OAKLAND, California, Jan. 11 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release on Jan. 10, 2025: California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with 14 attorneys general, urged the Biden Administration to extend the temporary protected status (TPS) designation for all 17 countries currently designated - or at minimum extend it for the seven countries for which the designation ends within six months. In the letter, the attorneys general also request that the Biden Administ more PR

OAKLAND, California, Jan. 11 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release on Jan. 9, 2025: * * * Raises concern with Walmart's recent decision to end supplier diversity programs, philanthropic efforts, equity trainings, and internal use of "diversity" and "DEI" * * * California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, as part of a coalition of 13 attorneys general, sent a letter to Walmart CEO Doug McMillan expressing concern with regarding Walmart's recent decision t more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following keynote address on Jan. 8, 2025, by Chairman Rostin Behnam to the Brookings Institution: * * * Introduction Today will be my last official remarks as the CFTC's 15th Chairman. It is too early to fully process and articulate in a salient way what the last seven years have meant for me. I can say, without hesitation, that I approached every part of my job with the utmost focus and care. I have always priorit more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration issued the following news release on Jan. 10, 2025: * * * Additional funding announced through a separate grant program will support passenger rail service around the country More than 445 rail projects nationwide have now been announced thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and President Biden's unprecedented support for rail * * * The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Adm more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Jan. 11 -- Virginia's Community Colleges issued the following news release: The Virginia Community College System is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Felicia Ganther as the new Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Workforce Services. "Dr. Ganther brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our core leadership team," said VCCS Chancellor David Dore. "I'm excited that she will play a vital role in advancing our mission, the Accelerate Opportunity strategic pla more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 10 -- The Illinois Department of Public Health issued the following news: * * * Four conditions were approved following advisory board review; first new conditions added to state list since 2019 * * * The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has approved four conditions to be added to the list of medical issues that may be treated with medical cannabis. The four newly approved conditions are endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, and female orgasmi more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 11 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on Jan. 10, 2025: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, leading a coalition of 13 attorneys general, issued a letter to Walmart voicing concerns about the company's recent announcement of its plans to step away from its commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. In a letter (https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/2025.01.09%20Letter%20from%20AGs%20to%20Doug%20McMillion.pdf?language_id=1) sent to Wal more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 11 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on Jan. 10, 2025: Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the arraignment of an Addison, Illinois man his office is charging for allegedly trafficking thousands of grams of cannabis into Illinois from out of state, storing thousands of grams of cannabis, fentanyl and two illegally possessed guns in a DuPage County storage facility. Raoul's office arraigned Henry R. Brown, 54, on charges o more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 10 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following compliance examination on Jan. 9, 2024, involving Coroner Training Board. Here are excerpts: * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS INADEQUATE CONTROLS OVER RECONCILIATIONS The Coroner Training Board (Board) did not maintain adequate controls over its reconciliations. During our testing of monthly reconciliations of Board expenditure records to the Office of Comptroller's (Comptroller) Monthly App more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 10 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on Jan. 9, 2025, involving Illinois Finance Authority. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the Illinois State Finance Authority's (Authority) Financial Audit as of and for the year ended June 30, 2024. * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS CYBERSECURITY INCIDENT INVOLVING UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS The Illinois Finance Authority (Authority) experienced, on or about more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 10 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following attestation examination on Jan. 9, 2025, involving Office of the Treasurer, Fiscal Officer Responsibilities. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the Attestation Examination of the Office of the Treasurer, Fiscal Officer Responsibilities ("State Treasurer") Schedules of Securities Lending Entries, Allocation of Securities Lending Collateral Based on Distribution of Interest Income Earned D more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 10 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on Jan. 9, 2025, involving State Universities Retirement System. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the financial statement audit of the State Universities Retirement System (System) as of and for the year ended June 30, 2024. The System's total pension liability was $54.571 billion at June 30, 2024. The net pension liability at June 30, 2024, was $30,231 billion, which  more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 10 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on Jan. 9, 2025, involving Teachers' Retirement System. