WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- A coalition of 81 environmental organizations has raised strong objections to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Forest Service's (Forest Service) interim final rule (IFR) regarding National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures. The public comment letter, submitted via the USDA's public participation portal, emphasizes concerns over potential adverse impacts on national forestlands and the communities that depend on them. The coalition,  more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) urging the agency to reject the waiver request from Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC) and Union Pacific Railroad (UP) regarding certain air brake testing regulations. In the letter, TTD, representing 39 affiliated unions, expressed deep concerns over the safety implications of the railroads' petition. The railroads seek exemptions fro more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project (BMBP), an environmental nonprofit based in eastern Oregon, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expressing strong opposition to its interim final rule regarding National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. The BMBP contends that the proposed changes threaten environmental transparency, public engagement, and the protection of biodiversity in federal public lands across the regio more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The Community Health Centers of Benton and Linn Counties, Oregon, expressed their deep concerns regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' recent public comment letter aimed at clarifying the definition of "Federal Public Benefits" under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. The letter, dated August 12, 2025, highlights conflicts with long-standing federal guidance and potential negative impacts on public health. In their co more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Budget Office issued the following report on Aug. 11, 2025, entitled "Distributional Effects of Public Law 119-21." Here are excerpts: * * * To: Honorable Brendan F. Boyle, Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 Honorable Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leader, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 Honorable Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget, United States S more PR

SAN FRANCISCO, California, Aug. 12 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics - Western Regional Information Office issued the following report: * * * Consumer Price Index, West Region -- July 2025 * The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the West Region advanced 0.2 percent in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The index for all items less food and energy advanced 0.3 percent. The food index was unchanged, while the ener more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Dexter Pays Tribute to Diane Lund-Muzikant in Congressional Record, Hailing "indelible mark on Oregon's media and public health landscape" * PORTLAND, OR-- Last week, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) honored Diane Lund-Muzikant, a leader in health care reporting and founder of The Lund Report, by formally recognizing her life's work in the Congressional Record, the official and permanent ar more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release: * * * National Gallery of Art, Washington, and National Gallery of Victoria, Australia, Collaborate on Global Cultural Exchange Collaboration will launch with largest-ever international exhibition of Indigenous Australian art premiering in Washington in 2025 Exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art will tour North America 2025-2027 * The National Gallery of Art, Washington, and the National more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Durbin, Senate Democrats Slam Social Security for Disabling Lawfully Obtained Social Security Numbers By Flagging Lawfully Obtained SSNs As Fraudulent, Trump Administration Is Undermining the Integrity of Social Security * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and s more PR