WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Education has released the following public communication dated Dec. 16, 2024, from the Southern Education Foundation: * * * To: Assistant Secretary of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Catherine Lhamon U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202 Re: Docket No.: ED-2024-SCC-0128, Comments in Response to Request for Information Regarding the Mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection * * * Dear Assistant Secretary more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency posted a notice in the Federal Register on Nov. 20, 2024, signed by Jeaneanne Gettle, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4. Here are excerpts: * * * Air Plan Approval; Shelby County, Tennessee; Revisions to Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction Rules AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a portion of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisi more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 10, 2024, entitled "Air Plan Approval; SC; Updates to the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) on September 26, 2023, regarding updates to the  more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The Environmental Protection Agency posted a rule in the Federal Register on Nov. 21, 2024, signed by Cesar Zapata, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4. Here are excerpts: * * * Air Plan Approval; Georgia; Second Period Regional Haze Plan AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the regional haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by Georgia Department of Nat more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The Environmental Protection Agency posted a rule in the Federal Register on Nov. 20, 2024, signed by Jeaneanne Gettle, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4. Tennessee: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revisions AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: Tennessee has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final authorization of changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resour more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: Following U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff's push, the Senate voted today to authorize a historic pay increase for junior-enlisted personnel in Georgia. Today, the U.S. Senate passed a historic 14.5% pay increase for junior-enlisted personnel across Georgia as part of this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA will deliver a basic pay increase of 4.5% to all servicemembers, while the most junior  more PR

ATLANTA, Georgia, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Brian P. Kemp, R-Georgia, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has modified the 2012 suspension of agricultural water withdrawal permits in portions of the Lower Flint and Chattahoochee River Basins, allowing for the issuance of the first new agricultural water withdrawal permits in this area in over a decade. Starting April 1, 2025, EPD will accept ap more PR

ATLANTA, Georgia, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Brian P. Kemp, R-Georgia, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council has named Chris Harvey as executive director. Harvey will assume the role following the retirement of current executive director, Mike Ayers at the end of this month. "I'm honored to congratulate Chris Harvey on this new and important chapter of his career, and Marty and I want more PR

ATLANTA, Georgia, Dec. 19 -- The Georgia Secretary of State issued the following news: Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia Commissioner of Securities, has issued an Emergency Cease and Desist Order against Trage Technologies Limited (Trage), its principals Graeme Gary Hearn, Michael "Mike" Holloway, and Georgia resident Eric Ture Muhammad for multiple alleged violations of the Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008. The Secretary's investigation revealed that principals allegedl more PR

MACON, Georgia, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia issued the following news release: * * * Defendant Advertised Machine Guns and Ghost Guns for Sale on Social Media * * * A Columbus resident who was advertising the sale of fully automatic weapons on social media--including ghost guns and machine guns--pleaded guilty to trafficking firearms resulting from a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation. Matthew Azor, 19, pleaded guilty to firearms traff more PR

COLUMBUS, Georgia, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia issued the following news release: * * * Defendant is Serving a Life Sentence in State Prison for Robbery * * * A West Georgia resident with a criminal past who is currently serving a life sentence in a state prison, was sentenced to serve more than 14 years in a federal prison after he was convicted at a bench trial of firearms and drug trafficking charges. Howatdrick Jamal Jones, 32, of Woodbu more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: The Justice Department announced yesterday that it filed a lawsuit (https://www.justice.gov/crt/case/united-states-v-city-brunswick-georgia-sd-ga) alleging that the City of Brunswick, Georgia, violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) through its efforts to interfere with and permanently close The Well, a faith-based resource center affiliated with the Unite more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued a notice in the Federal Register on Dec. 12, 2024, entitled "Inventory Completion: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Raphael G. Warnock, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: Senator Reverend Warnock secured several key provisions to support Georgia's servicemembers and military communities in the annual defense authorization bill, which passed the Senate on a bipartisan basis today 85-14 Georgia is a proud military state, home to roughly 70,000 active duty servicemembers and 27,000 reservists Senator Reverend Warnock supported provisions in the bill to provide a pay rais more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: Senator Jon Ossoff's bipartisan bill to crack down on fentanyl trafficking at the Southern Border is headed to the President's desk to become law. Today, Sen. Ossoff's bipartisan DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives to strengthen the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s capacity to detect fentanyl and xylazine at ports of entry and better prevent it from crossing t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Georgia, issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: ATLANTA - Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led colleagues in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, calling for an end to cost-sharing for patients receiving laxative medication, commonly known as 'colonoscopy preparation,' ensuring they can access the care they need without cost-related disparities. The fight against colorectal cancer (CRC) is pe more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Senator Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Senator Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., urged the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the costs of implementing the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program, which the state has used to limit access to Medicaid coverage. Only 4,231 Georgians have enrolled through this more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: This week, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led leaders of European foreign affairs committees in a statement of democratic solidarity, pledging continued support for Ukraine, Belarus' democratic forces, and the Georgian people in their efforts against authoritarianism. Chair Cardin was joine more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: Kings Bay, Ga. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff's bill to help Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay prepare for the new Columbia-class submarine passed the U.S. Senate. Sen. Ossoff introduced the Kings Bay Trident Modernization Act to authorize construction of a trident refit facility expansion at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay as the installation prepares for the arrival of the new Columbia-class submarine. The legislatio more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: Savannah, Ga. U.S Senator Jon Ossoff's legislation to strengthen U.S. national security at Hunter Army Airfield passed the U.S. Senate. Sen. Ossoff introduced the Hunter Army Airfield Support Act to authorize construction of a new parachute training and maintenance facility for special operations forces at the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, a key first step for the project. The legislation passed the Se more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: Senator Jon Ossoff's bipartisan bill to support the families of fallen U.S. servicemembers passed the U.S. Senate. Sens. Ossoff, Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the bipartisan Gold Star Children Education Act to support the education of children after the loss of a parent who served. The legislation passed the Senate as part of this year's National Defense Authorization Act. The bipa more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the following transcript of a foreign press center briefing on Dec. 18, 2024 featuring Ned Price, Deputy to the U.S. Representative to the United Nations: * * * Summary * Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken travels to New York City December 18-19 to chair two meetings of the UN Security Council, where the United States holds the rotating presidency for the month of December. Ned Price briefs at the NYFPC to preview these discussions more PR

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: A 42-year-old resident of San Benito has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Salvador Cortez-Nava aka Chava pleaded guilty Aug. 24, 2023. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Cortez-Nava to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Rep. Earl L. Carter, R-Georgia, issued the following news release: Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) spoke in favor of his bill, the Never Again Education Reauthorization Act, which passed the House of Representatives today and reauthorizes a program that provides funding and resources for schools to properly educate students about the horrors of the Holocaust. Watch Rep. Carter's remarks here Read Rep. Carter's full remarks, as prepared for delivery, in favor of the  more PR