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the Financial Audit of the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois (System) as of and for the year ended June 30, 2024. The System's total pension liability is $157.3 billion at June 30, 2024, an increase of $5.8 billion from $151.5 billion at June 30, 2023. The System more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 11 -- Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on Jan. 10, 2025: * * * Direct File provides free tax filing option for eligible Illinois residents * * * Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) today announced that Illinois will participate in the IRS Direct File service, which begins on January 27, 2025. Nearly two million eligible Illinois taxpayers will now be able to use Direct File to electronically prepare and fil more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 11 (TNSres) -- Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on Jan. 10, 2025: * * * Advisory Council recommendations focus on Medicaid payment models for novel Sickle Cell Disease treatments and other high-cost drugs and therapies * * * As required by Executive Order 2024-01, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly its first report from the Advisory Council on Financing and A more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 11 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release on Jan. 10, 2025: A drug trafficking investigation centered on the Northwest Side of Chicago has resulted in federal narcotics and firearm charges against four individuals. The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Chicago Police Department, utilized covert surveillance operations, undercover narcotics purchases, and wiretapped communica more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 11 (TNSres) -- The Illinois Supreme Court issued the following news release on Jan. 10, 2025: The Illinois Supreme Court announced today the release of a newly redesigned Annual Report Administrative Summary for 2023. The Illinois Courts Annual Report for 2023 contains a summary of the day-to-day operations of the Supreme, Appellate and Circuit Court, and highlights judges, court managers, committees, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, and other justi more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Jan. 11 -- The Illinois Supreme Court issued the following news release: Justice David K. Overstreet of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for an at-large circuit judge vacancy in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. The vacancy was created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Douglas L. Jarman, effective January 29, 2025. Pursuant to the authority of section 12, subsection (c) of article VI of the Constitution of Illinois, the Supreme Court will appo more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following news release: 109 projects to receive RAISE grants to rebuild and repair critical infrastructure, increasing transportation access and creating good-paying, union jobs for American workers in their home communities Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $1.32 billion in Round 1 awards from the FY2025 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary gr more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following news release: More than 81 communities in 31 states will receive funding focused to restore access to employment, education, healthcare, recreation, and foster equitable development Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $544 million in grant awards for 81 projects through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot discretionary grant program, part of the Department's larger announcement today of  more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following news release: Additional funding announced through a separate grant program will support passenger rail service around the country More than 445 rail projects nationwide have now been announced thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and President Biden's unprecedented support for rail The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced that it has awarded more tha more PR

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 11 -- Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following news release on Jan. 10, 2025: Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has joined a coalition of 13 attorneys general in sending a letter (https://www.mass.gov/doc/letter-from-ags-to-doug-mcmillon/download) to Walmart today, voicing concerns about the company's recent announcement of its plans to step away from its commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In the letter s more PR

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois, Jan. 10 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center issued the following news story: By Sophia Espinosa, Public Affairs Specialist The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) took a significant step in transforming contingency construction. In November 2024, researchers conducted a seismic test on an eco-conscious mass timber shelter that highlights the future of relocatable Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) structures. This test assesse more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Patent and Trademark Office issued the following news release: Nine individuals and two companies were recognized for their groundbreaking accomplishments, ranging from the "camera-on-a-chip" technology integrated into most smartphones today, to improvements in mammogram and other optoelectric technologies that can better detect breast cancer, to the mRNA vaccines that treated a global pandemic, and more. Acting Under Secretary of Comme more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: Latest Investments Will Lower Costs and Support Jobs in 30 States WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2025 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $6 billion in clean energy investments through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs. Rural electric cooperatives and communities will use the funding to su more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: Part of Today's Announcement is Funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is funding 586 projects to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels. Today, USDA is providing nearly $180 million through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Higher Blends more PR