and nine collaborators: * * * To: Mr. Rick Keigwin Deputy Assistant Administrator for Management Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20460 RE: Pesticide Tolerance; Exemptions, Petitions, Revocations, etc.: Chlorpyrifos (EPAHQ-OPP-2024-0431) * * * Dear Deputy Assistant Administrato more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Feb. 12, 2025, from the Cascade Climate: * * * To: Ms. Stacey Jensen Acting Director, Oceans, Wetlands, and Communities Division Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460 RE: Docket ID No. EPA-HQOW-2024-0189 (WHOI LOC-NESS Wilkinson Basin Study) * * * Dear Director Jensen and EPA Colleagues, Cascade Climate is writing in support of more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Feb. 14, 2025, from Clean Ocean Action, Sandy Hook, New Jersey: * * * To: Ms. Stacey Jensen Acting Director Oceans, Wetlands, and Communities Division Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. Washington, DC 20460 RE: LOC-NESS Wilkinson Basin Study Tentative Research Permit No. EPA-HQ-MPRSA2024-002 (Formerly "LOC-NESS Phase 2"); (Docket ID EPA-HQ-OW-2024 more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Feb. 13, 2025, from Columbia Law School Sabin Center for Climate Change Law: * * * To: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 Via regulations.gov Re: LOC-NESS Wilkinson Basin Study: Proposed Permit No. EPA-HQ-MPRSA-2024-002 * * * Dear Director Jensen: Columbia Law School's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law ("Sabin Center") respectfully submits these comments on the En more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Feb. 14, 2025, from Conservation Law Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts: * * * To: Stacey M. Jensen Director, Oceans, Wetlands, and Communities Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004 EPAmarineCDR@epa.gov Re: Comments on Updates to Tentative MPRSA Research Permit for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution LOC-NESS Wilkinson Basin Study (formerly referred to as LOC- more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Feb. 12, 2025, from Ephemeral Carbon, Santa Clara, California: * * * To: Director Stacey Jensen Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20460 RE: LOC-NESS Wilkinson Basin Study (Proposed Permit No. EPA-HQ-MPRSA-2024-002) * * * Dear Director Jensen, On behalf of Ephemeral Carbon, I am writing to express our strong support for the LOC-NESS  more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication on Feb. 17, 2025, from the Maine Lobstermen's Association, Kennebunk: * * * To: Ms. Stacey Jensen Acting Director, Oceans, Wetlands, and Communities Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460 * * * Dear Director Jensen, The Maine Lobstermen's Association (MLA) is writing to express opposition to the Proposed LOC-NESS Wilkinson Basin Study (Docket EPA-HQ-OW-2024-0189) and more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Feb. 14, 2025, from the Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association, Scituate: * * * To: Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 RE: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2024-0189 * * * The Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association (MLA) sends this letter of comment to you regarding the request from Woods Whole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) for two research permits for the transportation and dispos more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Jan. 31, 2025, from the National Tribal Air Association, Flagstaff, Arizona: * * * To: Lee M. Zeldin Honorable Administrator U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0419 Mail Code 28221T 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20460 Re: Proposal to Strengthen the New Source Performance Standards for Stationary Combustion Turbines Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0419 * * * De more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Feb. 13, 2025, from the OpenAir Collective, Austin, Texas: * * * To: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 RE Tentative MPRSA Research Permits, Docket ID EPAHQ2024001 and EPAHQ202402 * * * On behalf of the OpenAir Collective, a volunteer-driven network of citizen advocates, scientists, and technologists dedicated to the advancement of carbon removal with a s more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (TNSFR) -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reopened the public comment periods for two proposed rules addressing environmental contaminants, originally published on January 17 and January 21, 2025. The first adjusts the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) to clarify automatic additions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the National Defense Authorization Act, ensuring suppliers notify customers annually about TRI-listed chemicals. The second updates Clean Water Act methods for analyzing effluent c more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released the following public communication dated Feb. 13, 2025, from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia PolicyLab, Pennsylvania: * * * To: Janet de Jesus, MS, RD Senior Nutrition Advisory Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 420 Rockville, MD 20852 * To: Eve Stoody, PhD Director, Nutrition Guidance and Analysis Division U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave more ST

