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. 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: SEATTLE (December 16, 2024) - On Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $319 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of Portland, serving Oregon's Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties. The loan supports construction of the new Bull Run Treatment Projects to meet federal and state safe drinking water standards more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: The Justice Department and City of Baltimore filed a joint motion on Friday seeking court approval to declare the city and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) in full and effective compliance with key consent decree requirements related to First Amendment-protected activities, community oversight and coordination with Baltimore City school police. The joint motion is based on BPD's consi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: Today, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has recommended for award more than $276 million to 44 Tribal entities to expand high-speed Internet access and adoption. The funding from the nearly $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is part of the Biden-Harris Adm more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: * * * Sixth new National Wildlife Refuge System unit established under the Biden-Harris administration * * * NANJEMOY, Md. -- Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams on Friday joined partners and community members to celebrate the establishment of Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released draft legislation today to close a tax loophole that allows the ultra-rich to shelter tens of billions of dollars in income from taxes through the use of private placement life insurance (PPLI) contracts. PPLI policies are related in name only to the typical life insurance policies commonly held  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have introduced legislation that would address the growing threat of abandoned offshore oil and gas infrastructure to marine ecosystems and the environment. "Neglected oil wells off our coasts are a ticking time bomb that threaten our coastal communities and environment in Oregon and nationwide," Wyden said. "It's unacceptable that Big O more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is opening a 60-day public comment period on a proposed rule to list Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This determination also serves as the 12-month finding on a petition to list Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee. The Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee depends on other bumble bee hosts for its  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 4, 2024, entitled "Marketing Order Regulating the Handling of Spearmint Oil Produced in the Far West; Revision of the Salable Quantity and Allotment Percentage for Class 3 (Native) Spearmint Oil for the 2024-2025 Marketing Year". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Far West Spearmint Oil Adm more ST

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