WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Budd Joins Cornyn and GOP Senators to Introduce Back the Blue Act * Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and several of their Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Back the Blue Act, which would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves. " Every day, the b more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11672) on Dec. 4, 2025, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Coast Guard Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Coast Guard's Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) program envisages procuring 30 replacements for the Coast Guard's 35 aging river buoy tenders (WLRs), inland construction tenders (WLI more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Crapo, Risch Join Cornyn to Introduce Back the Blue Act * Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators for Idaho Mike Crapo and Jim Risch joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and over 30 of their Senate Republican colleagues to introduce the Back the Blue Act, which would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves. "The Back the Blue  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Edwards Introduces Disaster Recovery Bill to Assist NC Tree Growers * WASHINGTON, D.C. \- Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) introduced the Advance Tree Assistance Program (TAP) Payments Act to help orchardists and nursery tree growers replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, and vines damaged by natural disasters and plant disease. Hurricane Helene caused severe damage to orchards an more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revoked an interim final rule that had extended compliance deadlines for air pollution standards for coke oven facilities. This action reverses the compliance extensions set forth in the rule published on July 8, 2025, thereby reinstituting the original deadlines established in the 2024 final rule. The interim final rule had extended compliance dates for several standards under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous  more PR

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release: * * * Marketplace 2026 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot * The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that nearly 950,000 consumers who do not currently have health care coverage through plans in the individual market Marketplace have signed up for coverage in 2026, since the start of the Marketplace Open more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice: * * * Mellace Family Brands California, Inc. Recalls Wegmans Deluxe Mixed Nuts Unsalted, 34 oz and 11.5 oz Packages Because Of Possible Health Risk Summary Company Announcement Date: December 05, 2025 FDA Publish Date: December 05, 2025 Product Type: Food & Beverages Reason for Announcement: Product may be contaminated with Salmonella Company Name: Mella more PR

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec. 6 -- The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2025: * * * State Auditor's Office Recognizes Universities, Community Colleges, and State Agencies with Award of Excellence The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) has established a new Award of Excellence for state entities that meet strict eligibility criteria in preparing financial statement and federal compliance audits. "As our team conducts audits, more PR

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec. 6 -- The North Carolina State Treasurer issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2025: * * * State Health Plan Outlines 2025 Highlights, Lays Out Strategies, Challenges for 2026 The State Health Plan (Plan) has completed a difficult year, but now is projecting that the massive deficit it was facing on Jan. 1 has been addressed. Today the State Health Plan (Plan) Board of Trustees heard from Plan staff and consultants on where things stand now and strategies u more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued the following news release: * * * North Carolina Helene Recovery Surpasses $1 Billion in FEMA Funding as Secretary Noem Announces an Additional $33 Million * More than $1 Billion in FEMA Public Assistance Available; $700 Million of that since President Trump Took Office WASHINGTON - The United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced an additional $33 million for 44 recovery projects across Western Nor more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10571) on Dec. 4, 2025, by senior research librarian Andrew Feickert: * * * Defense Primer: Organization of U.S. Ground Forces Overview The Army is the U.S. military's primary ground force. Title 10, Subtitle B, Part I, Chapter 707, of the U.S. Code addresses the organization of the Army. The Marine Corps serves as the Navy's ground-focused fighting force. Title 10, Subtitle C, more PR

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec. 5 -- The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued the following news release: * * * REMINDER: State coastal agency extends comment period regarding Wilmington Harbor 403 Dredging Project to Dec. 20 * The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Coastal Management (DCM) continues to accept public comments through Dec. 20 on the review of a federal request to deepen and widen the Wilmington Harbor. The comment period for re more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Foushee Secures Federal Funding to Modernize Water Treatment Safety Systems in Hillsborough * DURHAM, NC (December 5, 2025) Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) announced her Community Project Funding request for the Town of Hillsborough's Water Treatment Facility Improvement Project was included in the FY26 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropria more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Risch, Crapo Join Cornyn to Introduce Back the Blue Act * Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators for Idaho Jim Risch and Mike Crapo joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and over 30 of their Senate Republican colleagues to introduce the Back the Blue Act, which would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves. "Any violence or a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Rep. Deborah Ross, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Ross, Cortez Masto, Kustoff Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Illegal Robocalls and Robotexts * Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08) introduced the Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone (DO NOT) Call Act, which would crack down on illegal robocalls and robotexts. In 2023, Americans received more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Ted Budd Applauds FEMA Announcement of $29 Million in Public Assistance Grants for Helene Recovery * Senator Budd Lifts Existing Holds on DHS Nominees After Funds Approved Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem today announced more than $29 million in public assistance reimbursemen more PR