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Feb. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release: * * * Inmate Sentenced to Two Additional Years of Prison for Possession of Contraband PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to two years of imprisonment on his conviction of possession of contraband in prison, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on L more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following weekly report entitled "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims" for week ending Feb. 15, 2025. * * * SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 219,000, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 213,000 to 214,000. The 4-week moving average was 215,250, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previo more PR

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania, Feb. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release: * * * Lebanon County Man and Diesel Vehicle Repair Shop Indicted for Violations of Clean Air Act and Conspiring to Defraud the United States and Violate the Clean Air Act HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Roy Ladell Weaver, age 41, of Jonestown, PA, and Pro Diesel Werks, LLC, were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released the following public communication dated Jan. 15, 2025, from the American Federation of Teachers: * * * To: Occupational Safety and Health Administration US Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 Re: Docket No. OSHA-2021-009, Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings * * * Dear Director Schlayer: The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, r more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released the following public communication dated Jan. 15, 2025, from the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health and 86 collaborators: * * * To: Douglas Parker 200 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20210 * * * The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health and the 86 undersigned organizations thank the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for proposing a new heat injury and prevention standard to better pr more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released the following public communication dated Jan. 14, 2025, from Public Citizen: * * * To: The Honorable Doug Parker Assistant Secretary of Occupational Safety and Health U.S. Department of Labor Washington, DC 20210 Re: Comments on the proposed rulemaking -- Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings, Docket No. OSHA-2021-0009, RIN 1218-AD39 * * * Dear Assistant Secretary Parker: Public Citizen is a na more ST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Connolly Launches Investigation into Elon Musk's Role After White House Official States Musk Is Not a Part of DOGE Ranking Member Connolly Calls for Transparency Following Trump's Contradiction of Sworn Statement by a White House Official Washington, D.C. (February 20, 2025)--Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Reed & Whitehouse Urge Trump to Reject Republican Budget That Raises Costs for Families WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Jacky Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined 30 of their Senate colleagues in urging President Donald Trump to reject Congressional Republicans' legislative plans to increase the cost of living for Americans. Last week, Congressional Republicans in both chambers approved for floor consideration their 2025 budget propo more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2025: * * * Scanlon Announces How Americans Can Share Their Stories About Harmful Impact of Trump Actions Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today joined House Democrats in announcing a new effort to hear directly from Americans harmed by the Trump Administration. "If you have lost your job, been denied important services, or face other impacts because of Donald Trump and Elon Musk's extreme, illegal, and uncons more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: * * * Secretary Rollins Hosts a Roundtable with Farmers to Discuss Avian Flu and Other Critical Issues President Trump is committed to supporting our great American farmers. Washington, D.C., Feb. 20, 2025 -- Today, Secretary Brooke Rollins hosted a roundtable with two dozen farmers to hear their perspective on the best approaches to combat avian flu and ultimately lower egg prices. They also discussed other issues facing farmers, including the imp more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2025: * * * Senate Judiciary Democrats Slam DOJ Decision To Replace Apolitical Ethics Official With Inexperienced Political Appointees SJC Democrats to Bondi, Bove: "Your sworn testimony misled Congress and the American people and eliminated a critical safeguard against corruption within the Department." WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service has released the following public communication dated Feb. 14, 2025, from the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association, Hughesville, Pennsylvania: * * * Re: Docket FSIS-2025-0001-0001 * * * The American Pastured Poultry Producers Association, a producer and processor organization of over twelve hundred members, represents the majority of the very small state and USDA-inspected poultry processors, and is the largest collective of on-farm and  more ST

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Feb. 21 -- Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2025: * * * What Pennsylvania Parents, Child Care Workers, Community Leaders, and Legislators Are Saying About Governor Shapiro's Budget Proposal to Solve the Child Care Workforce Shortage "Thank you, Governor Shapiro, for recognizing that our workforce are professionals. The first three years -- the first 1,000 days -- of a child's life are crucial for brain development. The positive relationships with caregivers during this more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The White House issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 205: * * * America Is Back -- and President Trump Is Just Getting Started President Donald J. Trump took office just one month ago, but has already accomplished more than most presidents do in their entire term as he makes good on his promise to usher in the New Golden Age of America. Here is a non-comprehensive list of President Trump's wins after just one month: SECURING OUR HOMELAND: * President Trump declared a national emergency at the border and de more PR