CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 12 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Midwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 11, 2024, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin - November 2024": * * * Area prices were down 0.2 percent over the past month, up 3.8 percent from a year ago * * * Prices in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), declined 0.2 percent in  more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 12 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Midwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 11, 2024, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area - November 2024": * * * Area prices were down 0.6 percent over the past two months, up 1.7 percent from a year ago * * * Prices in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) more PR

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Dec. 12 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Mountain-Plains Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 11, 2024, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Midwest Region - November 2024": * * * Area prices were down 0.1 percent in November, up 2.6 percent over the year * * * Prices in the Midwest Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), were down 0.1 percent in November, the U.S. Bur more PR

OAKLAND, California, Dec. 12 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2024: California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 14 attorneys general in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of rules that would require internet, cable, voice, and broadcast satellite providers to improve customer service calls and access to live agents, allowing for a better and more informed consumer experience. "Cu more PR

ARGONNE, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory issued the following news release: * * * 13 years of research come to life with a high-resolution view of a hybrid catalyst that combines platinum nanoparticles and protein complexes * * * By Amber Rose Argonne and Yale researchers shed light on the structure of a photosynthetic hybrid for the first time, enabling advancements in clean energy production. Photosynthesis is one of the most efficient nat more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2024: * * * Raoul Charged Cook County Man Earlier this Year for Alleged Unclaimed Property Theft * * * Attorney General Kwame Raoul today charged a Chicago man for allegedly stealing over half a million dollars in unclaimed property from Illinois' Unclaimed Property Program by filing fraudulent claims with Illinois State Treasure Michael Frerichs' Unclaimed Property Division on b more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2024: * * * Joint Action with DOJ, State and Federal EPA Includes Settlement with Cahokia Heights * * * Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in announcing significant action to address chronic failures of the sanitary sewer systems in C more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- The Illinois Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) would like to remind the public to report any large mortality events of waterfowl and other waterbirds during seasonal migrations. Several dozen waterbirds, primarily snow geese, have died of suspected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at Baldwin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in Randolph County recently. Other mortalit more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- The Illinois Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: The Brandon Road Interbasin Project on the Illinois River near Joliet took a significant step forward with the first construction contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, on Nov. 27. The $15.5 million contract was awarded to Miami Marine Services for site preparation and riverbed rock removal for the engineered channel. Miami Marine will partner  more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2024: A federal jury has convicted a Chicago attorney of committing tax fraud, attempting to tamper with a witness, and violating a court order. MICHAEL ABRAMSON, 75, of Wilmette Ill., was convicted Tuesday on all 15 tax fraud, witness tampering, and violation of court order charges against him. The jury returned the verdicts after a week-long trial  more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2024: A Chicago man has been charged with federal firearm violations for allegedly trafficking dozens of firearms from the United States to the West African nation of Ghana. A criminal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges ANTHONY NEE AMOO, 54, with willfully exporting firearms in violation of U.S. laws and regulations. Nee more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release: A suburban Chicago businessman has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly scheming with a California man to fraudulently obtain more than $6.3 million in small business loans and grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"). FRANCESCO DISTEFANO, 28, of Addison, Ill., and SARGIS URUMIEH, 57, of Glendale, Calif., alleg more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- The Illinois Supreme Court issued the following news release: Justice P. Scott Neville and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Linda Sackey as an At-Large Circuit Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Ms. Sackey is being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge William H. Hooks on July 5, 2024. Ms. Sackey's appointment is effective January 24, 2025, and will conclude on December 7, 2026. Ms. Sackey has wor more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2024: * * * Program fulfills Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directive and advances the Department's National Roadway Safety Strategy * * * The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced $171 million in grants to 19 states and territories to upgrade and standardize their crash data systems. The system upgrades will improve the  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued the following order (MDL No. 3026) on Dec. 11, 2024: * * * In Re: Abbott Laboratories, et al., Preterm Infant Nutrition Products Liability Litigation TRANSFER ORDER Before the Panel: Plaintiff in the Northern District of California Sudds action listed on the attached Schedule A moves under Panel Rule 7.1 to vacate the Panel's order conditionally transferring the action to MDL No. 3026. Defendant Abbott Laboratories  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued the following order (MDL No. 3004) on Dec. 11, 2024: * * * In Re: Paraquat Products Liability Litigation TRANSFER ORDER Before the Panel: Plaintiff in the Western District of Washington action (Cox) listed on Schedule A moves under Panel Rule 7.1 to vacate the order that conditionally transferred her action to MDL No. 3004. Defendants Syngenta Crop Protection LLC and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. oppose the motion to vacate.  more PR

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 12 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2024: Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of rules that would require internet, cable, voice, and broadcast satellite providers to take some of the pain out of routine customer service calls and improve the overall customer expe more PR

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Dec. 12 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2024: Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced that a federal judge has halted the merger of Kroger and Albertsons, finding that a legal challenge to the merger is likely to succeed on the merits. Kroger and Albertsons are the largest supermarket chains in the country, and the proposed merger presented a significant risk of reduced competition and higher food prices  more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service - Illinois Field Office issued the following news release: In January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey 889 cattle operations in Illinois to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories. "This information helps producers make timely, informed business decisions and plan for herd expansion or reduction. It al more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service - Illinois Field Office issued the following news release: Starting in late December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will measure sheep and goat inventories and wool and mohair production through a nationwide survey. The agency will contact over 500 producers across Illinois. "Interest in sheep and goat data continues to grow with more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 12 -- The Illinois State Treasurer issued the following news release: * * * ReadySave 529 App Makes It Easier Than Ever to Send Gift Contributions to Bright Start Accounts * * * Stuck on what to get a child or grandchild for the holidays? Investing in their future is a great gift, and it's easier than ever to contribute to their Bright Start 529 college savings account. You can even do it on your phone. Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging family me more PR