DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 18 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Southwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on Dec. 17, 2024, entitled "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for the Regions - September 2024": * * * Private industry employer costs for employee compensation among the four regions of the country ranged from $39.37 per hour in the South to $53.75 in the Northeast in September 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (TNSrep) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report: Here are excerpts: * * * Fast Facts This Q&A report examines federal assistance for farmers and ranchers who feed livestock. The money is to help them maintain operations when livestock prices are down and revenues decline. From 2018-2023, four USDA programs provided a majority of the assistance to the top 10,000 livestock feeding operations. These operations house a single species in a confine more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: LENEXA, KAN. (DEC. 16, 2024) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Iowa Western Community College has been selected to receive a $478,474 grant to help recruit, train, and place workers in community revitalization and cleanup projects at brownfield sites in Council Bluffs, Iowa, North Omaha, Nebraska, and the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan statistical area. The Brow more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is raising concerns about the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) recent Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) spending sprees. While the Biden administration requests billions more for disaster relief, Ernst highlights FEMA's failure to provide timely aid during recent disasters and the discovery that the agency is stockpiling over $20 billion for COVID-19 expenses with plans to spend t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: RED OAK, Iowa U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Elliott Art Studio of Greene County. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa's 99 counties. "Chad and Alyssa Elliott have crafted a creative hub that fosters the next generation of Iowa artists," said more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (TNSrep) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report: Here are excerpts: * * * Fast Facts We reviewed U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that provide financial assistance to farmers and ranchers. We found that USDA provided $161 billion in assistance from FY2019-2023. Of that, 42% went to those affected by international trade disruptions, the pandemic, and natural disasters. Additionally, about 1 million farmers and ranchers received assista more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 18 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news: Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) is pleased to announce that more than $100 million will be awarded to 55 affordable housing initiatives in its district. The grant awards are available through the FHLB Des Moines competitive Affordable Housing Program (AHP). Through a collaborative effort between 41 FHLB Des Moines member f more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is urging Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to rein in damaging pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices that hurt patients and pharmacies. PBMs are intermediaries that negotiate and manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of health insurance companies, self-insured employers, and government programs. Currently, thre more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 18 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: Gov. Reynolds met today with Secretary of State Paul Pate and Iowa's six presidential electors who officially cast their votes for President and Vice President of the United States. The meeting of electors marks the state's final step in closing a secure, accurate, and fair general election. These six electors today unanimously cast their votes for Donald J. Trump and JD Vance for Presid more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 17 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and its federal partners have been monitoring for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Iowa's wild birds since early 2022. After nearly a year without detections in sick or dead birds, Iowa has seen a sharp jump in affected waterfowl across the state mostly, north of Interstate 80 since early December, spurred on by the st more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following weekly report entitled "Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims" for week ending Dec. 7, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 242,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 224,000 to 225,000. The 4-week moving average was 224 more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced the designations of 19 new National Historic Landmarks (NHLs), reflecting the importance of the sites in sharing America's diverse history. The new NHLs are nationally significant properties for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans, African Americans, Asian American Pacific Islanders, and wom more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The White House issued the following news release Dec. 17, 2024: On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, the President signed into law: S. 50, the "Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024," which amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to give priority consideration to selecting Pensacola and Perdido Bays as an estuary of national significance. Thank you to Senators Rubio and Rick Scott for their leadership. * * * S. 310, the "Disaster Co more PR